    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [July 26, 2001]
    [Pages 912-913]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing Legislation To Honor Senator Paul Coverdell
    July 26, 2001

        Ours is a city here full of memorials, full of symbols of America's
    gratitude for service. And today we come together to honor one such man
    who dedicated his life to service, a life who left us far too soon.
        Nancy, welcome. I want to thank you and
    your family members for being here. I want to thank Trent and Members of the United States Senate. One reason he
    didn't ask you to speak is, he was afraid you were going to go on too
    long, Phil. [Laughter] I appreciate Senator
    Miller. I thank the Georgia delegation for
    coming, Members of the Congress. It's good to see the former
    Speaker; thank you for being here as well.
        I appreciate John Ashcroft, the Attorney
    General, for being here, and Elaine Chao,
    members of my Cabinet. I'm so honored that members--former Directors of
    the Peace Corps are here, including the current Acting Director, Chuck
    Baquet. Thank you

    [[Page 913]]

    for being here as well. I thank Michael Adams,
    the president of the University of Georgia, for being here. And I want
    to thank my Ambassador-designee to the Vatican, Jim
    Nicholson, for being here as well.
        Paul Coverdell was a man of unusual abilities and striking
    character. He spoke with candor when others might hide the unpleasant
    truth. He was wise and reasonable in a city that often lacks both
    virtues. He was a man of principle who understood our political system's
    essential need for compromise. He was respected by both allies and
    adversaries.
        And the causes to which he dedicated himself drew all his energy and
    thought and effort and commitment. He understood every parent's hopes
    for a quality education, so he pressed for tax-free savings accounts for
    education expenses. Today his idea is law, and today we rename those
    accounts for him, the Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
        He had a great heart and compassion for others, and that could be
    seen in his imaginative and strong leadership of the Peace Corps. As the
    Corps' first post-cold-war Director, he had a vision for a new era and
    the leadership to bring those dreams into being. So today, in his honor,
    we rename the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, DC, the Paul D.
    Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters. And we also rename the Peace Corps
    World Wise School program, the Paul D. Coverdell World Wise Schools
    programs.
        Paul was a champion of science and medical research. Wherever
    Americans push the frontiers of knowledge, they're advancing in the
    spirit of Paul Coverdell. And so, I applaud Senator Miller for his leadership in the decision to name the
    University of Georgia's new health science building for Paul.
        You know, Paul and Nancy were frequent
    visitors to my folks' house in Maine. They were such good friends that
    Mother got them to plant roses. She's a pretty tough taskmaster.
    [Laughter] You can imagine old Paul out there digging away, Mother
    yelling, ``More dirt!'' [Laughter] The hole would be dug and Mother
    saying, ``You put the rosebush in there.'' At any rate, we get to now
    see the roses, and we think of Paul. The flowers bloom only a short
    time, but like the roots of those bushes, his memory lasts a long time.
    And the fruits of his labors we will see for a long time coming.
        I've spoken today of honoring Paul. The truth is, he honored us by
    his selfless service. We're lucky to have known him.
        It is now my honor to sign the bills honoring a great man.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:14 a.m. in the Indian Treaty Room in the
    Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he
    referred to Nancy Coverdell, widow of Senator Coverdell; Senator Phil
    Gramm of Texas; and former Speaker Newt Gingrich. S. 360 and S. 1190,
    approved July 26, were assigned Public Law Nos. 107-21 and 107-22,
    respectively.