    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [July 10, 2000]
    [Pages 839-840]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 839]]

    Remarks on Presenting the Congressional Gold Medal Posthumously to John
    Cardinal O'Connor in New York City
    July 10, 2000

        Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your
    Eminence; Governor Pataki and Mrs. Pataki; Mayor
    Giuliani; I want to thank Chuck
    Schumer and Vito Fossella for such beautiful words. Senator Clinton; distinguished Members of the United States
    Congress; members of my Cabinet; Mary Ward,
    Dorothy Hamilton, and members of the
    O'Connor family; Reverend Ogilvie and
    Father Coughlin; leaders of the Catholic
    Church; Maureen O'Flynn, thank you for
    sharing your angelic voice with us today; my fellow Americans.
        Thank you for the welcome to your city and to the seat of this
    archdiocese. I especially want to thank the police and fire departments
    for their presentation of the colors and their service to this
    community.
        John Cardinal O'Connor was fond of recalling the greeting he
    received when visiting the Vatican. Pope John Paul II would meet him
    with these words: ``How is the Archbishop of the capital of the world?''
    For me, on my first visit as President, it's a pleasure, Mr.
    Mayor, to be in the capital of the
    world.
        This is a happier occasion than the day when we said our goodbyes at
    a solemn Mass in a mourning city. It takes a lot to bring all of New
    York to a pause, but that's what happened when the earthly remains of
    John Cardinal O'Connor were laid to rest in this beautiful cathedral.
        From the distance of a year, his character and his contributions
    only seem larger. We remember a life of good works, strong faith, and
    great influence.
        For many here today, those memories are still vivid and very
    personal. For parishioners, it may be the memory of an imposing figure
    who stood here so many times, looking every inch a cardinal, fearing, it
    seemed, nothing and having an opinion, it seemed, on everything.
        For thousands of veterans, it's the memory of a chaplain who
    counseled them, heard their confessions, and attained the rank of
    admiral. For the working men and women, it will be the memory of an
    advocate, someone who rose to great prominence but remained the proud
    son of a union man who honored hard work.
        The poor and immigrants of this city will always remember their
    staunch friend who defended their interests and understood their
    struggles. Many families remember the church leader who came to AIDS
    patients with care and love.
        Parents here and in Scranton will remember the priest who gave so
    much time and special care to boys and girls with disabilities. And the
    world will remember the gallant defender of children and their
    vulnerability, innocence, and their right to be born.
        Many decades from now, these living memories of the man will begin
    to pass. Fewer and fewer will have known the sound of his voice, the
    largeness of his presence, the sting of his rebuke, his marvelous sense
    of humor, or the breadth of his compassion. But future generations will
    know at least this about the 11th leader of the archdiocese: He was a
    man who left a mark on his time; a moral leader not only in title but in
    truth; a defender of the faith, the very kind who have kept the faith
    alive for two millennia; a great man in a high place; and also for 80
    years on this Earth, a good person, a cheerful giver, and a much-loved
    soul.
        Posterity will know this: The Congress of the United States, in
    respect and gratitude, directed that a gold medal be struck bearing
    Cardinal O'Connor's name and image. And on this day, on behalf of the
    American people, I'm honored to present the Congressional Gold Medal to
    the family

    [[Page 840]]

    and to the successor of John Cardinal O'Connor.
        God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:42 p.m. at St. Patrick's Cathedral. In
    his remarks, he referred to His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan,
    Archbishop of New York and successor to Cardinal O'Connor; Gov. George
    E. Pataki of New York and his wife, Elizabeth; Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani
    of New York City; Mary Ward and Dorothy Hamilton, sisters of Cardinal
    O'Connor; Rev. Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Chaplain, U.S. Senate; Rev. Daniel P.
    Coughlin, Chaplain, U.S. House of Representatives; and opera singer
    Maureen O'Flynn.