[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
[January 4, 2002]
[Pages 3-5]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on the Unveiling of the President's Portrait in Austin, Texas
January 4, 2002

    Thank you. Thank you, Laura. You need to 
know, I listen to her every day. [Laughter] Whatever success we've had 
is because she's constantly telling me what to do. [Laughter] I'm proud 
of Laura, and I can't tell you what a great job she has done for 
America--you know that, yourself. But she brings such a steadiness and a 
calm resolve, and I'm really proud of her.
    I want to thank the Governor and the first 
lady. Thank you all very much for your 
hospitality. It's great to see the Lieutenant Governor and Sally, the speaker and Nelda. It's 
good to see you all. I can't help but notice that my friend Jan 
Bullock is here, as well. Jan, thank you for coming.
    We've got all kinds of dignitaries here. I want to thank you for 
taking time out of your day to come and witness my hanging. [Laughter] 
Fortunately, it's my portrait. [Laughter]
    I'm particularly pleased to be here with the artist. Now, I was 
somewhat concerned when Laura told me that 
the Gentlings were 
famous painters of birds--[laughter]--but they would make time to paint 
my picture. [Laughter] Pretty tough old bird here to paint, wasn't I? 
[Laughter] But I appreciate, Scott, your taking time to try to figure me 
out. It's a real pleasure for me to work with you. I know it's a 
challenge from your part, but it looks like you did me justice, and I 
thank you. And it's also good to see your brother, Stuart. The 
Gentlings are a 
part of the really fantastic artistic community we have here in Texas. 
These guys may seem a little odd when you meet them upstairs, but 
they're really good at what they do. [Laughter]
    I've got to tell you, I was talking with Bomerlast night, and we started laughing about all the 
wonderful times we had in this building. And as I look around the room, 
I see many who helped make that happen. This was a joyous 6 years for us 
here. It kind of reminds me of what Harry Truman said. He said, ``I've 
tried never to forget who I was or where I'd come from and where I was 
going back to.'' And that's what this capitol says to us. And so does 
Crawford, by the way. It's our home.
    One of the things that happened here is that we made a lot of 
friends. You know, sometimes in politics, friends are just a fleeting 
memory. But that's not the case for us. Our friends are permanent parts

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of our life. We don't view such things as political friends. You're 
either our friend, or you're not our friend, no matter what your 
politics are like.
    That's why we have got such fond memories of working with 
Pete and Nelda Laney. Oh, I know he's got the Democrat label, but somehow our 
relationship transcended that. And the same with Bullock. I can't help 
but chuckle about our breakfasts that we used to have in this building, 
Pete, with Bullock. I'd like to share some of the stories with the 
people watching on C-SPAN--[laughter]--but unfortunately, I can't repeat 
them in mixed company. [Laughter]
    But the truth of the matter is, whether it be the speaker or Bullock or Janelle or others, from both parties, we came in this 
building with one desire, to do what's right for Texas. We've got 
political labels around our name, no question about it. But we made up 
our mind to try to figure out what was best for our State and to work 
together.
    And so I went up to Washington with a wonderful sense of being able 
to get things done, because of my relationships and my experience here 
in the State capitol. I still believe that can happen. But sometimes 
Washington needs to figure out that politics isn't what's most 
important; the people are what's most important.
    And so I'm going to take that can-do Texas spirit to Washington for 
however long I'm there and remind people that results are matter--
results are what matters, not rhetoric; remind people that if you're 
willing to share credit, if you're willing to tell the other person that 
you're going to succeed, as well, amazing things can happen; and remind 
people that our country, just like our State, is much bigger than the 
political process.
    Those are the lessons I learned here in this State capitol. I also 
learned you cannot succeed without a good team around you. There's no 
such thing, in my judgment, as a one-man band when it comes to politics 
or being the Governor or being the President of the United States. 
You're only successful if you're able to convince a lot of good folks to 
join on the team and to empower them to achieve the common objectives.
    And that's exactly what we did here in Austin. I think history will 
show that the staff of Governor George Bush was one of the greatest 
staffs ever assembled. You should be applauding because you're the ones 
who were on the staff, in this room. [Applause] We had fun. We got some 
positive things done for Texas. We worked hard. And it was the memories 
that I'll never forget. And so I want to thank you all who worked on our 
team.
    It should be noted that many of them who were on this team moved to 
Washington: Pinky Allbaugh--[laughter]--he's 
not here, so I can say it--[laughter]--Karen, 
of course; Karl Rove; Gonzales--I see Al is 
here, the chief attorney; Margaret 
Spellings, she's got a new last name 
now--those of us who know her husband are 
somewhat amazed--[laughter]--Albert Hawkins; 
Harriet Miers. These are all the folks that I 
rely on. These are people who have got great judgment and care deeply 
about our country. And America is really better off by the fact that 
they decided to make a huge sacrifice, leave their beloved State, and go 
to Washington, DC.
    We also have got a lot of others up there that many of you knew: 
Ashley, Izzy, Logan--it's such an 
honor for Logan to know that we named one of our cows after him that was 
recently born--[laughter]--Margaret Wilson 
and Stuart Bowen and Vickers Meadows, Pat Wood. 
These are all folks--we worked together here in Austin--who are now 
serving our Nation. And I truly believe America is better off as a 
result of the influx of Texans who showed up.
    I always will remember--and this painting helps remind me of the 
fact that all of us were a part of a larger story, a story much bigger 
than ourselves. Many have

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come before us, and many will follow. Mine is just one of 46 portraits 
in this Dome, and I'll always be in good company here.
    It is amazing for me to think, when I step back and think this will 
be hanging here forever, along with J. Pinckney Henderson. I didn't know 
Henderson very well. [Laughter] But I did read about Sam Houston or John 
Connolly and the first Texas Governor I ever knew, Allan Shivers. It's 
an honor to be hanging with these men. It's also amazing to think that 
it'll be here for a long, long time. I just hope Governor 
Richards doesn't mind being my neighbor for 
eternity. [Laughter]
    I want to thank you all for coming. It's a day I've really been 
looking forward to for a long time. We look forward to seeing you 
upstairs for the little coffee we're having.
    Again, I remember you; I won't forget Texas. It's a huge honor to be 
the President, by the way. But one of these days I'll be back, settled 
in, sitting on my porch in Crawford, looking for somebody to come and 
recount old war stories with.
    May God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 10:07 a.m. at the Texas State Capitol. In 
his remarks, he referred to Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and his wife, Anita 
Thigpen Perry; Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliffe of Texas and his wife, Sally; 
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives James E. ``Pete'' Laney 
and his wife, Nelda; Janelle Bullock, widow of former Lt. Gov. Bob 
Bullock of Texas; artists Scott and Stuart Gentling; Texas Secretary of 
State Elton Bomer; Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency; Karen Hughes, Counselor to the President; Karl Rove, 
Senior Adviser to the President; Alberto R. Gonzales, Assistant to the 
President and White House Counsel; Assistant to the President for 
Domestic Policy Margaret Spellings and her husband, Robert; Albert 
Hawkins, Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Cabinet; 
Harriet Miers, Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary; Ashley 
Estes, the President's Personal Secretary; Special Assistant to the 
President Israel ``Izzy'' Hernandez; Presidential Aide Logan Walters; 
Commerce Department Deputy General Counsel Margaret Wilson; Deputy 
Assistant to the President Stuart Bowen; Vickers B. Meadows, Assistant 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Patrick Henry Wood III, 
Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and former Gov. Ann 
Richards of Texas.