    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 19, 2004]
    [Pages 80-81]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Luncheon With Spouses of African-American Clergy
    January 19, 2004

        Thank you all. Please be seated. I have dropped by--[laughter]--
    because Laura told me to. [Laughter]
        First of all, I want to welcome you all to the people's house, and I
    am so glad you've come to celebrate this important national holiday with
    Laura. My job is to introduce her so she can give
    some remarks. But before I do so, first of all, I want to say thanks
    from the bottom of my heart for what you and your husbands and your
    communities do to help, really, America realize the dream of Martin
    Luther King, which is to elevate the dignity of each person, the worth
    of each person, the freedom of each person to realize his or her dreams.
        In my judgment, many times the most effective programs to realize
    that national ambition is through our faith community, because people of
    faith have heard a universal call. I remember when my friend Tony
    Evans from Dallas one time talked about
    broken foundations, cracks on the wall. And the painter kept trying to
    repaint the wall of the house, and they could never get it right until,
    finally, somebody stepped up to them and said, ``First you need to fix
    the foundation.'' It's that spirit of fixing foundations and helping
    people realize their true worth, through love and compassion and a--the
    truth of the matter is--reliance on a being far greater than Government,
    the Almighty, that enables you all to do the works of mercy and kindness
    and neighborhood healing that goes on. The true strength of America
    truly is found in

    [[Page 81]]

    the hearts and souls of our citizens. And in my judgment, a way to honor
    the great Martin Luther King is to call upon Americans to unleash that
    compassion.
        And so I want to welcome you here. You're generals in the armies of
    compassion who are changing America one heart and one soul and one
    conscience at a time, and for that, our Nation is grateful.
        And I am grateful that Laura said yes when I
    asked her to marry me. [Laughter] Our First Lady.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:22 p.m. in the State Dining Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Anthony T. Evans, senior
    pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas, TX. The transcript released
    by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of the
    First Lady. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.