[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
[December 14, 2004]
[Pages 3071-3074]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom
December 14, 2004

    The President. Good morning, and welcome to the White House. 
Laura and I are proud to have you all here today, 
especially our three honorees and their families and their friends.
    The Presidential Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civil 
award, given to men and women of exceptional merit, integrity, and 
achievement. Today this honor goes to three men who have played pivotal 
roles in great events and whose efforts have made our country more 
secure and advanced the cause of human liberty.
    George Tenet learned the value of hard 
work as a busboy in the 20th Century Diner, the family restaurant in 
Queens, New York. Between work and school and athletics, George always 
kept up with current events and world affairs, and that enthusiasm led 
him into public service.
    In Washington, George immersed himself 
in the field of intelligence work. After a long career in the 
legislative and executive branches of Government, George was tapped by 
President Bill Clinton to run the Agency 
he loved. His challenges at the CIA were many. George acted quickly and 
aggressively to rebuild the Agency's capabilities. He made the 
recruitment of new talent a top priority. Applications to join the 
Agency have now soared to more than 138,000 per year. Under George's 
leadership, the number of yearly graduates from the Clandestine Service 
Training Program have increased nearly sixfold. And just about every CIA 
officer can tell you a story about Director Tenet's hands-on style of 
management. He was often seen in the hallways, chewing on an unlit 
cigar--[laughter]--or showing up at their cafeteria table and talking 
shop.
    George and his wife, Stephanie, came to know the people of the CIA, and 
the people of the CIA came to know them as decent, caring people who 
love their country and love their family, especially their son, John 
Michael.
    Early in his tenure as DCI, George Tenet 
was one of the first to recognize and address the growing threat to 
America from radical terrorist networks. Immediately after the attacks 
of September the 11th, George was ready with a plan to strike back at Al 
Qaida and to topple the Taliban. CIA officers were on the ground in 
Afghanistan within days. Seasoned American intelligence officers, armed 
with laptop computers, Afghan clothes, and a visionary plan, rode 
horseback with the fighters of the Northern Alliance, identified key 
targets for our military, and helped to free a nation.

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    Since those weeks, CIA officers have remained on the hunt for Al 
Qaida killers. More than three-quarters of Al Qaida key members and 
associates have been killed or detained, and the majority were stopped 
as a result of CIA efforts. CIA officers were also among the first to 
enter the battle in Iraq, alongside their colleagues in uniform. In 
these years of challenge for our country, the men and women of the CIA 
have been on the frontlines of an urgent cause, and the whole Nation 
owes them our gratitude.
    George is rightly proud of the people of 
the Agency, and I have been proud to work with George. George has 
carried great authority without putting on airs, because he remembers 
his roots. There's still a lot of Queens in George Tenet. [Laughter] A 
colleague once said that ``George has the intellect of a scholar and the 
demeanor of a longshoreman.'' [Laughter] His tireless efforts have 
brought justice to America's enemies and greater security to the 
American people. And today we honor a fine public servant and patriot in 
George John Tenet.
    General Tommy Franks was raised in 
Midland, Texas. Nothing wrong with that. [Laughter] I didn't know him 
then, but Laura and he went to the same high 
school. In those days, some people in Midland wondered about Tommy's 
future. Sounds familiar. [Laughter] At a recent high school reunion, 
Tommy's old principal told the general, ``You weren't the brightest bulb 
in the socket,'' to which the general replied, ``Ain't this a great 
country?'' [Laughter]
    America rewards talent, intelligence, and hard work, and the career 
of Tommy Franks is living proof. Tommy 
dropped out of college after 2 years to enlist in the Army. He quickly 
rose to become an officer, graduating from Officer Candidate School with 
honors and beginning his ascent through the ranks. He went on to finish 
his degree and earn one more. And he made the best decision of his life 
when he asked a young lady named Cathy Carley 
to marry him.
    Tommy Franks served in Germany and 
Korea, at the Pentagon, and at the Army War College. He served in the 
Persian Gulf war. He served in Vietnam, where he was wounded twice. Yet 
his greatest challenges and his greatest service came after the attacks 
on September the 11th.
    As the commander of CENTCOM, Tommy Franks held responsibility for defending American interests in 
some of the most remote and difficult terrain in the world. It's a job 
that requires the toughness of a general, the foresight of a strategist, 
the tact of a diplomat, and the skill of a good manager. Tommy Franks 
led the forces that fought and won two wars in the defense of the 
world's security and helped liberate more than 50 million people from 
two of the worst tyrannies in the world.
    In Afghanistan, America and our allies, with a historically small 
force and a brilliant strategy, defeated the Taliban in just a few short 
weeks. The general likes to say that ``no plan ever survived the first 
contact with the enemy.'' But in Iraq, Tommy Franks' plan did. A force half the size of the force that won the 
Gulf war defeated Saddam Hussein's regime and 
reached Baghdad in less than a month, the fastest, longest armored 
advance in the history of America warfare.
    Today, the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are building a secure and 
permanent democratic future. One of the highest distinctions of history 
is to be called a liberator, and Tommy Franks will always carry that title.
    General, the American people thank you 
for your courage, your leadership, and your lifetime of service in the 
cause of freedom and security. To the lists of medals and honors and 
awards you have already earned, I am proud to add the Presidential Medal 
of Freedom.
    Jerry Bremer is a 
diplomat, a philanthropist, a businessman, and a fashion pioneer. 
[Laughter] Everyone knows the Bremer look--coat, dress shirt and tie, 
and

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desert combat boots. [Laughter] Beyond the fashion statement, Jerry will 
be remembered for his superb work in laying the foundations of a new 
democracy in the Middle East.
    Jerry Bremer's life of 
service began in 1966, when he joined the Foreign Service. He was a 
special assistant to six different Secretaries of State and rose to 
become America's Ambassador to the Netherlands. In 1986, President 
Ronald Reagan appointed Jerry Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism. 
Eventually, Speaker Hastert named him 
Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorism, and I chose him to 
serve on my Homeland Security Advisory Council.
    When America and our coalition needed a seasoned diplomat and a 
manager to help the people of Iraq emerge from decades of oppression, I 
knew where to turn. For 14 months, Jerry Bremer worked day and night, in 
difficult, dangerous conditions, to stabilize the country, to help its 
people rebuild, and to establish a political process that would lead to 
justice and liberty. The job was demanding, requiring personal courage, 
calmness under fire, and hundreds of decisions every day. Yet, 
Jerry not only rose to the 
challenge, he found time nearly every day to study the Arabic language.
    Jerry Bremer earned the 
respect and admiration of Iraqis and helped to assemble an exceptional 
group of Iraqi leaders for the Governing Council. With his help, these 
leaders drafted the Transitional Administrative Law, which charted the 
country's political future and established a bill of rights. In the 
final days of hammering out consensus on this landmark law, Jerry sat 
through day-long meetings, sometimes without ever speaking. His silence 
was essential to reassure Iraqis that the new law was entirely their 
own. Yet his presence was essential to reassure Iraqis of our 
coalition's steadfast commitment to their future and their success. 
Every political benchmark that the Iraqis set for themselves and that 
Jerry helped them meet was achieved on time or ahead of schedule, 
including the transfer of sovereignty that ended his tenure.
    Sometimes, Iraqi officials would express doubts that the day would 
ever come. Jerry would pick up 
a photo of his granddaughter and say, ``This is your guarantee I'm 
leaving.'' [Laughter]
    Jerry, I know your wife, 
Francie, and your children, Paul and Leila, and your 
granddaughter, Sophia, are really glad to have you back.
    When Jerry Bremer greeted 
visitors at his office in Baghdad, he always began, ``Welcome to free 
Iraq.'' Jerry, Iraq is free today, and you helped make it so. And a free 
Iraq will help make generations of Americans more secure. Our Nation 
will always be grateful to Ambassador Jerry Bremer and his good work.
    These three men symbolize the nobility of 
public service, the good character of our country, and the good 
influence of America on the world.
    Now it is my honor to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and 
I ask the military aide to read the citations.

[At this point, Maj. Steven T. Fischer, USA, Army Military Aide to the 
President, read the citations, and the President presented the medals.]

    The President. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I now invite you for a reception here to honor our 
honorees.
    Congratulations.

Note: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. in the East Room at the White 
House.

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