    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [November 9, 2005]
    [Pages 1690-1694]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom
    November 9, 2005

        The President. Welcome to the White House. Laura and I are so pleased that you could join us on this
    proud and happy occasion. It's a special honor for us to be in the
    company of these distinguished honorees. We welcome the honorees. We
    welcome their family members, and we welcome their friends.
        The Presidential Medal of Freedom is America's highest civil award
    and is presented for meritorious achievement in public service, in
    science, the arts, education, athletics, business, and other fields of
    endeavor. The award was created through the Executive order by President
    John F. Kennedy and first presented here in the White House by President
    Lyndon B. Johnson. All who receive the Medal of Freedom can know that
    they have a special place in the life of our country and have earned the
    respect and affection of the American people.

        Alan Greenspan, Ph.D., is one of the most
    admired and influential economists in our Nation's history. So you may
    be surprised to learn that Alan studied music at Juilliard. He began his
    career playing the saxophone and clarinet in a jazz orchestra. Even
    then, he showed his mathematical side--his fellow band members had him
    fill out their tax returns. [Laughter] He was on his way to a lifetime
    of achievement in the field of economics, from Wall Street to the White
    House to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

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        The era of Chairman Greenspan will always
    be known as one of phenomenal economic growth, high productivity, and
    unprecedented innovation and opportunity for all our citizens. He is a
    believer in economic freedom, open and flexible markets, and boundless
    human creativity. In his 18 years as Fed Chairman, he applied those
    principles with consistency, with calm, and with wisdom. As he prepares
    to conclude his Government service, Alan Greenspan leaves behind a
    standard that will always define a successful Chairman, intellectual
    depth, analytical skill, and credibility beyond question. And he leaves
    the Fed with the utmost respect and thanks of his fellow citizens.
        Like Chairman Greenspan, Vinton
    Cerf and Robert Kahn are brilliant men who found great success in their chosen
    field and have played an extraordinary role in the story of our time.
    Thirty-two years ago, Dr. Kahn, an engineer, and Dr. Cerf, a computer
    scientist, figured out how to transmit data between separate computer
    networks, and to do so quickly, effectively, and routinely. Dr. Kahn
    called it ``internetting.'' By developing a common digital language for
    computers across networks, these two men prepared the way for a
    technological revolution.
        The Internet is one of the greatest innovations ever launched and
    even now has vast potential as a force for great good. And it's source
    of pride to all of us--it is a source of pride to all of us that this
    progress was set in motion by two talented Americans. Our economy, our
    lives, and our world have all been enriched by the imagination and the
    efforts of Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf.
        Sonny Montgomery has given the
    United States a lifetime of service. He wore the Army uniform in World
    War II, earning a Bronze Star for valor in Europe, and returned to
    active duty to serve in the Korean war. He is a retired major general in
    the Mississippi National Guard and served the people of that State in
    public office for 40 years. In three decades as a Congressman, Sonny
    Montgomery was a tireless advocate for American service men and women,
    past and present. His forward-looking spirit helped to equip and train
    the finest fighting force in the world. And the Montgomery GI education
    bill has helped millions of veterans find opportunity in the nation they
    defended.
        I know from my visits to Mississippi that all you have to say is
    Sonny Montgomery's name, and they
    still cheer. Folks remember him and love him, and so do our veterans.
    Sonny, you're a great man. Congratulations to you.
        Air Force General Richard B. Myers
    became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff less than 1 month after the
    attacks of September the 11th, 2001. And he was the right man for the
    job. As the principal military adviser to the President during a time of
    grave danger to our country, Dick Myers was a source of wisdom, clear
    analysis, and broad vision. As Chairman, he helped design a thorough and
    innovative military strategy for victory in the war on terror. During
    his watch, America and our allies liberated more than 50 million people
    from tyranny. And General Myers helped set the military on a vital and
    necessary course of transformation so that America will be ready to
    confront and overcome the challenges of the future.
        This fighter pilot is a model officer, deliberate, unflinching, and
    calm in a storm. He's respected in every branch and throughout the ranks
    of our Armed Forces. With his recent retirement after 40 years in
    uniform, the Nation returned Dick Myers in
    ``as-is'' condition to his wife, Mary Jo.
    [Laughter] He left the service with four stars on his shoulder, and his
    place in America history is secure. The United States of America is a
    stronger and safer nation for the integrity and the courage and
    leadership of General Richard Myers.
        The conflicts of this young century demand a clear-eyed
    understanding of the

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    great dramas and tragedies of the 20th century. And perhaps no scholar
    has studied that time with as much diligence or intellectual courage as
    Robert Conquest. His life began in 1917, the
    year of the Russian Revolution, whose evil consequences he would so
    thoroughly and faithfully detail in ``The Great Terror'' and other
    memorable writings. The truths he told were not always in fashion, but
    the cautionary lessons he taught about murderous ideologies and the men
    who served them will always be relevant. His books have been translated
    into 20 languages, and there have been times and places when those books
    were carefully hidden.
        Today, the empire he revealed is gone
    forever, and the works of Robert Conquest are an enduring testament of
    the truth. This wise and eloquent man is greatly admired by his fellow
    Americans and by all who love freedom.
        Paul Rusesabagina also bears witness
    to an evil of the 20th century. He was a hotel manager in his native
    Rwanda when the horror began to unfold in 1994. That hotel soon became a
    haven amid the carnage, with Paul, his family, and more than a thousand
    other men, women, and children inside the compound. Without that
    shelter, every one of them would have almost surely have been killed
    during those weeks and months of merciless terror. This good man saved
    them by holding off the enemy with his commanding presence, his shrewd
    manner of negotiating, and his incredible calm amid the crisis and
    chaos.
        Paul has insisted, quote, ``I'm not a
    hero. I'm simply a man who made a decision to hold on to my family, my
    life, and my beliefs until the end.'' But the world came to know the
    story, and people everywhere can recognize heroism. And we're so honored
    that Paul is with us here today.
        This morning across the United States, millions of Americans started
    their day listening to Paul Harvey. [Laughter]
    People everywhere feel like they know the man and his wife,
    Angel, too. And for so many
    Americans, no morning, Monday through Saturday, is quite complete
    without ``Paul Harvey News and Comment.'' This tireless broadcaster is
    up every day before the sun, writing his own scripts and ad copy for an
    audience tuning in to more than 1,200 radio stations and the American
    Forces Network.
        He first went on the air in 1933, and he's
    been heard nationwide for 54 years. Americans like the sound of his
    voice. His friend Danny Thomas once said to him, ``You'd better be
    right, because you sound like God.'' [Laughter] And over the decades we
    have come to recognize in that voice some of the finest qualities of our
    country, patriotism, the good humor, the kindness, and common sense of
    Americans. It's always a pleasure to listen to Paul Harvey, and it's a
    real joy this afternoon to honor him as well.
        Carol Burnett is known not just for one
    voice but for many, from ``Eunice'' to ``Scarlet O'Hara''--``Starlet
    O'Hara.'' [Laughter] All those who've heard it will never forget her
    Tarzan yell. [Laughter] Her variety show ran for 11 years and received
    25 Emmys. An even higher tribute to the show is that millions of
    Americans still laugh at the memory of the sketches and characters from
    the ``Carol Burnett Show.''
        True to her theatrical training at UCLA, Carol has also given unforgettable performances in serious
    roles. Yet, it is far more than talent that has endeared Carol Burnett
    to the American people. It is her goodness of heart, her sincerity, and
    the wonderful spirit that comes through. She spent her early years in
    San Antonio, Texas, where they still think of her with great affection.
    The same goes for the whole country. Carol Burnett is welcome in every
    home in America. And she's welcome here at the White House today, as we
    pay tribute to this noble woman.
        Here at the White House, we get an interesting mix of visitors.
    Already today

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    I've met with the Secretary of State,
    Secretary of Defense, and the Dalai Lama--and the sheriff of Mayberry.
    [Laughter] Andy Griffith first came to the
    people's attention with his gift for storytelling, and his own life is a
    mighty fine story by itself. He started out as a high school teacher,
    and in his amazing career, he has gained fame as an actor and received a
    Grammy Award for his singing. He will always be remembered for the
    ``Andy Griffith Show'' and ``Matlock.'' Yet, he has also given powerful
    dramatic performances in such movies as ``A Face in the Crowd.''
        Looking back on his Mayberry days, Andy
    explained the timeless appeal of the show. He said, ``It was about love.
    Barney would set himself up for a fall, and Andy would be there to catch
    him.'' [Laughter] The enduring appeal of the show has always depended,
    and still does, on the simplicity and sweetness and rectitude of the man
    behind the badge. TV shows come and go, but there's only one Andy
    Griffith. And we thank him for being such a friendly and beloved
    presence in our American life.
        A week ago today, the flag of the United States flew at halfstaff in
    memory of Rosa Parks. And in Detroit, at Mrs. Parks's funeral,
    worshipers heard Aretha Franklin sing
    ``I'll Fly Away.'' Generations of Americans have stood in wonder at the
    style and voice of Aretha Franklin. One record executive put it this
    way: ``Aretha is still the best singer in the world, bar none. She finds
    meanings in lyrics that the composers didn't even know they had.''
    [Laughter] ``She chills you, heats you, affects your soul. It's
    exhilarating.'' When Aretha Franklin recorded the song ``Respect,'' it
    became the number one hit in America, and she won the first of 17 Grammy
    Awards.
        The Queen of Soul has been a singer
    all her life, thanks to the early encouragement of her mother, Barbara,
    and her father, the Reverend C.L. Franklin. They raised their daughter
    to be a woman of achievement, deep character, and a loving heart. And I
    know they would be filled with pride this afternoon as our Nation honors
    Ms. Aretha Franklin.
        Frank Robinson was born in Beaumont,
    Texas. And though it has been awhile, we are still proud to claim this
    Hall of Famer as a Texan. He first achieved greatness as a member of the
    Cincinnati Reds nearly 50 years ago. As a Red, he was the Most Valuable
    Player in the National League. As an Oriole, he was the Most Valuable
    Player in the American League. He won the American League Triple Crown
    in 1966, an achievement so rare that only one player has done it since.
    His 586 home runs make him sixth on the alltime list. His teams won five
    league championships and two World Series titles. Thirty years ago, he
    became the first African American manager in Major League Baseball. He
    has been named Manager of the Year in both leagues. He serves today as
    the skipper for the hometown team, the Washington Nationals.
        Frank Robinson is a man who leads by
    example. His wife, Barbara,
    said, ``He believes in rules, and he respects the game. He reveres the
    game.'' Baseball fans across America will tell you the feeling is
    returned. In the game we love, few names will ever command as much
    respect and esteem as the name of Frank Robinson.
        Last year in Ohio, I ran into Jack Nicklaus and asked if he had any advice for my golf game. He said,
    ``Sure. Quit.'' [Laughter] The game of golf takes a rare combination of
    raw ability and sustained concentration. Jack Nicklaus earned the
    distinction as one of the greats early in his career. When he edged out
    Arnold Palmer at the U.S. Open in 1962,
    Arnie said, ``Now that the big guy is out of the cage, everybody better
    run for cover.'' [Laughter] The Golden Bear went on to win 17 more
    professional majors and more than 70 PGA Tour events.
        Galleries across the world have admired the intense focus and
    unyielding competitiveness that Jack Nicklaus brings to the game. They admire, just as much, the man

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    himself. In every aspect of his life, Jack holds himself to a high
    standard. He's a great gentleman. And for his skill, grace, and class in
    every circumstance, Americans will always look up to the example of Jack
    Nicklaus.
        Only a few athletes are ever known as the greatest in their sport or
    in their time. But when you say, ``The Greatest of All Time'' is in the
    room, everyone knows who you mean. It's quite a claim to make, but as
    Muhammad Ali once said, ``It's not bragging if
    you can back it up.'' [Laughter] And this man backed it up. From the day
    he won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympic games, we all knew there was
    something special about this young fighter from Louisville, Kentucky.
    And his record of 56 and 5, including 37 knockouts and 19 successful
    title defenses, hardly begins to tell the story. Far into the future,
    fans and students of boxing will study the films, and some will even try
    to copy his style. But certain things defy imitation, the Ali shuffle,
    the lightning jabs, the total command of the ring, and above all, the
    sheer guts and determination he brought to every fight.
        This is a man who once fought more than 10
    rounds with a fractured jaw. And he fought to complete exhaustion and
    victory in that legendary clash of greats in Manila. The real mystery, I
    guess, is how he stayed so pretty. [Laughter] It probably had to do with
    his beautiful soul. He was a fierce fighter, and he's a man of peace,
    just like Odessa and Cassius Clay, Sr., believed their son could be.
    Across the world, billions of people know Muhammad Ali as a brave,
    compassionate, and charming man, and the American people are proud to
    call Muhammad Ali one of our own.
        Our country and our world have been improved by the lives of the men
    and women we honor today. And now I ask the military aide to read the
    citations.

    [At this point, Lt. Col. John Quintas, USAF, Air Force Aide to the
    President, read the citations, and the President presented the medals.]

        The President. Thank you all for coming. Congratulations to our
    winners. And now Laura and I would like to invite
    you to a reception here on the State Floor.
        God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:36 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Lynne ``Angel'' Harvey, wife of
    Paul Harvey; and professional golfer Arnold D. Palmer.