    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [August 1, 2005]
    [Pages 1288-1289]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Recess Appointment of John Bolton as Ambassador to the United Nations
    August 1, 2005

        The President. Nearly 5 months ago, I nominated John Bolton to be
    America's Ambassador to the United Nations. I chose John because of his
    vast experience in foreign policy, his integrity, and his willingness to
    confront difficult problems head-on. I told the Nation that John Bolton
    would provide clear American leadership for reform at the United
    Nations. I told them that he would insist upon results.
        The United States Senate held thorough confirmation hearings, and a
    majority of United States Senators agree that he is the right man for
    the job. Yet because of partisan delaying tactics by a handful of
    Senators, John was unfairly denied the up-or-down vote that he deserves.
        As a result, America has now gone more than 6 months without a
    permanent Ambassador to the United Nations. This post is too important
    to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate
    about U.N. reform. So today I've used my constitutional authority to
    appoint John Bolton to serve as America's Ambassador to the United
    Nations. John Bolton will be an important member of my State Department
    team, led by Condoleezza Rice.
        I'm sending Ambassador Bolton to New York with my complete
    confidence. Ambassador Bolton believes passionately in the goals of the
    United Nations Charter, to advance peace and liberty and human rights.
    His mission is now to help the U.N. reform itself to renew its founding
    promises for the 21st century. He will speak for me on critical issues
    facing the international community, and he'll make it clear that America
    values the potential of the United Nations to be a source of hope and
    dignity and peace.
        As he embarks on his new assignment, Ambassador Bolton will bring
    tremendous wisdom and expertise. Over the past two decades, John Bolton
    has been one of America's most talented and successful diplomats. He's
    been a tireless defender of our Nation's values and a persuasive
    advocate for freedom and peace. As a senior leader at the State
    Department in the 1980s and 1990s, he brought people together to achieve
    meaningful results at the United Nations, from resolving payment issues
    to helping rally the coalition in the Persian Gulf war to repealing a
    shameful resolution that equated Zionism with racism. And over the past
    4 years as Under

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    Secretary of State, he's shown valuable leadership on one of the most
    urgent challenges of our time: preventing the spread of weapons of mass
    destruction.
        Ambassador Bolton takes up his duties at a time of opportunity for
    the United States and the United Nations. America and the U.N. are
    working to spread democracy, relieve hunger, and assist the victims of
    disaster. We've delivered hope to millions suffering from HIV/AIDS and
    other deadly diseases. We've helped to lay the groundwork for two
    landmark events in the history of liberty, the free elections of
    Afghanistan and Iraq. Ambassador Bolton will work to build on that
    progress by helping the U.N. continue to find effective new ways to
    match its good intentions with good results.
        As the newest member of America's diplomatic corps, Ambassador
    Bolton will defend our Nation's interests with character and resolve
    that were instilled early in life. John's father was a firefighter. His
    mother was a homemaker who took her son to the public library to show
    him the value of education. I know that Jack and Virginia Bolton would
    be proud today to see the boy they raised in Baltimore appointed to
    serve as our permanent representative to the United Nations.
        I'm grateful to John's wife, Gretchen,
    for being here with us and to the entire Bolton family for their service
    and sacrifice.
        Mr. Ambassador, thank you for agreeing to serve your Nation once
    again, and congratulations.

    [At this point, Ambassador Bolton made brief remarks.]

        The President. Thanks, John. Appreciate you.
        All right, thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:01 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary also included the remarks of Ambassador Bolton.