[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

[[Page 1289]]

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.