    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [June 19, 2008]
    [Pages 851-855]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom
    June 19, 2008

        The President. Welcome to the White House for what is going to be a
    joyous occasion. Mr. Vice President, Justice
    Scalia, members of my Cabinet and
    administration, Members of Congress, Medal of Freedom recipients and
    their families and friends: Thanks for coming. Laura and I are honored to welcome you here.
        The Medal of Freedom is the highest civil honor a President can
    bestow. The award recognizes outstanding individuals who have been
    leaders in their chosen fields, have led lives of vision and character,
    and have made especially meritorious contributions to our Nation and the
    world. Today we add the names
     of six remarkable Americans
    to that select list.
        The story of our first recipient
    begins in a poor neighborhood in the heart of Detroit. This was an
    environment where many young people lost themselves to poverty and crime
    and violence. For a time, young Ben Carson was headed down that same
    path. Yet through his reliance on faith and family, he turned his life
    into a sharply different direction. Today, Dr. Carson is one of the
    world's leading neurosurgeons. He is renowned for his successful efforts
    to separate conjoined twins and his expertise in controlling brain seizures. He
    has worked to be a motivating influence on young people. He and his wife
    Candy have started an organization that offers
    college scholarships to students across America. The child of Detroit
    who once saw a grim future became a scholar, a healer, and a leader.
        Ben would be the first to tell
    you that his remarkable story would not be possible without the support
    of a woman who raised him and is at his side
    today. Some moms are simply forces of nature who never take no for an
    answer. [Laughter] I understand. [Laughter] Ben Carson's mom had a life
    filled with challenges. She was married at the age of 13 and ultimately
    to--was left to raise her two sons alone. She
    made their education a high priority. Every week, the boys would have to
    check out library books and write reports on them. She would hand them
    back with check marks, as though she had reviewed them, never letting on
    that she couldn't read them. Even in the toughest times, she always
    encouraged her children's dreams. She never allowed them to see
    themselves as victims. She never, ever gave up. We're so thrilled you're
    here. Sonya Carson, welcome to the White House.
        Ben has said that one of his
    role models is Booker T. Washington, who inspired millions and who was
    one of the first African American leaders ever to visit this house as a
    guest of a President. He walked on this very floor a little more than a
    century ago. Today, Ben Carson follows in his footsteps in more ways
    than one. He's lived true to the words that was once uttered by this
    great man: ``Character, not circumstances, makes the man.'' Ben, you
    demonstrate that character every day through the life you lead, the care
    you provide, and the family that you put at the center of your life.
    Murray, B.J., and
    Rhoeyce, I know how proud your dad is of each
    of you. I'm delighted that you have a chance to see how proud our Nation
    is of him.
        For his skills as a surgeon, high moral standards, and dedication to
    helping others, I am proud to bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom
    on Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.
    [Applause] The bestowing part will take place a little later, Ben.
    [Laughter]
        Three decades ago, a mysterious and terrifying plague began to take
    the lives of people across the world. Before this malady even had a
    name, it had a fierce opponent in Dr. Anthony Fauci. As the Director of

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    the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for more than
    23 years, Tony Fauci has led the fight against HIV and AIDS. He was also
    a leading architect and champion of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief,
    which over the past 5 years has reached millions of people, preventing
    HIV infections in infants and easing suffering and bringing dying
    communities back to life.
        The man who would lead the fight
    against this dreaded disease came from an Italian American family in
    Brooklyn. Even as a boy, Tony was distinguished by his courage. In a
    neighborhood full of Brooklyn Dodgers fans, he rooted for the Yankees.
    [Laughter] Tony earned a full scholarship to Regis High School, a Jesuit
    school in Manhattan. And he still quotes what he learned from Jesuit
    teaching: ``Precision of thought, economy of expression.'' And now you
    know why he never ran for public office. [Laughter]
        Those who know Tony do admit one flaw.
    Sometimes he forgets to stop working. He regularly puts in 80-hour
    weeks. And from time to time, he's even found notes on his windshield
    left by his coworkers that say things like: ``Go home. You're making me
    feel guilty.'' [Laughter] A friend once commented that Tony was so
    obsessed with work that his wife must be a
    pretty patient woman. The truth of the matter is, she's very busy
    herself. Christine Grady is a renowned bioethicist. And together they
    raised three talented daughters: Jennifer,
    Megan, and Alison. And
    I hope each of you know that for all Tony has accomplished, he considers
    you to be one of his--not one of his--his most important achievement.
    Your love and support have strengthened him as he works to save lives
    across the world.
        For his determined and aggressive efforts to help others live longer
    and healthier lives, I'm proud to award the Presidential Medal of
    Freedom to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci.
        When Tom Lantos was 16 years old, Nazi troops occupied his hometown
    of Budapest. During that bitter occupation, young Tom was active in the
    resistance. He twice was sent to a Nazi labor camp; both times he
    escaped. Tom and his wife Annette
    survived the Holocaust. Others in their family did not.
        Their experiences amid Nazi terror shaped the rest of their lives.
    After they left Hungary and made California their home, Tom put his name
    on the ballot for a seat in the House of Representatives and became the
    only survivor of the Holocaust ever elected to Congress. One of his
    early acts was to establish the Congressional Human Rights Council
    [Caucus]. * Annette served as the
    Caucus's director. Tom earned the respect from both sides of the aisle,
    and he rose to become the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. One
    colleague put it this way: ``Tom was at the forefront of virtually every
    human rights battle over nearly three decades in the Congress.''
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        * White House correction.
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        On Capitol Hill, Tom displayed the energy and enthusiasm of people
    half his age. When he was in his seventies, he said that he was at the
    midpoint of his congressional career. [Laughter] When he was diagnosed
    with a fatal form of cancer, he responded with typical grace. As he
    announced his decision to retire from the job he loved, his words were
    not of despair but of gratitude for a nation that had given him so much.
    ``Only in America,'' he said, ``could a penniless survivor of the
    Holocaust receive an education, raise a family, and have the privilege
    of serving in the Congress.'' That dying servant of the people then said
    this: ``I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt
    gratitude to this great country.''
        America is equally grateful to Tom Lantos. We miss his powerful
    voice and his strong Hungarian accent. [Laughter] We miss his generosity
    of spirit. And we miss

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    his vigorous defense of human rights and his powerful witness for the
    cause of human freedom.
        For a lifetime of leadership, for his commitment to liberty, and for
    his devoted service to his adopted nation, I am proud to award the
    Presidential Medal of Freedom, posthumously, to Tom Lantos. And proud
    that his loving wife Annette will
    receive the award on behalf of his family.
        One of my great privileges as the President has been to meet so many
    outstanding Americans who volunteer to serve our Nation in uniform. I've
    been inspired by their valor, selflessness, and complete integrity. I
    found all those qualities in abundance in General Pete Pace. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pete Pace was
    a skilled and trusted adviser in a time of war. He helped transform our
    military into a more efficient and effective force in America's defense.
        General Pace experienced the blessings
    America offers at an early age. He was born in Brooklyn to an Italian
    immigrant father who sometimes worked two or three jobs at a time to
    make ends meet. He was raised by a mom who instilled in him the
    sustaining power of faith. Together, his parents
    raised four children; each went on to great achievements in their chosen
    fields. That childhood gave young Pete Pace an early glimpse of what he
    would later call ``the incredible benefits that our Nation bestows on
    those who come to our shores.''
        Pete Pace attended the Naval Academy and, as
    a young marine, soon found his way to Vietnam. At the age of 22, he took
    command of a platoon engaged in heavy fighting against the enemy during
    the Tet offensive. Pete quickly won the respect and the trust of his
    unit and formed a bond with all those who served with him. That bond
    only strengthened throughout his military career.
        He was the first marine to serve as Chairman
    of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And he performed his duties with a keen
    intellect, a sharp wit, and a passionate devotion to our country. He won
    the admiration of all who knew him. And that includes a soldier in
    Afghanistan who came up to General Pace last year during his farewell
    visit to that country and said simply: ``Sir, thanks for your service.
    We'll take it from here.''
        On his final day in uniform, General Pace
    took a quiet journey to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He searched the
    names engraved in the sleek granite and then found a spot where he
    placed his four stars that had adorned his uniform. Along with those
    stars he attached notes addressed to the men who died under his first
    command some four decades ago. The notes said: ``These are yours, not
    mine. With love and respect, your platoon leader, Pete Pace.'' General
    Pace ended his military career the same way that he began it, with love
    for his country and devotion to his fellow marines.
        For his selfless service to his country and for always putting the
    interests of our men and women in uniform first, I am proud to award the
    Presidential Medal of Freedom to General Pete Pace.
        When Donna Shalala was 10 years old, a
    tornado struck her house and her neighborhood near Cleveland. Her
    parents searched throughout the house for young
    Donna, but couldn't find her anywhere. She was finally spotted down the
    road, standing in the middle of the road directing traffic. [Laughter]
    Even at a young age, she was ready to take charge. [Laughter]
        Donna was always an enthusiastic
    participant in life. She once played on the girls' softball team coached
    by George Steinbrenner.
    [Laughter] She also joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in the
    Middle East. I really wonder which one of those two experiences was more
    challenging. [Laughter]
        In 1993, President Clinton nominated
    Donna as the Nation's Secretary of Health
    and Human Services. She served for a full two terms, longer than any
    other person who held that position. During her tenure, she developed a
    reputation for fairness and

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    a willingness to hear both sides of an issue. Former Republican
    Governor who worked closely with Donna
    called her cooperative and pragmatic. The late Texas columnist Molly
    Ivins once called her ``almost disgustingly cheerful.'' [Laughter] I
    knew Molly; that's a high compliment. [Laughter]
        As a college president, Donna has
    demonstrated her commitment to education. And as Cochair of the Dole-
    Shalala Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, she
    has worked to ensure that we provide the best possible care for
    America's veterans, especially those who have borne the scars of battle.
    I came to know Donna in the course of the Commission's work. She
    believes deeply that our Nation has no more important responsibility
    than to make sure that we provide our veterans with all the love and
    care and support they deserve. Donna, you helped America move closer to
    realizing that noble goal, and your country is deeply grateful.
        For her efforts to help more Americans live lives of purpose and
    dignity, I am proud to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Donna
    Edna Shalala.
        Few men have played roles in as many memorable moments in recent
    American history as Laurence Silberman. He was a senior official in the Justice Department in the
    aftermath of Watergate and helped to restore America's confidence in the
    Department. As Ambassador to Yugoslavia, he was a vigorous
    representative of America's values behind the Iron Curtain. He was a
    fierce advocate for the ``peace through strength'' policies that helped
    win the cold war.
        As a Federal judge on the DC circuit--often called the second-
    highest court in the land--Judge Silberman has been a passionate defender of judicial restraint. He
    writes opinions that one colleague has described as always cutting to
    the heart of the matter--sometimes to the jugular. [Laughter] His
    questioning is crisp and incisive, and at least one lawyer who was
    subjected to his inquiries actually fainted. [Laughter] Judge Silberman
    was a particularly important influence on two other members of that
    court: Antonin Scalia and Clarence
    Thomas. When each was nominated to the
    Supreme Court, Judge Silberman, in typical fashion, was not sad to see
    them go. That's because when Scalia left the court, Judge Silberman
    gained seniority, and when Thomas left the court, Judge Silberman gained
    his furniture. [Laughter]
        In a new and dangerous era for our country, Larry
    Silberman has continued to answer the
    call to service. He served with distinction on the Foreign Intelligence
    Surveillance Court of Review. He took a year off from the Federal bench
    to serve as Cochairman of a bipartisan commission on intelligence
    reform. And in all his work, he's remained a clear-eyed guardian of the
    Constitution. He continues to leave his distinctive mark in the opinions
    he issues and the generations of bright and talented lawyers he has
    trained.
        For his resolute service to the Nation and his stalwart efforts to
    advance the cause of ordered liberty, I am proud to bestow the
    Presidential Medal of Freedom on Laurence H. Silberman.
        My congratulations to
    each of the recipients. And
    now the military aide will read the
    citations for the Presidential Medals of Freedom.

    [At this point, Lt. Cmdr. Robert A. Roncska, USN, Navy Aide to the
    President, read the citations, and the President presented the medals.]

        The President. In honor of these distinguished men and women,
    Laura and I invite you to stay for a reception in
    the State Dining Room. Please enjoy yourselves. Congratulations. May God
    bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:45 a.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to George M. Steinbrenner III,
    chairman, Major League Baseball's New York Yankees; and former Gov.
    Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin.

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