    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 3 (Monday, January 25, 1993)]
    [Pages 82-83]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks at the Inaugural Luncheon

     January 20, 1993

        Thank you very much, Senator Ford, Mr. Speaker, Majority Leader
    Gephardt, Senator Mitchell, Senator Dole, Representative Michel. I'd
    like to begin by saying I didn't get much sleep last night, and if I get
    through this it will be tour de force. Al Gore and I stayed up a long
    time talking last night about this day and this country and what we
    hoped that we could do.
        I want to say first how very grateful I am to the Congress for the
    exertions here to make this Inaugural Day such a meaningful and
    wonderful one. I would like to especially thank Senator Ford who worked
    so hard to make sure everything went off without a hitch. And he did.
        I also thank you for the wonderful gift of crystal, the letter
    opener, which I will treasure always, that proved that we did get enough
    electoral votes to be here today.
        And Mr. Speaker, I'm delighted to have that key. However, with all
    respect, I can't believe you were fully briefed about my proclivities in
    lobbying legislators to let me come up here without an invitation.
    [Laughter] I may be here all the time. [Laughter] Why, just when you
    said you wished me well in untangling my relationships with Congress, my
    head, almost as if by magic, tilted in Senator Dole's direction.
    [Laughter]
        I make two serious points. Once in a generation we really are called
    upon to redefine the public interests and the common ground. I honestly
    do believe much of what we have to do today is work that knows no
    necessary partisan label and does not fall easily within the
    conventional divisions of liberal and conservative or Republican and
    Democrat.

    [[Page 83]]

        The second point I wish to make is that I cannot succeed as
    President unless Congress itself succeeds and the American people like
    the Congress again, too. For I seek to do, and to do we have to work
    together and move forward together.
        So I would like, in gratitude and respect, to propose a toast to a
    new partnership in America's Government.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:20 p.m. in Statuary Hall at the Capitol.
    Prior to his remarks, Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the House of
    Representatives, presented the President with a key to the Capitol. A
    tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.