[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 9 (Monday, March 8, 1993)]
[Pages 362-363]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Welcoming the Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys

 March 5, 1993

    The President. It's about time we had somebody with real popularity 
in here. [Laughter] I want to say it is a great pleasure and honor for 
all of us to have the Dallas Cowboys in the East Room. Four years ago 
they were about 1 and 15, and 4 years later they won the Super Bowl. In 
the parlance of Washington we call that deficit reduction. [Laughter]
    I want to say a special word of appreciation to Jimmy Johnson and 
Jerry Jones. I watched them win a national championship for Arkansas 30 
years ago before most of the players

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were born. And I've been cheering them on ever since. Most of the people 
in our State were Cowboy fans even before Arkansas got its hands on the 
Cowboys.
    I also want to say something very serious. I watched this team over 
the last year win the way I think Americans win best. They hung in 
there. They were strong. They were dedicated. They started a lot of 
games slow, and they always finished fast. And that's what we have to do 
as a country. We have to endure. We have to never quit, and we have to 
finish fast. And I think that the country was very thrilled just to 
watch the renaissance of the Cowboys over the last couple of years.
    Let me also say I had a very great political dilemma because the 
Super Bowl occurred the night I hosted the state dinner for the 
Governors. So, I had the Governor of New York and the Governor of Texas 
sitting on either side of me in the beginning of the game before it was 
obvious what the outcome would be. I was tested as never before in 
trying to maintain a poker face about the game. [Laughter] But you made 
it easy for us after a couple of quarters.
    Let me say, again, on behalf of the Vice President and myself to 
you, Jerry, and to you, Jimmy, and to all the Cowboys, we're grateful to 
have you here.
    And I understand that this is Michael Irving's birthday, is that 
right?
    Jimmy Johnson. He probably just made that up. [Laughter]
    The President. Is that right? Is that right? Is it your birthday? 
Come up here. How old are you? I said, ``How old are you?'' He said, 
``27, but tell them 24.'' [Laughter] Have you ever considered running 
for office? [Laughter] Can you imagine that, 27 years old and wealthy 
enough to retire the national debt. [Laughter] Well, happy birthday. I 
hope you'll have many more. You may not be able to have any years better 
than this one, but I hope you have many more at least as good.

[At this point, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made a statement.]

    Mr. Johnson. Mr. President, it is a tremendous thrill and tremendous 
honor for all of us to make you an official member of the Dallas Cowboys 
as a reserve quarterback.
    The President. Thank you. I'm just going to sit around now and wait 
for my number to be called. [Laughter] I'm going to start practicing 
this afternoon. You know, it's never too late.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 3:20 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House.