[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 9 (Monday, March 8, 1999)]
[Page 365]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Screening of ``Dare To Compete: The Struggle of Women in 
Sports''

March 4, 1999

    Thank you. I hate to risk spoiling the moment. I'd like to ask you 
all to join me in thanking Jeff and HBO for this magnificent gift to our 
country. [Applause.] Thank you.
    As I watched this film I had many thoughts. Hillary and I have been 
privileged to know some of the athletes that were featured. I missed 
Flo-Jo again. I knew I would never have a golf swing like Babe Zaharias. 
[Laughter] I knew I would never dunk the ball like you. [Laughter] I 
remembered how desperately I wanted Billie Jean to win that tennis 
match--[laughter]--for the sake of my mother, my then-girlfriend.
    I remembered all the times as a private citizen--when I'm upstairs 
at the White House now I can indulge my obsession with sports by 
watching women athletes as well as men, across a whole range of 
endeavors. All the joy, all the elation--all because the pioneers in 
this room and on this film dared to compete. And we owe all of you who 
are here and all of those who are featured, all those living, and all 
those gone, a profound debt of gratitude.
    I also remembered again, looking at Senator Bayh, the importance of 
what we do here--to give the American people the right to live out their 
dreams without regard to whatever particular conditions define them. 
Where would we be without title IX? There were only 300,000 girls all 
over America in high school sports then; today, there are well over 2 
million. The law makes a difference, too, and we will do our best here 
to be faithful to it.
    But finally, let me say, as the grandson and son of two women who 
worked and did their best to make their way in life; as the husband of a 
remarkable woman who has made her way; as the father of a daughter I 
hope will always be free to make hers--what Billie Jean said about the 
tennis match is true of this whole subject. This is about more than 
sports. This is about the fundamental right of every human being to 
dream and work and strive and the obligation never to quit, never to 
give in, never to be limited, never to be defined. And our obligation to 
see that all those who come behind us have that right to jump and soar 
in athletics, in music, in every endeavor--even some day, someone of a 
different gender will be standing here giving a speech like this, and I 
hope it won't be too long.
    So we thank you for the gifts you have given us. We thank you for 
the gifts you have given our daughters. We hope our granddaughters will 
think this is a quaint remembrance, because all of them will have, 
without question, the right to live their dreams.
    Thank you, and God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 8 p.m. in the East Room at 
the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Jeffrey L. Bewkes, 
chairman and chief executive officer, Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO); and 
former tennis star Billie Jean King. The President also referred to 
Title IX--Prohibition of Sex Discrimination, part of Public Law 92-318, 
the Education Amendments of 1972.