[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 49 (Monday, December 11, 2000)]
[Pages 2984-2987]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights and 
the Presidential Medal of Freedom

December 6, 2000

    The President. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, and good 
morning. Let me begin by thanking Secretary Albright for her remarks and 
her 8 years of leadership, first at the United Nations and then at the 
State Department, always standing up and speaking out for human rights.
    And my friend of so many years John Lewis, whom I knew before I ever 
decided to run for President, who started with me, and as you can hear, 
is going out with me, finishing. [Laughter] In my private office on the 
second floor of the White House Residence, I have a picture of a very 
young John Lewis being beaten at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, that 
I was given when we went back there on the 35th anniversary of the 
Voting Rights Act. And he has worked now for more than 35 years. I can't 
help noting that he's still at it. He had a piece in the New York Times 
the other day making the simple but apparently controversial point that 
the right to vote includes not only the right to cast the vote but the 
right to have it counted. Thank you, John.
    I also want to welcome James Roosevelt and his wife, Ann, here, and 
Members of the Congress, Congressman Ben Gilman, Donald Payne, and Ed 
Pastor. I want to thank Sandy Berger and Eric Schwartz, who have worked 
at the White House on human rights since the day we got here in 1993. I 
want to thank, in his absence, Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh, 
who tried to come back from Africa today to be here but couldn't make 
it, and our Ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Nancy Rubin.
    We're here today to honor six extraordinary people. Like Madeleine, 
I also want to say that I wish Hillary could be here, but she's at 
Senator school today. [Laughter] It's been a great 2 days at our house, 
going to Senator school. I had to make sure that--I said yesterday, I 
said, ``This is your first day of school, and so you have to go to bed 
early. Get a good night's sleep''--[laughter]--``Wear a nice dress. It's 
the first day of school.'' So today is the second day of school, and I'm 
sorry she couldn't be here.
    But I will always be grateful that part of our service involved the 
opportunity she had to go to Beijing 5 years ago, to say that women's 
rights are human rights. And I'm grateful that she'll have a chance to 
continue that fight in the United States Senate.
    I'd also like to thank Melanne Verveer, who worked with us every day 
for 8 years, and for Bonnie Campbell at the Department of Justice and 
Theresa Loar at the Department of State.
    Thanks to so many of you in this room, for 8 years I've had the 
privilege of trying to bring Americans' actions more in line with 
America's beliefs. Secretary Albright and John Lewis both said we have 
made support for democracy and freedom of religion an important part of 
our foreign policy. We stood up for civil rights and against 
discrimination at home and abroad and made it clear that America cannot 
simply stand by when human rights are trampled.
    Dr. King once said, ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice 
everywhere.'' This is a lesson we can never afford to forget, especially 
in this fast-forward century, when satellites, E-mail, and jet planes 
expand the frontiers of human contact and human awareness and bring pain 
and suffering instantly home to us. Globalization is bringing us closer 
together, with many benefits, but as with all new benefits, new 
responsibilities accompany them. And we have both the moral imperative 
and a practical incentive to do even more to recognize the rights and 
dignity of every person, everywhere.
    In spite of what we have accomplished, which the Secretary of State 
articulated so clearly, major challenges lie ahead. We can never stop 
striving at home to become the more perfect Union of our Founders' 
dreams. That means we cannot abandon the struggle against discrimination 
and injustice here.
    Specifically, let me say, I hope that in this abbreviated session of 
the Congress, that Congress will send me the hate crimes legislation 
that we worked so hard for, and which both Houses have voted for, but 
which a minority may yet be able to prevent. If we don't

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get it, I certainly hope it's one of the first pieces of legislation the 
next administration will ask for and sign into law.
    We also must continue to support emerging democracies abroad. That 
means, of course, support for free and fair elections but also support 
for strong democratic institutions, good governance in the fight against 
corruption, speaking out when the progress of democracy or the most 
basic human rights are under threat, whether it's the scourge of slavery 
in Sudan, the denial of rights to women and girls in Afghanistan, 
curtailing religious freedom in China.
    And let me say especially to the students, religious communities, 
and human rights activists who have done so much to publicize the 
atrocities of Sudan, America must continue to press for an end to these 
egregious practices and make clear that the Sudanese Government cannot 
join the community of nations until fundamental changes are made on 
these fronts.
    Ultimately, support for human rights means preparing to act to stop 
suffering and violence when our values and our interests demand it. We 
cannot right every wrong, of course, but we cannot choose inaction, 
either. I have been reminded again and again that much of the best work 
in promoting human rights and defending freedom is done by people 
outside Government, students, activists, religious leaders from all 
walks of life, sharing an unshakable belief in the simple message of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that all humans are free and 
equal in dignity and rights.
    Ten years after the signing of the Universal Declaration, Eleanor 
Roosevelt reminded us that the destiny of human rights is in the hands 
of all our citizens and all our communities. I established the Eleanor 
Roosevelt Human Rights Awards to honor men and women who have taken the 
future of human rights into their committed hands. I have had the honor 
of working closely with several of this year's honorees and the equal 
honor of receiving advice and, on occasion, criticism from them, as 
well. So I would like to say a few words about each.
    To the Lakota Sioux, the birth of a white buffalo calf is a sign of 
peace and harmony to come, a prophecy of the end of war and, especially, 
of the suffering of children. When Tillie Black Bear founded the White 
Buffalo Calf Women's Society more than 20 years ago, she sought to end 
the suffering of women and children who were victims of domestic 
violence. She founded the first women's shelter on an Indian reservation 
and then went on to help found two more.
    A survivor of domestic violence herself, she has taught and 
counseled victims, batterers, and law enforcement officials alike. She 
is a founder and former president of the National Coalition Against 
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and known around the Nation as a 
leading advocate for battered women.
    I want to add that, fittingly, Tillie was born on Human Rights Day, 
December the 10th. We thank her for her courage and a lifetime of 
commitment.
    From the tall tales he loved to tell, to the size of his ambitions, 
Fred Cuny was larger than life in every sense. But the biggest thing 
about him was his heart and his devotion to saving lives anywhere he 
could. He participated in more than 70 relief missions to some of the 
world's most desolate places. And wherever he went, he made a lasting 
difference.
    In Bosnia, he smuggled in enough equipment to build two water 
purification plants under snipers' noses, providing clean drinking water 
for 60 percent of the city during the worst days of the siege. General 
Shalikashvili called him ``the hero'' of our operations to help starving 
Kurds in Northern Iraq.
    His last mission, like so many others, was to a remote and dangerous 
place where outsiders rarely go but where help was desperately needed. 
That place was Chechnya, and Fred Cuny was killed there 5 years ago. His 
son, Craig, is here today to accept his father's award. And we thank him 
and all the Cuny family--and there are lots of them here, thank 
goodness--for the life of one of America's and the world's great 
humanitarians. Thank you.
    The story I am about to tell will not surprise anyone who has ever 
had any contact with Elaine Jones. She argued her first court case at 
the tender age of 11. She visited a

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dentist without getting her parents' permission, and when she couldn't 
pay the bill, the dentist decided to sue. Her parents had to work, so 
Elaine went to court alone and convinced the judge to dismiss the case. 
I wonder what the argument was? [Laughter]
    That's when she decided she wanted to be a lawyer, and she's been 
speaking truth to power ever since. She was the first African-American 
woman to graduate from the University of Virginia Law School; later, the 
first African-American to sit on the American Bar Association board of 
governors. With a brief interruption for Government service, she's been 
a leader in the NAACP's fight for equal justice for almost 25 years now. 
She is an ardent advocate before Congress, a skillful litigator before 
the Supreme Court, a constant voice for people in need.
    Thank you, Elaine, for being a champion of human rights for all 
Americans.
    In the spring of 1954, a young Army Lieutenant named Norman Dorsen 
found himself on the front lines of justice in his very first job out of 
law school, defending civil liberties from the attacks of Senator Joe 
McCarthy. Now, Norman has had other jobs and responsibilities, but he 
never abandoned his post in the struggle to preserve the rights and 
liberties of every American.
    He argued and prepared briefs for landmark Supreme Court cases, such 
as Gideon v. Wainright, which established an accused person's right to 
legal counsel. He was, for 15 years, the President of the American Civil 
Liberties Union. He is now chairman of the board of the Lawyers' 
Committee for Human Rights. For almost 40 years, he's inspired law 
students as a professor at New York University Law School and director 
of its programs in civil liberties.
    I've gotten to know him through our discussions of a political Third 
Way, but today we thank him for reminding us that in every age, respect 
for civil liberties is the American way. Thank you, Norman.
    In tough places, where civilians are struggling to get out, chances 
are you will find Archbishop Theodore McCarrick working hard to get in 
and to help them. The litany of countries he has visited sounds more 
suited to a diplomat than an archbishop: the former Soviet Union, the 
Balkans, the countries devastated by Hurricane Mitch, East Timor, 
Ethiopia, Burundi, Cuba, Haiti, Colombia.
    Two years ago I was honored to send him as one of my representatives 
on a groundbreaking trip to discuss religious freedom with China's 
leaders. This year, he has been a tireless and effective leader in 
promoting debt relief for poor countries--I might say, one of the truly 
outstanding accomplishments that we have achieved in a bipartisan 
fashion in this town in the last 5 years. It's an amazing thing.
    At the same time, the Archbishop is much beloved for practicing at 
home what he preaches around the world. This year, as he pressed the 
United States to fund debt relief, he forgave the $10 million in debts 
of poor parishes in his Newark diocese.
    Archbishop, we thank you for your devotion to all God's children, 
and we welcome you to your new home in the diocese of Washington, DC.
    These five Americans have made our Nation and the world a better 
place. May they continue to inspire and guide us all for years to come.
    Major, read the citations.

[ At this point, Maj. William F. Mullen III, USMC, Marine Corps Aide to 
the President, read the citations, and the President presented the 
Eleanor Roosevelt Awards for Human Rights.]

    The President. Do you want to know what Elaine said to me? 
[Laughter] So I said, ``Well, what argument did you make when you were 
11 years old?'' She said, ``I said he didn't have permission to take all 
those X rays. I mean, I was just 11 years old.'' [Laughter] So this guy 
was supposed to be the only person on Earth who could have said no to 
her. [Laughter] We need you now, girl. That's good. That's good. 
[Laughter]
    The Presidential Medal of Freedom was created by President Truman to 
honor noble service in times of war. It was expanded by President 
Kennedy to honor service in times of peace. I have been privileged to 
award the medal to many champions of liberty.
    Today we continue that tradition with a difference. The person we 
honor, Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, cannot be with us. In fact,

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she doesn't even know we're here today, thinking of her and her struggle 
in her country. She sits confined, as we speak here, in her home in 
Rangoon, unable to speak to her people or the world. But her struggle 
continues, and her spirit still inspires us.
    Twelve years ago she went home to Burma to visit her ailing mother 
and found herself at the helm of a popular movement for democracy and 
human rights. A decade ago, she led her persecuted party in 
parliamentary elections that were neither free nor fair; yet they still 
won 80 percent of the seats. Her victory has never been recognized by 
the Government of Burma, but her hold on the hearts of the people in 
Burma has never been broken.
    In the years since, she had seen her supporters beaten, tortured, 
and killed, yet she has never responded to hatred and violence in kind. 
All she has ever asked for is peaceful dialog. She has been treated 
without mercy, yet she has preached forgiveness, promising that in a 
democratic Burma there will be no retribution and nothing but honor and 
respect for the military.
    No one has done more than she to teach us that the desire for 
liberty is universal, that it is a matter of conscience, not culture. 
When her son, Alexander, accepted her Nobel Peace Prize, he said she 
would never accept such an honor in her name, but only in the name of 
all the people of Burma. I imagine she would say the same thing today--
that she would tell us that for all she has suffered, the separation 
from her family, the loss of her beloved husband, nothing compares to 
what the Burmese people, themselves, have endured, years of tyranny and 
poverty in a land of such inherent promise.
    Our thoughts are with them. This medal stands for our determination 
to help them see a better day. The only weapons the Burmese people have 
are words, reason, and the example of this astonishing, brave woman. Let 
us add our voices to their peaceful arsenal. Keep using every instrument 
of influence to support Aung San Suu Kyi's quest for democracy through 
dialog.
    Those who rule Burma should know that they can regain their place in 
the world only when they regain the trust of their own people and 
respect their chosen leaders. And the woman we honor today should know, 
America will always be a friend to freedom in Burma--a friend for as 
long as it takes to reach the goal for which she has sacrificed so very 
much.
    I would like to ask Alexander to come up here, and I'd like to ask 
the major to read the citation.

[ At this point, Major Mullen read the citation, and the President 
presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom.]

    The President. Thank you all for coming today. We are adjourned.

Note: The President spoke at 11:13 a.m. in Presidential Hall in the 
Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The President presented 
the awards and medal a part of the observance of Human Rights Day. In 
his remarks, he referred to James Roosevelt, grandson of Franklin and 
Eleanor Roosevelt, and his wife, Ann; Eric P. Schwartz, Senior Director, 
Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs, National Security Council; 
Melanne Verveer, Chief of Staff to the First Lady; Bonnie J. Campbell, 
Director, Violence Against Women Office, Office of Justice Programs, 
Department of Justice; Theresa Loar, Senior Coordinator for 
International Women's Issues, Department of State; and Gen. John M. 
Shalikashvili, USA, (Ret.), former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.