[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 5 (Monday, February 5, 2001)]
[Pages 245-247]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast

February 1, 2001

    Well, thank you all very much for that warm welcome. Laura and I are 
honored to be here this morning. I did a pretty good job when it came to 
picking my wife, by the way. She's going to be a fabulous First Lady.
    Mr. Vice President, it's good to see you; of course, your wife, 
Lynne. And I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who are here. I 
appreciate you, Senator Frist, for your commitment and strong comments. 
And Zach, thanks for your introduction. And thank you both for 
organizing this important event.
    I want to thank the Members of the House and the Senate who are 
here. I appreciate the number of foreign dignitaries who are here. It 
just goes to show that faith crosses every border and touches every 
heart in every nation.
    Every President since the first one I can remember, Dwight 
Eisenhower, has taken part in this great tradition. It's a privilege for

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me to speak where they have spoken and to pray where they have prayed. 
All Presidents of the United States have come to the National Prayer 
Breakfast, regardless of their religious views. No matter what our 
background, in prayer we share something universal, a desire to speak 
and listen to our Maker, and to know His plan for our lives.
    America's Constitution forbids a religious test for office, and 
that's the way it should be. An American President serves people of 
every faith and serves some of no faith at all. Yet, I have found my 
faith helps me in the service to people. Faith teaches humility--as 
Laura would say, I could use a dose occasionally--[laughter]--a 
recognition that we are small in God's universe, yet precious in His 
sight. It has sustained me in moments of success and in moments of 
disappointment. Without it I would be a different person, and without it 
I doubt I'd be here today.
    There are many experiences of faith in this room. But most of us 
share a belief that we are loved and called to love, that our choices 
matter, now and forever, that there are purposes deeper than ambition 
and hopes greater than success. These beliefs shape our lives and help 
sustain the life of our Nation. Men and women can be good without faith, 
but faith is a force of goodness. Men and women can be compassionate 
without faith, but faith often inspires compassion. Human beings can 
love without faith, but faith is a great teacher of love.
    Our country, from its beginnings has recognized the contribution of 
faith. We do not impose any religion; we welcome all religions. We do 
not prescribe any prayer; we welcome all prayers. This is the tradition 
of our Nation, and it will be the standard of my administration. We will 
respect every creed. We will honor the diversity of our country and the 
deep convictions of our people.
    There's a good reason why many in our Nation embrace the faith 
tradition. Throughout our history, people of faith have often been our 
Nation's voice of conscience. The foes of slavery could appeal to the 
standard that all are created equal in the sight of our Lord. The civil 
rights movement had the same conviction on its side, that men and women 
bearing God's image should not be exploited and set aside and treated as 
insignificant. The same impulse over the years has reformed prisons and 
mental institutions, hospitals, hospices, and homeless shelters.
    The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., said this: ``The church must 
be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state but 
rather the conscience of the state.'' As in his case, that sometimes 
means defying the times, challenging old ways and old assumptions. This 
influence has made our Nation more just and generous and decent. And our 
Nation has need of that today.
    Faith remains important to the compassion of our Nation. Millions of 
Americans serve their neighbor because they love their God. Their lives 
are characterized by kindness and patience and service to others. They 
do for others what no government really can ever do--no government 
program can really ever do: They provide love for another human being; 
they provide hope even when hope comes hard.
    In my second week in office we have set out to promote the work of 
community and faith-based charities. We want to encourage the inspired, 
to help the helper. Government cannot be replaced by charities, but it 
can welcome them as partners instead of resenting them as rivals.
    My administration will put the Federal Government squarely on the 
side of America's armies of compassion. Our plan will not favor 
religious institutions over nonreligious institutions. As President, I'm 
interested in what is constitutional, and I'm interested in what works. 
The days of discriminating against religious institutions, simply 
because they are religious, must come to an end.
    Faith is also important to the civility of our country. It teaches 
us not merely to tolerate one another but to respect one another, to 
show a regard for different views, and the courtesy to listen. This is 
essential to democracy. It is also the proper way to treat human beings 
created in the divine image.
    We will have our disagreements. Civility does not require us to 
abandon deeply held beliefs. Civility does not demand casual creeds and 
colorless convictions. Americans have always believed that civility and 
firm resolve could live easily with one another. But civility does mean 
that our public debate

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ought to be free from bitterness and anger and rancor and ill will. We 
have an obligation to make our case, not to demonize our opponents. As 
the Book of James reminds us, fresh water and salt water cannot flow 
from the same spring.
    I am under no illusion that civility will triumph in this city all 
at once. [Laughter] Old habits die hard, and sometimes they never die at 
all. I can only pledge to you this, that I will do my very best to 
promote civility and ask for the same in return.
    These are some of the crucial contributions of faith to our Nation: 
justice and compassion and a civil and generous society. I thank you all 
here for displaying these values and defending them here in America and 
across the world. You strengthen the ties of friendship and the ties of 
nations. And I deeply appreciate your work.
    I believe in the power of prayer. It's been said, ``I would rather 
stand against the cannons of the wicked than against the prayers of the 
righteous.'' The prayers of a friend are one of life's most gracious 
gifts. My family and I are blessed by the prayers of countless 
Americans. Over the last several months, Laura and I have been touched 
by the number of people who come up and say, ``We pray for you''--such 
comforting words. I hope Americans will continue to pray that everyone 
in my administration finds wisdom and always remembers the common good.
    When President Harry Truman took office in 1945, he said this: ``At 
this moment, I have in my heart a prayer. I ask only to be a good and 
faithful servant of my Lord and my people.'' This has been the prayer of 
many Presidents, and it is mine today.
    God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 9:10 a.m. in the International Ballroom at 
the Washington Hilton Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to 
Representative Zach Wamp.