[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 11 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Pages 442-443]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Signing Legislation Designating the John Joseph Moakley 
United States Courthouse

March 13, 2001

    Thank you all very much. Please be seated. It's my honor to welcome 
you all to the Rose Garden. So many friends and colleagues of Joe 
Moakley are here--I want to thank you all for coming. This is the first 
bill-signing ceremony to take place in the Rose Garden since I've been 
the President. And I'm glad to be part of an event honoring a 
distinguished Member of the United States Congress.
    After today, the U.S. Courthouse, located at 1 Courthouse Way in 
Boston, will be officially known as the John Joseph Moakley United 
States Courthouse. It is a fitting tribute to a remarkable man.
    Joe Moakley is a man of strong opinions and broad respect. And in 
this town it isn't always easy to combine the two, but over a long 
career he's been able to do so. He's a self-described bread-and-butter 
Democrat. Others know him as a formidable advocate for his party's 
cause. Ever since he joined the House of Representatives in 1972, he has 
made the cares and concerns of everyday people his business.
    Joe is not only a passionate advocate for what he believes in, he's 
an enormously effective Member of Congress. Representative Moakley 
understands how the United States House of Representatives operates. He 
knows its rules, and he knows its ways.
    But what makes Joe Moakley exceptional is not simply his political 
skills, it is the fact that he's so well-liked and admired by members of 
both political parties. Joe has a well-deserved reputation for being 
civil, friendly, and funny. Members love his sharp Irish sense of humor. 
They admire his courage in the face of adversity. And a few past Members 
of the Rules Committee even liked his singing voice. Notice I said a 
few. [Laughter]
    But above everything else, Joe Moakley has brought honor to his 
profession. Some people run for office by trying to tear down

[[Page 443]]

the institutions of Government; not this man from South Boston. Joe 
loves the United States Congress, and he loves public service.
    Like Robert Kennedy, another son of Massachusetts, Joe Moakley 
considers politics to be an honorable profession, an opportunity for 
achievement, and a truly exciting adventure. If Speaker McCormack and 
Speaker O'Neill were here today, they would have a simple tribute to 
this good man: Well done, John Joseph Moakley. You served your 
constituents and your Congress and your country with honor and 
distinction.
    Congressman Moakley.

Note: The President spoke at 2:02 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. H.R. 559, approved March 13, was assigned Public Law No. 107-2. 
The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
included the remarks of Representative Moakley.