[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 41 (Monday, October 15, 2001)]
[Pages 1465-1468]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Reception Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month

October 12, 2001

    Thank you all. Thank you very much. Please be seated. Bienvenidos. 
Here's the way I like to put it: Mi casa blanca es su casa blanca. 
[Laughter]
    We're gathered here to celebrate the contributions of Hispanic-
Americans to our life. In a few moments, I will sign an Executive order 
creating a commission on educational excellence for Hispanic-Americans, 
to open new doors of opportunity for Hispanic boys and girls all across 
America.
    Before I do, I have some thanks. First, I want to thank mi abogado y 
tambien mi amigo. I want to thank Judge Gonzales for his sound advice. I 
love him dearly.
    I want to thank the boys and girls for leading us in the pledge. 
Thank you all for being here. I don't know whether you know this or not, 
but 52 million other children joined us at 2 o'clock today, saying the 
Pledge of Allegiance, all across America. The past weeks have given new 
meaning to those old words and have only deepened our allegiance to our 
Nation and to our flag.
    I want to thank Jaci and Arturo for lending their voice and horn to 
this room. We've had

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some great music here throughout the years, and it's going to be hard to 
top what we heard today. I want to thank them both for coming. I want to 
thank all los voces Americanos that sang today. I am honored that you 
all are here. I love your music. I love your passion. I love your love 
for America. And we're glad you're here.
    And I'm glad America got to see some of our country's finest artists 
perform here in the East Room on a song that talks about the solidarity 
and love for our country, a love that knows no bounds, a love that knows 
no culture, a love that everybody can share who's lucky enough to live 
in America. And you all are welcome. Thank you for coming.
    I want to thank Emilio, especially, for lending your talents. The 
last time you were here was Cinco de Mayo. I said, ``The next time you 
come, make sure you bring Gloria.'' [Laughter] It just goes to show the 
power of the Presidency. [Laughter] I want to thank Luis Palau, as well, 
for your prayer. And I want to thank Don Francisco, as well. It's good 
to see you again, sir. Thank you for coming.
    I'm proud that there's dos Embajadores aqui, uno de Mexico--good to 
see you, Ambassador Juan Jose Bremer from Mexico, y tambien--y tambien 
el Embajador de Espana esta aqui, Javier--bienvenidos, Javier. I should 
have said there was three Ambassadors. I meant, two Ambassadors to 
America, but one of--a friend of mine, I named the Ambassador to the 
Dominican Republic has joined us, Hans Hertell. Hans, good to see you, 
Hans.
    I named a person who participated in Operation Pedro Pan. For those 
of you who don't know Operation Pedro Pan, years ago, Cuban moms and 
dads put their sons or daughters on a boat to America in order that they 
could live freely. They were uncertain about their own fate, but they 
knew they wanted their children to grow up in America, one of whom is 
now here. He's in my Cabinet, Mel Martinez.
    I named a good man to be on the U.S. Court of Appeals, the DC 
Circuit, a man named Miguel Estrada. Miguel, where are you? Thank you 
for coming, Miguel.
    You know, there's a lot of talk in Washington about making sure we 
have diversity on our courts, and there should be. I ask the Senate to 
move this man's nomination through. He's smart. He's capable. He needs 
that job. America needs to have him on the bench. Get him moving, before 
it's too late.
    Ambassador to the OAS representing America, Roger Noriega. There he 
is--Roger. How are you? The next time, we'll try to get you a better 
seat. [Laughter] Either that, or show up on time. [Laughter]
    Al Rascon, who is the National Director of the U.S. Selective 
Service and, more importantly, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, is 
with us today. Thank you, Al, for being here.
    A man whose service has been called upon a lot, particularly for the 
businesses that were severely affected during the attack, Hector 
Barreto, the SBA Director. Leslie Sanchez, who is the Executive Director 
to the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic 
Americans. Where are you, Leslie? Leslie, right in front of me. The 
Treasurer of the United States, Rosario Marin--Rosario. Cristina 
Saralegui--where is she? Cristina.
    As you know, I used to be associated with the baseball world. And 
we're honored to have some Major Leaguers here with us today. And we've 
got a great White Sox outfielder. Donde esta Senor Ordonez from the 
White Sox? There he is. Como esta, Magglio? Welcome. Glad you're here.
    Another Ordonez, Rey Ordonez. Good to see you, Rey. Thank you for 
coming. Maybe next year. [Laughter]
    Nelson Figueroa de la Phillies. Good to see you, Nelson. Thank you 
for coming. I'll get you afterwards. And from the San Francisco Giants, 
Russ Ortiz. Russ, thank you for coming. I'm honored you all are here. 
Thanks for coming. Thanks for setting a good example. Thanks for 
understanding that people look at you off the field of play as well as 
on the field of play. It's important that there be--young boys and girls 
look up to our baseball players and see a good example, and you're 
setting that. We're honored that you're here with us.
    We also have three with us today who represent the thousands of 
Hispanic-Americans who serve in law enforcement and public safety. It's 
been a particularly trying time in

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New York City for the firefighters and police officers. Fortunately, we 
have three gentlemen today who represent those fine men and women--
Anthony Miranda of the New York City Latino Officers Association. 
Anthony, thank you for coming. Let me try this a different way. 
[Laughter] We have two others to introduce. [Laughter] From the Hispanic 
Society of the New York City Police Department, we've got Louis 
Hernandez and--[laughter]--from the Hispanic Society of the New York 
City Fire Department, Miguel Ramos. Now, thank you all for coming. Good 
job. Thanks for coming.
    It is clear America is pulling for you all. And please pass on the 
word to the men and women who wear the uniform how proud we are and how 
much we mourn with you and how heroic you have been. The Nation 
appreciates it very much.
    You know, obviously this is a time of great national unity. The evil 
ones struck, but they forgot who they were striking, evidently. They 
thought they were going to weaken us, but they didn't. We're strong and 
united. I've been amazed by the incredible acts of kindness that I've 
heard about. And obviously, we've all been impressed by the acts of 
heroism. This is the good news that has come during this tragedy. We've 
all come to realize how much we need each other.
    Today there's been another reported case of anthrax in New York City 
at NBC News. And it has got to cause concern for our Nation. But I want 
everybody in the country to know we're responding rapidly. First of all, 
the person is feeling fine. She's doing well. She obviously didn't 
ingest enough to cause death, thank God. But we've got teams on the 
ground--the CDC, Center for Disease Control, the FBI, working closely 
with local agencies to respond quickly.
    Our Nation is still in danger. But the Government is doing 
everything in our power to protect our citizenry. We need each other 
more than ever, and we're responding as quickly and as forcefully as we 
can.
    The American people need to go about their lives. We cannot let the 
terrorists lock our country down. We can't let terrorists, a few 
evildoers, hold us hostage. Our Government will fight terrorism across 
the seas, and we'll fight it here at home. And the American people need 
to fight terrorism, as well, by going to work, going to ball games, 
getting on airplanes, singing with joy and strength, like you all did 
today. They will not take this country down.
    We will not be cowed, and we're certainly not going to be divided. 
The evil ones, as well as the rest of the world, are learning that we're 
a nation made up of many cultures, many races, and many religions, but 
we are one strong nation.
    We've suffered loss together; we have entered a mighty struggle 
together; and we will prevail together. The diversity of America has 
always been--always been--a great strength of this country. Here, you 
can be proud of your cultural heritage, proud of your ancestry, proud of 
your native language, and still be a proud American.
    We see the spirit of pride today, most vividly in the ties between 
our country and los que viven en Latin America--y tambien el sur de 
America. A lifetime in Texas has given me many things to be thankful 
for; one of them, for certain, is my appreciation for the Hispanic 
culture. I realize how much the Hispanic culture has enriched my State. 
And I realize how much the Hispanic culture enriches my Nation, as well.
    This month, our country recognizes just how much we owe to the 
Hispanic culture and, more important, to the Hispanic-Americans we're 
proud to call our fellow citizens. And we do so--as we do so, we 
recognize as well our obligation to ensure that every American has an 
equal place in our society from the earliest years in life.
    This Nation of immigrant heritage believes that all children, 
whatever their circumstances, deserve a chance to learn and rise and 
succeed. This principle has guided my education reforms as we work to 
raise the standards of public schools across America and bring hope to 
every classroom for every child--I mean every child, not just a few, not 
just those whose parents may speak English. We want educational 
excellence para todos que viven en este pais.
    So today I am creating a commission to help chart the path to 
greater achievement amongst Hispanic-American students in every part of 
our country. I am pleased to sign this order in front of such 
distinguished

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company. And I'm proud--I'm proud--to be the President of such a great 
nation.
    Thank you for coming. And God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 2:15 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Albert R. Gonzales, White House 
Counsel; Jaci Vasquez, who sang the National Anthem; trumpet player 
Arturo Sandoval; entertainer Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio 
Estefan, Jr.; Dr. Luis Palau, president, Luis Palau Evangelistic 
Association, who gave the invocation; Don Francisco, host of Sabado 
Gigante; Spanish Ambassador to the U.S. Francisco Javier Ruperez; 
Christina Saralegui, host of El Show de Christina; Rey Ordonez, 
shortstop, New York Mets; Anthony Miranda, president, Latino Officers 
Association--City of New York; Louis Hernandez, president, NYPD Hispanic 
Society; and Miguel Ramos, president, NYFD Hispanic Society.