[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 1 (Monday, January 7, 2002)]
[Pages 6-8]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Unveiling of the President's Portrait in Austin, Texas

January 4, 2002

    Thank you. Thank you, Laura. You need to know, I listen to her every 
day. [Laughter] Whatever success we've had is because she's constantly 
telling me what to do. [Laughter] I'm proud of Laura, and I can't tell 
you what a great job she has done for America--you know that, yourself. 
But she brings such a steadiness and a calm resolve, and I'm really 
proud of her.
    I want to thank the Governor and the first lady. Thank you all very 
much for your hospitality. It's great to see the Lieutenant Governor and 
Sally, the Speaker and Nelda. It's good to see you all. I can't help but 
notice that my friend Jan Bullock is here, as well. Jan, thank you for 
coming.
    We've got all kinds of dignitaries here. I want to thank you for 
taking time out of your day to come and witness my hanging. [Laughter] 
Fortunately, it's my portrait. [Laughter]
    I'm particularly pleased to be here with the artist. Now, I was 
somewhat concerned when Laura told me that the Gentlings were famous 
painters of birds--[laughter]--but they would make time to paint my 
picture. [Laughter] Pretty tough old bird here to paint, wasn't I? 
[Laughter] But I appreciate, Scott, your taking time to try to figure me 
out. It's a real pleasure for me to work with you. I know it's a 
challenge from your part, but it looks like you did me justice, and I 
thank you. And it's also good to see your brother, Stuart.
    The Gentlings are a part of the really fantastic artistic community 
we have here in Texas. These guys may seem a little odd when you meet 
them upstairs, but they're really good at what they do. [Laughter]
    I've got to tell you, I was talking with Bomer last night, and we 
started laughing about all the wonderful times we had in this building. 
And as I look around the room, I see many who helped make that happen. 
This was a joyous 6 years for us here.
    It kind of reminds me of what Harry Truman said. He said, ``I've 
tried never to forget who I was or where I'd come from and where I was 
going back to.'' And that's what this Capitol says to us. And so does 
Crawford, by the way. It's our home.
    One of the things that happened here is that we made a lot of 
friends. You know, sometimes in politics, friends are just a fleeting 
memory. But that's not the case for us. Our friends are permanent parts 
of our life. We don't view such things as political friends. You're 
either our friend, or you're not our friend, no matter what your 
politics are like.
    That's why we have got such fond memories of working with Pete and 
Nelda Laney. Oh, I know he's got the Democrat label, but somehow our 
relationship transcended that. And the same with Bullock. I can't help 
but chuckle about our breakfasts that we used to have in this building, 
Pete, with Bullock. I'd like to share some of the stories with the 
people watching on C-SPAN--[laughter]--but unfortunately, I can't repeat 
them in mixed company. [Laughter]
    But the truth of the matter is, whether it be the Speaker or Bullock 
or Janelle or others, from both parties, we came in this building with 
one desire, to do what's right for Texas. We've got political labels 
around our name, no question about it. But we made up our mind to try to 
figure out what was best for our State and to work together.

[[Page 7]]

    And so I went up to Washington with a wonderful sense of being able 
to get things done, because of my relationships and my experience here 
in the State Capitol. I still believe that can happen. But sometimes 
Washington needs to figure out that politics isn't what's most 
important; the people are what's most important.
    And so I'm going to take that can-do Texas spirit to Washington for 
however long I'm there and remind people that results are matter--
results are what matters, not rhetoric; remind people that if you're 
willing to share credit, if you're willing to tell the other person that 
you're going to succeed, as well, amazing things can happen; and remind 
people that our country, just like our State, is much bigger than the 
political process.
    Those are the lessons I learned here in this State Capitol. I also 
learned you cannot succeed without a good team around you. There's no 
such thing, in my judgment, as a one-man band when it comes to politics 
or being the Governor or being the President of the United States. 
You're only successful if you're able to convince a lot of good folks to 
join on the team and to empower them to achieve the common objectives.
    And that's exactly what we did here in Austin. I think history will 
show that the staff of Governor George Bush was one of the greatest 
staffs ever assembled. You should be applauding because you're the ones 
who were on the staff, in this room. [Applause]
    We had fun. We got some positive things done for Texas. We worked 
hard. And it was the memories that I'll never forget. And so I want to 
thank you all who worked on our team. It should be noted that many of 
them who were on this team moved to Washington: Pinky Allbaugh--
[laughter]--he's not here, so I can say it--[laughter]--Karen, of 
course; Karl Rove; Gonzales--I see Al is here, the chief attorney--
Margaret Spellings, she's got a new last name now--those of us who know 
her husband are somewhat amazed--[laughter]--Albert Hawkins; Harriet 
Miers.
    These are all the folks that I rely on. These are people who have 
got great judgment and care deeply about our country. And America is 
really better off by the fact that they decided to make a huge 
sacrifice, leave their beloved State and go to Washington, DC.
    We also have got a lot of others up there that many of you knew: 
Ashley, Izzy, Logan--it's such an honor for Logan to know that we named 
one of our cows after him that was recently born--[laughter]--Margaret 
Wilson and Stuart Bowen and Vickers Meadows; Pat Wood. These are all 
folks--we worked together here in Austin--who are now serving our 
Nation. And I truly believe America is better off as a result of the 
influx of Texans who showed up.
    I always will remember--and this painting helps remind me of the 
fact that all of us were a part of a larger story, a story much bigger 
than ourselves. Many have come before us, and many will follow. Mine is 
just one of 46 portraits in this Dome, and I'll always be in good 
company here.
    It is amazing for me to think, when I step back and think this will 
be hanging here forever, along with J. Pinckney Henderson. I didn't know 
Henderson very well. [Laughter] But I did read about Sam Houston or John 
Connolly and the first Texas Governor I ever knew, Allan Shivers. It's 
an honor to be hanging with these men.
    It's also amazing to think that it'll be here for a long, long time. 
I just hope Governor Richards doesn't mind being my neighbor for 
eternity. [Laughter]
    I want to thank you all for coming. It's a day I've really been 
looking forward to for a long time. We look forward to seeing you 
upstairs for the little coffee we're having.
    Again, I remember you; I won't forget Texas. It's a huge honor to be 
the President, by the way. But one of these days I'll be back, settled 
in, sitting on my porch in Crawford, looking for somebody to come and 
recount old war stories with.
    May God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 10:07 a.m. at the Texas State Capitol. In 
his remarks, he referred to Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and his wife, Anita 
Thigpen Perry; Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliffe of Texas and his wife, Sally; 
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives James E. ``Pete'' Laney 
and his wife, Nelda; Janelle Bullock, widow of former Lt. Gov. Bob 
Bullock of Texas; artists Scott and Stuart Gentling; Texas Secretary of 
State Elton Bomer;

[[Page 8]]

Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; 
Karen Hughes, Counselor to the President; Karl Rove, Senior Adviser to 
the President; Alberto R. Gonzales, Assistant to the President and White 
House Counsel; Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Margaret 
Spellings and her husband, Robert; Albert Hawkins, Assistant to the 
President and Secretary to the Cabinet; Harriet Miers, Assistant to the 
President and Staff Secretary; Ashley Estes, the President's Personal 
Secretary; Special Assistant to the President Israel ``Izzy'' Hernandez; 
Presidential Aide Logan Walters; Deputy Assistant to the President 
Stuart Bowen; Vickers B. Meadows, Assistant Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development; Patrick Henry Wood III, Chairman, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission; and former Gov. Ann Richards of Texas.