[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 29 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[Pages 1222-1223]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a State Dinner Honoring President Kwasniewski

July 17, 2002

    Thank you all. Mr. President and Madam First Lady, it's a great 
privilege for Laura and I to host you here in the White House. Tonight's 
dinner is a small way of saying

[[Page 1223]]

dziekuja for the warm hospitality you showed us last year in Warsaw.
    Today, Poland and the United States are meeting the challenges of 
our times, sustained by bonds of kinship, culture, and commerce that 
unite our peoples. Two centuries ago, Poles fought for America's 
independence. Before and since, thousands of American communities have 
been enriched by the energies of millions of Poles who came here to 
settle.
    Mr. President, tomorrow we'll travel to Michigan to visit one of 
those communities. But pride requires me to point out that the oldest 
permanent Polish settlement in America can be found in my home State. In 
the fall of 1854, more than 100 Polish families traveled to the prairies 
of south Texas, seeking greater freedom and opportunity. They arrived at 
their destination on Christmas Eve, and they christened their new 
settlement Panna Maria, or Virgin Mary. The town is still there, a 
living symbol of our common ties.
    Just as Poles keep contributing to America's vitality, Poland keeps 
contributing to the vitality of the entire world. Poland's opposition to 
Soviet tyranny inspired half a continent and helped bring down an evil 
empire. And the passion for human dignity and iron integrity of a Polish 
Pope has added to the momentum of freedom around the globe. Freedom did 
not have to be imported into Poland. It is found naturally in the rhythm 
of every Polish heart, a commitment of conscience and faith stronger 
than the brutality of conquerors or the official lies of oppressors.
    In 1989, Poles on all sides of the ideological divide made an 
historic decision to build a society based on democracy and human rights 
and the rule of law. Two years later, more than 100 political parties 
participated in Poland's parliamentary elections, including one party 
called the Beer Lovers' Party. We're watching to see how much beer you 
drink tonight, Mr. President. [Laughter] All but a handful of these 
parties were committed to a Poland founded on freedom.
    In the decades since, Poland has continued to be an example for 
other nations seeking to claim their democratic future. And Poland has 
found what America has found, that democracy and free markets are 
honorable and just and indispensable to national progress.
    America and Poland are joined by a commitment to helping each other 
along freedom's road. Thomas Jefferson once wrote to Kosciuszko and 
praised him for being true to a single object, the freedom and happiness 
of man. Today, this single object defines Poland, itself, and it defines 
the partnership between Poland and America. Together, we can and we will 
complete the unification of Europe. We will reach out to Russia and 
Ukraine, and we will win the war against terror.
    Poland and America share a vision that is stronger than intolerance 
and hatred and bigotry. It is a vision of a world that is free and just, 
a world that respects people's dignity and rewards their enterprise and 
creativity.
    Mr. President, let us toast to friendship between our countries. 
Tonight the old Polish saying has new meaning in a new century: For your 
freedom and ours.

Note: The President spoke at 8:37 p.m. in the State Dining Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Jolanta Kwasniewska, wife of 
President Kwasniewski. The transcript released by the Office of the 
Press Secretary also included the remarks of President Kwasniewski.