[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 39 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Pages 1261-1262]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a United States Reception in New York City

September 23, 2003

    The President. Thank you all very much. Please be seated. [Laughter]
    Audience member. Not everyone has a seat.
    The President. Unless you don't have a chair. [Laughter] For the 
sake of world harmony, I will give a short speech--[laughter]--and then 
we can all go to bed. [Laughter]
    First, I want to thank the American Museum of Natural History for 
their wonderful hospitality. We've got trustees here and the leadership 
of this fantastic place. It's such a wonderful opportunity for Laura and 
me and our delegation to show off one of the really fantastic landmarks 
of New York City. So on behalf of our delegation, thanks for your 
wonderful hospitality. It's a beautiful place to have a wonderful 
reception.
    Laura and I and the Secretary are honored to welcome the Presidents 
and Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers and U.N. Ambassadors and 
anybody else who managed to sneak in tonight. [Laughter] We're glad 
you're here. It's been a fantastic reception for us, and thank you for 
coming.
    I really want to say quickly a word about Kofi Annan. I admire his 
decency and his vision and his compassion for our fellow human beings. 
He's a great leader of the United Nations, and we're proud to call him 
friend.
    Somebody whispered in my ear that Mayor Bloomberg is here. He is the 
mayor of New York City. Michael is the mayor of a great city. On 
September the 11th, this Nation saw the remarkable spirit of the people 
who live in this city. We'll always remember how our fellow citizens who 
happen to be New Yorkers instantly rallied to help their neighbors in 
need. New York's famous skyline was wounded, but its spirit remained 
steadfast.
    In pursuing the terrorists, we honor the memory of the fallen, and 
we defend civilization itself. I want all the world leaders to remember 
that. In working to alleviate poverty, disease, and human suffering, we 
spread hope to millions, and we undermine the

[[Page 1262]]

ideologies of resentment and hate and terror. The United Nations plays a 
vital role in all these efforts, and all our nations have a duty to 
advance its founding principles of tolerance and freedom and human 
rights.

    A wing of this building is named for Theodore Roosevelt. He was one 
of my predecessors. He was a warrior for peace who faced the world 
without illusions, and I want to quote what he said. He said, ``If we 
are to be a really great people, we must strive in good faith to play a 
great part in the world. We cannot avoid meeting great issues. All that 
we can determine for ourselves is whether we shall meet them well or 
ill.''

    He was speaking for Americans, but his words are true of every 
people in the world today. We're meeting great issues of security and 
compassion, and we must and we will meet them well.

    Welcome to New York. May God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 8:47 p.m. at the American Museum of Natural 
History. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary-General Kofi Annan of 
the United Nations.