[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 26 (Monday, June 28, 2004)]
[Pages 1141-1144]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom

June 23, 2004

    The President. Welcome to the White House. Laura and I are delighted 
to see all of you, especially the men and women we

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honor today and their families. We're glad you're here.
    This afternoon I have the privilege of presenting our Nation's 
highest civil award. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes 
achievement in public service, in science and education, entertainment, 
the arts, athletics, business, and other fields. As the citations will 
indicate, each of the men and women has led of life of accomplishment 
and distinction and holds special respect among the people of the United 
States.
    One of this year's recipients is a world leader who is known, 
respected, and loved as perhaps no other figure of our time. Three weeks 
ago it was my honor to visit Vatican City and present the Medal of 
Freedom to Pope John Paul II. We're honored that His Holiness is 
represented here today by Archbishop Montalvo. We're also pleased that 
the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal McCarrick, is with us.
    For nearly 26 years as supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, 
he has been one of the great voices for good in the world, guiding the 
souls of the faithful and sometimes guiding history itself. From his 
days as a young seminarian to this very hour, he's been a foe of 
tyranny, a minister of true authority, and a person of great wisdom and 
kindness and moral courage. The world is far different and far better 
because this son of Poland has occupied the chair of Saint Peter.
    The Medal of Freedom was also presented last December to Robert L. 
Bartley, shortly before his death at age 66. I had the honor of 
informing Robert L. Bartley that he had won this great award by 
telephone. Bob Bartley was a man of great intellect and conviction. And 
with those qualities, for more than 30 years, he led the editorial staff 
of the Wall Street Journal. The goodness of his values, the clarity of 
his thinking, and the high quality of his writing earned him the 
Pulitzer Prize in 1980. His belief in free markets and his faith in the 
wisdom of democracy is still seen in the writings of the many 
journalists Bob Bartley encouraged. They and the Nation are grateful for 
his life's work, and we are honored to have Bob's wife, Edith, with us 
today.
    The life of Dr. Vartan Gregorian began in Iran, in a town called 
Tabriz. As a boy, he loved books and was blessed with a wonderful 
grandmother who encouraged him and inspires him still. His great gift 
has been to share his love of learning with others, as president of 
Brown University, president of the New York Public Library, and now as 
president of the Carnegie Corporation. Along the way, Dr. Gregorian has 
won the loyal friendship of many students and colleagues, and he has 
received more than 50 honorary degrees. And today the Nation honors one 
of our most respected academic leaders.
    Ambassador Ron Lauder and Leonard Lauder are here to receive the 
Medal of Freedom on behalf of their mother, who passed away in April. 
The posthumous award to Estee Lauder recognizes the great American 
success story that began with an immigrant family in Queens, New York. 
For this woman born in 1908, rising to the top of the business world was 
not easy. Estee Lauder built a global cosmetic company, she said, ``not 
by dreaming or hoping for it but by working for it.'' Hers became one of 
the most famous American names in the world. And with this medal, 
America proudly remembers the great achievements of Estee Lauder.
    Rita Moreno has also found success in New York, having found her way 
there from Puerto Rico. She first performed on stage as a young girl and 
was on Broadway by age 13. Rita is remembered by many for her Oscar-
winning performance in West Side Story. But the years since have been 
filled with memorable performances by a lady of incredible talent and 
style, energy and beauty. To a collection that includes the Oscar, the 
Tony, the Emmy, and the Grammy, Rita Moreno may now add the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom, and we give this honor with affection and 
appreciation.
    On a January night in 1888, a group of men, meeting not far from the 
White House, founded the National Geographic Society. In the years 
since, the society has flourished, thanks in large part to a family 
named Grosvenor. Gilbert Melville Grosvenor is the fifth generation of 
his family to hold the title, president of the society. As chairman of 
the society's board of trustees and earlier as president, he has 
maintained the excellent standards and reputation that we rightly 
associate with the National Geographic.

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    Gil has also furthered the Society's mission of protecting land and 
wildlife, teaching young people about geography, and instilling in 
readers a respect for other cultures and nations of the world. We honor 
him today for his good stewardship of a great American institution.
    Walter Wriston is unable to attend this afternoon but is represented 
here by his daughter, Catherine, and his brother-in-law, Robert. More 
than 60 years ago, Walter Wriston worked here in Washington at the 
Department of State, Mr. Secretary. After serving his country further as 
an Army officer in World War II, he set out to find work in New York.
    Plenty of jobs were available in banking, but Walter said banking 
was at the top of his list of everything dull. [Laughter] In the decades 
that followed, while rising to the leadership of Citibank and Citicorp, 
Walter Wriston made the industry a lot more interesting, ushering in an 
era of unprecedented innovation and improved service. He saw the trends 
of the future, and he started a few of his own, first among them, 
electronic banking. We honor him today for his great foresight, his 
principled corporate leadership, and we thank him for all he has done to 
extend the opportunities of our free enterprise system.
    Norm Podhoretz ranks among the most prominent American editors of 
the 20th century. And he's doing pretty well in the 21st. [Laughter] 
Never a man to tailor his opinions to please others, Mr. Podhoretz has 
always written and spoken with directness and honesty. Sometimes 
speaking the truth has carried a cost. Yet, over the years, he has only 
gained in stature among his fellow writers and thinkers. Today we pay 
tribute to this fierce intellectual man and his fine writing and his 
great love for our country.
    The story is told that on election night, 1962, President John F. 
Kennedy heard that his home State had just elected a black man as 
attorney general. The President said, ``That's the biggest news in the 
country.'' Bigger news would follow in the career of Edward William 
Brooke III.
    Within 4 years, this decorated Army veteran would become the first 
African American ever elected by popular vote to the United States 
Senate. And when he came to the Senate, he was coming home. He was the 
youngest child of Helen and Edward Brooke, Jr. He was raised right here 
in Washington, and here he learned the values that led him to a lifetime 
of service.
    Twenty-five years after leaving office, Senator Brooke is remembered 
for the high intellect and superb judgment he brought to the Senate. And 
across our Nation, the Senator is still admired as an historic figure, a 
man of honor, and one of America's most distinguished public servants.
    Dr. Arnall Patz will always be known as the man who has given to 
uncounted men, women, and children the gift of sight. As a 32-year-old 
ophthalmologist, Dr. Patz was the first to understand that the practice 
of giving high levels of oxygen to premature infants was causing an 
epidemic of blindness in babies. For more than a half-century, his name 
has been the gold standard in the field of researching the causes and 
treatment of eye disease. One of the first awards Dr. Patz received was 
presented many years ago by Helen Keller. Today, with the Medal of 
Freedom, this great healer receives the thanks of our entire Nation.
    Millions of Americans reserve a special respect for Gordon B. 
Hinckley, who still works every day as president of the Mormon Church, 
and who on this very day turns 94 years old. Mr. Hinckley is the 
grandson of Mormon pioneers and has given devoted service to his church 
since 1935. He's always shown the heart of a servant and the gifts of a 
leader. Through his discipline and faithfulness, he has proven a worthy 
successor to the many fine leaders before him. His church has given him 
its highest position of trust, and today this wise and patriotic man 
receives his country's highest civil honor.
    Doris Day could not be with us this morning, but this beautiful lady 
is a special presence in American life. I called her yesterday and told 
her she would be missed. I told her to watch C-SPAN--[laughter]--just in 
case I said something nice about her. [Laughter] Even when Harry Truman 
lived in the White House, all of America knew the name of the girl who 
sang ``Sentimental Journey'' over the radio.

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    In the years since, she has kept her fans and shown the breadth of 
her talent in television and the movies. She starred on screen with 
leading men from Jimmy Stewart to Ronald Reagan, from Rock Hudson to 
James Garner. It was a good day for America when Doris Marianne von 
Kappelhoff of Evanston, Ohio, decided to become an entertainer. It was a 
good day for our fellow creatures when she gave her good heart to the 
cause of animal welfare. Doris Day is one of the greats, and America 
will always love its sweetheart.
    For all who love the game of golf and for those who love to see it 
played, there has never been a sight in the game quite like Arnold 
Palmer walking down the fairway toward the 18th green. The announcer Vin 
Scully once said, ``In a sport that was high society, Arnold Palmer made 
it `High Noon.' '' [Laughter] For more than 50 years, over thousands of 
miles of fairway, and in 92 professional championships, Arnold has given 
his all, playing with style and a daring that changed the game of golf. 
He drew millions of fans, and every big crowd we see at a golf 
tournament today started with Arnie's Army. The father who had taught 
him to play golf at Latrobe Country Club would be very proud today of 
Arnold Daniel Palmer.
    And now I ask the military aide to read the Medal of Freedom 
Citations.

[At this point, Maj. Steven T. Fischer, USA, Army Aide to the President, 
read the citations, and the President presented the medals.]

    The President. Thank you again for coming. Congratulations. Laura 
and I now ask you to join us at a reception to honor these remarkable 
Americans and, of course, His Holy Father. God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 4:13 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, 
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America; and Theodore E. 
Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington.