[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 51 (Monday, December 20, 2004)]
[Pages 2944-2946]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom

December 14, 2004

    The President. Good morning, and welcome to the White House. Laura 
and I are proud to have you all here today, especially our three 
honorees and their families and their friends.
    The Presidential Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civil 
award, given to men and women of exceptional merit, integrity, and 
achievement. Today this honor goes to three men who have played pivotal 
roles in great events and whose efforts have made our country more 
secure and advanced the cause of human liberty.
    George Tenet learned the value of hard work as a busboy in the 20th 
Century Diner, the family restaurant in Queens, New York. Between work 
and school and athletics, George always kept up with current events and 
world affairs, and that enthusiasm led him into public service.
    In Washington, George immersed himself in the field of intelligence 
work. After a long career in the legislative and executive branches of 
Government, George was tapped by President Bill Clinton to run the 
Agency he loved. His challenges at the CIA were many. George acted 
quickly and aggressively to rebuild the Agency's capabilities. He made 
the recruitment of new talent a top priority. Applications to join the 
Agency have now soared to more than 138,000 per year. Under George's 
leadership, the number of yearly graduates from the Clandestine Service 
Training Program have increased nearly sixfold. And just about every CIA 
officer can tell you a story about Director Tenet's hands-on style of 
management. He was often seen in the hallways, chewing on an unlit 
cigar--[laughter]--or showing up at their cafeteria table and talking 
shop.
    George and his wife, Stephanie, came to know the people of the CIA, 
and the people of the CIA came to know them as decent, caring people who 
love their country and love their family, especially their son, John 
Michael.
    Early in his tenure as DCI, George Tenet was one of the first to 
recognize and address the growing threat to America from radical 
terrorist networks. Immediately after the attacks of September the 11th, 
George was ready with a plan to strike back at Al Qaida and to topple 
the Taliban. CIA officers were on the ground in Afghanistan within days. 
Seasoned American intelligence officers, armed with laptop computers, 
Afghan clothes, and a visionary plan, rode horseback with the fighters 
of the Northern Alliance, identified key targets for our military, and 
helped to free a nation.
    Since those weeks, CIA officers have remained on the hunt for Al 
Qaida killers. More than three-quarters of Al Qaida key members and 
associates have been killed or detained, and the majority were stopped 
as a result of CIA efforts. CIA officers were also among the first to 
enter the battle in Iraq, alongside their colleagues in uniform. In 
these years of challenge for our country, the men and women of the CIA 
have been on the frontlines of an urgent cause, and the whole Nation 
owes them our gratitude.
    George is rightly proud of the people of the Agency, and I have been 
proud to work with George. George has carried great authority without 
putting on airs, because he remembers his roots. There's still a lot of 
Queens in George Tenet. [Laughter] A colleague once said that ``George 
has the intellect of a scholar and the demeanor of a longshoreman.'' 
[Laughter] His tireless efforts have brought justice to America's 
enemies and greater security to the American people. And today we honor 
a fine public servant and patriot in George John Tenet.
    General Tommy Franks was raised in Midland, Texas. Nothing wrong 
with that. [Laughter] I didn't know him then, but Laura and he went to 
the same high school. In those days, some people in Midland wondered 
about Tommy's future. Sounds familiar. [Laughter] At a recent high 
school reunion, Tommy's old principal told the general, ``You weren't 
the brightest bulb in the socket,'' to which the general replied, 
``Ain't this a great country?'' [Laughter]

[[Page 2945]]

    America rewards talent, intelligence, and hard work, and the career 
of Tommy Franks is living proof. Tommy dropped out of college after 2 
years to enlist in the Army. He quickly rose to become an officer, 
graduating from Officer Candidate School with honors and beginning his 
ascent through the ranks. He went on to finish his degree and earn one 
more. And he made the best decision of his life when he asked a young 
lady named Cathy Carley to marry him.
    Tommy Franks served in Germany and Korea, at the Pentagon, and at 
the Army War College. He served in the Persian Gulf war. He served in 
Vietnam, where he was wounded twice. Yet his greatest challenges and his 
greatest service came after the attacks on September the 11th.
    As the commander of CENTCOM, Tommy Franks held responsibility for 
defending American interests in some of the most remote and difficult 
terrain in the world. It's a job that requires the toughness of a 
general, the foresight of a strategist, the tact of a diplomat, and the 
skill of a good manager. Tommy Franks led the forces that fought and won 
two wars in the defense of the world's security and helped liberate more 
than 50 million people from two of the worst tyrannies in the world.
    In Afghanistan, America and our allies, with a historically small 
force and a brilliant strategy, defeated the Taliban in just a few short 
weeks. The general likes to say that ``no plan ever survived the first 
contact with the enemy.'' But in Iraq, Tommy Franks' plan did. A force 
half the size of the force that won the Gulf war defeated Saddam 
Hussein's regime and reached Baghdad in less than a month, the fastest, 
longest armored advance in the history of America warfare.
    Today, the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are building a secure and 
permanent democratic future. One of the highest distinctions of history 
is to be called a liberator, and Tommy Franks will always carry that 
title.
    General, the American people thank you for your courage, your 
leadership, and your lifetime of service in the cause of freedom and 
security. To the lists of medals and honors and awards you have already 
earned, I am proud to add the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
    Jerry Bremer is a diplomat, a philanthropist, a businessman, and a 
fashion pioneer. [Laughter] Everyone knows the Bremer look--coat, dress 
shirt and tie, and desert combat boots. [Laughter] Beyond the fashion 
statement, Jerry will be remembered for his superb work in laying the 
foundations of a new democracy in the Middle East.
    Jerry Bremer's life of service began in 1966, when he joined the 
Foreign Service. He was a special assistant to six different Secretaries 
of State and rose to become America's Ambassador to the Netherlands. In 
1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed Jerry Ambassador-at-Large for 
Counterterrorism. Eventually, Speaker Hastert named him Chairman of the 
National Commission on Terrorism, and I chose him to serve on my 
Homeland Security Advisory Council.
    When America and our coalition needed a seasoned diplomat and a 
manager to help the people of Iraq emerge from decades of oppression, I 
knew where to turn. For 14 months, Jerry Bremer worked day and night, in 
difficult, dangerous conditions, to stabilize the country, to help its 
people rebuild, and to establish a political process that would lead to 
justice and liberty. The job was demanding, requiring personal courage, 
calmness under fire, and hundreds of decisions every day. Yet, Jerry not 
only rose to the challenge, he found time nearly every day to study the 
Arabic language.
    Jerry Bremer earned the respect and admiration of Iraqis and helped 
to assemble an exceptional group of Iraqi leaders for the Governing 
Council. With his help, these leaders drafted the Transitional 
Administrative Law, which charted the country's political future and 
established a bill of rights. In the final days of hammering out 
consensus on this landmark law, Jerry sat through day-long meetings, 
sometimes without ever speaking. His silence was essential to reassure 
Iraqis that the new law was entirely their own. Yet his presence was 
essential to reassure Iraqis of our coalition's steadfast commitment to 
their future and their success. Every political benchmark that the 
Iraqis set for themselves and that Jerry helped them meet was achieved 
on time or ahead of schedule, including the transfer of sovereignty that 
ended his tenure.

[[Page 2946]]

    Sometimes, Iraqi officials would express doubts that the day would 
ever come. Jerry would pick up a photo of his granddaughter and say, 
``This is your guarantee I'm leaving.'' [Laughter]
    Jerry, I know your wife, Francie, and your children, Paul and Leila, 
and your granddaughter, Sophia, are really glad to have you back.
    When Jerry Bremer greeted visitors at his office in Baghdad, he 
always began, ``Welcome to free Iraq.'' Jerry, Iraq is free today, and 
you helped make it so. And a free Iraq will help make generations of 
Americans more secure. Our Nation will always be grateful to Ambassador 
Jerry Bremer and his good work.
    These three men symbolize the nobility of public service, the good 
character of our country, and the good influence of America on the 
world.
    Now it is my honor to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and 
I ask the military aide to read the citations.

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

    The President. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I now invite you 
for a reception here to honor our honorees.
    Congratulations.

Note: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. in the East Room at the White 
House.