Home > 2002 Presidential Documents > pd07ja02 Nominations Submitted to the Senate...pd07ja02 Nominations Submitted to the Senate...
Sincerely,
George W. Bush
Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the
Senate.
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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 6-8]
Pages 1-9
Week Ending Friday, January 4, 2002
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.
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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;
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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.
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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 8]
Pages 1-9
Week Ending Friday, January 4, 2002
________________________________________________________________________
Digest of Other White House Announcements
________________________________________________________________________
The following list includes the President's public schedule and other
items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary
and not included elsewhere in this issue.
________________________________________________________________________
December 29
During the day, from the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX, the President
had separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee of India and President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan to urge
them to take measures to ease tensions in South Asia. Later, he had a
telephone conversation with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United
Kingdom to discuss the situation in South Asia.
December 31
The President announced the appointment of Zalmay Khalilzad as
Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan.
January 1
The President issued an emergency declaration for areas struck by
record and near-record snowfall in New York.
January 4
In the morning, the President traveled to Austin, TX, and later
returned to Crawford, TX.
The President announced his intention to nominate Steven Robert
Blust to be a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission and to be
designated Chairman upon confirmation.
The President announced his intention to nominate Deborah Matz to be
a member of the National Credit Union Administration Board.
The President announced his intention to nominate Mark Sullivan to
be U.S. Executive Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development.
The President announced his intention to appoint Vernadette Ramirez
Broyles to be a member of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention.
<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 8]
Pages 1-9
Week Ending Friday, January 4, 2002
________________________________________________________________________
Nominations Submitted to the Senate
________________________________________________________________________
Note: No nominations were submitted to the Senate during the period
covered by this issue.
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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 8-9]
Pages 1-9
Week Ending Friday, January 4, 2002
________________________________________________________________________
Checklist of White House Press Releases
________________________________________________________________________
The following list contains releases of the Office of the Press
Secretary that are neither printed as items nor covered by entries in
the Digest of Other White House Announcements.
________________________________________________________________________
Released December 31
Statement by the Deputy Press Secretary on the appointment of the
Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan
Released January 1
Statement by the Deputy Press Secretary on disaster assistance to New
York
Released January 2
Statement by the Deputy Press Secretary on the designation of 35 sub-
Saharan African countries as eligible for tariff preferences
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under the African Growth and Opportunity Act
Statement by the Deputy Press Secretary: Changes to U.S. Dual-Use Export
Controls
Fact sheet: Changes to U.S. Dual-Use Export Controls
Released January 3
Other Popular 2002 Presidential Documents Documents:
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