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Note: The address was recorded at 10:16 a.m. on November 30 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 
1. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on November 30 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of this address.

[[Page 1739]]


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[Page 1739]
 
Pages 1737-1769
 
Week Ending Friday, December 7, 2001
 
Statement on the Bombings in Israel

December 1, 2001

    I was horrified and saddened to learn of the bombings that took 
place tonight in Jerusalem. I strongly condemn them as acts of murder 
that no person of conscience can tolerate and no cause can ever justify. 
On behalf of the American people, I extend my deepest sympathy and 
condolences to the families of the victims, to my friend Prime Minister 
Sharon, and to all the people of Israel. Chairman Arafat and the 
Palestinian Authority must immediately find and arrest those responsible 
for these hideous murders. They must also act swiftly and decisively 
against the organizations that support them. Now more than ever, 
Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority must demonstrate through 
their actions, and not merely their words, their commitment to fight 
terror.


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[Page 1739]
 
Pages 1737-1769
 
Week Ending Friday, December 7, 2001
 
Remarks on Arrival From Camp David, Maryland

December 2, 2001

Bombings in Israel

    In a couple of minutes I'll have the honor of receiving the Prime 
Minister from Israel. We obviously changed our schedule because of the 
horrific acts of murder that took place in his land.
    I will tell him that I strongly condemn the acts of murder that 
killed innocent people in Israel. I will tell him our Nation grieves for 
those whose lives have been affected by the murderers.
    This is a moment where the advocates for peace in the Middle East 
must rise up and fight terror. Chairman Arafat must do everything in his 
power to find those who murdered innocent Israelis and bring them to 
justice.
    Clearly, there are some in the world who do not want us to achieve 
peace in the Middle East. Clearly, there are some that, every chance 
they have, they will use violence and terror to disrupt any progress 
that's being made. We must not allow them to succeed. We must not allow 
terror to destroy the chance of peace in the Middle East.
    Now is the time for leaders throughout the world who urge there to 
be a peace to do something about the terror that prevents peace from 
happening in the first place.
    May God bless the Israeli citizens who lost their lives, and their 
families.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:26 a.m. on the South Grounds at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon 
of Israel and Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority.


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[Page 1739-1741]
 
Pages 1737-1769
 
Week Ending Friday, December 7, 2001
 
Remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception

December 2, 2001

    Well, thank you all very much. Good evening, and welcome to the 
White House. Laura and I are so pleased to have all of you here for this 
incredibly happy occasion. We especially welcome the honorees, your 
families, and your friends.
    Every year, the Kennedy Center honors artists like yourselves for 
lifetime contributions to the American culture. The recipients for 2001 
make quite a collection. [Laughter] As one newspaper put it in the 
headline, this year's honorees can carry a tune--and then there's Jack. 
[Laughter] What the writer didn't know is that he actually plays the 
piano. But of course, that's not why he's here today. You're each here 
so that America can recognize your great gifts and the ways that you 
have used them.
    Van Cliburn was recently a guest at our ranch in Crawford, Texas, at 
a dinner for President Vladimir Putin of Russia. He's known many other 
leaders. In this house on December 1987, he played at a state dinner for 
the Gorbachevs and had the entire Soviet delegation singing ``Moscow 
Nights.'' [Laughter]
    Three decades earlier, Van visited the White House as a guest of 
President Eisenhower. He was 23 years old and winner of the Gold Medal 
at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. As a result, the whole world 
knew his name.
    Texas knew him even before, in a place called Kilgore. Harvey L. 
Cliburn, Jr., first touched the keys at the age of 3 and was

[[Page 1740]]

playing in public at the age of 4. Even a prodigy needs an inspiration, 
and Van Cliburn's was his devoted and talented mother. She became his 
music teacher, the only one he knew until he went to Juilliard.
    She, herself, studied under Arthur Friedheim, who studied under 
Liszt, who studied under Czerny, who studied with Beethoven. Wilda B. 
Cliburn lived a good, long life, and in her son's own words, he said, 
``Mother was always a fierce, wonderful, and loving critic.'' I know how 
you feel. [Laughter]
    He reached the summit early and stayed there. In his lifetime of 
talent and discipline, Van Cliburn has brought great beauty into the 
world, and the world is grateful.
    Great beauty has also been the gift of Julia Elizabeth Wells, whom 
we all know as Julie Andrews. The story is told of an important 
conference of world leaders some years ago. White House Chief of Staff 
Jim Baker came to the guesthouse where President Ronald Reagan was 
staying. He assumed the President had been up late, studying his 
briefing book, but then noticed the book hadn't been touched. And there 
was a good reason. The President said, ``Well, Jim, `The Sound of Music' 
was on last night.'' [Laughter] The face and voice of Julie Andrews has 
that effect on a lot of people.
    You're instantly captivated when you meet her and hear her. After 
seeing ``Mary Poppins,'' a reviewer put it this way: ``If she did 
nothing but stand there smiling for a few hours, she would cast her 
radiance everywhere. It would be enough, but how that girl can sing and 
dance. She glides off--it's more than you can bear. Julie, Julie, stay 
awhile.'' [Laughter]
    As a girl of 12, she was actually turned down in her first screen 
test. A talent scout declared her nonphotogenic. [Laughter] He was 
obviously applying standards unknown to the rest of mankind. [Laughter] 
Not only is Julie Andrews the living definition of photogenic, her range 
of talent extends from drama to musical to comedy to dance. And the 
range of her singing voice is four octaves, every note pure and 
powerful.
    We've all sung along with Julie Andrews, and we know she'll sing 
again. And while we wait, we will treasure the many films and recordings 
that capture the sound of Julie and bring happy memories to us all. 
They're the lasting achievements of the truly lovely and gracious lady 
we honor today.
    Luciano Pavarotti also achieved success at an early age, but in 
another profession. He was an insurance salesman. [Laughter] And people 
found him very persuasive. [Laughter] He had other plans, but his boss 
told him to stick with insurance. To Luciano this man actually said, and 
I quote, ``As a singer, you will undoubtedly die of starvation.'' 
[Laughter] Pavarotti later said that he got out of sales because all 
that talking was damaging his voice. [Laughter] That voice is now among 
the most familiar on the planet.
    He began in the chorus of his hometown, Modena, Italy, seated 
alongside the tenor he loved most, his dad, Fernando. He has commanded 
the stage before live audiences in the hundreds of thousands, leaving 
his listeners in a state of awe. The largesse of his voice and 
personality have drawn millions into the universe of classical music.
    In a career routinely compared to that of the great Caruso, Luciano 
Pavarotti has gained the acclaim and affection of the American people. 
There's no one quite like him. And we'll all remember the day we were in 
the presence of Maestro Pavarotti.
    Our fourth honoree is also worthy of the title ``maestro.'' To look 
at him, you wouldn't know it, but Quincy Jones is in his sixth decade in 
the music industry. This one man has done so much, his career defies any 
attempt at summary. But everyone knows that if something has the name 
``Quincy Jones'' on it, it is going to be good.
    Among his many talents is that rare ability to bring out the best in 
others. Dizzy Gillespie said, ``People go to Quincy Jones because he 
knows what he's doing. He knows the sound you've got in you, and he's 
got the know-how to get it out.''
    The man his friends call ``Q'' was born Quincy Delight Jones, Jr., 
on the south side of Chicago. He made his own way in the world with few 
advantages beyond his own talent, ambition, and class. Starting out in 
the band of Lionel Hampton, he would eventually win the Grammy 26 
times--so far. [Laughter] Quincy Jones has already received more 
nominations for the Grammy

[[Page 1741]]

than any other artist. He produced one of the best selling singles of 
all time and the best selling album of all time.
    All the hardship he knew early on has turned to good and creative 
purposes. His successful life is testimony to faith in himself, faith in 
America, and faith in our Creator. ``You can study orchestration,'' he 
said. ``You can study harmony and theory and everything else, but 
melodies come straight from God.''
    For all your marvelous work, America thanks you, Q, and so does W. 
[Laughter]
    Jack Nicholson once described himself as the kind of guy who just 
wants to blend in. [Laughter] Well, we always don't get what we wish 
for. [Laughter] If there is one thing the man can't do, it's disappear 
into the background.
    He was not trained as an actor, but he had a feeling it was his 
calling. As Jack had explained, he became interested in the craft when 
he noticed all the girls he liked were doing plays. [Laughter] Before 
long, he was working in a studio, sorting the mail. He was on the big 
screen at age 21 playing a variety of teens and drifters, perfect 
preparation for the film that made him a star, ``Easy Rider.'' We all 
remember his other great pictures: ``Five Easy Pieces,'' ``One Flew Over 
the Cuckoo's Nest,'' ``Chinatown,'' ``The Shining,'' ``A Few Good Men,'' 
``As Good As It Gets.''
    Everyone has a favorite scene and a favorite line delivered by Jack 
as only he can do it. Give him a scene in a diner where he just wants a 
piece of toast--[laughter]--and he'll make film history. [Laughter] His 
characters leave mixed emotions, always something to draw you in, always 
something to put you off.
    America cannot resist the mystery, the hint of menace, and of 
course, that killer smile. He doesn't rehearse, and he makes it look 
easy. His 11 Oscar nominations put him in a class with Katherine 
Hepburn, Sir Laurence Olivier. He's one of the handful of actors to win 
the Oscar 3 times.
    We pay him tribute today because John Joseph Nicholson is one of the 
true greats of this or any other generation of actors.
    I hope each of our honorees will enjoy the evening ahead. Perhaps 
it's a nice change that none of you will be called on to perform. This 
is an evening for appreciation, for looking back at all you've achieved, 
and for the part you continue to play in our national life.
    Congratulations, and thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 5:30 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Mikhail Gorbachev 
of Russia.


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[Page 1741-1742]
 
Pages 1737-1769
 
Week Ending Friday, December 7, 2001
 
Remarks on Departure for Orlando, Florida

December 4, 2001

Financial Fight Against Terror

    The President. Good morning. Today we take another important step in 
the financial fight against terror. From the beginning of this fight I 
have said our enemies are terrorist networks of global reach, and all 
who harbor them and support them are our enemies, as well. We began with 
Al Qaida and the Taliban. We identified some of Al Qaida's financial 
backers and we moved against their accounts.
    In November we advanced further and identified 22 more global 
terrorist organizations. And now we are moving against their financing, 
as well. At midnight yesterday the Treasury Department froze the assets 
and accounts of the Holy Land Foundation in Richardson, Texas, whose 
money is used to support the Hamas terror organization. Earlier today 
Federal agents secured the offices and records of the Holy Land 
Foundation in Texas, California, New Jersey, and Illinois as a part of 
an ongoing investigation. At the same time, we have blocked the accounts 
of an Hamas-linked bank, an Hamas-linked holding company based in the 
West Bank.
    The message is this: Those who do business with terror will do no 
business with the United States or anywhere else the United States can 
reach.
    Hamas is an extremist group that calls for the total destruction of 
the State of Israel. It is one of the deadliest terrorist organizations 
in the world today.
    Hamas openly claimed responsibility for this past weekend's suicide 
attacks in Israel that killed 25 innocent people, many of them 
teenagers, and wounded almost 200 other

[[Page 1742]]

people. Hamas is guilty of hundreds of other deaths over the years and 
just in the past 12 months have killed two Americans. And today we act.
    Hamas has obtained much of the money that it pays for murder abroad 
right here in the United States, money originally raised by the Holy 
Land Foundation. The Holy Land Foundation is registered with the IRS as 
a tax-exempt charity based in Richardson. It raised $13 million from 
people in America last year. The Holy Land Foundation claims that the 
money it solicits go to care for needy Palestinians in the West Bank and 
Gaza. Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is used by Hamas to 
support schools and indoctrinate children to grow up into suicide 
bombers. Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is also used by Hamas 
to recruit suicide bombers and to support their families.
    America has called on other nations to suppress the financing of 

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