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7344772
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Exchange of Remarks between the President and Takeo Miki and Roger L. Stevens [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7344772
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document
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Exchange of Remarks between the President and Takeo Miki and Roger L. Stevens [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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Japan
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7344772
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30
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1976-06-30
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6
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1976
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Digitized from Box 28 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 30, 1976
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
EXCHANGE OF REMARKS
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT
AND
TAKEO MIKI
PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
MITSUNORI UEKI
MINISTER OF STATE OF JAPAN
AND
ROGER L. STEVENS
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
THE ROSE GARDEN
11:33 A.M. EDT
PRIME MINISTER MIKI: Mr. President, Mr. Stevens,
ladies and gentlemen:
This moment fulfills my own wish, as well as a
desire of the Japanese people.
In this Bicentennial year of American independence
we wished to offer a gift which would be a permanent and
living link between our two cultures. The Kennedy Center
is the perfect place for this enduring reminder of Japan's
friendship.
I am pleased to introduce Minister of State
Mitsunori Ueki, who will make the presentation.
MINISTER OF STATE UEKI: Mr. President, Mr. Prime
Minister, Mr. Stevens, distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen:
This year, the United States of America celebrates
the 200th anniversary of its independence.
On behalf of the people of Japan, I should like
to express my most heartfelt congratulations to the American
people and their Nation on this happiest occasion of the
Bicentennial. Also, I wish to pay sincere respects to the
American people for their successful efforts in building
a prosperous United States, overcoming many difficulties
with that frontier spirit which inspires the American people
today, as they work for the attainment of everlasting world
peace.
MORE
Page 2
Prime Minister Miki, during his visit here in
Washington, D. C. last August, expressed his intention to
offer a gift from the people of Japan to the Kennedy Center
to complete the construction of a studio theatre, as a token
of goodwill and friendship from the Japanese people to the
American people on the occasion of the Bicentennial of
American Independence.
Today, here in the presence of President Ford and
Prime Minister Miki, and fulfilling the Prime Minister's
intention, it is the pleasure of the Japanese people, and
also my great honor to present to Mr. Stevens, Chairman of
the Board of the Trustees of the Kennedy Center, $3 million,
which is the amount required for the completion of the studio
theatre.
Upon the completion of construction of this theatre,
I sincerely hope and trust that this gift from the Japanese
people, who are true friends and partners of the American
people, will serve for generations to come as a reminder of
the enduring friendship of the Japanese people.
MR. STEVENS: Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister,
Mr. Ueki, and other distinguished guests:
On behalf of the Trustees of the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts, I am thrilled to accept this
magnificent gift to the Kennedy Center on the occasion of
our Nation's Bicentennial. These funds will enable us to
complete the studio theatre, which in effect will mean the
completion of the Center itself. It will finally make our
dream a reality; namely, a cultural center in our Nation's
Capital that will offer the very finest facilities possible
for every one of the performing arts.
Fortunately, our operation has been very successful
to date, but we have lacked a facility that would aid and
encourage creative work in the performing arts. Also, we have
badly needed an auditorium where young and unknown performers
could be presented to the public. Your gift will enable
us to accomplish both of the above-mentioned goals.
When we know the date of the completion of the
studio theatre, I would hope that we could plan a festival
in honor of your country, using all of the halls simultaneously
to present productions worthy of your great artistic heritage.
In closing, I wanted once more to express our
deep gratitude to the Government of Japan, the people of Japan,
and also to all the private organizations who have generously
contributed funds, including the American Japan Society,
Keidanren, Japan Federation of Employers Association,
the Japan Chamber of Commerce Industry, the Japan Committee
for Economic Development, and the Central Union of Agricultural
Cooperatives.
Thank you.
MORE
Page 3
THE PRESIDENT: Prime Minister Miki, distinguished
Japanese guests, ladies and gentlemen:
Let me express to you, Mr. Prime Minister, the
deep gratitude of the American people for this very, very
generous gift. It is yet another expression of the good
relations that the American people have with the Japanese
people, the excellent relations that your Government has
with our Government.
This is a generous gift in money, but it is also
a deeper expression of our relationship between our two
peoples. As Mr. Stevens has said, this gift will permit
the completion of the Kennedy Center, The Kennedy Center
is the focal point in the United States for cultural
development, cultural performances, and we, of course, are
most anxious, as Mr. Stevens said, that when the studio
center is completed that it will be possible to have the
whole center display the tremendous cultural background
and the terrific artistry that comes from the people of
Japan.
Again, I thank you and I thank the people of
Japan on behalf of the American people.
END (AT 11:45 A.M. EDT)