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323150282
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Swearing-in of Secretary of State James A. Baker III, 1/27/89
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323150282
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Swearing-in of Secretary of State James A. Baker III, 1/27/89
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13474-003
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Draft Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Draft Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13474
Folder ID Number:
13474-003
Folder Title:
Swearing-in of Secretary of State James A. Baker III, 1/27/89
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
25
6
1
1
Document No.
000790
DENNS COMMENTS. Ross
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
1/25/89
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
12:00 1/26/89
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF SECRETARY OF
STATE JAMES A. BAKER, III
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
STUDDERT
BATES
UNTERMEYER
BREEDEN
KLUGMANN
CARD
CICCONI
DEMAREST
FITZWATER
GRAY
HAGIN
REMARKS:
Please provide your comments/recommendatins directly to Mark
Klugman (x7221 Rm 118) with and info copy to my office by
12:00 Thursday, January 26. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
PROPOSED REMARKS FOR
PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH
SWEARING-IN CEREMONY QFb 1111 25 Pil 5: 59
SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES A. BAKER, III
WASHINGTON, D.C.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1989
Thank you
Thank you all very much.
This is a special occasion for me because, as all of you
know, Jim and I go way back -- perhaps more years back than
either one of us cares to count. We've served in government
together. We've lost campaigns together. And, last year, we
finally won one.
( (You know, Jim, if we had lost, we'd probably be someplace
warm fishing right now.)) (LL)
Jim Baker is my friend. I have enormous confidence in him,
and judging from how he sailed through the confirmation process,
the United States Senate shares that confidence. I trust Jim,
and now I am entrusting him with the responsibilities of my
principle foreign policy advisor, Secretary of State.
As I pledged in my Inaugural Address a week ago today, my
Presidency will usher in "the age of the offered hand." That
applies to foreign policy. We will offer our hand of diplomacy
and goodwill to allies and adversaries alike.
Ross
I have also spoken of a "new engagement." Nowhere is the
need for a new engagement greater than in foreign policy. The
postwar generation has come of age and today we live in a
distinctly different world than that which we were born into -- a
world that demands new strategies and new solutions.
Today, there is a dynamic leader in the Soviet Union with an
ambitious agenda of social, political, and economic reform --
reforms that may reach into Eastern Europe. In the Middle East,
where the daily hardship and strife continues seemingly unabated,
the situation is changing, creating possibility
there is hope that a new dialogue will lead to peace. In Central
and dangers
and South America, where democracy is on the march, totalitarian
forces threaten to undermine the will of the people.
We are faced with change, and the potential for change, all
over the world. It's up to us to guarantee that the United
States remains an engaged power for positive change.
In another era, the Secretary of State's role was largely
confined to matters of war and peace. Today's world is more
complex -- and more dangerous. Today's Secretary of State must
be prepared to work with our allies to solve such global threats
as the international narcotics trade, terrorism, the degradation
of the world's environment, and the economic distress of
developing countries.
And so, Jim, you've got a big job ahead of you. As lonely
as your job may sometimes seem, by necessity you will not be
alone. As you pledged in your confirmation hearings, our foreign
policy will by a bipartisan foreign policy. It will be a
partnership based on trust, open communication, and consistency
of
WE SEE if we can't
action. for / thing, I'll a cestare there. bipart. Together,
This is a time for America to reach out, not merely react.
in freign 70/24.
This is a time for America to move forward confidently and
cautiously, not retreat. As the freest, the fairest, the most
powerful democracy on the face of the earth, we must continue to
shine as a beacon of liberty and justice for all the people of
the world.
There of you whome hee today
Jim, I are know you will JB be family a great Secretary - of State
Congratulations. Good luck. And Godspeed.
####
We know
something others will
soon learn
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 27, 1989
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES A. BAKER, III
AT SWEARING-IN CEREMONY
The East Room
5:02 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Well, if I could ask the Secretary of
State and Mrs. Baker and Chief Justice to come forward, we'll get on
with the program here.
(Secretary Baker is sworn in.)
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Vice President, distinguished members
of the United States Senate and House, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief
Justice, thank you, sir, for doing the honors today.
This is a very special occasion for me because, as you
all know, Jim and I have been friends for a long time, going back
perhaps more years than either of us would care to admit -- long
really before our public lives began. And we served in government
together, campaigned together, traveled a long way through some rough
and tumble times. And it's well-known that the new Secretary of
State is my friend. I have great confidence in him. And judging
from how he sailed through the confirmation process -- thank you,
gentlemen -- the United States Senate shares that confidence.
And as Secretary of State, he will be my principal
foreign policy advisor. As I pledged in my Inaugural Address a week
ago, my presidency will usher in the age of the offered hand, and
that applies certainly to foreign policy. I've also spoken of a new
engagement. Nowhere is the need for a new engagement greater than in
foreign policy.
The post-war generation has come of age, and today we
live in a distinctly different world than that which we were born
into -- a world that demands new strategies and new solutions. And
today we see a process of change in the Soviet Union and Eastern
Europe, in the Middle East. A changing situation creates new
possibilities as well as dangers. In Southern Africa and in
Indochina there is diplomatic progress. And in Central and South
America, totalitarian forces still threaten to undermine the will of
the people.
We must keep democracy on the march. And we're faced
with change and the potential for change all over the world. And
it's up to us to guarantee that the United States remains an engaged
power for positive change.
In another era, the secretary of state's role was largely
confined to matters of war and peace. Today's world is much more
- 2 -
This is a time for America to reach out and take the
lead, not merely react. And this is a time for America to move
forward confidently and cautiously -- not retreat. As the freest and
the fairest and the most powerful democracy on the face of the Earth,
we must continue to shine as a beacon of liberty, beacon of justice
for all the people of the world.
And those of you who are here today -- Jim Baker's
family, closest friends -- know something that many other people will
soon learn for themselves: Jim Baker will be a great Secretary of
State.
Jim, congratulations. The floor is yours. (Applause.)
SECRETARY BAKER: Thank you. Thank you very much.
Mr. President, Barbara, Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Chief Justice, distinguished members of the Congress, my friends
-- most of whom are relatives -- (laughter) -- I am truly honored an
privileged to stand before you today. Many of you have come a long
distance to be here and as you mentioned, Mr. President, you and I
have come a long distance together. I hope to continue to merit your
confidence. I know I will continue to enjoy our friendship. One
other thing -- I hope that in foreign policy we're going to make a
better team than we oftentimes did on the tennis courts in Texas.
(Laughter.)
Ladies and gentlemen, the taking of an oath is always a
solemn moment. Yet, I cannot help but think that there will be even
more solemn moments to follow. Because it's been my experience for
eight years here now in Washington that after the swearing-in, sooner
or later, comes the swearing at. (Laughter.)
Mr. President, through your choice and the Senate's
consent I will occupy an office that dates from the infancy of our
Republic. Over the last few weeks, I've learned a lot about the job.
I find the more I learn about it the more humble I become. Yet,
mixed with that humility is a pride -- not in myself, but in our
great country.
One of his statutory duties of the secretary of state is
to be the custodian of the Great Seal of the United States. We're
all pretty familiar with the great eagle holding the olive branches
-- but also holding the arrows. There's reverse side to that seal,
however, that interests me. And on it is an unfinished pyramid. And
on the bottom, a Latin inscription which means, "A new order of the
ages." It's dated 1776.
To me this expresses our forefathers' conviction that our
country offers something new. Our Constitution, our democracy is a
new order of human activity. And the unfinished pyramid is a symbol
of strength and it's a symbol of continuity.
America rests on the broadest possible base which, of
course, is the contribution of every American. But the work of
America -- to perfect our society, to strengthen and extend freedom
-- is really never finished.
So, as I stand here today -- very grateful to you, Mr.
President -- I recognize that we are entering a new era of