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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: 13474-007 Folder Title: Navy, 1/31/89 [2] Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: G 25 6 1 1 C Document No. 001438 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM DATE: 1/27/89 1/30/89 at 9:30 am ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK, TUESDAY SUBJECT: JANUARY 31, 1989 ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINSTON CARD LOPEZ CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments directly to Chriss Winston (x2930, Room 122), with an info copy to my office, by 9:30 am Monday, January 30th. Thanks. RESPONSE: alsc 9:15am 1/30 Darman: Call -no comments 10:20 McClure: 10:45-nocomments Studderb 9:50 am1/30 James W. Cicconi Porter 9:30 am130 Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702 1989 JAIL 27 45 (Judge) January 29, 1989 1:00 p.m. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1989 Thank you. It's great to be here on one of the greatest ships in the world, with a crew that knows the meaning of the words "my ship, my country," crew of the America. And wasn't it the [airwing designation] that taught Qadhafi a lesson that he'll never forget. You know, as an old carrier pilot, today is a special day for me. I can't help thinking of the carrier I once sailed on. They weren't as big in those days. In fact, I think my boat could have floated in the stew kettles down in your mess. But we knew, just as the crew and airwing of "the America" know, how much we owed to the men and women at the shipyards. And from the day of Revolutionary era sloops to the most modern supercarriers, no shipyard has written a prouder chapter in the history of the United States Navy than the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard. All over the world, those who know the sea and the ships that sail on it know that Norfolk stands for excellence. Norfolk is a national treasure -- and we're going to keep it that way. My visit today is the final stop on what you might call an inaugural trip. For the several days I have been visiting with the men and women who are my colleagues in service to our nation -- from senior appointees in my Administration to rank and file - 2 - civil servants. Most are outstanding. Most do a superb job. But still you might say, with no disrespect for the others, that I've saved the best for last -- and I mean you, the men and women who keep our ships and guard our shores, the men and women who serve with the armed forces of the United States of America. In the months ahead I will be talking a great deal about service -- not service that is compelled, but service that is given freely and openly, the service of the strong heart. I will speak about those who give their time and love to their communities, to help those who cannot fully help themselves. Long ago it was written that the quality of mercy is not strained; and I will speak of those who dedicate a portion of their lives to mercy for humanity. And I will speak about you, for in a way that every American knows, and every man, woman, and child in our land salutes, you who stand here today set our Nation's standard for service. You keep the peace on the frontiers of freedom around the world. And in every corner of the globe, millions recognize you and the flag you carry as their symbol of hope. Yes, wherever you go, you take America and all it represents with you and you do it with a pride and dedication that few have ever matched. I know some say that it's just a job. But when a sailor must put to sea for 6 months or more at a time, and come home to find that the child who could barely crawl, can walk and say a few words, that's more than a job -- that is service. - 3 - When a Marine or soldier spends long hours on cold night's sentry duty at the D.M.Z. in Korea or at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, he is not just filling a job but is answering the call of service. And the mechanic who inspects the plane engine or ship power plant one last time and makes double and triple sure that every screw, every hose, every weld is as it should be -- that mechanic is dedicating himself or herself not simply to a job but to a concept of service to country that is the highest in the world. Around the world, others have seen and know what your dedication to service means. You may remember that last year, the Soviet Union's top military man at the time, Marshal Akhromeyev, visited the United States. He spent a day on a supercarrier like yours, as it went through exercises in these waters, and he visited installations across our Nation. He saw much of the amazing weaponry and machinery in our arsenal, and when he finally came to visit the White House, I could see that he was impressed. But I soon learned that what most impressed him was not our miraculous technology or incredible firepower, but the enlisted men and women that he met on his tours. He couldn't believe that we gave our enlisted men and women jobs that only officers would be permitted to handle in his own military. He couldn't believe the obvious dedication of America's enlisted men and women in their jobs, their knowledge of the machinery they handled, and their - 4 - readiness and ability to answer questions. In short, he couldn't believe your dedication to service. I know you've heard it from your parents. Those of you who are married have heard it from your husbands or wives and children. But it goes for everyone across the country, let me say we're all very, very proud of you and of the job you're doing. In the years ahead, I want to make sure that those who build our ships, planes, and weapons live up to the standards of service, dedication, and duty that this crew and this shipyard set. I've been inside a submarine while depth charges were going off all around it. I know what it's like to hear the steel strain and creak and the rivets pop and to pray to God that the people in charge of buying and building cared as much about the boat as you do. I believe that the overwhelming majority of procurement officers and defense contractors do care that much. I am determined to make sure that every single one of them does. My message will be just this simple: Don't think it's just anyone out there. Think it's your son or daughter -- and remember that their lives depend on the things you make. And if you're not ready to care that much and work that hard, you're not ready to do business with the United States Government. Let me give you an example -- cost overruns. Overruns didn't start yesterday. The first dry dock ever built for our Navy is still operating not far from here in this shipyard. It - 5 - was finished more than a century and a half ago. The actual final cost was three times the original estimate. But even if overruns are not new, they are still wrong -- and hurt the national security, particularly when budgets are tight. We want tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement, and we will get tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement. You deserve the very best equipment and weapons. You are getting them most of the time now. We are determined that you will get them all of the time. One other thing. I am determined to expand the national consensus for the budgets that support our Nation's defenses. I will do this because the first bulwark of our national defense is our national will. If our will is ruptured, our ship of state cannot sail -- or at least sail safely. I firmly believe that the vital first step to broadening our national consensus on defense is to wring the last drop of waste and mismanagement out of the way we buy our weapons. And that's what we intend to do. It's what you might call my bond to you. When a family sends a son or husband to sea or to boot camp or to flight school to defend our nation, they are making a sacrifice. It is a great and noble sacrifice. Think of all the good all those sacrifices added up together have meant around the world in the last few years. The slaughter of the Iran-Iraq War has ended because America had a strong Navy that it was ready to deploy. - 6 - Europe is nearing the milestone that will mark its longest period of peace since the fall of the Roman Empire because America has a strong Army. And the Soviet Union has begun to talk seriously about strategic arms reductions, because our missile and bomber forces are strong. For humanity's dreams of peace, families across America give up their sons and daughters to the service of their country. When the record of our time is finally written, I hope it will be the story of the final triumph of peace and freedom throughout the globe -- the story of the sunrise in the day of mankind's age old aspirations. And on that day, who were the heroes, generations to come will ask? Who drove the chariots of fire across the sky? Who brought that day to the earth? And the answer will be you. In the next four years I will be not just your commander-in-chief, but your friend. And together we will work to spin the gossamer thread of human dreams into a sturdy fabric of peace that will last for generations to come. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON January 30, 1989 MEMORANDUM FOR CHRISS WINSTON DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS FROM: C. BOYDEN GRAY CBG COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT SUBJECT: Presidential Remarks: Aircraft Carrier Off Norfolk Counsel's office has reviewed the above-referenced Presidential remarks, and we have no legal objection to their delivery. We have, however, marked for your consideration several minor editorial changes at page 1 of the attached copy of the proposed remarks. Attachment CC: James W. Cicconi Document No. 001438 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM DATE: 1/27/89 1/30/89 at 9:30 am ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK, TUESDAY SUBJECT: JANUARY 31, 1989 ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINSTON CARD LOPEZ CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments directly to Chriss Winston (x2930, Room 122), with an info copy to my office, by 9:30 am Monday, January 30th. Thanks. RESPONSE: James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702 (Judge) January 29, 1989 1:00 p.m. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1989 Thank you. It's great to be here on one of the greatest ships in the world, with a crew that knows the meaning of the " words "my ship, my country, crew of the America. And wasn't it the [airwing designation] that taught Qadhafi a lesson that he'll never forget. You know, as an old carrier pilot, today is a special day for me. I can't help thinking of the carrier I once sailed on. They weren't as big in those days. In fact, I think my boat could have floated in the stew kettles down in your mess. But we knew, just as the crew and airwing of "the America" know, how much we owed to the men and women at the shipyards. And from the day of Revolutionary era sloops to the most modern supercarriers, no shipyard has written a prouder chapter in the history of the United States Navy than the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard. All over the world, those who know the sea and the ships that sail on it know that Norfolk stands for excellence. Norfolk is a national treasure -- and we're going to keep it that way. My visit today is the final stop on what you might call an inaugural trip. For the helseveral days I have been visiting with the men and women who are my colleagues in service to our nation -- from senior appointees in my Administration to rank and file - 2 - civil servants. Most are outstanding. Most do a superb job. But still you might say, with no disrespect for the others, that I've saved the best for last -- and I mean you, the men and women who keep our ships and guard our shores, the men and women who serve with the armed forces of the United States of America. In the months ahead I will be talking a great deal about service -- not service that is compelled, but service that is given freely and openly, the service of the strong heart. I will speak about those who give their time and love to their communities, to help those who cannot fully help themselves. Long ago it was written that the quality of mercy is not strained; and I will speak of those who dedicate a portion of their lives to mercy for humanity. And I will speak about you, for in a way that every American knows, and every man, woman, and child in our land salutes, you who stand here today set our Nation's standard for service. You keep the peace on the frontiers of freedom around the world. And in every corner of the globe, millions recognize you and the flag you carry as their symbol of hope. Yes, wherever you go, you take America and all it represents with you and you do it with a pride and dedication that few have ever matched. I know some say that it's just a job. But when a sailor must put to sea for 6 months or more at a time, and come home to find that the child who could barely crawl, can walk and say a few words, that's more than a job -- that is service. - 3 - When a Marine or soldier spends long hours on cold night's sentry duty at the D.M.Z. in Korea or at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, he is not just filling a job but is answering the call of service. And the mechanic who inspects the plane engine or ship power plant one last time and makes double and triple sure that every screw, every hose, every weld is as it should be -- that mechanic is dedicating himself or herself not simply to a job but to a concept of service to country that is the highest in the world. Around the world, others have seen and know what your dedication to service means. You may remember that last year, the Soviet Union's top military man at the time, Marshal Akhromeyev, visited the United States. He spent a day on a supercarrier like yours, as it went through exercises in these waters, and he visited installations across our Nation. He saw much of the amazing weaponry and machinery in our arsenal, and when he finally came to visit the White House, I could see that he was impressed. But I soon learned that what most impressed him was not our miraculous technology or incredible firepower, but the enlisted men and women that he met on his tours. He couldn't believe that we gave our enlisted men and women jobs that only officers would be permitted to handle in his own military. He couldn't believe the obvious dedication of America's enlisted men and women in their jobs, their knowledge of the machinery they handled, and their - 4 - readiness and ability to answer questions. In short, he couldn't believe your dedication to service. I know you've heard it from your parents. Those of you who are married have heard it from your husbands or wives and children. But it goes for everyone across the country, let me say we're all very, very proud of you and of the job you're doing. In the years ahead, I want to make sure that those who build our ships, planes, and weapons live up to the standards of service, dedication, and duty that this crew and this shipyard set. I've been inside a submarine while depth charges were going off all around it. I know what it's like to hear the steel strain and creak and the rivets pop and to pray to God that the people in charge of buying and building cared as much about the boat as you do. I believe that the overwhelming majority of procurement officers and defense contractors do care that much. I am determined to make sure that every single one of them does. My message will be just this simple: Don't think it's just anyone out there. Think it's your son or daughter -- and remember that their lives depend on the things you make. And if you're not ready to care that much and work that hard, you're not ready to do business with the United States Government. Let me give you an example -- cost overruns. Overruns didn't start yesterday. The first dry dock ever built for our Navy is still operating not far from here in this shipyard. It - 5 - was finished more than a century and a half ago. The actual final cost was three times the original estimate. But even if overruns are not new, they are still wrong -- and hurt the national security, particularly when budgets are tight. We want tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement, and we will get tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement. You deserve the very best equipment and weapons. You are getting them most of the time now. We are determined that you will get them all of the time. One other thing. I am determined to expand the national consensus for the budgets that support our Nation's defenses. I will do this because the first bulwark of our national defense is our national will. If our will is ruptured, our ship of state cannot sail -- or at least sail safely. I firmly believe that the vital first step to broadening our national consensus on defense is to wring the last drop of waste and mismanagement out of the way we buy our weapons. And that's what we intend to do. It's what you might call my bond to you. When a family sends a son or husband to sea or to boot camp or to flight school to defend our nation, they are making a sacrifice. It is a great and noble sacrifice. Think of all the good all those sacrifices added up together have meant around the world in the last few years. The slaughter of the Iran-Iraq War has ended because America had a strong Navy that it was ready to deploy. - 6 - Europe is nearing the milestone that will mark its longest period of peace since the fall of the Roman Empire because America has a strong Army. And the Soviet Union has begun to talk seriously about strategic arms reductions, because our missile and bomber forces are strong. For humanity's dreams of peace, families across America give up their sons and daughters to the service of their country. When the record of our time is finally written, I hope it will be the story of the final triumph of peace and freedom throughout the globe -- the story of the sunrise in the day of mankind's age old aspirations. And on that day, who were the heroes, generations to come will ask? Who drove the chariots of fire across the sky? Who brought that day to the earth? And the answer will be you. In the next four years I will be not just your commander-in-chief, but your friend. And together we will work to spin the gossamer thread of human dreams into a sturdy fabric of peace that will last for generations to come. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. Document No. 001438 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM DATE: 1/27/89 1/30/89 at 9:30 am ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK, TUESDAY SUBJECT: JANUARY 31, 1989 ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINSTON CARD LOPEZ CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments directly to Chriss Winston (x2930, Room 122), with an info copy to my office, by 9:30 am Monday, January 30th. Thanks. RESPONSE: James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief as Staff (Judge) January 29, 1989 1:00 p.m. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1989 Thank you. It's great to be here on one of the greatest ships in the world, with a crew that knows the meaning of the words "my ship, my country," crew of the America. And wasn't it the [airwing designation] that taught Qadhafi a lesson that he'll never forget. You know, as an old carrier pilot, today is a special day for me. I can't help thinking of the carrier I once sailed on. They weren't as big in those days. In fact, I think my boat could have floated in the stew kettles down in your mess. But we knew, just as the crew and airwing of "the America" know, how much we owed to the men and women at the shipyards. And from the day of Revolutionary era sloops to the most modern supercarriers, no shipyard has written a prouder chapter in the history of the United States Navy than the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard. All over the world, those who know the sea and the ships that sail on it know that Norfolk stands for excellence. Norfolk is a national treasure -- and we're going to keep it that way. My visit today is the final stop on what you might call an inaugural trip. For the several days I have been visiting with the men and women who are my colleagues in service to our nation -- from senior appointees in my Administration to rank and file - 2 - civil servants. Most are outstanding. Most do a superb job. But still you might say, with no disrespect for the others, that I've saved the best for last -- and I mean you, the men and women who keep our ships and guard our shores, the men and women who serve with the armed forces of the United States of America. In the months ahead I will be talking a great deal about service -- not service that is compelled, but service that is given freely and openly, the service of the strong heart. I will speak about those who give their time and love to their communities, to help those who cannot fully help themselves. Long ago it was written that the quality of mercy is not strained; and I will speak of those who dedicate a portion of their lives to mercy for humanity. And I will speak about you, for in a way that every American knows, and every man, woman, and child in our land salutes, you who stand here today set our Nation's standard for service. You keep the peace on the frontiers of freedom around the world. And in every corner of the globe, millions recognize you and the flag you carry as their symbol of hope. Yes, wherever you go, you take America and all it represents with you and you do it with a pride and dedication that few have ever matched. I know some say that it's just a job. But when a sailor must put to sea for 6 months or more at a time, and come home to find that the child who could barely crawl, can walk and say a few words, that's more than a job -- that is service. - 3 - When a Marine or soldier spends long hours on cold night's sentry duty at the D.M.Z. in Korea or at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, he is not just filling a job but is answering the call of service. And the mechanic who inspects the plane engine or ship power plant one last time and makes double and triple sure that every screw, every hose, every weld is as it should be -- that mechanic is dedicating himself or herself not simply to a job but to a concept of service to country that is the highest in the world. Around the world, others have seen and know what your dedication to service means. You may remember that last year, the Soviet Union's top military man at the time, Marshal Akhromeyev, visited the United States. He spent a day on a supercarrier like yours, as it went through exercises in these waters, and he visited installations across our Nation. He saw much of the amazing weaponry and machinery in our arsenal, and when he finally came to visit the White House, I could see that he was impressed. But I soon learned that what most impressed him was not our miraculous technology or incredible firepower, but the enlisted men and women that he met on his tours. He couldn't believe that we gave our enlisted men and women jobs that only officers would be permitted to handle in his own military. He couldn't believe the obvious dedication of America's enlisted men and women in their jobs, their knowledge of the machinery they handled, and their - 4 - readiness and ability to answer questions. In short, he couldn't believe your dedication to service. I know you've heard it from your parents. Those of you who are married have heard it from your husbands or wives and children. But it goes for everyone across the country, let me say we're all very, very proud of you and of the job you're doing. In the years ahead, I want to make sure that those who build our ships, planes, and weapons live up to the standards of service, dedication, and duty that this crew and this shipyard set. I've been inside a submarine while depth charges were going off all around it. I know what it's like to hear the steel strain and creak and the rivets pop and to pray to God that the people in charge of buying and building cared as much about the boat as you do. I believe that the overwhelming majority of procurement officers and defense contractors do care that much. I am determined to make sure that every single one of them does. My message will be just this simple: Don't think it's just anyone out there. Think it's your son or daughter -- and remember that their lives depend on the things you make. And if you're not ready to care that much and work that hard, you're not ready to do business with the United States Government. Let me give you an example -- cost overruns. Overruns didn't start yesterday. The first dry dock ever built for our Navy is still operating not far from here in this shipyard. It - 5 - was finished more than a century and a half ago. The actual final cost was three times the original estimate. But even if overruns are not new, they are still wrong -- and hurt the national security, particularly when budgets are tight. We want tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement, and we will get tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement. You deserve the very best equipment and weapons. You are getting them most of the time now. We are determined that you will get them all of the time. One other thing. I am determined to expand the national consensus for the budgets that support our Nation's defenses. I will do this because the first bulwark of our national defense is our national will. If our will is ruptured, our ship of state cannot sail -- or at least sail safely. I firmly believe that the vital first step to broadening our national consensus on defense is to wring the last drop of waste and mismanagement out of the way we buy our weapons. And that's what we intend to do. It's what you might call my bond to you. When a family sends a son or husband to sea or to boot camp or to flight school to defend our nation, they are making a sacrifice. It is a great and noble sacrifice. Think of all the good all those sacrifices added up together have meant around the world in the last few years. The slaughter of the Iran-Iraq War has ended because America had a strong Navy that it was ready to deploy. - 6 - Europe is nearing the milestone that will mark its longest period of peace since the fall of the Roman Empire because of America has a strong Army and americas anner jewich. And the Soviet Union has begun to talk seriously about strategic arms reductions, because our missile and bomber forces are strong. For humanity's dreams of peace, families across America give up their sons and daughters to the service of their country. When the record of our time is finally written, I hope it will be the story of the final triumph of peace and freedom throughout the globe -- the story of the sunrise in the day of mankind's age old aspirations. And on that day, who were the heroes, generations to come will ask? Who drove the chariots of fire across the sky? Who brought that day to the earth? And the answer will be you. During In the next four years I will be not just your commander-in-chief, but your friend. And together we will work to spin the gossamer thread of human dreams into a sturdy fabric of peace that will last for generations to come. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. (Judge) January 29, 1989 1:00 p.m. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1989 Thank you. It's great to be here on one of the greatest ships in the world, with a crew that knows the meaning of the words "my ship, my country," crew of the America. And wasn't it the [airwing designation] that taught Qadhafi a lesson that he'll never forget. You know, as an old carrier pilot, today is a special day for me. I can't help thinking of the carrier I once sailed on. They weren't as big in those days. In fact, I think my boat could have floated in the stew kettles down in your mess. But we knew, just as the crew and airwing of "the America" know, how much we owed to the men and women at the shipyards. And from the day of Revolutionary era sloops to the most modern supercarriers, no shipyard has written a prouder chapter in the history of the United States Navy than the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard. All over the world, those who know the sea and the ships that sail on it know that Norfolk stands for excellence. Norfolk is a national treasure -- and we're going to keep it that way. My visit today is the final stop on what you might call an inaugural trip. For the several days I have been visiting with the men and women who are my colleagues in service to our nation -- from senior appointees in my Administration to rank and file - 2 - civil servants. Most are outstanding. Most do a superb job. But still you might say, with no disrespect for the others, that I've saved the best for last -- and I mean you, the men and women who keep our ships and guard our shores, the men and women who serve with the armed forces of the United States of America. In the months ahead I will be talking a great deal about service -- not service that is compelled, but service that is given freely and openly, the service of the strong heart. I will speak about those who give their time and love to their communities, to help those who cannot fully help themselves. Long ago it was written that the quality of mercy is not strained; and I will speak of those who dedicate a portion of their lives to mercy for humanity. And I will speak about you, for in a way that every American knows, and every man, woman, and child in our land salutes, you who stand here today set our Nation's standard for service. You keep the peace on the frontiers of freedom around the. world. And in every corner of the globe, millions recognize you and the flag you carry as their symbol of hope. Yes, wherever you go, you take America and all it represents with you and you do it with a pride and dedication that few have ever matched. I know some say that it's just a job. But when a sailor must put to sea for 6 months or more at a time, and come home to find that the child who could barely crawl, can walk and say a few words, that's more than a job -- that is service. - 3 - When a Marine or soldier spends long hours on cold night's sentry duty at the D.M.Z. in Korea or at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, he is not just filling a job but is answering the call of service. And the mechanic who inspects the plane engine or ship power plant one last time and makes double and triple sure that every screw, every hose, every weld is as it should be -- that mechanic is dedicating himself or herself not simply to a job but to a concept of service to country that is the highest in the world. Around the world, others have seen and know what your dedication to service means. You may remember that last year, the Soviet Union's top military man at the time, Marshal Akhromeyev, visited the United States. He spent a day on a supercarrier like yours, as it went through exercises in these waters, and he visited installations across our Nation. He saw much of the amazing weaponry and machinery in our arsenal, and when he finally came to visit the White House, I could see that he was impressed. But I soon learned that what most impressed him was not our miraculous technology or incredible firepower, but the enlisted men and women that he met on his tours. He couldn't believe that we gave our enlisted men and women jobs that only officers would be permitted to handle in his own military. He couldn't believe the obvious dedication of America's enlisted men and women in their jobs, their knowledge of the machinery they handled, and their - 4 - readiness and ability to answer questions. In short, he couldn't believe your dedication to service. I know you've heard it from your parents. Those of you who are married have heard it from your husbands or wives and children. But it goes for everyone across the country, let me say we're all very, very proud of you and of the job you're doing. In the years ahead, I want to make sure that those who build our ships, planes, and weapons live up to the standards of service, dedication, and duty that this crew and this shipyard set. I've been inside a submarine while depth charges were going off all around it. I know what it's like to hear the steel strain and creak and the rivets pop and to pray to God that the people in charge of buying and building cared as much about the boat as you do. I believe that the overwhelming majority of procurement officers and defense contractors do care that much. I am determined to make sure that every single one of them does. My message will be just this simple: Don't think it's just anyone out there. Think it's your son or daughter -- and remember that their lives depend on the things you make. And if you're not ready to care that much and work that hard, you're not ready to do business with the United States Government. Let me give you an example -- cost overruns. Overruns didn't start yesterday. The first dry dock ever built for our Navy is still operating not far from here in this shipyard. It - 5 - was finished more than a century and a half ago. The actual final cost was three times the original estimate. But even if overruns are not new, they are still wrong -- and hurt the national security, particularly when budgets are tight. We want tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement, and we will get tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement. You deserve the very best equipment and weapons. You are getting them most of the time now. We are determined that you will get them all of the time. One other thing. I am determined to expand the national consensus for the budgets that support our Nation's defenses. I will do this because the first bulwark of our national defense is our national will. If our will is ruptured, our ship of state cannot sail -- or at least sail safely. I firmly believe that the vital first step to broadening our national consensus on defense is to wring the last drop of waste and mismanagement out of the way we buy our weapons. And that's what we intend to do. It's what you might call my bond to you. When a family sends a son or husband to sea or to boot camp or to flight school to defend our nation, they are making a sacrifice. It is a great and noble sacrifice. Think of all the good all those sacrifices added up together have meant around the world in the last few years. freedom of passage The slaughter of the Iran-Iraq War has ended because America Person had a strong Navy that it was ready to deploy. Guif Dannel - 6 - Europe is nearing the milestone that will mark its longest period of peace since the fall of the Roman Empire because America has a strong Army. And the Soviet Union has begun to talk seriously about strategic arms reductions, because our missile and bomber forces are strong. For humanity's dreams of peace, families across America give up their sons and daughters to the service of their country. When the record of our time is finally written, I hope it will be the story of the final triumph of peace and freedom throughout the globe -- the story of the sunrise in the day of mankind's age old aspirations. And on that day, who were the heroes, generations to come will ask? Who drove the chariots of fire across the sky? Who brought that day to the earth? And the answer will be you. In the next four years I will be not just your commander-in-chief, but your friend. And together we will work to spin the gossamer thread of human dreams into a sturdy fabric of peace that will last for generations to come. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. Document No. 001438 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM DATE: 1/27/89 1/30/89 at 9:30 am ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK, TUESDAY SUBJECT: JANUARY 31, 1989 ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINSTON CARD LOPEZ CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments directly to Chriss Winston (x2930, Room 122), with an info copy to my office, by 9:30 am Monday, January 30th. Thanks. RESPONSE: James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext 2702 1989 Jill 27 11:45 (Judge) January 29, 1989 1:00 p.m. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1989 Thank you. It's great to be here on one of the greatest ships in the world, with a crew that knows the meaning of the words "my ship, my country," crew of the America. 7, And wasn't it the [airwing designation] that taught Qadhafi a lesson that he'll never forget. You know, as an old carrier pilot, today is a special day for me. I can't help thinking of the carrier I once sailed on. They weren't as big in those days. In fact, I think my boat ship could have floated in the stew kettles down in your mess. But we knew, just as the crew and airwing of "the America" know, how much we owed to the men and women at the shipyards. And from the day of Revolutionary era sloops to the most modern supercarriers, no shipyard has written a prouder chapter in the history of the United States Navy than the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard. All over the world, those who know the sea and the ships that sail on it know that Norfolk stands for excellence. Norfolk is a national treasure -- and we're going to keep it that way. My visit today is the final stop on what you might call an inaugural trip. For the several days I have been visiting with the men and women who are my colleagues in service to our nation -- from senior appointees in my Administration to rank and file - 2 - civil servants. Most are outstanding. Most do a superb job. But still you might say, with no disrespect for the others, that I've saved the best for last -- and I mean you, the men and women who keep our ships and guard our shores, the men and women who serve with the armed forces of the United States of America. In the months ahead I will be talking a great deal about service not service that is compelled, but service that is given freely and openly, the service of the strong heart. I will speak about those who give their time and love to their communities, to help those who cannot fully help themselves. Long ago it was written that the quality of mercy is not strained; and I will speak of those who dedicate a portion of their lives to mercy for humanity. And I will speak about you, for in a way that every American knows, and every man, woman, and child in our land salutes, you who stand here today set our Nation's standard for service. You keep the peace on the frontiers of freedom around the world. And in every corner of the globe, millions recognize you and the flag you carry as their symbol of hope. Yes, wherever you go, you take America and all it represents with you and you do it with a pride and dedication that few have ever matched. I know some say that it's just a job. But when a sailor must put to sea for 6 months or more at a time, and come home to find that the child who could barely crawl, can walk and say a few words, that's more than a job -- that is service, and more importantly Sacifice. - 3 - When a Marine or soldier spends long hours on cold night's sentry duty at the D.M.Z. in Korea or at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, he is not just filling a job but is answering the call of service. And the mechanic who inspects the plane engine or ship power plant one last time and makes double and triple sure that every screw, every hose, every weld is as it should be -- that mechanic is dedicating himself or herself not simply to a job but to a concept of service to country that is the highest in the world. Around the world, others have seen and know what your dedication to service means. You may remember that last year, the Soviet Union's top military man at the time, Marshal Akhromeyev, visited the United States. He spent a day on a supercarrier like yours, as it went through exercises in these waters, and he visited installations across our Nation. He saw much of the amazing weaponry and machinery in our arsenal, and when he finally came to visit the White House, I could see that he was impressed. But I soon learned that what most impressed him was not our miraculous technology or incredible firepower, but the enlisted men and women that he met on his tours. He couldn't believe that we gave our enlisted men and women jobs that only officers would be permitted to handle in his own military. He couldn't believe the obvious dedication of America's enlisted men and women in their jobs, their knowledge of the machinery they handled, and their - 4 - readiness and ability to answer questions. In short, he couldn't believe your dedication to service. I know you've heard it from your parents. Those of you who are married have heard it from your husbands or wives and children. But it goes for everyone across the country, let me say we're all very, very proud of you and of the job you're doing. In the years ahead, I want to make sure that those who build our ships, planes, and weapons live up to the standards of service, dedication, and duty that this crew and this shipyard set. I've been inside a submarine while depth charges were going off all around it. I know what it's like to hear the steel strain and creak and the rivets pop and to pray to God that the people in charge of buying and building cared as much about the glup boat as you do. I believe that the overwhelming majority of procurement officers and defense contractors do care that much. I am determined to make sure that every single one of them does. to them My message will be just this simple: Don't think it's just ^ anyone out there. Think it's your son or daughter -- and remember that their lives depend on the things you make. And if you're not ready to care that much and work that hard, you're not ready to do business with the United States Government. Let me give you an example -- cost overruns. Overruns didn't start yesterday. The first dry dock ever built for our Navy is still operating not far from here in this shipyard. It - 5 - was finished more than a century and a half ago. The actual final cost was three times the original estimate. But even if overruns are not new, they are still wrong -- and hurt the national security, particularly when budgets are tight. We want tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement, and we will get tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement. You deserve the very best equipment and weapons. You are getting them most of the time now. We are determined that you will get them all of the time. One other thing. I am determined to expand the national consensus for the budgets that support our Nation's defenses. I will do this because the first bulwark of our national defense is our national will. If our will is ruptured, our ship of state cannot sail -- or at least sail safely. I firmly believe that the vital first step to broadening our national consensus on defense is to wring the last drop of waste and mismanagement out of the way we buy our weapons. And that's what we intend to do. It's what you might call my bond to you. When a family sends a son or husband to sea or to boot camp or to flight school to defend our nation, they are making a sacrifice. It is a great and noble sacrifice. Think of all the good all those sacrifices added up together have meant around the world in the last few years. The slaughter of the Iran-Iraq War has ended because America had a strong Navy that it was ready to deploy. B - 6 - Europe is nearing the milestone that will mark its longest period of peace since the fall of the Roman Empire because America has a strong Army. And the Soviet Union has begun to talk seriously about strategic arms reductions, because our missile and bomber forces are strong. For humanity's dreams of peace, families across America give up their sons and daughters to the service of their country. When the record of our time is finally written, I hope it will be the story of the final triumph of peace and freedom throughout the globe -- the story of the sunrise in the day of mankind's age old aspirations. And on that day, who were the heroes, generations to come will ask? Who drove the chariots of fire across the sky? Who brought that day to the earth? And the answer will be you. In the next four years I will be not just your commander-in-chief, but your friend. And together we will work to spin the gossamer thread of human dreams into a sturdy fabric of peace that will last for generations to come. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. Document No. 001438 fro 0172 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM DATE: 1/27/89 1/30/89 at 9:30 am ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK, TUESDAY SUBJECT: JANUARY 31, 1989 ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE A SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINSTON CARD LOPEZ CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments directly to Chriss Winston (x2930, Room 122), with an info copy to my office, by 9:30 am Monday, January 30th. Thanks. RESPONSE: January 27, 1989 TO Chriss Winston 65: 65:31 31 NSC concurs, with fixes as indicated. RobutHPento James W. Cicconi Robert M. Perito Assistant to the President Acting Executive Secretaryand Deputy to the Chief of Staff CC: J. Cicconi Ext. 2702 89 JAN27 P2: 37 1989 Jill 27 Fill 1:45 (Judge) January 29, 1989 1:00 p.m. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1989 Thank you. It's great to be here on one of the greatest ships in the world, with a crew that knows the meaning of the words "my ship, my country," crew of the America. And wasn't it the [airwing designation] that taught Qadhafi a lesson that he 'll never forget. You know, as an old carrier pilot, today is a special day for me. I can't help thinking of the carrier I once sailed on. They weren't as big in those days. In fact, I think my boat could have floated in the stew kettles down in your mess. But we knew, just as the crew and airwing of "the America" know, how much we owed to the men and women at the shipyards. And from the day of Revolutionary era sloops to the most modern supercarriers, no shipyard has written a prouder chapter in the history of the United States Navy than the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard. All over the world, those who know the sea and the ships that sail on it know that Norfolk stands for excellence. Norfolk is a national treasure -- and we're going to keep it that way. My visit today is the final stop on what you might call an inaugural trip. For the several days I have been visiting with the men and women who are my colleagues in service to our nation -- from senior appointees in my Administration to rank and file - 2 - civil servants. Most are outstanding. Most do a superb job. But still you might say, with no disrespect for the others, that I've saved the best for last -- and I mean you, the men and women who keep our ships and guard our shores, the men and women who serve with the armed forces of the United States of America. In the months ahead I will be talking a great deal about service -- not service that is compelled, but service that is given freely and openly, the service of the strong heart. I will speak about those who give their time and love to their communities, to help those who cannot fully help themselves. Long ago it was written that the quality of mercy is not strained; and I will speak of those who dedicate a portion of their lives to mercy for humanity. And I will speak about you, for in a way that every American knows, and every man, woman, and child in our land salutes, you who stand here today set our Nation's standard for service. You keep the peace on the frontiers of freedom around the world. And in every corner of the globe, millions recognize you and the flag you carry as their symbol of hope. Yes, wherever you go, you take America and all it represents with you and you do it with a pride and dedication that few have ever matched. I know some say that it's just a job. But when a sailor must put to sea for 6 months or more at a time, and come home to find that the child who could barely crawl, can walk and say a few words, that's more than a job -- that is service. - 3 - When a Marine or soldier spends long hours on cold night's sentry duty at the D.M.Z. in Korea or at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, he is not just filling a job but is answering the call of service. And the mechanic who inspects the plane engine or ship power plant one last time and makes double and triple sure that every screw, every hose, every weld is as it should be -- that mechanic is dedicating himself or herself not simply to a job but to a concept of service to country that is the highest in the world. Around the world, others have seen and know what your dedication to service means. You may remember that last year, the Soviet Union's top military man at the time, Marshal Akhromeyev, visited the United States. He spent a day on a supercarrier like yours, as it went through exercises in these waters, and he visited installations across our Nation. He saw much of the amazing weaponry and machinery in our arsenal, and when he finally came to visit the White House, I could see that he was impressed. But I soon learned that what most impressed him was not our miraculous technology or incredible firepower, but the enlisted men and women that he met on his tours. He couldn't believe that we gave our enlisted men and women jobs that only officers would be permitted to handle in his own military. He couldn't believe the obvious dedication of America's enlisted men and women in their jobs, their knowledge of the machinery they handled, and their - 4 - readiness and ability to answer questions. In short, he couldn't believe your dedication to service. I know you've heard it from your parents. Those of you who are married have heard it from your husbands or wives and children. But it goes for everyone across the country, let me say we're all very, very proud of you and of the job you're doing. In the years ahead, I want to make sure that those who build our ships, planes, and weapons live up to the standards of service, dedication, and duty that this crew and this shipyard set. I've been inside a submarine while depth charges were going off all around it. I know what it's like to hear the steel strain and creak and the rivets pop and to pray to God that the people in charge of buying and building cared as much about the boat as you do. I believe that the overwhelming majority of procurement officers and defense contractors do care that much. I am determined to make sure that every single one of them does. My message will be just this simple: Don't think it's just anyone out there. Think it's your son or daughter -- and remember that their lives depend on the things you make. And if you're not ready to care that much and work that hard, you're not ready to do business with the United States Government. Let me give you an example -- cost overruns. Overruns didn't start yesterday. The first dry dock ever built for our Navy is still operating not far from here in this shipyard. It Natl Sec Advisor 0172 has seen Gates edits - 5 - scowcroft has seen was finished more than a century and a half ago. The actual final cost was three times the original estimate. But even if overruns are not new, they are still wrong -- and hurt the national security, particularly when budgets are tight. We want tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement, and we will get tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement. You deserve the very best equipment and weapons. You are getting them most of the time now. We are determined that you will get them all of the time. One other thing. I am determined to expand the national consensus for the budgets that support our Nation's defenses. I will do this because the first bulwark of our national defense is our national will. If our will is ruptured, our ship of state cannot sail -- or at least sail safely. I firmly believe that the vital first step to broadening our national consensus on defense is to wring the last drop of waste and mismanagement out of the way we buy our weapons. And that's what we intend to do. It's what you might call my bond to you. When a family sends a son or husband to sea or to boot camp or to flight school to defend our nation, they are making a sacrifice. It is a great and noble sacrifice. Think of all the good all those sacrifices added up together have meant around the world in the last few years. The slaughter of the Iran-Iraq War has ended because America had a strong Navy that it was ready to deploy. - 6 - Europe is nearing the milestone that will mark its longest period of peace since the fall of the Roman Empire because America has a strong Army. And the Soviet Union has begun to talk seriously about strategic arms reductions, because our missile and bomber forces are strong. For humanity's dreams of peace, families across America give up their sons and daughters to the service of their country. When the record of our time is finally written, I hope it will be the story of the final triumph of peace and freedom throughout the globe -- the story of the sunrise in the day of mankind's age old aspirations. And on that day, who were the heroes, generations to come will ask? Who drove the chariots of fire across the sky? Who brought that day to the earth? And the answer will be you. In the next four years I will be not just your commander-in-chief, but your friend. And together we will work to spin the gossamer thread of human dreams into a sturdy fabric of peace that will last for generations to come. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. Document No. 001438 WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM DATE: 1/27/89 1/30/89 at 9:30 am ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK, TUESDAY SUBJECT: JANUARY 31, 1989 ACTION FYI ACTION FYI VICE PRESIDENT MCCLURE A SUNUNU NEWMAN SCOWCROFT PORTER DARMAN STUDDERT BATES UNTERMEYER BREEDEN WINSTON CARD LOPEZ Six CICCONI DEMAREST FITZWATER GRAY HAGIN REMARKS: Please provide your comments directly to Chriss Winston (x2930, Room 122), with an info copy to my office, by 9:30 am Monday, January 30th. Thanks. RESPONSE: See comminer Call James W. Cicconi Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff Ext. 2702 1909 Jill 27 11:45 (Judge) January 29, 1989 1:00 p.m. PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF NORFOLK TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1989 Thank you. It's great to be here on one of the greatest ships in the world, with a crew that knows the meaning of the words "my ship, my country," crew of the America. CANCIER one Air was And wasn't it the your [airwing designation] that taught Qadhafi a lesson that he'll never forget. You know, as an old carrier pilot, today is a special day for me. I can't help thinking of the carrier I once sailed on. They weren't as big in those days. In fact, I think my boat SHIP could have floated in the stew kettles down in your mess. But we knew, just as the crew and airwing of "the America" know, how much we owed to the men and women at the shipyards. And from the day of Revolutionary era sloops to the most modern supercarriers, no shipyard has written a prouder chapter in the history of the United States Navy than the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard. All over the world, those who know the sea and the ships that sail on it know that Norfolk stands for excellence. Norfolk is a national treasure -- and we're going to keep it that way. My visit today is the final stop on what you might call an PAST inaugural trip. For the several days I have been visiting with the men and women who are my colleagues in service to our nation -- from senior appointees in my Administration to rank and file - 2 - civil servants. Most are outstanding. Most do a superb job. But to still you might say, with no disrespect for the others, that I've saved the best for last -- and I mean you, the men and women who keep our ships and guard our shores, the men and women who serve with the armed forces of the United States of America. In the months ahead I will be talking a great deal about service -- not service that is compelled, but service that is given freely and openly, the service of the strong heart. I will speak about those who give their time and love to their communities, to help those who cannot fully help themselves. Long ago it was written that the quality of mercy is not strained; and I will speak of those who dedicate a portion of their lives to mercy for humanity. And I will speak about you, for in a way that every American knows, and every man, woman, and child in our land salutes, you who stand here today set our Nation's standard for service. You keep the peace on the frontiers of freedom around the world. And in every corner of the globe, millions recognize you and the flag you carry as their symbol of hope. Yes, wherever you go, you take America and all it represents with you and you do it with a pride and dedication that few have ever matched. I know some say that it's just a job. But when a sailor must put to sea for 6 months or more at a time, and come home to find that the child who could barely crawl, can walk and say a few words, that's more than a job -- that is service. Mariner at Checkpaint do Berlin 3 stand Currently, Marines are standing - - "fort line duty in Panama, Guantunamo Bay, Cuba & When a Marine or soldier spends long hours on cold night's sentry duty at the D.M.Z. in Korea or at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, he is not just filling a job but is answering the call of service. And the mechanic who inspects the plane engine or ships power plant one last time and makes double and triple sure that every screw, every hose, every weld is as it should be -- that mechanic is dedicating himself or herself not simply to a job but to a concept of service to country that is the highest in the world. Around the world, others have seen and know what your dedication to service means. You may remember that last year, the Soviet Union's top military man at the time, Marshal Akhromeyev, visited the United States. He spent a day on a supercarrier like yours, as it went through exercises in these waters, and he visited installations across our Nation. He saw much of the amazing weaponry and machinery in our arsenal, and when he finally came to visit the White House, I could see that he was impressed. But I soon learned that what most impressed him was not our miraculous technology or incredible firepower, but the enlisted men and women that he met on his tours. He couldn't believe that we gave our enlisted men and women jobs that only officers would be permitted to handle in his own military. He couldn't believe the obvious dedication of America's enlisted men and women in their jobs, their knowledge of the machinery they handled, and their - 4 - readiness and ability to answer questions. In short, he couldn't believe your dedication to service. I know you've heard it from your parents. Those of you who are married have heard it from your husbands or wives and children. But it goes for everyone across the country, let me say we're all very, very proud of you and of the job you're doing. In the years ahead, I want to make sure that those who build our ships, planes, and weapons live up to the standards of service, dedication, and duty that this crew and this shipyard set. I've been inside a submarine while depth charges were going off all around it. I know what it's like to hear the steel strain and creak and the rivets pop and to pray to God that the people in charge of buying and building cared as much about the boat as you do. I believe that the overwhelming majority of procurement officers and defense contractors do care that much. I am determined to make sure that every single one of them does. My message will be just this simple: Don't think it's just anyone out there. Think it's your son or daughter -- and remember that their lives depend on the things you make. And if you're not ready to care that much and work that hard, you're not ready to do business with the United States Government. Let me give you an example -- cost overruns. Overruns didn't start yesterday. The first dry dock ever built for our Navy is still operating not far from here in this shipyard. It - 5 - was finished more than a century and a half ago. The actual final cost was three times the original estimate. But even if overruns are not new, they are still wrong -- and hurt the national security, particularly when budgets are tight. We want tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement, and we will get tighter controls and higher standards in weapons procurement. You deserve the very best equipment and weapons. You are getting them most of the time now. We are determined that you will get them all of the time. One other thing. I am determined to expand the national consensus for the budgets that support our Nation's defenses. I will do this because the first bulwark of our national defense is our national will. If our will is ruptured, our ship of state cannot sail -- or at least sail safely. I firmly believe that the vital first step to broadening our national consensus on defense is to wring the last drop of waste and mismanagement out of the way we buy our weapons. And that's what we intend to do. It's what you might call my bond to you. When a family sends a son or husband to sea or to boot camp or to flight school to defend our nation, they are making a sacrifice. It is a great and noble sacrifice. Think of all the good all those sacrifices added up together have meant around the world in the last few years. The slaughter of the Iran-Iraq War has ended because America had a strong Navy that it was ready to deploy. - 6 - Europe is nearing the milestone that will mark its longest period of peace since the fall of the Roman Empire because America has a strong Army. And the Soviet Union has begun to talk seriously about strategic arms reductions, because our missile and bomber forces are strong. For humanity's dreams of peace, families across America give up their sons and daughters to the service of their country. When the record of our time is finally written, I hope it will be the story of the final triumph of peace and freedom throughout the globe -- the story of the sunrise in the day of mankind's age old aspirations. And on that day, who were the heroes, generations to come will ask? Who drove the chariots of fire across the sky? Who brought that day to the earth? And the answer will be you. In the next four years I will be not just your commander-in-chief, but your friend. And together we will work to spin the gossamer thread of human dreams into a sturdy fabric of peace that will last for generations to come. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.