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Joint Session of Congress, 2/9/89 [2]
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Joint Session of Congress, 2/9/89 [2]
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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:
13475
Folder ID Number:
13475-010
Folder Title:
Joint Session of Congress, 2/9/89 [2]
Stack:
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Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
25
6
1
2
Draft
2/7/89 a.m.
THEMES AND ISSUES
FOR TALKING POINTS
CHILD CARE
A. The President has proposed a bold new approach to empower
parents to choose the child care that is best for them. He will
look to his Secretary of Labor, Elizabeth Dole, to take the lead
on implementing his plan of broadening choices for families.
B.
The strategy is four-fold:
1. A new Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child under
age four in low-income families.
2.
A refundable Dependent Care Tax Credit.
3. A $250 million expansion in Head Start
4. A study of liability insurance by the Department of
Labor.
C.
Five principles of the Bush Child Care Proposal:
1.
PARENTS CHOOSE, NOT THE GOVERNMENT:
George Bush believes that we should leave it up to parents, not
the government, to decide how they should care for their
children: whether at home, or with grandmother, or with a
neighbor, or at church, or at a child care center.
2.
NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FAMILIES WITH A SPOUSE AT HOME:
The Bush tax credit does not discriminate between families where
both parents work and families where one parent stays at home to
care for children.
(more)
2-2-2
3.
BROADENS CHOICES WITHOUT INFLEXIBLE REGULATION:
The President believes that a family's choices for their children
should be broadened with a tax credit and enhanced Head Start --
not constricted by Federal licensing or standards that raise
child care costs and prevent options like reliance on
grandmothers or other relatives, or neighbors. The Child Care
Tax Credit means money back to families, not to bureaucrats.
4.
NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RELIGIOUS CHILD CARE PROGRAMS:
Broadening Child Care choices also means permitting families to
continue relying on churches and synagogues for child care.
President Bush believes that families should continue to be able
to use child care programs that encourage religious values if
that is the parents' choice.
5.
EXPANDABLE SCOPE OF THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT:
The Child Care Tax Credit initially applies to low-income
families. As deficit pressures reduce, however, the credit will
be expanded to other income groups as well.
#
DRAFT
February 7, 1989
PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
EDUCATION
1.
INTERNAL PEOPLE
Secretary Cavazos
Erich Bloch, Director, NSF
Secretary Elizabeth Dole
Lynne Cheney, Chairman, NEH
Frank Hodsoll, Chairman, NEA
2.
PEOPLE TO TALK TO PRE 2/9
Terrel Bell
Gov. Tom Kean
Gov. Jim Thompson
Gov. Robert Orr
Gov. Lamar Alexander
Heritage Foundation
3.
AFTER 2/9
Previous recipients of Teachers' Awards who happen to be
Bush supporters?
Albert Shanker, American Federation of Teachers?
Mary Futrell, National Education Association?
School Principal representative?
Ernest Boyer, former U.S. Commissioner of Education
Carnegie Forum?
National Association of School Superintendents
American Association of School Administrators
Parent Teachers Association
Tom Shannon, National School Board Association
Chief State School Officers Association
Education Events
1.
Visit and make remarks at a disadvantaged school which has made
progress in achieving educational excellence.
This event would emphasize themes of Excellence/Success; helping
those who need it most; and, accountability.
2.
Present annual Wall Chart with Secretary Cavazos. The Wall Chart
presents a series of outcome indicators -- SAT scores, graduation
rates, etc.), and usually receives broad press. This event would
emphasize the themes of accountability, and, depending on the
results, excellence/success.
4.
Make remarks on the release of National Assessment of Educational
Progress results. On February 14, the Educational Testing Service
will have a press conference on the results of the National
Assessment of Educational Progress, from 1969 to the present,
covering such areas as math, reading, literature, science,
history and computer competence. Remarks about the findings would
emphasize the themes of accountability, excellence/success (the
need for such) and perhaps help for those who need it most.
5.
Meet with Navy Officers Montel Williams and Drew Brown. These are
black officers who travel around the country motivating kids to
stay in school (featured in 11/7/88 Fortune magazine). This would
emphasize the themes of excellence/success, help for those who
need it, and accountability.
6.
HBCU meeting. Meet with representatives of United Negro College
Fund, past donors to HBCU's (Cosby, etc.), potential donors, and
successful graduates to "kick off" broad effort to match the
Federal dollar for endowment-building.
7.
Visit the classroom of an "alternatively-selected" teacher, e.g.,
in New Jersey. This event would emphasize excellence/success and
choice and flexibility.
8. Meet with Donors/Initiators/Participants of "I Have a Dream
Foundation" (Eugene Lang's program to guarantee support for a
college education for those junior high students who remain in
school). This would emphasize excellence/success and
accountability.
9.
Visit "Chelsea Project" outside of Boston: a school district
taken over by Boston University to run the schools and improve
them. (Project is run by Dr. Peter Greer, former Reagan Assistant
Secretary of Education.)
10. Visit Minnesota "choice" school.
DRAFT
February 7, 1989
PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
DRUGS
1.
INTERNAL PEOPLE
:
William Bennett
:
Attorney General Dick Thornburgh
--
Sec James A. Baker
--
Sec. Sam Skinner
:
Donna Alvarado, ACTION
--
Admiral William Crowe, Head of Joint Chiefs of Staff
2.
PEOPLE TO TALK TO PRE-2/9
--
Daryl Gates, LAPD
:
Rudolph Giuliani
--
Senator Specter
:
Richard Lesher, President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
:
Robert Woodson, National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
3.
AFTER 2/9
--
Jesse Jackson?
:
STRAIGHT -- Successful
:
Cardinal O'Connor
Events
(See attached memo)
POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL EVENTS
A fundamental concept in the President's Crusade for a Drug-Free
America is that every individual has a personal responsibility to
do what they can do to stop illegal drug use. A wide range of
opportunities exist: drug-free homes; drug-free communities; drug-
free schools; drug-free workplaces; drug-free transportation; drug-
free public housing; strong law enforcement; international
cooperation; etc. Our message is simple: success is only possible
when every citizen rejects the existence of illegal drugs in every
segment of their daily lives. The President's personal leadership,
commitment and no-nonsense policies-will strengthen the resolve of
individuals and organizations to achieve a drug-free America.
THEMES President Bush should highlight his policies early on in
the Administration to outline his goals for the Crusade for a Drug-
Free America and to set the stage for the activities of the new
"drug czar." We should highlight a range of initiatives, both
governmental and non-governmental and work with those groups and
individuals who have been fully involved. In order to meet the
promises made during the campaign, these events should:
include local, state and national initiatives;
seek opportunities to honor the nation's law enforcement
officers; their highly visible actions emphasizing the
illegality of the "drug trade" and contributing to a climate
more receptive to prevention efforts as well as reducing the
availability of the drugs and deterring drug-related crime;
focus on the international aspect; nearly every country of the
world now agrees drug prevention is the key to solving the
drug problem and most nations are appreciative of the efforts
of the President and First Lady.
EXISTING EVENTS (TIE-INS)
2/22
Dedication of the new El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
at Fort Bliss, TX -- the "Camerana Building" named after
DEA Agent Enrique Camerana who was tortured and slain by
Mexican narco-traffickers.
2/20-22
9th Annual Betty Ford Center Conference on Alcoholism and
Chemical Dependency; Rancho Mirage, CA
3/9-10
International Mayors Conference; co-hosted by New York
Mayor Koch and Bogota, Colombia Mayor Andres Pastrana --
attendees 30-50 Mayors from the U.S., Latin America, and
Europe (1st of 2 meetings, 2nd will be held in Bogota)
3/21
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Directors (NASADA) presentation of awards to "Outstanding
Community-Based Programs"; government and private sector
sponsored; Indianapolis, IN.
4/25-27
International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) ; DEA
Administrator Lawn is President; Miami, FL (group which
last year conducted a 35 nation drug law enforcement
initiative.)
GENERATED EVENTS
1.
Highlight a few successful programs for High Risk Youth,
possibly in cooperation with the Inter-Agency Low-Income
Opportunity Advisory Board (Chuck Hobbs) -- successful
programs especially in the Northeast and the South.
2.
Attend drug-related meeting of a public housing authority and
residents (with Secretary Kemp) -- good programs in the
South.
3.
Visit New Jersey or San Diego to highlight user focus and
zero tolerance programs.
4.
Visit to major treatment program (i.e. Hale House where
infants born addicted and/or with AIDS are treated).
5.
Meeting with College and University Presidents (with
Secretary Cavazos).
6.
Interview with select college newspapers (student editors).
7.
Visit to a Native American anti-drug program (i.e. programs
which include teaching on native culture to strengthen family
and reduce suicide, alcoholism and drug abuse) -- many
programs in Southwest and Northwest.
8.
Back-to-School Event (Presidential Classroom) - satellite
feed to a selection of High School Auditoriums (approx. 10-
25) -- possibly to establish the "President's Drug-Free
Challenge."
9.
Drug-free American Workforce Initiatives (with Secretary
Mossbacher or Secretary Dole).
10. Address to the World (via VOA and/or USIA) and something to
honor work of USIA/USIS in communicating drug issue abroad.
11. Large portion of statement before U.N. General Assembly
(October) on drug issue.
12. Western Hemisphere "drug summit" (possibly with OAS).
13. Message to the Nation -- possibly through a cover story in a
national magazine to highlight the "improved status of
American youth,' decrease in illegal drug use, and goals for
future.
PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
ENVIRONMENT
1.
INTERNAL PEOPLE
--
William Reilly
--
Manual Lujan
--
Admiral James Watkins
2.
PEOPLE TO TALK TO PRE-2/9
--
William Ruckelshaus
--
Russell Train
:
Gov. George Deukmejian
3.
AFTER 2/9
EVENTS
1.
Visits to:
-
Wetland area
-
National park
-
Successful super fund site
-
Recycling Center (bring trash?)
PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
CHILD CARE
1.
INTERNAL PEOPLE
--
Richard Breeden
--
Elizabeth Dole
--
Debbie Steelman
2.
PEOPLE TO TALK TO PRE-2/9
--
Phyllis Schafly
--
Heritage Foundation:
Ed Feulner
Rob Rector
--
Free Congress:
Mike Schwarz
Eric Licht
--
Senator Domenici
--
Congressmen Schulze, Holloway, and Gingrich
:
Joe Flader (w/Rep. Petri)
:
Gary Bauer
-- Columnists:
Warren T. Brooks
Irving Kristol
Joseph Sobran
Norman Podhoretz
--
Nat Semple, Committee for Economic Development
--
Membership of the National Children's Commission,
especially President Reagan's appointees -- see
attachment.
3.
AFTER 2/9
--
Children's Defense Fund (?)
#
,
PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
HOMELESSNESS
1.
INTERNAL PEOPLE
--
Jack Kemp
2.
PEOPLE TO TALK TO PRE-2/9
--
The National Coalition for the Homeless -- Bob Hayes
--
George Voinovich, Mayor of Cleveland?
--
Mrs. McKinney?
:
Bob Woodson, National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
--
Susan Baker?
--
George Romney?
3.
AFTER 2/9
--
National Conference of Mayors
--
Sam Pierce
EVENTS
1.
Announce availability of underutilized facilities?
2.
Visit shelter
EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:00 PM 2/9/89
ADDRESS TO THE JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, distinguished Members of the
House and Senate, honored guests, fellow citizens:
Less than 3 weeks ago, I joined you on the West Front of
this very building and -- looking over the monuments to our proud
past -- offered you my hand in filling the next page of American
history with a story of extended prosperity and continued peace.
Tonight, I am back, to offer you my plans as well. The hand
remains extended, the sleeves are rolled up, America is waiting,
and now we must produce.
Together, we can build a better America.
It is comforting to return to this historic Chamber. Here,
22 years ago, I first raised my hand to be sworn into public
life. So tonight, I feel as if I am returning home to friends.
And I intend, in the months and years to come, to give you what
friends deserve: frankness, respect, and my best judgment about
ways to improve America's future.
In return, I ask for an honest commitment to our common
mission of progress. If we seize the opportunities on the road
before us, there will be praise enough for all.
The people didn't send us here to bicker. It's time to
govern.
Many Presidents have come to this Chamber in times of great
crisis. War. Depression. Loss of national spirit.
Eight years ago, I sat in that chair as President Reagan
spoke of punishing inflation and devastatingly high interest
rates, people out of work, American confidence on the wane.
- 2 -
Our challenge is different.
We are fortunate -- a much changed landscape lies before us
tonight.
So I don't propose to reverse direction. We are headed the
right way.
But we cannot rest. We are a people whose energy and drive
have fueled our rise to greatness. We are a forward-looking
Nation -- generous, yes, but ambitious as well -- not for
ourselves, but for the world.
Complacency is not in our character -- not before, not now,
not ever.
So tonight, we must take a strong America -- and make it
even better.
We must address some very real problems. We must establish
some very clear priorities. And we must make a very substantial
cut in the Federal budget deficit.
Some people find that agenda impossible.
But I am presenting to you tonight a realistic plan for
tackling it. My plan has four broad features: attention to
urgent priorities, investment in the future, an attack on the
deficit, and no new taxes.
This budget represents my best judgment of how we can
address our priorities, consistent with the people's view. There
are many areas in which we would all like to spend more than I
propose, but we cannot until we get our fiscal house in order.
Next year alone, thanks to economic growth, without any
change in the law, the Federal Government will take in over
$80 billion dollars more than it does this year. That's right --
- 3 -
over $80 billion in new revenues, with no increase in taxes. Our
job is to allocate those new resources wisely.
We can afford to increase spending -- by a modest amount,
but enough to invest in key priorities and still cut the deficit
by almost 40 percent in one year.
That will allow us to meet the targets set forth in the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law.
But to do that, we must recognize that growth above
inflation in Federal programs is not preordained, that not all
spending initiatives were designed to be immortal.
I make this pledge tonight: My team and I are ready to work
with the Congress, to form a special leadership group, to
negotiate in good faith, to work day and night -- if that's what
it takes -- to meet the budget targets, and to produce a budget
on time.
We cannot settle for business as usual.
Government by Continuing Resolution -- or Government by
crisis -- will not do.
I ask the Congress tonight to approve several measures which
will make budgeting more sensible. We could save time and
improve efficiency by enacting 2-year budgets.
Forty-three Governors have the line-item veto. Presidents
should have it, too.
At the very least, when a President proposes to rescind
Federal spending, the Congress should be required to vote on that
proposal -- instead of killing it by inaction.
And I ask for Congress to honor the public's wishes by
passing a constitutional amendment. to require a balanced budget.
- 4 -
Such an amendment, once phased in, will discipline both Congress
and the Executive branch.
Several principles describe the kind of America I hope to
build with your help in the years ahead.
We will not have the luxury of taking the easy, spendthrift
approach to solving problems -- because higher spending and
higher taxes put economic growth at risk.
Economic growth provides jobs and hope. Economic growth
enables us to pay for social programs. Economic growth enhances
the security of the Nation. And low tax rates create economic
growth.
I believe in giving Americans greater freedom and greater
choice -- and I will work for choice for American families,
whether in the housing in which they live, the schools to which
they send their children, or the child care they select for their
young.
I believe that we have an obligation to those in need, but
that Government should not be the provider of first resort for
things that the private sector can produce better.
I believe in a society that is free from discrimination and
bigotry of any kind. I will work to knock down the barriers left
by past discrimination, and to build a more tolerant society that
will stop such barriers from ever being built again.
I believe that family and faith represent the moral compass
of the Nation -- and I will work to make them strong, for as
Benjamin Franklin said: "If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground
without His notice, [can] a [great Nation] rise without His aid?"
- 5 -
And I believe in giving people the power to make their own
lives better through growth and opportunity. Together, let's put
power in the hands of people.
Three weeks ago, we celebrated the Bicentennial Inaugural,
the 200th anniversary of the first Presidency.
And if you look back, one thing is so striking about the way
the Founding Fathers looked at America. They didn't talk about
themselves. They talked about posterity. They talked about the
future.
We, too, must think in terms bigger than ourselves.
We must take actions today that will ensure a better
tomorrow. We must extend American leadership in technology,
increase long-term investment, improve our educational system,
and boost productivity. These are the keys to building a better
future.
Here are some of my recommendations:
- I propose almost $2.2 billion for the National Science
Foundation to promote basic research;
- I propose to make permanent the tax credit for research
and development;
- I have asked Vice President Quayle to chair a new Task
Force on Competitiveness;
- I request funding for NASA and a strong space program --
an increase of almost $2.4 billion over the current fiscal year.
We must have a manned space station; a vigorous, safe space
shuttle program; and more commercial development in space. The
space program should always go "full throttle up" -- that's not
just our ambition; it's our destiny.
- 6 -
- I propose that we cut the maximum tax rate on capital
gains to increase long-term investment. History is clear: this
will increase revenues, help savings, and create new jobs.
We won't be competitive if we leave whole sectors of America
behind. This is the year we should finally enact urban
enterprise zones, and bring hope to our inner cities.
But the most important competitiveness program of all is one
which improves education in America.
When some of our students actually have trouble locating
America on a map of the world, it is time for us to map a new
approach to education.
We must reward excellence, and cut through bureaucracy. We
must help those schools that need help most. We must give choice
to parents, students, teachers, and principals. And we must hold
all concerned accountable. In education, we cannot tolerate
mediocrity.
I want to cut the drop-out rate, and make America a more
literate Nation. Because what it really comes down to is this:
the longer our graduation lines are today, the shorter our
unemployment lines will be tomorrow.
So tonight I am proposing the following initiatives:
- the beginning of a $500-million program to reward
America's best schools -- "merit schools";
- the creation of special Presidential awards for the best
teachers in every State -- because excellence should be rewarded;
- the establishment of a new program of National Science
Scholars, one each year for every Member of the House and Senate,
- 7 -
to give this generation of students a special incentive to excel
in science and mathematics;
- the expanded use of magnet schools which give families
and students greater choice;
- and a new program to encourage "alternative
certification" -- which will let talented people from all fields
teach in the classroom.
I have said I'd like to be "the Education President."
Tonight, I ask you to join me by becoming "the Education
Congress."
Just last week, as I settled into this new office, I
received a letter from a mother in Pennsylvania, who had been
struck by my message in the Inaugural address. "Not 12 hours
before, If she wrote, "my husband and I received word that [our]
son was addicted to cocaine. [He] had the world at his feet.
Bright, gifted, personable. , he could have done anything with
his life. [Now] he has chosen cocaine." "
"Please," she wrote, "find a way to curb the supply of
cocaine. Get tough with the pushers. [Our son] needs your
help."
My friends, that voice crying out for help could be the
voice of your own neighbor. Your own friend. Your own son.
Over 23 million Americans used illegal drugs last year -- at a
staggering cost to our Nation's well-being.
Let this be recorded as the time when America rose up and
said "No" to drugs. The scourge of drugs must be stopped.
- 8 -
I am asking tonight for an increase of almost a billion
dollars in budget outlays to escalate the war against drugs. The
war will be waged on all fronts.
Our new "Drug Czar", Bill Bennett, and I will be
shoulder-to-shoulder, leading the charge.
Some money will be used to expand treatment to the poor, and
to young mothers. This will offer the helping hand to the many
innocent victims of drugs -- like the thousands of babies born
addicted, or with AIDS, because of the mother's addiction.
Some will be used to cut the waiting time for treatment.
Some money will be devoted to those urban schools where the
emergency is now the worst. And much of it will be used to
protect our borders, with help from the Coast Guard, the Customs
Service, the Departments of State and Justice, and yes, the
U.S. military.
I mean to get tough on the drug criminals. Let me be clear:
this President will back up those who put their lives on the line
every day -- our local police officers.
My budget asks for beefed-up prosecution, for a new attack
on organized crime, and for enforcement of tough sentences -- and
for the worst kingpins, that means the death penalty.
I also want to make sure that when a drug dealer is
convicted, there is a cell waiting for him. He should not go
free because prisons are too full.
Let the word go out: if you are caught and convicted, you
will do time.
- 9 -
But for all we do in law enforcement, in interdiction and
treatment, we will never win this war on drugs unless we stop
demand for drugs.
So some of this increase will be used to educate the young
about the dangers of drugs. We must involve parents. We must
involve teachers. We must involve communities. And my friends,
we must involve ourselves.
One problem related to drug use demands our urgent attention
and our continuing compassion. That is the terrible tragedy of
AIDS.
I am asking for $1.6 billion for education to prevent the
disease -- and for research to find a cure.
If we're to protect our future, we need a new attitude about
the environment.
We must protect the air we breathe.
I will send to you shortly legislation for a new, more
effective Clean Air Act. It will include a plan to reduce, by
date certain, the emissions which cause acid rain -- because the
time for study alone has passed, and the time for action is now.
We must make use of clean coal. My budget contains full
funding, on schedule, for the clean coal technology agreement we
have made with Canada. We intend to honor that agreement.
We must not neglect our parks. So I am asking to fund new
acquisitions under the land and water conservation fund.
We must protect our oceans. I support new penalties against
those who would dump medical waste and other trash in the oceans.
The age of the needle on the beach must end.
- 10 -
In some cases, the gulfs and oceans off our shores hold the
promise of oil and gas reserves which can make our Nation more
secure and less dependent on foreign oil. When those with the
most promise can be tapped safely, as with much of the Alaska
National Wildlife Refuge, we should proceed. But we must use
caution and we must respect the environment.
So tonight I am calling for the indefinite postponement of
three lease sales which have raised troubling questions -- two
off the coast of California, and one which could threaten the
Everglades in Florida.
Action on these three lease sales will await the conclusions
of a special task force set up to measure the potential for
environmental damage.
I am directing the Attorney General and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency to use every tool at their
disposal to speed and toughen the enforcement of our laws against
toxic waste dumpers. I want faster cleanups and tougher
enforcement of penalties against polluters.
In addition to caring for our future, we must care for those
around us. A decent society shows compassion for the young, the
elderly, the vulnerable, and the poor.
Our first obligation is to the most vulnerable -- infants,
poor mothers, children living in poverty -- and my proposed
budget recognizes this. I ask for full funding of Medicaid -- an
increase of over $3 billion -- and an expansion of the program to
include coverage of pregnant women who are near the poverty line.
I believe we should help working families cope with the
burden of child care.
- 11 -
Our help should be aimed at those who need it most --
low-income families with young children. I support a new child
care tax credit that will aim our efforts at exactly those
families -- without discriminating against mothers who choose to
stay at home.
Now, I know there are competing proposals. But remember
this: The overwhelming majority of all preschool child care is
now provided by relatives and neighbors, churches and community
groups. Families who choose these options should remain eligible
for help. Parents should have choice.
And for those children who are unwanted or abused, or whose
parents are deceased, we should encourage adoption. I propose to
re-enact the tax deduction for adoption expenses, and to double
it to $3,000. Let's make it easier to these kids to have parents
who love them.
We have a moral contract with our senior citizens. In this
budget, Social Security is fully funded, including a full
cost-of-living adjustment. We must honor our contract.
We must care about those in "the shadows of life," and I,
like many Americans, am deeply troubled by the plight of the
homeless. The causes of homelessness are many, the history is
long, but the moral imperative to act is clear.
Thanks to the deep well of generosity in this great land,
many organizations already contribute. But we in Government
cannot stand on the sidelines. In my budget, I ask for greater
support for emergency food and shelter, for health services and
measures to prevent substance abuse, and for clinics for the
mentally ill -- and I propose a new initiative involving the full
- 12 -
range of Government agencies. We must confront this national
shame.
There is another issue I decided to mention here tonight. I
have long believed that the people of Puerto Rico should have the
right to determine their own political future. Personally, I
favor statehood. But I ask the Congress to take the necessary
steps to let the people decide in a referendum.
Certain problems, the result of decades of unwise practices,
threaten the health and security of our people. Left unattended,
they will only get worse -- but we can act now to put them behind
us.
Earlier this week, I announced my support for a plan to
restore the financial and moral integrity of our savings system.
I ask Congress to enact our reform proposals within 45 days. We
must not let this situation fester.
Certainly, the savings of Americans must remain secure --
insured depositors will continue to be fully protected. But any
plan to refinance the system must be accompanied by major reform.
Our proposals will prevent such a crisis from recurring. The
best answer is to make sure that a mess like this will never
happen again.
The majority of thrifts in communities across this Nation
have been honest; they have played a major role in helping
families achieve the American dream of home ownership. But make
no mistake: Those who are corrupt, those who break the law, must
be kicked out of the business; and they should go to jail.
- 13 -
We face a massive task in cleaning up the waste left from
decades of environmental neglect at America's nuclear weapons
plants.
Clearly, we must modernize these plants and operate them
safely. That is not at issue -- our national security depends on
it.
But beyond that, we must clean up the old mess that's been
left behind -- and I propose in this budget to more than double
our current effort to do so. This will allow us to identify the
exact nature of the various problems so we can clean them up --
and clean them up we will.
We have been fortunate during these past 8 years. America
is a stronger Nation today than it was in 1980.
Morale in our Armed Forces is restored. Our resolve has
been shown. Our readiness has been improved. And we are at
peace.
There can no longer be any doubt that peace has been made
more secure through strength. When America is stronger, the
world is safer.
Most people don't realize, that after the successful
restoration of our strength, the Pentagon budget has actually
been reduced in real terms for each of the last 4 years. We
cannot tolerate further reductions.
In light of the compelling need to reduce the deficit,
however, I support a 1-year freeze in the military budget --
something I proposed last fall in my flexible freeze plan.
This freeze will apply for only 1 year -- after that
increases above inflation will be required. I will not sacrifice
- 14 -
American preparedness; and I will not compromise American
strength.
I should be clear on the conditions attached to my
recommendation for the coming year:
- the savings must be allocated to those priorities for
investing in our future that I have spoken about tonight;
- this defense freeze must be part of a comprehensive budget
agreement which meets the targets spelled out in the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law without raising taxes, and which
incorporates reforms in the budget process.
I have directed the National Security Council to review our
national security and defense policies and report back to me
within 90 days to ensure that our capabilities and resources meet
our commitments and strategies.
I am also charging the Department of Defense with the task
of developing a plan to improve the defense procurement process
and management of the Pentagon -- one which will fully implement
the Packard Commission report. Many of the changes can only be
made with the participation of the Congress -- so I ask for your
help.
We need fewer regulations. We need less bureaucracy. We
need multi-year procurement and 2-year budgeting. And frankly,
we need less Congressional micromanagement of our Nation's
military policy.
Securing a more peaceful world is perhaps the most important
priority I'd like to address tonight.
We meet at a time of extraordinary hope. Never before in
this century have our values of freedom, democracy, and economic
- 15 -
opportunity been such a powerful political and intellectual force
around the globe.
Never before has our leadership been so crucial, because
while America has its eyes on the future, the world has its eyes
on America.
It is a time of great change in the world -- and especially
in the Soviet Union. Prudence and common sense dictate that we
try to understand the full meaning of the change going on there,
review our policies carefully, and proceed with caution. But I
have personally assured General Secretary Gorbachev that, at the
conclusion of such a review, we will be ready to move forward.
We will not miss any opportunity to work for peace.
The fundamental fact remains that the Soviets retain a very
powerful military machine, in the service of objectives which are
still too often in conflict with ours. So let us take the new
openness seriously. Let us step forward to negotiate, but let us
also be realistic. And let us always be strong.
There are some pressing issues we must address:
I will vigorously pursue the Strategic Defense Initiative.
The spread and even use of sophisticated weaponry threatens
global stability as never before.
Chemical weapons must be banned from the face of the Earth,
never to be used again. This won't be easy. Verification will
be difficult. But civilization and human decency demand that we
try.
And the spread of nuclear weapons must be stopped. I will
work to strengthen the hand of the International Atomic Energy
- 16 -
Agency. Our diplomacy must work every day against the
proliferation of nuclear weapons.
And, around the globe, we must continue to be freedom's best
friend.
We must stand firm for self-determination and democracy in
Central America -- including in Nicaragua.
For when people are given the chance, they inevitably will
choose a free press, freedom of worship, and certifiably free and
fair elections.
We must strengthen the alliance of industrial democracies --
as solid a force for peace as the world has ever known. This is
an alliance forged by the power of our ideals, not the pettiness
of our differences. So let us lift our sights -- to rise above
fighting about beef hormones to building a better future, to move
from protectionism to progress.
I have asked the Secretary of State to visit Europe next
week and to consult with them on the wide range of challenges and
opportunities we face together -- including East-West relations.
And I look forward to meeting with our NATO partners in the near
future.
I, too, shall begin a trip shortly -- to the far reaches of
the Pacific Basin, where the winds of democracy are creating new
hope, and the power of free markets is unleashing a new force.
When I served as our representative in China just 14 years
ago, few would have predicted the scope of the changes we've
witnessed since then.
But in preparing for this trip, I was struck by something I
came across from a Chinese writer. He was speaking of his
- 17 -
country, decades ago -- but his words speak to each of us, in
America, tonight.
"Today," he said, "we are afraid of the simple words like
goodness and mercy and kindness."
My friends, if we're to succeed as a Nation, we must
rediscover those words.
In just 3 days, we mark the birthday of Abraham Lincoln --
the man who saved our Union, and gave new meaning to the word
opportunity. Lincoln once said:
"I hold that while man exists, it is his duty to improve not
only his own condition, but to assist in ameliorating [that of]
mankind. "
It is this broader mission to which I call all Americans.
Because the definition of a successful life must include serving
others.
To the young people of America, who sometimes feel left
out -- I ask you tonight to give us the benefit of your talent
and energy through a new program called "YES," for Youth Entering
Service to America.
To those men and women in business -- remember the ultimate
end of your work -- to make a better product, to create better
lives. I ask you to plan for the longer-term and avoid the
temptation of quick and easy paper profits.
To the brave men and women who wear the uniform of the
United States of America -- thank you. Your calling is a high
one -- to be the defenders of freedom and the guarantors of
liberty. And I want you to know that this Nation is grateful for
your service.
- 18 -
To the parents of America, I ask you to get involved in your
child's schooling. Check on their homework. Go to the school,
meet the teachers, care about what is happening there. It is not
only your child's future on the line, it is America's.
To kids in our cities -- don't give up hope. Say no to
drugs. Stay in school. And yes, "Keep hope alive."
To those 37 million Americans with some form of
disability -- you belong in the economic mainstream. We need
your talents in America's workforce. Disabled Americans must
become full partners in America's opportunity society.
To the families of America watching tonight in your living
rooms: Hold fast to your dreams, because ultimately America's
future rests in your hands.
And to my friends in this Chamber, I ask for your
cooperation to keep America growing while cutting the deficit.
That is only fair to those who now have no vote -- the
generations to come.
Let them look back and say that we had the foresight to
understand that a time of peace and prosperity is not a time to
rest, but a time to push forward. A time to invest in the
future.
And let all Americans remember that no problem of human
making is too great to be overcome by human ingenuity, human
energy, and the untiring hope of the human spirit. I believe
this. I would not have asked to be your President if I didn't.
Tomorrow, the debate on the plan I have put forward begins.
I ask the Congress to come forward with your proposals. Let us
- 19 -
not question each other's motives. Let us debate. Let us
negotiate. But let us solve the problem.
Recalling anniversaries may not be my specialty in
speeches but tonight is one of some note. On February 9,
1941, just 48 years ago tonight, Sir Winston Churchill took to
the airwaves during Britain's hour of peril.
He had received from President Roosevelt a hand-carried
letter quoting Longfellow's famous poem: "Sail on, Oh Ship of
State! Sail on, Oh Union, strong and great! Humanity with all
its fears, with all the hopes of future years, Is hanging
breathless on thy fate!"
Churchill responded on this night by radio broadcast to a
nation at war, but he directed his words to Roosevelt. "We shall
not fail or falter," he said. "We shall not weaken or tire.
Give us the tools, and we will finish the job."
Tonight, almost a half century later, our peril may be less
immediate, but the need for perseverance and clear-sighted
fortitude is just as great.
Now, as then, there are those who say it can't be done.
There are voices who say that America's best days have past.
That we are bound by constraints, threatened by problems,
surrounded by troubles which limit our ability to hope.
Well, tonight I remain full of hope. We Americans have only
begun on our mission of goodness and greatness. And to those
timid souls, I repeat the plea -- give us the tools; and we will
do the job.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
1
Draft
ADDRESS TO THE JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, distinguished Members of
the House and Senate, honored guests, fellow citizens:
Less than 3 weeks ago, I joined you on the West Front
of this very building and -- looking over the monuments to
our proud past -- offered you my hand in filling the next
page of American history with a story of extended prosperity
and continued peace. Tonight, I am back, to offer you my
plans as well. The hand remains extended, the sleeves are
rolled up, America is waiting, and now we must produce.
Together, we can build a better America.
It is comforting to return to this historic Chamber.
Here, 22 years ago, I first raised my hand to be sworn into
public life. So tonight, I feel as if I am returning home
to friends. And I intend, in the months and years to come,
to give you that to which friends are entitled: frankness,
respect, and my best judgment about ways to improve
America's future.
In return, I ask for an honest commitment to our common
mission of progress. If we seize the opportunities on the
road before us, there will be praise enough for all.
The people didn't send us here to bicker. It's time to
produce. It's time to govern.
2
Many Presidents have come to this Chamber in times of
great crisis. War. Depression. Loss of national spirit.
Eight years ago, I sat in that chair as President
Reagan spoke of punishing inflation and devastatingly high
interest rates, people out of work, American confidence on
the wane.
Our challenge is different.
We are fortunate -- a much changed landscape lies
before us tonight.
So I don't propose to reverse direction. We are headed
the right way.
But we cannot rest. We are a people whose energy and
drive have fueled our rise to greatness. We are a
forward-looking Nation -- generous, yes, but ambitious as
well -- not for ourselves, but for the world.
Complacency is not in our character -- not before, not
now, not ever.
So tonight, we must take a strong America -- and make
it even better.
We must address some very real problems. We must
establish some very clear priorities. And we must make a
very substantial cut in the Federal budget deficit.
Some people find that agenda impossible.
But I am presenting to you tonight a realistic plan for
tackling it. My plan has four broad features: attention to
urgent priorities, investment in the future, an attack on
the deficit, and no new taxes.
3
I have made my position clear to the American people --
we don't need to raise taxes; and the people don't want us
to.
This budget represents my best judgment of how we can
address our priorities, consistent with the people's view.
There are many areas in which we would all like to spend
more than I propose, but we cannot until we get our fiscal
house in order.
Next year alone, thanks to economic growth, without any
change in the law, the Federal Government will take in over
$80 billion dollars more than it does this year. That's
right -- over $80 billion in new revenues, with no increase
in taxes. Our job is to allocate those new resources
wisely.
We can afford to increase spending -- by a modest
amount, but enough to invest in key priorities without
raising taxes -- and still cut the deficit by almost
40 percent in one year.
That will allow us to meet the targets set forth in the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law.
But to do that, we must recognize that growth above
inflation in Federal programs is not preordained, that not
all spending initiatives were designed to be immortal.
I make this pledge tonight: I am prepared to
participate in a special process with the Congressional
leadership; and my team and I are ready to work with the
Congress, to negotiate in good faith, to work day and
4
night -- if that's what it takes -- to meet the budget
targets, and to produce a budget on time.
We cannot settle for business as usual.
Government by Continuing Resolution -- or Government by
crisis -- won't do.
I ask the Congress tonight to approve several measures
which will make budgeting more sensible. We could save time
and improve efficiency by enacting 2-year budgets.
Forty-three Governors have the line-item veto.
Presidents should have it, too.
At the very least, when a President proposes to rescind
Federal spending, the Congress should be required to vote on
the proposal -- instead of killing it by inaction.
And I ask for Congress to honor the public's wishes by
passing a constitutional amendment to require a balanced
budget. Such an amendment, once phased in, will discipline
both Congress and the Executive branch.
Several principles describe the kind of America I hope
to build with your help in the years ahead.
We will not have the luxury of taking the easy,
spendthrift approach to solving problems -- because higher
spending and higher taxes put economic growth at risk.
Economic growth provides jobs and hope. Economic
growth enables us to pay for social programs. Economic
growth enhances the security of the Nation. And low tax
rates create economic growth.
5
I believe in giving Americans greater freedom and
greater choice -- and I will work for choice for American
families, whether in the housing in which they live, the
schools to which they send their children, or the child care
they select for their young.
I believe that we have an obligation to those in need,
but that Government should not be the provider of first
resort for things that the private sector can produce
better.
I believe in a society that is free from discrimination
and bigotry of any kind. I will work to knock down the
barriers left by past discrimination, to build a more
tolerant society that will stop such barriers from ever
being built again.
I believe that family and faith represent the moral
compass of the Nation -- and I will work to make them
strong, for as Benjamin Franklin said: "If a sparrow cannot
fall to the ground without His notice, [can] a [great
Nation] rise without His aid?"
And I believe in giving people the power to make their
own lives better through growth and opportunity. Together,
let's put power in the hands of people.
Three weeks ago, we celebrated the Bicentennial
Inaugural, the 200th anniversary of the first Presidency.
And if you look back, one thing is so striking about
the way the Founding Fathers looked at America. They didn't
6
talk about themselves. They talked about posterity. They
talked about the future.
We, too, must think in terms bigger than ourselves.
We must take actions today that will ensure a better
tomorrow. We must extend American leadership in technology,
increase long-term investment, improve our educational
system, and boost productivity. These are the keys to
building a better future.
Here are some of my recommendations:
- I propose almost $2.2 billion for the National
Science Foundation to promote basic research and keep us on
track to double its budget by 1993;
- I propose to make permanent the tax credit for
research and development;
- I have asked Vice President Quayle to chair a new
Task Force on Competitiveness;
- I request funding for NASA and a strong space
program -- an increase of almost $2.4 billion over the
current fiscal year. We must have a manned space station; a
vigorous, safe space shuttle program; and more commercial
development in space. The space program should always go
"full throttle up" -- that's not just our ambition; it's our
destiny.
- I propose that we cut the maximum tax rate on capital
gains to increase long-term investment. History is clear:
this will increase revenues, help savings, and create new
jobs.
7
We won't be competitive if we leave whole sectors of
America behind. This is the year we should finally enact
urban enterprise zones, and bring hope to our inner cities.
But the most important competitiveness program of all
is one which improves education in America.
When some of our students actually have trouble
locating America on a map of the world, it is time for us to
map a new approach to education.
We must reward excellence, and cut through bureaucracy.
We must help those schools that need help most. We must
give choice to parents, students, teachers, and principals.
And we must hold all concerned accountable. In education,
we cannot tolerate mediocrity.
I want to cut the drop-out rate, and make America a
more literate Nation. Because what it really comes down to
is this: the longer our graduation lines are today, the
shorter our unemployment lines will be tomorrow.
So tonight I am proposing the following initiatives:
- the beginning of a $500-million program to reward
America's best schools -- "merit schools";
- the creation of special Presidential awards for the
best teachers in every State -- because excellence should be
rewarded;
- the establishment of a new program of National
Science Scholars, one each year for every Member of the
House and Senate, to give this generation of students a
special incentive to excel in science and mathematics;
8
- the expanded use of magnet schools which give
families and students greater choice;
- and a new program to encourage "alternative
certification" -- which will let talented people from all
fields teach in the classroom.
I have said I'd like to be "the Education President."
Tonight, I ask you to join me by becoming "the Education
Congress."
Just last week, as I settled into this new office, I
received a letter from a mother in Pennsylvania, who had
been struck by my message in the Inaugural address. "Not
12 hours before, " she wrote, "my husband and I received word
that [our] son was addicted to cocaine. [He] had the world
at his feet. Bright, gifted, personable. , he could have
done anything with his life. [Now] he has chosen cocaine." If
"Please," she wrote, "find a way to curb the supply of
cocaine. Get tough with the pushers. [Our son] needs your
help."
My friends, that voice crying for help could be the
voice of your own neighbor. Your own friend. Your own
relative. Over 23 million Americans used illegal drugs last
year -- at a staggering cost to our Nation's well-being.
Let this be recorded as the time when America rose up
and said "No" to drugs. The scourge of drugs must stop.
I am asking tonight for an increase of almost a billion
dollars in budget outlays to escalate the war against drugs.
The war will be waged on all fronts.
9
Some money will be used to expand treatment to the
poor, and to young mothers. This will offer the helping
hand to the many innocent victims of drugs -- like the
thousands of babies born addicted, or with AIDS, because of
the mother's addiction.
Some will be used to cut the waiting time for
treatment.
Some money will be devoted to those urban schools where
the emergency is now the worst. And much of it will be used
to protect our borders, with help from the Coast Guard, the
Customs Service, the Departments of State and Justice, and
yes, the U.S. military.
I mean to get tough on the drug criminals. Let me be
clear: this President will back up those who put their
lives on the line every day -- our local police officers.
My budget asks for beefed-up prosecution, for a new
attack on organized crime, and for enforcement of tough
sentences -- and for the worst kingpins, that means the
death penalty.
I also want to make sure that when a drug dealer is
convicted, there is a cell waiting for him. He should not
go free because prisons are too full.
Let the word go out: if you are caught and convicted,
you must do time.
10
But for all we do in law enforcement, in interdiction
and treatment, we will never win this war on drugs unless we
stop demand for drugs.
So some of this increase will be used to educate the
young about the dangers of drugs. We must involve parents.
We must involve teachers. We must involve communities. And
my friends, we must involve ourselves.
One problem related to drug use demands our urgent
attention and our continuing compassion. That is the
terrible tragedy of AIDS.
I am asking for $1.6 billion for education to prevent
the disease -- and for research to find a cure.
If we're to protect our future, we need a new attitude
about the environment.
We must protect the air we breathe.
I will send to you shortly legislation for a new, more
effective Clean Air Act. It will include a plan to reduce,
by date certain, the emissions which cause acid rain ---
because the time for study alone has passed, and the time
for action is now.
We must make use of clean coal. My budget contains
full funding, on schedule, for the clean coal technology
agreement we have made with Canada. We intend to honor that
agreement.
I believe we should expand our parks. So I am asking
to fund new acquisitions under the land and water
conservation fund.
11
We must protect our oceans. I support new penalties
against those who would dump medical waste and other trash
in the oceans. The age of the needle on the beach must end.
In some cases, the gulfs and oceans off our shores hold
the promise of reserves of oil and gas which can make our
Nation more secure and less dependent on foreign oil. When
those with the most promise can be tapped safely, as with
much of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, we should
proceed. But we must use caution and we must respect the
environment.
So tonight I am calling for the indefinite postponement
of three lease sales which have raised troubling
questions -- two off the coast of California, and one which
could threaten the Everglades in Florida.
Action on these three lease sales will await the
conclusions of a special task force set up to measure the
potential for environmental damage.
I am directing the Attorney General and the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to use
every tool at their disposal to speed and toughen the
enforcement of our laws against toxic waste dumpers. I want
faster cleanups and tougher enforcement of penalties against
polluters.
In addition to caring for our future, we must care for
those around us. A decent society shows compassion for the
young, the elderly, the vulnerable, and the poor.
12
Our first obligation is to the most vulnerable --
infants, poor mothers, children living in poverty -- and my
proposed budget recognizes this. I ask for full funding of
Medicaid -- an increase of over $3 billion -- and an
expansion of the program to include coverage of pregnant
women who are near the poverty line.
I believe we should help working families cope with the
burden of child care.
Our help should be aimed at those who need it most --
low-income families with young children. I support a new
child care tax credit that will aim our efforts at exactly
those families -- without discriminating against mothers who
choose to stay at home.
Now, I know there are competing proposals. But
remember this: The overwhelming majority of all preschool
child care is now provided by relatives and neighbors,
churches and community groups. Families who choose these
options should remain eligible for help. Parents should
have choice.
And for those children who cannot live with their
parents, I believe we should encourage adoption. I propose
to re-enact the tax deduction for adoption expenses, and to
double it to $3,000.
We have a moral contract with our senior citizens. In
this budget, Social Security is fully funded, including a
full cost-of-living adjustment. We must honor our contract.
We must care about those in "the shadows of life," and
I, like many Americans, am deeply troubled by the plight of
13
the homeless. The causes of homelessness are many, the
history is long, but the moral imperative to act is clear.
Thanks to the deep well of generosity in this great
land, many organizations already contribute. But we in
Government cannot stand on the sidelines. In my budget, I
ask for greater support for emergency food and shelter, for
health services and measures to prevent substance abuse, and
for clinics for the mentally ill -- and I propose a new
initiative involving the full range of Government agencies.
We must confront this national shame.
Tragedy has been brought to this very Chamber by the
long-debated issue of the future of Puerto Rico. I wanted
to mention tonight that I favor a referendum for the people
of this Commonwealth. Personally, I favor statehood. But
let's let the people decide.
Certain problems, the result of decades of unwise
practices, threaten the health and security of our people.
Left unattended, they will only get worse -- but we can act
now to put them behind us.
Earlier this week, I announced my support for a plan to
restore the financial and moral integrity of our savings
system. I ask Congress to enact our reform proposals within
45 days. We must not let this situation fester.
Certainly, the savings of Americans must remain
secure -- insured depositors will continue to be fully
protected. But any plan to refinance the system must be
accompanied by major reform. Our proposals will prevent
such a crisis from
14
reoccurring. Because the best answer is to make sure that a
mess like this will never happen again.
The majority of thrifts in communities across this
Nation have been honest; they have played a major role in
helping families achieve the American dream of home
ownership. But make no mistake: Those who are corrupt,
those who break the law, must be kicked out of the business;
and they should go to jail.
We face a massive task in cleaning up the waste left
from decades of environmental neglect at America's nuclear
weapons plants.
Clearly, we must modernize these plants and operate
them safely. That is not at issue -- our national security
depends on it.
But beyond that, we must clean up the old mess that's
been left behind -- and I propose in this budget to more
than double our current effort to do SO. This will allow us
to identify the exact nature of the various problems so we
can clean them up -- and clean them up we will.
We have been fortunate during these past 8 years.
America is a stronger Nation today than it was in 1980.
Morale in our Armed Forces is restored. Our resolve
has been shown. Our readiness has been improved. And we
are at peace.
There can no longer be any doubt that peace has been
made more secure through strength. When America is
stronger, the world is safer.
15
Most people don't realize that, after the successful
restoration of our strength, the Pentagon budget has
actually been reduced in real terms for each of the last
4 years.
In light of the compelling need to reduce the deficit,
I propose a 1-year freeze in the military budget --
something I proposed last fall in my flexible freeze plan.
This freeze will apply for only 1 year -- after that
increases above inflation will be required. I will not
sacrifice American preparedness; and I will not compromise
American strength.
I should be clear on the conditions attached to my
recommendation for the coming year:
- the savings must be allocated to those priorities for
investing in our future that I have spoken about tonight;
- this defense freeze must be part of a comprehensive
budget agreement which meets the targets spelled out in the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law without raising taxes, and which
incorporates reforms in the budget process.
I have directed the National Security Council to review
our national security and defense policies and report back
to me within 90 days to ensure that our capabilities and
resources meet our commitments and strategies.
I am also charging the Department of Defense with the
task of developing a plan to improve the defense procurement
process and management of the Pentagon -- one which will
fully implement the Packard Commission report. Many of the
16
changes can only be made with the participation of the
Congress -- so I ask for your help.
We need fewer regulations. We need less bureaucracy.
We need multi-year procurement and 2-year budgeting. And
frankly, we need less Congressional micromanagement of our
Nation's military policy.
Securing a more peaceful world is perhaps the most
important priority I'd like to address tonight.
We meet tonight at a time of extraordinary hope. Never
before in this century have our values of freedom,
democracy, and economic opportunity been such a powerful
political and intellectual force around the globe.
Never before has our leadership been so crucial,
because while America has its eyes on the future, the world
has its eyes on America.
It is a time of great change in the world -- and
especially in the Soviet Union. Prudence and common sense
dictate that we try to understand the full meaning of the
change, review our policies carefully, and proceed with
caution. But I have personally assured General Secretary
Gorbachev that, at the conclusion of such a review, we will
be ready to move forward. We will not miss any opportunity
to work for peace.
The fundamental fact remains that the Soviets retain a
very powerful military machine, in the service of objectives
which are still too often in conflict with ours. So let us
17
take the new openness seriously. But let us be realistic.
And let us negotiate from strength.
There are some pressing issues we must address:
I will vigorously pursue the Strategic Defense
Initiative.
The spread and even use of sophisticated weaponry
threatens global stability as never before.
Chemical weapons must be banned from the face of the
Earth, never to be used again. This won't be easy.
Verification will be difficult. But civilization and human
decency demand that we try.
And the spread of nuclear weapons must be stopped. I
will work to strengthen the hand of the International Atomic
Energy Agency. Our diplomacy must work every day against
the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
And, around the globe, we must continue to be freedom's
best friend.
We must stand firm for self-determination and democracy
in Central America -- including in Nicaragua.
For when people are given their own choice, they
inevitably will choose a free press, freedom of worship, and
certifiably free and fair elections.
We must strengthen the alliance of industrial
democracies -- as solid a force for peace as the world has
ever known. This is an alliance forged by the power of our
ideals, not the pettiness of our differences. So let us
18
lift our sights -- from beef hormones to a better future,
from protectionism to progress.
I have asked the Secretary of State to visit Europe
next week -- to forge a new compact with our allies -- and
to consult with them on the wide range of challenges and
opportunities we face together -- including East-West
relations. And I look forward to meeting myself with our
NATO partners in the near future.
I, too, shall begin a trip shortly -- to the far
reaches of the Pacific Basin, where the winds of democracy
are creating new hope, and the power of free markets is
unleashing a new force.
When I served as our representative in China just
13 years ago, few would have predicted the scope of the
changes we've witnessed since then.
But in preparing for this trip, I was struck by
something I came across from a Chinese writer, Lin Yutang
[you-TANG]. He was speaking of his country, decades ago --
but his words speak to each of us, in America, tonight.
"Today," he said, "we are afraid of the simple words
like goodness and mercy and kindness."
My friends, if we're to succeed as a Nation, we must
rediscover those words.
In just 3 days, we mark the birthday of Abraham
Lincoln -- the man who saved our Union, and gave new meaning
to the word opportunity. Lincoln once said:
19
"I hold that while man exists, it is his duty to
improve not only his own condition, but to assist in
ameliorating [that of] mankind."
It is that broader mission to which I call all
Americans. Because the definition of a successful life
should include serving others.
To the young and the old, who sometimes feel left
out -- I ask you tonight to give us the benefit of your
talent and energy through a new program called "YES," for
Youth Entering Service to America.
To those men and women in business -- remember the
ultimate end of your work -- to make a better product, to
create better lives. I ask you to plan for the longer-term
and avoid the temptation of quick and easy paper profits.
To the brave men and women who wear the uniform of the
United States of America -- thank you. Your calling is a
high one -- to be the defenders of freedom and the
guarantors of liberty. And I want you to know that the
Nation is grateful for your service.
To the parents of America, I ask you to get involved in
your child's schooling. Check on their homework. Go to the
school, meet the teachers, care about what is happening
there. It is not only your child's future on the line, it
is America's.
To kids in our cities -- don't give up hope. Say no to
drugs. Stay in school. And yes, "Keep hope alive."
20
To those 37 million Americans with some form of
disability -- you belong in the economic mainstream. We
need your talents in America's workforce. Disabled
Americans must become full partners in America's opportunity
society.
To the families of America watching tonight in your
living rooms: Hold fast to your dreams, because ultimately
America's future rests in your hands.
And to my friends in this Chamber, I ask for your
cooperation to keep America growing while cutting the
deficit. That is only fair to those who now have no vote --
the generations to come.
Let them look back and say that we had the foresight to
understand that a time of peace and prosperity is not a time
to rest, but a time to push forward. A time to invest in
the future.
And let all Americans remember that no problem of human
making is too great to be overcome by human ingenuity, human
energy, and the untiring hope of the human spirit. I
believe this. I would not have asked to be your leader if I
didn't.
Tomorrow, the debate on the plan I have put forward
begins. I ask you to come forward with your proposals, if
they are different. But let us not question each other's
motives. Let us debate. Let us negotiate. And in the end,
let us produce.
21
Recalling anniversaries may not be my specialty in
speeches
but tonight is one of some note. On February 9,
1941, just 48 years ago tonight, Sir Winston Churchill took
to the airwaves during Britain's hour of peril.
He had received from President Roosevelt a hand-carried
letter quoting Longfellow's famous poem: "Sail on, Oh Ship
of State! Sail on, Oh Union, strong and great! Humanity
with all its fears, with all the hopes of future years, Is
hanging breathless on thy fate!"
Churchill responded on this night by radio broadcast to
a nation at war, but he directed his words to Roosevelt.
"We shall not fail or falter,' " he said. "We shall not
weaken or tire. Give us the tools, and we will finish the
job."
Tonight, almost a half century later, our peril may be
less immediate, but the need for perseverance and
clear-sighted fortitude is just as great.
Now, as then, there are those who say it can't be done.
There are voices who say that America's best days have past.
That we are bound by constraints, threatened by problems,
surrounded by troubles which limit our ability to hope.
Well, tonight I remain full of hope. We Americans have
only begun on our mission of goodness and greatness. And to
those timid souls, I repeat the plea -- give us the tools;
and we will do the job.
Thank you, and God bless you.
EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:00 PM 2/9/89
ADDRESS TO THE JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1989
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, distinguished Members of the
House and Senate, honored guests, fellow citizens:
Less than 3 weeks ago, I joined you on the West Front of
this very building and -- looking over the monuments to our proud
past -- offered you my hand in filling the next page of American
history with a story of extended prosperity and continued peace.
Tonight, I am back, to offer you my plans as well. The hand
remains extended, the sleeves are rolled up, America is waiting,
and now we must produce.
Together, we can build a better America.
It is comforting to return to this historic Chamber. Here,
22 years ago, I first raised my hand to be sworn into public
life. So tonight, I feel as if I am returning home to friends.
And I intend, in the months and years to come, to give you what
friends deserve: frankness, respect, and my best judgment about
ways to improve America's future.
In return, I ask for an honest commitment to our common
mission of progress. If we seize the opportunities on the road
before us, there will be praise enough for all.
The people didn't send us here to bicker. It's time to
govern.
Many Presidents have come to this Chamber in times of great
crisis. War. Depression. Loss of national spirit.
Eight years ago, I sat in that chair as President Reagan
spoke of punishing inflation and devastatingly high interest
rates, people out of work, American confidence on the wane.
- 2 -
Our challenge is different.
We are fortunate -- a much changed landscape lies before us
tonight.
So I don't propose to reverse direction. We are headed the
right way.
But we cannot rest. We are a people whose energy and drive
have fueled our rise to greatness. We are a forward-looking
Nation -- generous, yes, but ambitious as well -- not for
ourselves, but for the world.
Complacency is not in our character -- not before, not now,
not ever.
So tonight, we must take a strong America -- and make it
even better.
We must address some very real problems. We must establish
some very clear priorities. And we must make a very substantial
cut in the Federal budget deficit.
Some people find that agenda impossible.
But I am presenting to you tonight a realistic plan for
tackling it. My plan has four broad features: attention to
urgent priorities, investment in the future, an attack on the
deficit, and no new taxes.
This budget represents my best judgment of how we can
address our priorities, consistent with the people's view. There
are many areas in which we would all like to spend more than I
propose, but we cannot until we get our fiscal house in order.
Next year alone, thanks to economic growth, without any
change in the law, the Federal Government will take in over
$80 billion dollars more than it does this year. That's right --
- 3 -
over $80 billion in new revenues, with no increase in taxes. Our
job is to allocate those new resources wisely.
We can afford to increase spending -- by a modest amount,
but enough to invest in key priorities and still cut the deficit
by almost 40 percent in one year.
That will allow us to meet the targets set forth in the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law.
But to do that, we must recognize that growth above
inflation in Federal programs is not preordained, that not all
spending initiatives were designed to be immortal.
I make this pledge tonight: My team and I are ready to work
with the Congress, to form a special leadership group, to
negotiate in good faith, to work day and night if that's what
it takes -- to meet the budget targets, and to produce a budget
on time.
We cannot settle for business as usual.
Government by Continuing Resolution -- or Government by
crisis -- will not do.
I ask the Congress tonight to approve several measures which
will make budgeting more sensible. We could save time and
improve efficiency by enacting 2-year budgets.
Forty-three Governors have the line-item veto. Presidents
should have it, too.
At the very least, when a President proposes to rescind
Federal spending, the Congress should be required to vote on that
proposal -- instead of killing it by inaction.
And I ask for Congress to honor the public's wishes by
passing a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget.
- 4 -
Such an amendment, once phased in, will discipline both Congress
and the Executive branch.
Several principles describe the kind of America I hope to
build with your help in the years ahead.
We will not have the luxury of taking the easy, spendthrift
approach to solving problems -- because higher spending and
higher taxes put economic growth at risk.
Economic growth provides jobs and hope. Economic growth
enables us to pay for social programs. Economic growth enhances
the security of the Nation. And low tax rates create economic
growth.
I believe in giving Americans greater freedom and greater
choice -- and I will work for choice for American families,
whether in the housing in which they live, the schools to which
they send their children, or the child care they select for their
young.
I believe that we have an obligation to those in need, but
that Government should not be the provider of first resort for
things that the private sector can produce better.
I believe in a society that is free from discrimination and
bigotry of any kind. I will work to knock down the barriers left
by past discrimination, and to build a more tolerant society that
will stop such barriers from ever being built again.
I believe that family and faith represent the moral compass
of the Nation -- and I will work to make them strong, for as
Benjamin Franklin said: "If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground
without His notice, [can] a [great Nation] rise without His aid?"
- 5 -
And I believe in giving people the power to make their own
lives better through growth and opportunity. Together, let's put
power in the hands of people.
Three weeks ago, we celebrated the Bicentennial Inaugural,
the 200th anniversary of the first Presidency.
And if you look back, one thing is so striking about the way
the Founding Fathers looked at America. They didn't talk about
themselves. They talked about posterity. They talked about the
future.
We, too, must think in terms bigger than ourselves.
We must take actions today that will ensure a better
tomorrow. We must extend American leadership in technology,
increase long-term investment, improve our educational system,
and boost productivity. These are the keys to building a better
future.
Here are some of my recommendations:
- I propose almost $2.2 billion for the National Science
Foundation to promote basic research;
- I propose to make permanent the tax credit for research
and development;
- I have asked Vice President Quayle to chair a new Task
Force on Competitiveness;
- I request funding for NASA and a strong space program --
an increase of almost $2.4 billion over the current fiscal year.
We must have a manned space station; a vigorous, safe space
shuttle program; and more commercial development in space. The
space program should always go "full throttle up" -- that's not
just our ambition; it's our destiny.
- 6 -
- I propose that we cut the maximum tax rate on capital
gains to increase long-term investment. History is clear: this
will increase revenues, help savings, and create new jobs.
We won't be competitive if we leave whole sectors of America
behind. This is the year we should finally enact urban
enterprise zones, and bring hope to our inner cities.
But the most important competitiveness program of all is one
which improves education in America.
When some of our students actually have trouble locating
America on a map of the world, it is time for us to map a new
approach to education.
We must reward excellence, and cut through bureaucracy. We
must help those schools that need help most. We must give choice
to parents, students, teachers, and principals. And we must hold
all concerned accountable. In education, we cannot tolerate
mediocrity.
I want to cut the drop-out rate, and make America a more
literate Nation. Because what it really comes down to is this:
the longer our graduation lines are today, the shorter our
unemployment lines will be tomorrow.
So tonight I am proposing the following initiatives:
- the beginning of a $500-million program to reward
America's best schools -- "merit schools";
- the creation of special Presidential awards for the best
teachers in every State -- because excellence should be rewarded;
- the establishment of a new program of National Science
Scholars, one each year for every Member of the House and Senate,
- 7 -
to give this generation of students a special incentive to excel
in science and mathematics;
- the expanded use of magnet schools which give families
and students greater choice;
- and a new program to encourage "alternative
certification" -- which will let talented people from all fields
teach in the classroom.
I have said I'd like to be "the Education President."
Tonight, I ask you to join me by becoming "the Education
Congress."
Just last week, as I settled into this new office, I
received a letter from a mother in Pennsylvania, who had been
struck by my message in the Inaugural address. "Not 12 hours
before," she wrote, "my husband and I received word that [our]
son was addicted to cocaine. [He] had the world at his feet.
Bright, gifted, personable , he could have done anything with
his life. [Now] he has chosen cocaine."
"Please," she wrote, "find a way to curb the supply of
cocaine. Get tough with the pushers. [Our son] needs your
help. "
My friends, that voice crying out for help could be the
voice of your own neighbor. Your own friend. Your own son.
Over 23 million Americans used illegal drugs last year --- at a
staggering cost to our Nation's well-being.
Let this be recorded as the time when America rose up and
said "No" to drugs. The scourge of drugs must be stopped.
- 8 -
I am asking tonight for an increase of almost a billion
dollars in budget outlays to escalate the war against drugs. The
war will be waged on all fronts.
Our new "Drug Czar", Bill Bennett, and I will be
shoulder-to-shoulder, leading the charge.
Some money will be used to expand treatment to the poor, and
to young mothers. This will offer the helping hand to the many
innocent victims of drugs -- like the thousands of babies born
addicted, or with AIDS, because of the mother's addiction.
Some will be used to cut the waiting time for treatment.
Some money will be devoted to those urban schools where the
emergency is now the worst. And much of it will be used to
protect our borders, with help from the Coast Guard, the Customs
Service, the Departments of State and Justice, and yes, the
U.S. military.
I mean to get tough on the drug criminals. Let me be clear:
this President will back up those who put their lives on the line
every day -- our local police officers.
My budget asks for beefed-up prosecution, for a new attack
on organized crime, and for enforcement of tough sentences -- and
for the worst kingpins, that means the death penalty.
I also want to make sure that when a drug dealer is
convicted, there is a cell waiting for him. He should not go
free because prisons are too full.
Let the word go out: if you are caught and convicted, you
will do time.
- 9 -
But for all we do in law enforcement, in interdiction and
treatment, we will never win this war on drugs unless we stop
demand for drugs.
So some of this increase will be used to educate the young
about the dangers of drugs. We must involve parents. We must
involve teachers. We must involve communities. And my friends,
we must involve ourselves.
One problem related to drug use demands our urgent attention
and our continuing compassion. That is the terrible tragedy of
AIDS.
I am asking for $1.6 billion for education to prevent the
disease -- and for research to find a cure.
If we're to protect our future, we need a new attitude about
the environment.
We must protect the air we breathe.
I will send to you shortly legislation for a new, more
effective Clean Air Act. It will include a plan to reduce, by
date certain, the emissions which cause acid rain -- because the
time for study alone has passed, and the time for action is now.
We must make use of clean coal. My budget contains full
funding, on schedule, for the clean coal technology agreement we
have made with Canada. We intend to honor that agreement.
We must not neglect our parks. So I am asking to fund new
acquisitions under the land and water conservation fund.
We must protect our oceans. I support new penalties against
those who would dump medical waste and other trash in the oceans.
The age of the needle on the beach must end.
- 10 -
In some cases, the gulfs and oceans off our shores hold the
promise of oil and gas reserves which can make our Nation more
secure and less dependent on foreign oil. When those with the
most promise can be tapped safely, as with much of the Alaska
National Wildlife Refuge, we should proceed. But we must use
caution and we must respect the environment.
So tonight I am calling for the indefinite postponement of
three lease sales which have raised troubling questions -- two
off the coast of California, and one which could threaten the
Everglades in Florida.
Action on these three lease sales will await the conclusions
of a special task force set up to measure the potential for
environmental damage.
I am directing the Attorney General and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency to use every tool at their
disposal to speed and toughen the enforcement of our laws against
toxic waste dumpers. I want faster cleanups and tougher
enforcement of penalties against polluters.
In addition to caring for our future, we must care for those
around us. A decent society shows compassion for the young, the
elderly, the vulnerable, and the poor.
Our first obligation is to the most vulnerable -- infants,
poor mothers, children living in poverty -- and my proposed
budget recognizes this. I ask for full funding of Medicaid -- an
increase of over $3 billion -- and an expansion of the program to
include coverage of pregnant women who are near the poverty line.
I believe we should help working families cope with the
burden of child care.
- 11 -
Our help should be aimed at those who need it most --
low-income families with young children. I support a new child
care tax credit that will aim our efforts at exactly those
families -- without discriminating against mothers who choose to
stay at home.
Now, I know there are competing proposals. But remember
this: The overwhelming majority of all preschool child care is
now provided by relatives and neighbors, churches and community
groups. Families who choose these options should remain eligible
for help. Parents should have choice.
And for those children who are unwanted or abused, or whose
parents are deceased, we should encourage adoption. I propose to
re-enact the tax deduction for adoption expenses, and to double
it to $3,000. Let's make it easier to these kids to have parents
who love them.
We have a moral contract with our senior citizens. In this
budget, Social Security is fully funded, including a full
cost-of-living adjustment. We must honor our contract.
We must care about those in "the shadows of life," and I,
like many Americans, am deeply troubled by the plight of the
homeless. The causes of homelessness are many, the history is
long, but the moral imperative to act is clear.
Thanks to the deep well of generosity in this great land,
many organizations already contribute. But we in Government
cannot stand on the sidelines. In my budget, I ask for greater
support for emergency food and shelter, for health services and
measures to prevent substance abuse, and for clinics for the
mentally ill -- and I propose a new initiative involving the full
- 12 -
range of Government agencies. We must confront this national
shame.
There is another issue I decided to mention here tonight. I
have long believed that the people of Puerto Rico should have the
right to determine their own political future. Personally, I
favor statehood. But I ask the Congress to take the necessary
steps to let the people decide in a referendum.
Certain problems, the result of decades of unwise practices,
threaten the health and security of our people. Left unattended,
they will only get worse -- but we can act now to put them behind
us.
Earlier this week, I announced my support for a plan to
restore the financial and moral integrity of our savings system.
I ask Congress to enact our reform proposals within 45 days. We
must not let this situation fester.
Certainly, the savings of Americans must remain secure --
insured depositors will continue to be fully protected. But any
plan to refinance the system must be accompanied by major reform.
Our proposals will prevent such a crisis from recurring. The
best answer is to make sure that a mess like this will never
happen again.
The majority of thrifts in communities across this Nation
have been honest; they have played a major role in helping
families achieve the American dream of home ownership. But make
no mistake: Those who are corrupt, those who break the law, must
be kicked out of the business; and they should go to jail.
- 13 -
We face a massive task in cleaning up the waste left from
decades of environmental neglect at America's nuclear weapons
plants.
Clearly, we must modernize these plants and operate them
safely. That is not at issue -- our national security depends on
it.
But beyond that, we must clean up the old mess that's been
left behind -- and I propose in this budget to more than double
our current effort to do SO. This will allow us to identify the
exact nature of the various problems so we can clean them up --
and clean them up we will.
We have been fortunate during these past 8 years. America
is a stronger Nation today than it was in 1980.
Morale in our Armed Forces is restored. Our resolve has
been shown. Our readiness has been improved. And we are at
peace.
There can no longer be any doubt that peace has been made
more secure through strength. When America is stronger, the
world is safer.
Most people don't realize, that after the successful
restoration of our strength, the Pentagon budget has actually
been reduced in real terms for each of the last 4 years. We
cannot tolerate further reductions.
In light of the compelling need to reduce the deficit,
however, I support a 1-year freeze in the military budget --
something I proposed last fall in my flexible freeze plan.
This freeze will apply for only 1 year -- after that
increases above inflation will be required. I will not sacrifice
- 14 -
American preparedness; and I will not compromise American
strength.
I should be clear on the conditions attached to my
recommendation for the coming year:
- the savings must be allocated to those priorities for
investing in our future that I have spoken about tonight;
- this defense freeze must be part of a comprehensive budget
agreement which meets the targets spelled out in the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law without raising taxes, and which
incorporates reforms in the budget process.
I have directed the National Security Council to review our
national security and defense policies and report back to me
within 90 days to ensure that our capabilities and resources meet
our commitments and strategies.
I am also charging the Department of Defense with the task
of developing a plan to improve the defense procurement process
and management of the Pentagon -- one which will fully implement
the Packard Commission report. Many of the changes can only be
made with the participation of the Congress -- so I ask for your
help.
We need fewer regulations. We need less bureaucracy. We
need multi-year procurement and 2-year budgeting. And frankly,
we need less Congressional micromanagement of our Nation's
military policy.
Securing a more peaceful world is perhaps the most important
priority I'd like to address tonight.
We meet at a time of extraordinary hope. Never before in
this century have our values of freedom, democracy, and economic
- 15 -
opportunity been such a powerful political and intellectual force
around the globe.
Never before has our leadership been so crucial, because
while America has its eyes on the future, the world has its eyes
on America.
It is a time of great change in the world -- and especially
in the Soviet Union. Prudence and common sense dictate that we
try to understand the full meaning of the change going on there,
review our policies carefully, and proceed with caution. But I
have personally assured General Secretary Gorbachev that, at the
conclusion of such a review, we will be ready to move forward.
We will not miss any opportunity to work for peace.
The fundamental fact remains that the Soviets retain a very
powerful military machine, in the service of objectives which are
still too often in conflict with ours. So let us take the new
openness seriously. Let us step forward to negotiate, but let us
also be realistic. And let us always be strong.
There are some pressing issues we must address:
I will vigorously pursue the Strategic Defense Initiative.
The spread and even use of sophisticated weaponry threatens
global stability as never before.
Chemical weapons must be banned from the face of the Earth,
never to be used again. This won't be easy. Verification will
be difficult. But civilization and human decency demand that we
try.
And the spread of nuclear weapons must be stopped. I will
work to strengthen the hand of the International Atomic Energy
- 16 -
Agency. Our diplomacy must work every day against the,
proliferation of nuclear weapons.
And, around the globe, we must continue to be freedom's best
friend.
We must stand firm for self-determination and democracy in
Central America -- including in Nicaragua.
For when people are given the chance, they inevitably will
choose a free press, freedom of worship, and certifiably free and
fair elections.
We must strengthen the alliance of industrial democracies --
as solid a force for peace as the world has ever known. This is
an alliance forged by the power of our ideals, not the pettiness
of our differences. So let us lift our sights -- to rise above
fighting about beef hormones to building a better future, to move
from protectionism to progress.
I have asked the Secretary of State to visit Europe next
week and to consult with them on the wide range of challenges and
opportunities we face together -- including East-West relations.
And I look forward to meeting with our NATO partners in the near
future.
I, too, shall begin a trip shortly -- to the far reaches of
the Pacific Basin, where the winds of democracy are creating new
hope, and the power of free markets is unleashing a new force.
When I served as our representative in China just 14 years
ago, few would have predicted the scope of the changes we've
witnessed since then.
But in preparing for this trip, I was struck by something I
came across from a Chinese writer. He was speaking of his
- 17 -
country, decades ago -- but his words speak to each of us, in
America, tonight.
"Today," he said, "we are afraid of the simple words like
goodness and mercy and kindness."
My friends, if we're to succeed as a Nation, we must
rediscover those words.
In just 3 days, we mark the birthday of Abraham Lincoln --
the man who saved our Union, and gave new meaning to the word
opportunity. Lincoln once said:
"I hold that while man exists, it is his duty to improve not
only his own condition, but to assist in ameliorating [that of]
mankind. "
It is this broader mission to which I call all Americans.
Because the definition of a successful life must include serving
others.
To the young people of America, who sometimes feel left
out -- I ask you tonight to give us the benefit of your talent
and energy through a new program called "YES," for Youth Entering
Service to America.
To those men and women in business -- remember the ultimate
end of your work -- to make a better product, to create better
lives. I ask you to plan for the longer-term and avoid the
temptation of quick and easy paper profits.
To the brave men and women who wear the uniform of the
United States of America -- thank you. Your calling is a high
one -- to be the defenders of freedom and the guarantors of
liberty. And I want you to know that this Nation is grateful for
your service.
- 18 -
To the parents of America, I ask you to get involved in your
child's schooling. Check on their homework. Go to the school,
meet the teachers, care about what is happening there. It is not
only your child's future on the line, it is America's.
To kids in our cities -- don't give up hope. Say no to
drugs. Stay in school. And yes, "Keep hope alive."
To those 37 million Americans with some form of
disability -- you belong in the economic mainstream. We need
your talents in America's workforce. Disabled Americans must
become full partners in America's opportunity society.
To the families of America watching tonight in your living
rooms: Hold fast to your dreams, because ultimately America's
future rests in your hands.
And to my friends in this Chamber, I ask for your
cooperation to keep America growing while cutting the deficit.
That is only fair to those who now have no vote -- the
generations to come.
Let them look back and say that we had the foresight to
understand that a time of peace and prosperity is not a time to
rest, but a time to push forward. A time to invest in the
future.
And let all Americans remember that no problem of human
making is too great to be overcome by human ingenuity, human
energy, and the untiring hope of the human spirit. I believe
this. I would not have asked to be your President if I didn't.
Tomorrow, the debate on the plan I have put forward begins.
I ask the Congress to come forward with your proposals. Let us
- 19 -
not question each other's motives. Let us debate. Let us
negotiate. But let us solve the problem.
Recalling anniversaries may not be my specialty in
speeches
but tonight is one of some note. On February 9,
1941, just 48 years ago tonight, Sir Winston Churchill took to
the airwaves during Britain's hour of peril.
He had received from President Roosevelt a hand-carried
letter quoting Longfellow's famous poem: "Sail on, Oh Ship of
State! Sail on, Oh Union, strong and great! Humanity with all
its fears, with all the hopes of future years, Is hanging
breathless on thy fate!"
Churchill responded on this night by radio broadcast to a
nation at war, but he directed his words to Roosevelt. "We shall
not fail or falter," he said. "We shall not weaken or tire.
Give us the tools, and we will finish the job."
Tonight, almost a half century later, our peril may be less
immediate, but the need for perseverance and clear-sighted
fortitude is just as great.
Now, as then, there are those who say it can't be done.
There are voices who say that America's best days have past.
That we are bound by constraints, threatened by problems,
surrounded by troubles which limit our ability to hope.
Well, tonight I remain full of hope. We Americans have only
begun on our mission of goodness and greatness. And to those
timid souls, I repeat the plea -- give us the tools; and we will
do the job.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.