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University of Tennessee Speech 2/2/90 [OA 4391] [1]
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25
6
7
3
To
Date 2/1
Time
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
M Anderson
of
Phone
Area Code
Number
Extension
TELEPHONED
PLEASE CALL
CALLED TO SEE YOU
WILL CALL AGAIN
WANTS TO SEE YOU
URGENT
RETURNED YOUR CALL
Message
NO comments on
knoxville speach
Operator
AMPAD
EFFICIENCY@
23-021 CARBONLESS
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Knoxville, Tennessee)
For Immediate Release
February 2, 1990
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
3:25 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you Lamar Alexander. You all may
remember this, but when Lamar Alexander was the Governor, out of all
the 50 governors, he probably did more to put the emphasis on -- take
action in the field of education than any other governor. And now
he's bringing his talents to bear at this great university system.
I'm very proud of him. (Applause.)
And I'm very proud to be with Governor McWherter. And I
noticed the enthusiastic reception to your latest addition to the
educational scene -- latest support for it. I salute you. I'm very
proud of my Secretary of Education, a former university president
himself, Dr. Larry Cavazos, who's with us today doing a suberb job.
And of course, Admiral Watkins, bringing to the Energy Department as
Secretary, not only expertise in the nuclear field, and certainly
based on his background in the military, military expertise, but a
strong commitment to -education. And both of them are doing a great
job for our country. I'm pleased that Alvin Trivelpiece, the Oak
Ridge National Lab Director is here with us today. Also four members
of the United States Congress: Jimmy Quillen and John Duncan, Don
Sundquist, Marilyn Lloyd. And I, of course, am very pleased to see
another old friend, longstanding, your Mayor, Victor Ashe. And of
course, Howard Baker. I don't believe we've had a public servant of
his decency and honor in the arena for a long time. He is
outstanding, was, still is. And so, Howard, I'm delighted to see you
again. (Applause.)
And I'm sorry we were a little late getting in here. But
you know how it is on this campus -- even I couldn't find a parking
place. (Laughter and applause.)
It's great to be back in Tennessee. I'm very proud of
this state and this university. And I noticed that Lamar and some of
you noticed -- said some of you noticed the T-shirt that I had on
while I was jogging down in Texas in December -- the "Big Orange"
colors of the Tennessee Volunteers. Well, back in Washington they
debated which move took more guts -- invading Panama or going to
Texas wearing a Big Orange T-shirt. (Laughter and Applause.) I got
the shirt in Washington when Pat Summitt came to the Rose Garden last
April with Tennessee's Lady Volunteers -- (applause) -- the 1989 NCAA
National Champions. And it was a great day.
And when they came to Washington the Lady Vols had only
one request. Not to see the Oval Office. Not to see the
Smithsonian, the Wright brothers' plane. Not even Georgetown at
night. What they wanted to see were Millie's new puppies.
(Laughter.) And that's a fact, too.
Of course, we said, yes. But now it's my turn. And as
long as I'm at U.T. it seems I ought to get to meet "Smokey," from
what they tell me. (Laughter.)
I'm proud of Tennessee and your great sports traditions.
MORE
- 2 -
But the truth is what makes this university so special says a lot
about what makes America so special. It's not the winner's trophy at
the end of the quest. It's the quest itself. And in Tennessee, as
in America, that means the quest for excellence.
At U.T., the quest for excellence starts not on the
basketball court or the football field, but in the classroom. Maybe
you heard that at the White House I bragged as much about the Lady
Vols' 14 years with a 100 percent graduation rate as I did about that
fantastic basketball championship. (Applause.)
Earlier this week, I issued my first formal budget as
President, a blueprint for the year ahead. And two days ago, I stood
in the U.S. Capitol -- stood before the American people -- and
reported to you on the state of the Union. Don't worry if you missed
the speech -- you're not going to hear the two words that strike
terror (Laughter.) in the hearts of every college student: pop quiz.
You have an excuse, because our timing was not exactly
fortuitous. I understand that while I was orating there before the
Congress, the Vols were playing -- what was it -- Vanderbilt in
basketball, and some of you had your priorities all screwed up.
(Laughter.) So I understand that. (Applause.)
But at the heart of the address, though, was a sense of
confidence that America today is second to none -- and sense of
commitment, a plan to keep America second to none in the years ahead.
The foundation for our plan -- the foundation for our
future -- is anchored by a cornerstone we call "educational
excellence." Education really is our most enduring legacy, vital to
everything we are and can become. And my budget calls for record
funding, reflecting this belief. But as I said Wednesday night, real
improvement in our schools is not simply a matter of spending more.
It's a matter of asking more -- expecting more -- of our schools, our
teachers, our kids and ourselves.
You in Tennessee know that goals and high expectations
work. Five years ago, Governor Lamar Alexander told Tennessee's 8th
graders, "If you want to go to state universities, you're going to
have to take more math and science." And there was a good deal of
grumbling -- a little grumpiness about that at first. But today,
almost all freshmen are meeting those requirements.
As a result, admission scores are up. Retention rates
are up. And best of all -- 41 percent more students are taking
science and math in the high school than were taking those subjects
five years ago. You expected more. So you got more.
I believe what worked for Tennessee will work for
America. And Wednesday night, I announced America's education goals
-- goals developed in close cooperation with the governors -- the
governors of the 50 states. And I thank your governor for
participating so actively in these deliberations.
Part of the answer means getting back to basics.
Recently one kid was asked if he knew what the "three Rs" were. He
said, "Sure. Reading, writing, and remote control." (Laughter.)
Well, just as we're redoubling our efforts to boost
education, so we've doubled the "three Rs" as well. We have six
goals -- "six Rs" for education in the '90s.
in America will start school ready to learn. And we've called for a
And the first: readiness. By the year 2000, every child
record increase -- a half-billion dollars to ensure a fair start --
through Project Head Start. (Applause.)
And our next goal might be called "Search and Rescue."
We will target America's most at-risk youth, and get them the help
that they need -- they deserve. Our 10-year goal, to raise America's
MORE
- 3 -
high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent.
And third, it's time to reestablish excel. ence. By the
new century, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live; the world
of math, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new renaissance in science and
math, to make America's students first in the world by the year 2000.
And next -- reading. A competitive America must be a
literate America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge
and skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
And then last and most fundamental, in every school in
America, we've got to create an environment conducive to learning.
And that means disciplined schools. That means -- and it must mean
-- drug-free schools.
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it, not Ben -- Aretha Franklin. She calls
it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Respect. And kids need respect for our
wonderful teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves.
And all six goals are important. And, Lamar, I was
thrilled to learn that Tennessee -- a major research university and a
pillar of the science-rich, Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken
the lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. And thanks to Governor
McWherter, again, and Norm Augustine, Martin Marietta, and Jim
Watkins, the Department of Energy -- you will have a new Summer
School for Math and Science and a new academy for America's top
elementary and high school teachers. And it will be a model for the
entire nation.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since I
first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last spring.
The time for study is past. The time for action is now. (Applause.)
You know, building our competitive strength today also
means that we need quick congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. And that
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to doubling
the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for research and
development -- R & D. New help for R & E -- research and
experimentation, by making the R & E tax credit permanent. And funds
to improve education: The Eisenhower Education grants for math and
science would grow by 70 percent to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today --
and we should take great pride in this, and there are many men in
this room and women in this room today who have made a significant
contribution to this -- the United States today is the undisputed
heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more scholarly works,
more breakthroughs, more international prizes than any other country.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, "Ike," Dwight Eisenhower used his State of
the Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real program,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
And today, I am taking action by appointing the members of
the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology.
Indeed, my Vice President Dan Quayle, who's doing such an outstanding
job as chairman of both the National Space Council and the
Competitivenes Council, is swearing in the members of this new
council this afternoon. And it's comprised of some of the best
scientific minds in the country. We'll meet tomorrow at Camp David
MORE
- 4 -
to discuss ways to maintain U.S. supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean more to
strengthening the educational system and competitive edge than any
other single endeavor. And I am talking about space. For in the
coming century, first in space will mean first on Earth. And America
intends to stay number one.
We need to find ways to do things faster and more
efficiently in space. And that's why NASA and our Space Council have
called on America's great universities and research centers to put
their brightest engineers and scientists to work on coming up with
bold, innovative ideas -- new technologies for a new tomorrow in
space.
Tennessee has already made important contributions to the
space program. Rhea Seddon, one of America's first women astronauts,
is a graduate of U.T.'s College of Medicine. And researchers at
U.T.'s Space Institute in Tullahoma are working with NASA to develop
advanced space propulsion systems for the next generation of manned
and unmanned missions.
In the new century -- your century those new systems
may help take Americans back to the Moon and beyond. Our goal: to
place Americans on Mars -- and to do it within the working lifetimes
of scientists and engineers who will be recruited for the effort
today. And just as Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to open the
continent, our commitment to the Moon-Mars initiative will indeed
open the Universe. It's the opportunity of a lifetime -- and offers
a lifetime of opportunity.
Yet, some wonder if America has lost its competitive edge
and ask if we must now look overseas for the answer. They point to
last week's launch in Japan -- a new satellite sent to orbit the
Moon. They forget 26 years ago today long before some of you were
born -- America's Ranger Six landed on the Moon -- 26 years ago.
The United States is the "defending world champion." But
we have to defend our title day-by-day, week-by-week, year-in and
year-out. The Tennessee of Bob Neyland and Johnny Majors, of Wade
Houston and Pat Summitt, knows something about defending athletic
dynasties. Here it's done the old-fashioned way, the Tennessee way,
the American way.
You can play smart. But there are no shortcuts. It
takes hard work and grit. It demands the constant renewal of new
talent and ideas -- always tempered by veteran coaching. And it
means sweating harder, reaching higher, and seeing farther than the
other guy.
It's never easy, keeping that number one ranking. Pat
Summitt said it in 1984, just before bringing the U.S. Women's
Basketball Team to an Olympic Gold Medal. She said, "We're expected
to win. That's a greater challenge than when you're expected to
finish second." But she's right.
Pat's right. We're going to need as never before that
"can do" attitude that brought our ancestors to America -- and that
brought America to greatness. In World War I, when they asked your
own Sgt. York how he captured 132 enemy positions -- enemy prisoners
-- and 32 machine guns all by himself, he answered, "I surrounded
'em." (Laughter.)
And that's what some might expect from a Tennessean.
(Laughter.) But that kind of spirit -- but, really, it's that kind
of spirit that is going to carry us into the 21st Century and beyond.
And as we approach the challenges of tomorrow, in a world
increasingly hungry for yesterday's values, I hope that you'll
continue to give voice to this State's frontier virtues: hard work;
loyalty; love of faith, family and the Volunteer State.
MORE
- 5 -
When we hear America singing, it is (.ften the sound of
Tennessee. The bluegrass fiddling in the mountains. The gospel and
country sound of Nashville. The jazz, the blues of Memphis. It's
the stuff of legend, the spirit of faith and hope And with spirit
like that -- America's going to do a Tennessee Waltz all over our
competition. (Applause.)
So thank you for this warm welcome. Th ink you for this
welcome. And God bless you. And God bless the United States of
America. Thank you all very, very much. (Applause.)
END
3:45 P.M. EST
Document No. 109479
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
01/31/90
NOON 02/01/90
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
SUBJECT:
(01/31 draft three)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
>
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN N/C
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
ROGICH
BATES
UNTERMEYER N/C
CARD
ROGERS
CICCONI
PINKERTON
DEMAREST
BROMLEY
FITZWATER
ALBRECHT
GRAY
WINSTON
HAGIN
ANDERSON
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston by NOON on Thursday, 02/01, with a copy to my office.
Thanks.
RESPONSE:
or :8v I NAS 06
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
McNally/Simon
January 31, 1990
Draft Three (B:TENN)
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS UNIVERSITY24F TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
ALUMNI GYMNASIUM
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1990, 3:05 P.M.
[[ACKNOWLEDGMENTS]]
Sorry we were a little late getting in. But you now how it
is on this campus. Even I can't find a parking place.
It's great to be back in Tennessee. I'm very proud of this
state, and this University. And I hear some of you noticed the
T-shirt I had on while jogging down in Texas in December -- the
"Big Orange" colors of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Back in Washington they debated which move took more guts --
invading Panama, or going to Texas wearing a Big Orange T-shirt.
I got the shirt in Washington when Pat Summitt came to the
Rose Garden last April with Tennessee's Lady Volunteers -- the
1989 NCAA National Champions.
And when they came to Washington the Lady Vols had only one
request. Not to see the Oval Office. Not to see the Wright
brothers plane. Not even Georgetown at night. What they wanted
to see was Millie's new puppies.
of course we said yes. But now it's my turn. And as long
as I'm at U.T., it seems I ought to get to meet "SMOKEY."
I am proud of Tennessee, and your great sports traditions.
But the truth is, what makes this university so special says a
lot about what makes America so special. It's not the winner's
trophy at the end of the quest. It's the quest itself. And in
Tennessee, as in America, that means the quest for excellence.
2
At U.T., the quest for excellence starts not on the
basketball court or the football field but in the classroom.
Maybe you heard that at the White House, I bragged as much about
the Lady Vols' 14 years with a 100 percent graduation rate as I
did about their basketball championship.
Earlier this week, I issued my first formal budget as
President, a blueprint for the year ahead. And two days ago, I
stood in the U.S. Capitol -- stood before the American people --
and reported to you on the State of the Union.
[[But don't worry if you missed the speech -- you're not
of every
going to hear the two words that strike terror in any college
student
classroom: "Pop quiz!" \\\]]
At the heart of my address was a sense of confidence that
America today is second to none -- and sense of commitment, a
plan to keep America second to none in the years ahead.
The foundation for our plan -- the foundation for our future
-- is anchored by a cornerstone we call "Educational Excellence."
Education is our most enduring legacy, vital to everything
we are and can become. And my budget calls for record funding,
reflecting this belief. But as I said Wednesday night, real
improvement in our schools is not simply a matter of spending
more. It is a matter of asking more -- expecting more -- of our
schools, our teachers, our kids -- and of ourselves.
You in Tennessee know that goals and high expectations work.
Five years ago, Governor Alexander told Tennessee's eighth
graders: "If you want to go to state universities -- you're
3
going to have to take more math and science."
There was a good deal of grumbling at first. But today,
almost all freshman are meeting those requirements.
As a result, admission scores are up. Retention rates are
up. And best of all -- 41 percent more students are taking
science and math in the high schools than were taking those
subjects five years ago. You expected more. So you got more.
I believe what worked for Tennessee will work for America.
And Wednesday night, I announced America's education goals --
goals developed with the Governors of all fifty states.
Part of the answer means getting back to basics. Recently
one kid was asked if he knew what the "Three R's" were. He said,
"Sure: Reading. 'Riting. And Remote Control."
Well, just as we're re-doubling our efforts to boost
education, so we've doubled the "Three R's" as well. We have six
goals -- "Six R's" for education in the Nineties.
The first is Readiness. By the Year 2000, every child in
America will start school ready to learn. And we've called for a
record increase -- an extra half-billion dollars to ensure a fair
start -- through project Head Start.
Our next goal might be called "Search and Rescue." We will
target America's most at-risk youth, and get them the help they
need -- the help they deserve. Our 10-year goal -- to raise
America's high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent.
Third, it's time to Re-establish standards. By the new
century, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having
4
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live -- the
world of math, English, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new Renaissance in science and math,
to make America's students first in the world by the Year 2000.
Next -- Reading. A competitive America must be a literate
America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge and
skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Last -- and most fundamental -- in every school in America,
we've got to create an environment conducive to learning. That
means disciplined schools. That means drug-free schools.
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it. Not Ben Franklin -- Aretha Franklin.
She calls it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Kids need respect for
teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves.
All six goals are important. And Lamar, I was thrilled to
learn that Tennessee -- a major research university and a pillar
of the science-rich, Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken the
?
lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. Your new Summer School for
Math and Science -- and its academy for America's top elementary
and high school teachers -- is sure to make a difference.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since
I first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last
spring. The time for study is past. The time for action is now.
Building America's competitive strength today also means
5
that we need quick Congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. That
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to
doubling the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for Research and
Development -- R & D. New help for R&E -- Research and
Experimentation -- by making the R & E Tax Credit permanent. And
funds to improve math and science education: The Eisenhower
for
grow by 70%
Education Grants would nearly double to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more
scholarly works, more breakthroughs, more international prizes.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower used his State of the
Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real problem,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
Today, I am taking action by announcing the formation of the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. VP resert
Comprised of some of the best scientific minds in the country, we
will meet tomorrow at Camp David to discuss ways to maintain U.S.
supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean
more to strengthening our educational system and competitive edge
than any other single endeavor. I'm talking about space. For in
6
the coming century, first in space will mean first on Earth. And
America intends to stay Number One.
Tennessee has already made important contributions to the
REE a SEDD
space program. Rhea Seddon, one of America's first women
astronauts, is a graduate of U.T.'s College of Medicine. And
researchers at U.T.'s Space Institute in Tullahoma are working
with NASA to develop advanced space propulsion systems for the
next generation of manned and unmanned missions.
In the new century -- your century -- those new systems may
help take Americans back to the Moon and beyond. Our goal: To
place Americans on Mars -- and to do it within the working
lifetimes of scientists and engineers who will be recruited for
Space Councel insert
the effort today. And just as Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to
open the continent, our commitment to the Moon/Mars initiative
will open the Universe. It's the opportunity of a lifetime --
and offers a lifetime of opportunity.
Yet, some wonder if America has lost its competitive edge,
and ask if we must now look overseas for the answer. They point
to last week's launch in Japan -- a new satellite sent to orbit
the Moon. They forget that 26 years ago today -- long before
many of you were born -- America's Ranger 6 landed on the Moon.
The United States is the "defending world champion." But,
we have to defend our title day-by-day, week-by-week, year-in and
NEE - land
year-out. The Tennessee of Bob Neyland and Johnny Majors, of
Wade Houston and Pat Summitt, knows something about defending
athletic dynasties. Here it's done the old-fashioned way, the
7
Tennessee way, the American way.
You can play smart. But there are no shortcuts. It takes
hard work and grit. It demands the constant renewal of new
talent and new ideas -- always tempered by veteran coaching. And
it means sweating harder, reaching higher, and seeing farther
than the other guy.
It's never easy, keeping that No. 1 ranking. Pat Summitt
said it in 1984, just before bringing the U.S. women's basketball
?
team to another Olympic Gold medal. She said: "We're expected
to win. now. That's a greater challenge than when you're expected
to finish second."
Pat's right. We are going to need as never before the "can-
do" attitude that brought our ancestors to America -- and that
brought America to greatness. When they asked your own Sgt. York
how he captured 132 enemy prisoners and 32 machine guns all by
himself, he answered: "I surrounded 'em."
That's what I'd expect from a Tennessean. And that kind of
spirit is going to carry us into the 21st Century and beyond.
And as we approach the challenges of tomorrow, in a world
increasingly hungry for yesterday's values, I hope you'll
continue to give voice to Tennessee's frontier virtues: Hard
work. Loyalty. Love of faith, family and the Volunteer state.
When we hear America singing, it is often the sound of
Tennessee. The bluegrass fiddling of the mountains. The gospel
and country sound of Nashville. The jazz, the blues, of Memphis.
It is the stuff of legend, the spirit of faith and hope. And
8
with spirit like that -- America's going to do a Tennessee waltz,
all over the competition. III
Thank you for your warm greeting. God bless you. God bless
Tennessee. And God bless the U.S.A.
#
#
#
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
FACSIMILE TRANSMITTAL SHEET
NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER 15
DATE 2/1/90
TO monique Camarielo - WHCA teleprompter
FAX NUMBER 615/971-1007
operator
OFFICE NUMBER Knoxville
COMMENTS Speech for Univ. of Tennessee
FROM Stephanie Laudner
FAX NUMBER 202/456-6218
OFFICE NUMBER 202/456-2930
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 1, 1990
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
CHRISS WINSTON
en
FROM:
EDWARD MCNALLY
arm
SUBJECT:
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SPEECH
I.
SUMMARY
Attached are draft remarks for tomorrow afternoon's
speech, an address on education and competitiveness at the
University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
II. DISCUSSION
At 3:05 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 1990, you are
scheduled to arrive onstage in the Alumni Gymnasium at the
University of Tennessee (U.T.) to address an audience of
approximately 3,000 students, faculty and university officials.
Billed as a major follow-up to your State of the Union
address, the speech (15 minutes, TelePrompter) elaborates on your
proposals to keep America competitive in the 90's, incorporating
many of the suggestions developed by Roger Porter for the State
of the Union address. The speech focuses particular attention on
your initiatives to boost education, science and math training,
research and development, and space exploration.
During his introduction of you, U.T. President (and
former Governor) Lamar Alexander will announce U.T.'s response to
your State of the Union call to make America's students No. 1 in
math and science by the Year 2000 -- and unveil a new summer
school funded by U.T., Martin Marietta, and the U.S. Department
of Energy. Your prepared text includes acknowledgements and
praise of Governor Alexander's new program (please see page 4).
Two notes concerning the "jokes" on page 1: (1) On-
campus parking at U.T. is a perennial problem. (2) "Smokey" is
Tennessee's beloved mascot, a "blue tick coon hound" that appears
at every game in the manner of Yale's bulldog, "Handsome Dan."
McNally/Simon
February 1, 1990
Draft Four (B:TENN)
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
ALUMNI GYMNASIUM
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1990, 3:05 P.M.
Thank you, Lamar [[ALEXANDER]] and also Governor McWherter.
And I'm pleased to be here with my Education Secretary, Lauro
Cavazos, and my Secretary of Energy Jim Watkins -- both are doing
an outstanding job for America. And also Alvin Trivelpiece,
Director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Also here today,
Congressmen Jimmy Quillen, John Duncan, Don Sundquist, Marilyn
Lloyd and Jim Cooper. And Knoxville's Mayor, Victor Ashe.
Sorry we were a little late getting in. But you now how it
is on this campus. Even I can't find a parking place.
It's great to be back in Tennessee. I'm very proud of this
state, and this University. And I hear some of you noticed the
T-shirt I had on while jogging down in Texas in December -- the
"Big Orange" colors of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Back in Washington they debated which move took more guts --
invading Panama, or going to Texas wearing a Big Orange T-shirt.
I got the shirt in Washington when Pat Summitt came to the
Rose Garden last April with Tennessee's Lady Volunteers -- the
1989 NCAA National Champions.
And when they came to Washington the Lady Vols had only one
request. Not to see the Oval Office. Not to see the Wright
brothers plane. Not even Georgetown at night. What they wanted
to see was Millie's new puppies.
of course we said yes. But now it's my turn. And as long
2
as I'm at U.T., it seems I ought to get to meet "SMOKEY."
I am proud of Tennessee, and your great sports traditions.
But the truth is, what makes this university so special says a
lot about what makes America so special. It's not the winner's
trophy at the end of the quest. It's the quest itself. And in
Tennessee, as in America, that means the quest for excellence.
At U.T., the quest for excellence starts not on the
basketball court or the football field but in the classroom.
Maybe you heard that at the White House, I bragged as much about
the Lady Vols' 14 years with a 100 percent graduation rate as I
did about their basketball championship.
Earlier this week, I issued my first formal budget as
President, a blueprint for the year ahead. And two days ago, I
stood in the U.S. Capitol -- stood before the American people --
and reported to you on the State of the Union.
[[But don't worry if you missed the speech -- you're not
going to hear the two words that strike terror in the hearts of
every college student: "Pop quiz!" \\\]]
At the heart of my address was a sense of confidence that
America today is second to none -- and sense of commitment, a
plan to keep America second to none in the years ahead.
The foundation for our plan -- the foundation for our future
-- is anchored by a cornerstone we call "Educational Excellence."
Education is our most enduring legacy, vital to everything
we are and can become. And my budget calls for record funding,
reflecting this belief. But as I said Wednesday night, real
3
improvement in our schools is not simply a matter of spending
more. It is a matter of asking more -- expecting more -- of our
schools, our teachers, our kids -- and of ourselves.
You in Tennessee know that goals and high expectations work.
Five years ago, Governor Alexander told Tennessee's eighth
graders: "If you want to go to state universities -- you're
going to have to take more math and science."
There was a, good deal of grumbling at first. But today,
almost all freshman are meeting those requirements.
As a result, admission scores are up. Retention rates are
up. And best of all -- 41 percent more students are taking
science and math in the high schools than were taking those
subjects five years ago. You expected more. So you got more.
I believe what worked for Tennessee will work for America.
And Wednesday night, I announced America's education goals --
goals developed with the Governors of all fifty states.
Part of the answer means getting back to basics. Recently
one kid was asked if he knew what the "Three R's" were. He said,
"Sure: Reading. 'Riting. And Remote Control."
Well, just as we're re-doubling our efforts to boost
education, so we've doubled the "Three R's" as well. We have six
goals -- "Six R's" for education in the Nineties.
The first is Readiness. By the Year 2000, every child in
America will start school ready to learn. And we've called for a
record increase -- an extra half-billion dollars to ensure a fair
start -- through project Head Start.
4
Our next goal might be called "Search and Rescue." We will
target America's most at-risk youth, and get them the help they
need -- the help they deserve. Our 10-year goal -- to raise
America's high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent.
Third, it's time to Re-establish standards. By the new
century, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live -- the
world of math, English, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new Renaissance in science and math,
to make America's students first in the world by the Year 2000.
Next -- Reading. A competitive America must be a literate
America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge and
skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Last -- and most fundamental -- in every school in America,
we've got to create an environment conducive to learning. That
means disciplined schools. That means drug-free schools.
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it. Not Ben Franklin -- Aretha Franklin.
She calls it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Kids need respect for
teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves.
All six goals are important. And Lamar, I was thrilled to
learn that Tennessee -- a major research university and a pillar
of the science-rich, Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken the
lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. And thanks to Governor
McWherter, Martin Marietta, and the Department of Energy --
5
you'll have a new Summer School for Math and Science --and a new
academy for America's top elementary and high school teachers.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since
I first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last
spring. The time for study is past. The time for action is now.
Building America's competitive strength today also means
that we need quick Congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. That
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to
doubling the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for Research and
Development -- R & D. New help for R & E -- Research and
Experimentation -- by making the R & E Tax Credit permanent. And
funds to improve education: The Eisenhower Education Grants for
math and science would grow by 70 percent, to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more
scholarly works, more breakthroughs, more international prizes.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower used his State of the
Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real problem,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
Today, I am taking action by appointing the members of the
6
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Indeed, Vice President Dan Quayle -- who's doing such an
outstanding job as chairman of both the National Space Council
and the Competitiveness Council -- is swearing in the members of
this new council this afternoon. Comprised of some of the best
scientific minds in the country, we will meet tomorrow at Camp
David to discuss ways to maintain U.S. supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean
more to strengthening our educational system and competitive edge
than any other single endeavor. I'm talking about space. For in
the coming century, first in space will mean first on Earth. And
America intends to stay Number One.
We need to find ways to do things faster and more
efficiently in space. That's why NASA and our Space Council have
called on America's great universities and research centers to
put their brightest engineers and scientists to work on coming up
with bold, innovative ideas -- new technologies for a new
tomorrow in space.
Tennessee has already made important contributions to the
space program. Rhea Seddon [[REE-a SEDD-un]], one of America's
first women astronauts, is a graduate of U.T.'s College of
Medicine. And researchers at U.T.'s Space Institute in Tullahoma
are working with NASA to develop advanced space propulsion
systems for the next generation of manned and unmanned missions.
7
In the new century -- your century -- those new systems may
help take Americans back to the Moon and beyond. Our goal: To
place Americans on Mars -- and to do it within the working
lifetimes of scientists and engineers who will be recruited for
the effort today. And just as Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to
open the continent, our commitment to the Moon/Mars initiative
will open the Universe. It's the opportunity of a lifetime --
and offers a lifetime of opportunity.
Yet, some wonder if America has lost its competitive edge,
and ask if we must now look overseas for the answer. They point
to last week's launch in Japan -- a new satellite sent to orbit
the Moon. They forget that 26 years ago today -- long before
many of you were born -- America's Ranger 6 landed on the Moon.
The United States is the "defending world champion." But,
we have to defend our title day-by-day, week-by-week, year-in and
year-out. The Tennessee of Bob Neyland [[NEE-land]] and Johnny
Majors, of Wade Houston and Pat Summitt, knows something about
defending athletic dynasties. Here it's done the old-fashioned
way, the Tennessee way, the American way.
You can play smart. But there are no shortcuts. It takes
hard work and grit. It demands the constant renewal of new
talent and new ideas -- always tempered by veteran coaching. And
it means sweating harder, reaching higher, and seeing farther
than the other guy.
It's never easy, keeping that No. 1 ranking. Pat Summitt
said it in 1984, just before bringing the U.S. women's basketball
8
team to an Olympic Gold medal. She said: "We're expected to
win
That's a greater challenge than when you're expected to
finish second."
Pat's right. We are going to need as never before the "can-
do" attitude that brought our ancestors to America -- and that
brought America to greatness. In World War I, when they asked
your own Sgt. York how he captured 132 enemy prisoners and 32
machine guns all by himself, he answered: "I surrounded 'em."
That's what I'd expect from a Tennessean. And that kind of
spirit is going to carry us into the 21st Century and beyond.
And as we approach the challenges of tomorrow, in a world
increasingly hungry for yesterday's values, I hope you'll
continue to give voice to Tennessee's frontier virtues: Hard
work. Loyalty. Love of faith, family and the Volunteer state.
When we hear America singing, it is often the sound of
Tennessee. The bluegrass fiddling of the mountains. The gospel
and country sound of Nashville. The jazz, the blues, of Memphis.
It is the stuff of legend, the spirit of faith and hope. And
with spirit like that -- America's going to do a Tennessee waltz,
all over the competition.
Thank you for your warm greeting. God bless you. God bless
Tennessee. And God bless the U.S.A.
#
#
#
-SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 2- 1-90 ; 1:08PM ;
2024562397-
2024566218:# 1
Document No. 109479
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
01/31/90
NOON 02/01/90
DATE:
ACTTON/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
SUBJECT:
(01/31 draft three)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
ROGICH
BATES
UNTERMEYER
CARD
ROGERS
CICCONI
PINKERTON
DEMAREST
BROMLEY
FITZWATER
ALBRECHT
GRAY
WINSTON
HAGIN
ANDERSON
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston by NOON on Thursday, 02/01, with a copy to my office.
Thanks.
RESPONSE:
See change page 4 from
think Cavazose
Dept. of Energy Also, James W. we Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Warkins should be
Ext. 2702
A Limed bin name.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 2- 1-90 ; 1:08PM ;
2024562397-
2024566218:# 2
4
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live -- the
world of math, English, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new Renaissance in science and math,
to make America's students first in the world by the Year 2000.
Next Reading. A competitive America must be a literate
America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge and
skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Last -- and most fundamental -- in every school in America,
we've got to create an environment conducive to learning. That
means disciplined schools. That means drug-free schools. 11
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it. Not Ben Franklin -- Aretha Franklin.
She calls it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Kids need respect for
teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves. 11
All six goals are important. And Lamar, I was thrilled to
the University of with contibutions from the State + Martin Marietta
Clvi
learn that r Tennessee the a major research university and Pillur
Nat i Laboratory, an am of the
Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken the DOE
lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. Your new Summer School for
Math and Science -- and its academy for America's top elementary
and high school teachers -- is sure to make a difference.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since
I first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last
spring. The time for study is past. The time for action is now.
Building America's competitive strength today also means
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON
February 1, 1990
NOTE TO CHRISS WINSTON
FROM: William Kristol WK
A suggested addition to the President's speech in Knoxville
-- add to middle of last full paragraph on page five:
"Indeed, the Vice President -- who serves as the
chairman of both the National Space Council and the
Competitiveness Council -- is swearing in the members
of our council this afternoon."
CC: Jim Cicconi
V1)
90 JAN I P12 : 33
5
that we need quick Congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. That
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to
doubling the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for Research and
Development -- R & D. New help for R & E -- Research and
Experimentation -- by making the R & E Tax Credit permanent. And
funds to improve math and science education: The Eisenhower
Education Grants would nearly double to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more
scholarly works, more breakthroughs, more international prizes.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower used his State of the
Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real problem,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
Today, I am taking action by announcing the formation of the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Comprised of some of the best scientific minds in the country, we
will meet tomorrow at Camp David to discuss ways to maintain U.S.
supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean
more to strengthening our educational system and competitive edge
than any other single endeavor. I'm talking about space. For in
on
Thank you, Lamar for the fantastic Tennesee welcome I've
received here today, both from you and your successor, Governor
McWherter. I'm particularly pleased to have two of my cabinet
members here today. Secretary of Education Lauro Cavazos --
heading up our efforts to improve education in this country.
And Admiral Jim Watkins -- doing an outstanding job running the
Energy Department -- and we both know how much Oak Ridge has
meant to Eastern Tennessee. Right next to me is Alvin
Trivelpiece, Director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Also here today, Congressmen Jimmy Quillen, John Duncan, Don
Sundquist, Marilyn Lloyd and Jim Cooper. And Mayor Victor Ashe
-- our paths cross once again -- glad to be in Knoxville once
again.
Document No. 109479
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
90 JAN I P12: 23
01/31/90
NOON 02/01/90
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
SUBJECT:
(01/31 draft three)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
ROGICH
BATES
UNTERMEYER
1
CARD
ROGERS
CICCONI
PINKERTON
DEMAREST
BROMLEY
FITZWATER
ALBRECHT
GRAY
WINSTON
HAGIN
ANDERSON
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston by NOON on Thursday, 02/01, with a copy to my office.
Thanks.
RM 122
RESPONSE:
PLEASE SEE PAGE 6 Free INSERT.
CALL hiz PRESTRIPLE, x6175, Fre DISCUSSION.
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
McNally/Simon
January 31, 1990
Draft Three (B:TENN)
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS UNBVERSITY24F TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
ALUMNI GYMNASIUM
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1990, 3:05 P.M.
[[ACKNOWLEDGMENTS]
Sorry we were a little late getting in. But you now how it
is on this campus. Even I can't find a parking place.
It's great to be back in Tennessee. I'm very proud of this
state, and this University. And I hear some of you noticed the
T-shirt I had on while jogging down in Texas in December -- the
"Big Orange" colors of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Back in Washington they debated which move took more guts --
invading Panama, or going to Texas wearing a Big Orange T-shirt.
I got the shirt in Washington when Pat Summitt came to the
Rose Garden last April with Tennessee's Lady Volunteers -- the
1989 NCAA National Champions.
And when they came to Washington the Lady Vols had only one
request. Not to see the Oval Office. Not to see the Wright
brothers plane. Not even Georgetown at night. What they wanted
to see was Millie's new puppies.
of course we said yes. But now it's my turn. And as long
as I'm at U.T., it seems I ought to get to meet "SMOKEY."
I am proud of Tennessee, and your great sports traditions.
But the truth is, what makes this university so special says a
lot about what makes America so special. It's not the winner's
trophy at the end of the quest. It's the quest itself. And in
Tennessee, as in America, that means the quest for excellence.
2
At U.T., the quest for excellence starts not on the
basketball court or the football field but in the classroom.
Maybe you heard that at the White House, I bragged as much about
the Lady Vols' 14 years with a 100 percent graduation rate as I
did about their basketball championship.
Earlier this week, I issued my first formal budget as
President, a blueprint for the year ahead. And two days ago, I
stood in the U.S. Capitol -- stood before the American people --
and reported to you on the State of the Union.
[ [But don't worry if you missed the speech -- you're not
going to hear the two words that strike terror in any college
classroom: "Pop quiz!" \\\]]
At the heart of my address was a sense of confidence that
America today is second to none -- and sense of commitment, a
plan to keep America second to none in the years ahead.
The foundation for our plan -- the foundation for our future
-- is anchored by a cornerstone we call "Educational Excellence."
Education is our most enduring legacy, vital to everything
we are and can become. And my budget calls for record funding,
reflecting this belief. But as I said Wednesday night, real
improvement in our schools is not simply a matter of spending
more. It is a matter of asking more -- expecting more -- of our
schools, our teachers, our kids -- and of ourselves.
You in Tennessee know that goals and high expectations work.
Five years ago, Governor Alexander told Tennessee's eighth
graders: "If you want to go to state universities -- you're
3
going to have to take more math and science."
There was a good deal of grumbling at first. But today,
almost all freshman are meeting those requirements.
As a result, admission scores are up. Retention rates are
up. And best of all -- 41 percent more students are taking
science and math in the high schools than were taking those
subjects five years ago. You expected more. So you got more.
I believe what worked for Tennessee will work for America.
And Wednesday night, I announced America's education goals --
goals developed with the Governors of all fifty states.
Part of the answer means getting back to basics. Recently
one kid was asked if he knew what the "Three R's" were. He said,
"Sure: Reading. 'Riting. And Remote Control."
Well, just as we're re-doubling our efforts to boost
education, so we've doubled the "Three R's" as well. We have six
goals -- "Six R's" for education in the Nineties.
The first is Readiness. By the Year 2000, every child in
America will start school ready to learn. And we've called for a
record increase -- an extra half-billion dollars to ensure a fair
start -- through project Head Start.
Our next goal might be called "Search and Rescue." We will
target America's most at-risk youth, and get them the help they
need -- the help they deserve. Our 10-year goal -- to raise
America's high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent.
Third, it's time to Re-establish standards. By the new
century, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having
4
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live -- the
world of math, English, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new Renaissance in science and math,
to make America's students first in the world by the Year 2000.
Next -- Reading. A competitive America must be a literate
America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge and
skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Last -- and most fundamental -- in every school in America,
we've got to create an environment conducive to learning. That
means disciplined schools. That means drug-free schools.
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it. Not Ben Franklin -- Aretha Franklin.
She calls it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Kids need respect for
teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves.
All six goals are important. And Lamar, I was thrilled to
learn that Tennessee -- a major research university and a pillar
of the science-rich, Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken the
lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. Your new Summer School for
Math and Science -- and its academy for America's top elementary
and high school teachers -- is sure to make a difference.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since
I first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last
spring. The time for study is past. The time for action is now.
Building America's competitive strength today also means
5
that we need quick Congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. That
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to
doubling the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for Research and
Development -- R & D. New help for R&E -- Research and
Experimentation -- by making the R & E Tax Credit permanent. And
funds to improve math and science education: The Eisenhower
Education Grants would nearly double to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more
scholarly works, more breakthroughs, more international prizes.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower used his State of the
Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real problem,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
Today, I am taking action by announcing the formation of the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Comprised of some of the best scientific minds in the country, we
will meet tomorrow at Camp David to discuss ways to maintain U.S.
supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean
more to strengthening our educational system and competitive edge
than any other single endeavor. I'm talking about space. For in
6
the coming century, first in space will mean first on Earth. And
America intends to stay Number One.
Tennessee has already made important contributions to the
space program. Rhea Seddon, one of America's first women
astronauts, is a graduate of U.T.'s College of Medicine. And
researchers at U.T.'s Space Institute in Tullahoma are working
with NASA to develop advanced space propulsion systems for the
next generation of manned and unmanned missions.
In the new century -- your century -- those new systems may
help take Americans back to the Moon and beyond. Our goal: To
place Americans on Mars -- and to do it within the working
lifetimes of scientists and engineers who will be recruited for
INSERC
the effort today. And just as Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to
open the continent, our commitment to the Moon/Mars initiative
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
will open the Universe. It's the opportunity of a lifetime --
and offers a lifetime of opportunity.
Yet, some wonder if America has lost its competitive edge,
and ask if we must now look overseas for the answer. They point
to last week's launch in Japan -- a new satellite sent to orbit
the Moon. They forget that 26 years ago today -- long before
many of you were born -- America's Ranger 6 landed on the Moon.
The United States is the "defending world champion." But,
we have to defend our title day-by-day, week-by-week, year-in and
year-out. The Tennessee of Bob Neyland and Johnny Majors, of
Wade Houston and Pat Summitt, knows something about defending
athletic dynasties. Here it's done the old-fashioned way, the
This commitment won't come cheap -- but money alone will not be
enough. We need to figure out ways to do things faster and more
efficiently in space. That's why the Vice President and the
Space Council asked NASA to put out a call to our great
universities and research institutions --like the Univeristy of
Tennessee -- to put its brightest engineers and scientists to
work on coming up with bold, innovative ideas and technologies
for getting these missions underway. I challenge all of you
today to participate in this great exploration.
7
Tennessee way, the American way.
You can play smart. But there are no shortcuts. It takes
hard work and grit. It demands the constant renewal of new
talent and new ideas -- always tempered by veteran coaching. And
it means sweating harder, reaching higher, and seeing farther
than the other guy.
It's never easy, keeping that No. 1 ranking. Pat Summitt
said it in 1984, just before bringing the U.S. women's basketball
team to another Olympic Gold medal. She said: "We're expected
to win now. That's a greater challenge than when you're expected
to finish second.'
Pat's right. We are going to need as never before the "can-
do" attitude that brought our ancestors to America --- and that
brought America to greatness. When they asked your own Sgt. York
how he captured 132 enemy prisoners and 32 machine guns all by
himself, he answered: "I surrounded 'em."
That's what I'd expect from a Tennessean. And that kind of
spirit is going to carry us into the 21st Century and beyond.
And as we approach the challenges of tomorrow, in a world
increasingly hungry for yesterday's values, I hope you'll
continue to give voice to Tennessee's frontier virtues: Hard
work. Loyalty. Love of faith, family and the Volunteer state.
When we hear America singing, it is often the sound of
Tennessee. The bluegrass fiddling of the mountains. The gospel
and country sound of Nashville. The jazz, the blues, of Memphis.
It is the stuff of legend, the spirit of faith and hope. And
8
with spirit like that -- America's going to do a Tennessee waltz,
all over the competition.
Thank you for your warm greeting. God bless you. God bless
Tennessee. And God bless the U.S.A.
#
#
#
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 1, 1990
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
CHRISS WINSTON cw
FROM:
EDWARD MCNALLY over
SUBJECT:
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SPEECH
I. SUMMARY
Attached are draft remarks for tomorrow afternoon's
speech, an address on education and competitiveness at the
University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
II. DISCUSSION
At 3:05 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 1990, you are
scheduled to arrive onstage in the Alumni Gymnasium at the
University of Tennessee (U.T.) to address an audience of
approximately 3,000 students, faculty and university officials.
Billed as a major follow-up to your State of the Union
address, the speech (15 minutes, TelePrompter) elaborates on your
proposals to keep America competitive in the 90's, incorporating
many of the suggestions developed by Roger Porter for the State
of the Union address. The speech focuses particular attention on
your initiatives to boost education, science and math training,
research and development, and space exploration.
During his introduction of you, U.T. President (and
former Governor) Lamar Alexander will announce U.T.'s response to
your State of the Union call to make America's students No. 1 in
math and science by the Year 2000 -- and unveil a new summer
school funded by U.T., Martin Marietta, and the U.S. Department
of Energy. Your prepared text includes acknowledgements and
praise of Governor Alexander's new program (please see page 4).
Two notes concerning the "jokes" on page 1: (1) On-
campus parking at U.T. is a perennial problem. (2) "Smokey" is
Tennessee's beloved mascot, a "blue tick coon hound" that appears
at every game in the manner of Yale's bulldog, "Handsome Dan."
Document No. 109479
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
P12: 35
01/31/90
JAN ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
NOON 02/01/90
DATE:
90
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
SUBJECT:
(01/31 draft three)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
ROGICH
BATES
UNTERMEYER
1
CARD
ROGERS
CICCONI
PINKERTON
DEMAREST
BROMLEY
FITZWATER
ALBRECHT
>
GRAY
WINSTON
HAGIN
ANDERSON
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston by NOON on Thursday, 02/01, with a copy to my office.
Thanks.
Ru122
RESPONSE:
Excellent DAR 2/1/90
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
McNally/Simon
January 31, 1990
Draft Three (B:TENN)
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKSHIP UNBVERSITY2QF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
ALUMNI GYMNASIUM
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1990, 3:05 P.M.
[[ACKNOWLEDGMENTS]]
Sorry we were a little late getting in. But you now how it
is on this campus. Even I can't find a parking place.
It's great to be back in Tennessee. I'm very proud of this
state, and this University. And I hear some of you noticed the
T-shirt I had on while jogging down in Texas in December -- the
"Big Orange" colors of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Back in Washington they debated which move took more guts --
invading Panama, or going to Texas wearing a Big Orange T-shirt.
I got the shirt in Washington when Pat Summitt came to the
Rose Garden last April with Tennessee's Lady Volunteers -- the
1989 NCAA National Champions.
And when they came to Washington the Lady Vols had only one
request. Not to see the Oval Office. Not to see the Wright
brothers plane. Not even Georgetown at night. What they wanted
to see was Millie's new puppies.
of course we said yes. But now it's my turn. And as long
as I'm at U.T., it seems I ought to get to meet "SMOKEY."
I am proud of Tennessee, and your great sports traditions.
But the truth is, what makes this university so special says a
lot about what makes America so special. It's not the winner's
trophy at the end of the quest. It's the quest itself. And in
Tennessee, as in America, that means the quest for excellence.
2
At U.T., the quest for excellence starts not on the
basketball court or the football field but in the classroom.
Maybe you heard that at the White House, I bragged as much about
the Lady Vols' 14 years with a 100 percent graduation rate as I
did about their basketball championship.
Earlier this week, I issued my first formal budget as
President, a blueprint for the year ahead. And two days ago, I
stood in the U.S. Capitol -- stood before the American people --
and reported to you on the State of the Union.
[[But don't worry if you missed the speech -- you're not
going to hear the two words that strike terror in any college
classroom: 11 "Pop quiz!" \\\]]
At the heart of my address was a sense of confidence that
America today is second to none -- and sense of commitment, a
plan to keep America second to none in the years ahead.
The foundation for our plan -- the foundation for our future
-- is anchored by a cornerstone we call "Educational Excellence."
Education is our most enduring legacy, vital to everything
we are and can become. And my budget calls for record funding,
reflecting this belief. But as I said Wednesday night, real
improvement in our schools is not simply a matter of spending
more. It is a matter of asking more -- expecting more -- of our
schools, our teachers, our kids -- and of ourselves.
You in Tennessee know that goals and high expectations work.
Five years ago, Governor Alexander told Tennessee's eighth
graders: "If you want to go to state universities -- you're
3
going to have to take more math and science."
There was a good deal of grumbling at first. But today,
almost all freshman are meeting those requirements.
As a result, admission scores are up. Retention rates are
up. And best of all -- 41 percent more students are taking
science and math in the high schools than were taking those
subjects five years ago. You expected more. So you got more.
I believe what worked for Tennessee will work for America.
And Wednesday night, I announced America's education goals --
goals developed with the Governors of all fifty states.
Part of the answer means getting back to basics. Recently
one kid was asked if he knew what the "Three R's" were. He said,
"Sure: Reading. 'Riting. And Remote Control."
Well, just as we're re-doubling our efforts to boost
education, so we've doubled the "Three R's" as well. We have six
goals -- "Six R's" for education in the Nineties.
The first is Readiness. By the Year 2000, every child in
America will start school ready to learn. And we've called for a
record increase -- an extra half-billion dollars to ensure a fair
start -- through project Head Start.
Our next goal might be called "Search and Rescue." We will
target America's most at-risk youth, and get them the help they
need -- the help they deserve. Our 10-year goal -- to raise
America's high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent.
Third, it's time to Re-establish standards. By the new
century, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having
4
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live -- the
world of math, English, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new Renaissance in science and math,
to make America's students first in the world by the Year 2000.
Next -- Reading. A competitive America must be a literate
America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge and
skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Last -- and most fundamental -- in every school in America,
we've got to create an environment conducive to learning. That
means disciplined schools. That means drug-free schools.
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it. Not Ben Franklin -- Aretha Franklin.
She calls it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Kids need respect for
teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves.
All six goals are important. And Lamar, I was thrilled to
learn that Tennessee -- a major research university and a pillar
of the science-rich, Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken the
lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. Your new Summer School for
Math and Science -- and its academy for America's top elementary
and high school teachers -- is sure to make a difference.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since
I first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last
spring. The time for study is past. The time for action is now.
Building America's competitive strength today also means
5
that we need quick Congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. That
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to
doubling the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for Research and
Development -- R & D. New help for R&E -- Research and
Experimentation -- by making the R & E Tax Credit permanent. And
funds to improve math and science education: The Eisenhower
Education Grants would nearly double to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more
scholarly works, more breakthroughs, more international prizes.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower used his State of the
Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real problem,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
Today, I am taking action by announcing the formation of the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Comprised of some of the best scientific minds in the country, we
will meet tomorrow at Camp David to discuss ways to maintain U.S.
supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean
more to strengthening our educational system and competitive edge
than any other single endeavor. I'm talking about space. For in
6
the coming century, first in space will mean first on Earth. And
America intends to stay Number One.
Tennessee has already made important contributions to the
space program. Rhea Seddon, one of America's first women
astronauts, is a graduate of U.T.'s College of Medicine. And
researchers at U.T.'s Space Institute in Tullahoma are working
with NASA to develop advanced space propulsion systems for the
next generation of manned and unmanned missions.
In the new century -- your century -- those new systems may
help take Americans back to the Moon and beyond. Our goal: To
place Americans on Mars -- and to do it within the working
lifetimes of scientists and engineers who will be recruited for
the effort today. And just as Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to
open the continent, our commitment to the Moon/Mars initiative
will open the Universe. It's the opportunity of a lifetime --
and offers a lifetime of opportunity.
Yet, some wonder if America has lost its competitive edge,
and ask if we must now look overseas for the answer. They point
to last week's launch in Japan -- a new satellite sent to orbit
the Moon. They forget that 26 years ago today -- long before
many of you were born -- America's Ranger 6 landed on the Moon.
The United States is the "defending world champion." But,
we have to defend our title day-by-day, week-by-week, year-in and
year-out. The Tennessee of Bob Neyland and Johnny Majors, of
Wade Houston and Pat Summitt, knows something about defending
athletic dynasties. Here it's done the old-fashioned way, the
7
Tennessee way, the American way.
You can play smart. But there are no shortcuts. It takes
hard work and grit. It demands the constant renewal of new
talent and new ideas -- always tempered by veteran coaching. And
it means sweating harder, reaching higher, and seeing farther
than the other guy.
It's never easy, keeping that No. 1 ranking. Pat Summitt
said it in 1984, just before bringing the U.S. women's basketball
team to another Olympic Gold medal. She said: "We're expected
to win now. That's a greater challenge than when you're expected
to finish second.'
Pat's right. We are going to need as never before the "can-
do" attitude that brought our ancestors to America -- and that
brought America to greatness. When they asked your own Sgt. York
how he captured 132 enemy prisoners and 32 machine guns all by
himself, he answered: "I surrounded 'em."
That's what I'd expect from a Tennessean. And that kind of
spirit is going to carry us into the 21st Century and beyond.
And as we approach the challenges of tomorrow, in a world
increasingly hungry for yesterday's values, I hope you'll
continue to give voice to Tennessee's frontier virtues: Hard
work. Loyalty. Love of faith, family and the Volunteer state.
When we hear America singing, it is often the sound of
Tennessee. The bluegrass fiddling of the mountains. The gospel
and country sound of Nashville. The jazz, the blues, of Memphis.
It is the stuff of legend, the spirit of faith and hope. And
8
with spirit like that -- America's going to do a Tennessee waltz,
all over the competition. \\\
Thank you for your warm greeting. God bless you. God bless
Tennessee. And God bless the U.S.A.
#
#
#
Document No. 109479
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
0813
01/31/90
NOON 02/01/90
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
SUBJECT:
(01/31 draft three)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
ROGICH
BATES
UNTERMEYER
CARD
ROGERS
CICCONI
PINKERTON
DEMAREST
BROMLEY
FITZWATER
ALBRECHT
GRAY
WINSTON
HAGIN
ANDERSON
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston by NOON on Thursday, 02/01, with a copy to my office.
Thanks.
RESPONSE:
February 1, 1990
TO: CHRISS WINSTON
NSC concurs with the Presidential remarks for the University of Tennessee.
Brent
IE Scowcroft NAC 06
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
CC: James W. Cicconi
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
90 JAN A8:17
/ 61:38 61
RECEIVED
McNally/Simon
January 31, 1990
Draft Three (B:TENN)
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
ALUMNI GYMNASIUM
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1990, 3:05 P.M.
[[ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ]]
Sorry we were a little late getting in. But you now how it
is on this campus. Even I can't find a parking place.
It's great to be back in Tennessee. I'm very proud of this
state, and this University. And I hear some of you noticed the
T-shirt I had on while jogging down in Texas in December -- the
"Big Orange" colors of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Back in Washington they debated which move took more guts --
invading Panama, or going to Texas wearing a Big Orange T-shirt.
I got the shirt in Washington when Pat Summitt came to the
Rose Garden last April with Tennessee's Lady Volunteers -- the
1989 NCAA National Champions.
And when they came to Washington the Lady Vols had only one
request. Not to see the Oval Office. Not to see the Wright
brothers plane. Not even Georgetown at night. What they wanted
to see was Millie's new puppies.
of course we said yes. But now it's my turn. And as long
as I'm at U.T., it seems I ought to get to meet "SMOKEY."
I am proud of Tennessee, and your great sports traditions.
But the truth is, what makes this university so special says a
lot about what makes America so special. It's not the winner's
trophy at the end of the quest. It's the quest itself. And in
Tennessee, as in America, that means the quest for excellence.
2
At U.T., the quest for excellence starts not on the
basketball court or the football field but in the classroom.
Maybe you heard that at the White House, I bragged as much about
the Lady Vols' 14 years with a 100 percent graduation rate as I
did about their basketball championship.
Earlier this week, I issued my first formal budget as
President, a blueprint for the year ahead. And two days ago, I
stood in the U.S. Capitol -- stood before the American people --
and reported to you on the State of the Union.
[[But don't worry if you missed the speech -- you're not
going to hear the two words that strike terror in any college
classroom: 11 "Pop quiz!" \\\]]
At the heart of my address was a sense of confidence that
America today is second to none -- and sense of commitment, a
plan to keep America second to none in the years ahead.
The foundation for our plan -- the foundation for our future
-- is anchored by a cornerstone we call "Educational Excellence."
Education is our most enduring legacy, vital to everything
we are and can become. And my budget calls for record funding,
reflecting this belief. But as I said Wednesday night, real
improvement in our schools is not simply a matter of spending
more. It is a matter of asking more -- expecting more -- of our
schools, our teachers, our kids -- and of ourselves.
You in Tennessee know that goals and high expectations work.
Five years ago, Governor Alexander told Tennessee's eighth
graders: "If you want to go to state universities -- you're
3
going to have to take more math and science."
There was a good deal of grumbling at first. But today,
almost all freshman are meeting those requirements.
As a result, admission scores are up. Retention rates are
up. And best of all -- 41 percent more students are taking
science and math in the high schools than were taking those
subjects five years ago. You expected more. So you got more.
I believe what worked for Tennessee will work for America.
And Wednesday night, I announced America's education goals --
goals developed with the Governors of all fifty states.
Part of the answer means getting back to basics. Recently
one kid was asked if he knew what the "Three R's" were. He said,
"Sure: Reading. 'Riting. And Remote Control."
Well, just as we're re-doubling our efforts to boost
education, so we've doubled the "Three R's" as well. We have six
goals -- "Six R's" for education in the Nineties.
The first is Readiness. By the Year 2000, every child in
America will start school ready to learn. And we've called for a
record increase -- an extra half-billion dollars to ensure a fair
start -- through project Head Start.
Our next goal might be called "Search and Rescue." We will
target America's most at-risk youth, and get them the help they
need -- the help they deserve. Our 10-year goal -- to raise
America's high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent.
Third, it's time to Re-establish standards. By the new
century, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having
4
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live -- the
world of math, English, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new Renaissance in science and math,
to make America's students first in the world by the Year 2000.
Next -- Reading. A competitive America must be a literate
America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge and
skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Last -- and most fundamental -- in every school in America,
we've got to create an environment conducive to learning. That
means disciplined schools. That means drug-free schools.
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it. Not Ben Franklin -- Aretha Franklin.
She calls it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Kids need respect for
teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves.
All six goals are important. And Lamar, I was thrilled to
learn that Tennessee -- a major research university and a pillar
of the science-rich, Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken the
lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. Your new Summer School for
Math and Science -- and its academy for America's top elementary
and high school teachers -- is sure to make a difference.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since
I first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last
spring. The time for study is past. The time for action is now.
Building America's competitive strength today also means
5
that we need quick Congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. That
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to
doubling the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for Research and
Development -- R & D. New help for R & E -- Research and
Experimentation -- by making the R & E Tax Credit permanent. And
funds to improve math and science education: The Eisenhower
Education Grants would nearly double to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more
scholarly works, more breakthroughs, more international prizes.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower used his State of the
Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real problem,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
Today, I am taking action by announcing the formation of the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Comprised of some of the best scientific minds in the country, we
will meet tomorrow at Camp David to discuss ways to maintain U.S.
supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean
more to strengthening our educational system and competitive edge
than any other single endeavor. I'm talking about space. For in
6
the coming century, first in space will mean first on Earth. And
America intends to stay Number One.
Tennessee has already made important contributions to the
space program. Rhea Seddon, one of America's first women
astronauts, is a graduate of U.T.'s College of Medicine. And
researchers at U.T.'s Space Institute in Tullahoma are working
with NASA to develop advanced space propulsion systems for the
next generation of manned and unmanned missions.
In the new century -- your century -- those new systems may
help take Americans back to the Moon and beyond. Our goal: To
place Americans on Mars -- and to do it within the working
lifetimes of scientists and engineers who will be recruited for
the effort today. And just as Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to
open the continent, our commitment to the Moon/Mars. initiative
will open the Universe. It's the opportunity of a lifetime --
and offers a lifetime of opportunity.
Yet, some wonder if America has lost its competitive edge,
and ask if we must now look overseas for the answer. They point
to last week's launch in Japan -- a new satellite sent to orbit
the Moon. They forget that 26 years ago today -- long before
many of you were born -- America's Ranger 6 landed on the Moon.
The United States is the "defending world champion." But,
we have to defend our title day-by-day, week-by-week, year-in and
year-out. The Tennessee of Bob Neyland and Johnny Majors, of
Wade Houston and Pat Summitt, knows something about defending
athletic dynasties. Here it's done the old-fashioned way, the
7
Tennessee way, the American way.
You can play smart. But there are no shortcuts. It takes
hard work and grit. It demands the constant renewal of new
talent and new ideas -- always tempered by veteran coaching. And
it means sweating harder, reaching higher, and seeing farther
than the other guy.
It's never easy, keeping that No. 1 ranking. Pat Summitt
said it in 1984, just before bringing the U.S. women's basketball
team to another Olympic Gold medal. She said: "We're expected
to win now. That's a greater challenge than when you're expected
to finish second."
Pat's right. We are going to need as never before the "can-
do" attitude that brought our ancestors to America -- and that
brought America to greatness. When they asked your own Sgt. York
how he captured 132 enemy prisoners and 32 machine guns all by
himself, he answered: "I surrounded 'em."
That's what I'd expect from a Tennessean. And that kind of
spirit is going to carry us into the 21st Century and beyond.
And as we approach the challenges of tomorrow, in a world
increasingly hungry for yesterday's values, I hope you'll
continue to give voice to Tennessee's frontier virtues: Hard
work. Loyalty. Love of faith, family and the Volunteer state.
When we hear America singing, it is often the sound of
Tennessee. The bluegrass fiddling of the mountains. The gospel
and country sound of Nashville. The jazz, the blues, of Memphis.
It is the stuff of legend, the spirit of faith and hope. And
8
with spirit like that -- America's going to do a Tennessee waltz,
all over the competition. III
Thank you for your warm greeting. God bless you. God bless
Tennessee. And God bless the U.S.A.
#
#
#
Document No. 109479
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
01/31/90
NOON 02/01/90
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
SUBJECT:
(01/31 draft three)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
>
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
ROGICH
BATES
UNTERMEYER
CARD
ROGERS
CICCONI
PINKERTON
DEMAREST
BROMLEY
FITZWATER
ALBRECHT
P
GRAY
WINSTON
HAGIN
ANDERSON
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston by NOON on Thursday, 02/01, with a copy to my office.
Thanks.
RESPONSE:
ots.R.
90 JAN i P2: 45
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
McNally/Simon
January 31, 1990
Draft Three (B:TENN)
PRESIDENTIAL IN BVERSII BY 2QF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
ALUMNI GYMNASIUM
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1990, 3:05 P.M.
[[ACKNOWLEDGMENTS]
Sorry we were a little late getting in. But you now how it
is on this campus. Even I can't find a parking place.
It's great to be back in Tennessee. I'm very proud of this
state, and this University. And I hear some of you noticed the
T-shirt I had on while jogging down in Texas in December -- the
"Big Orange" colors of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Back in Washington they debated which move took more guts --
invading Panama, or going to Texas wearing a Big Orange T-shirt.
I got the shirt in Washington when Pat Summitt came to the
Rose Garden last April with Tennessee's Lady Volunteers -- the
1989 NCAA National Champions.
And when they came to Washington the Lady Vols had only one
request. Not to see the Oval Office. Not to see the Wright
brothers plane. Not even Georgetown at night. What they wanted
to see was Millie's new puppies.
of course we said yes. But now it's my turn. And as long
as I'm at U.T., it seems I ought to get to meet "SMOKEY."
I am proud of Tennessee, and your great sports traditions.
But the truth is, what makes this university so special says a
lot about what makes America so special. It's not the winner's
trophy at the end of the quest. It's the quest itself. And in
Tennessee, as in America, that means the quest for excellence.
2
At U.T., the quest for excellence starts not on the
basketball court or the football field but in the classroom.
Maybe you heard that at the White House, I bragged as much about
the Lady Vols' 14 years with a 100 percent graduation rate as I
did about their basketball championship.
Earlier this week, I issued my first formal budget as
President, a blueprint for the year ahead. And two days ago, I
stood in the U.S. Capitol -- stood before the American people --
and reported to you on the State of the Union.
[[But don't worry if you missed the speech -- you're not
going to hear the two words that strike terror in any college
classroom: "Pop quiz!" \\\]]
At the heart of my address was a sense of confidence that
America today is second to none -- and sense of commitment, a
plan to keep America second to none in the years ahead.
The foundation for our plan -- the foundation for our future
-- is anchored by a cornerstone we call "Educational Excellence."
Education is our most enduring legacy, vital to everything
we are and can become. And my budget calls for record funding,
reflecting this belief. But as I said Wednesday night, real
improvement in our schools is not simply a matter of spending
more. It is a matter of asking more -- expecting more -- of our
schools, our teachers, our kids -- and of ourselves.
You in Tennessee know that goals and high expectations work.
Five years ago, Governor Alexander told Tennessee's eighth
graders: "If you want to go to state universities -- you're
3
going to have to take more math and science."
There was a good deal of grumbling at first. But today,
almost all freshman are meeting those requirements.
As a result, admission scores are up. Retention rates are
up. And best of all -- 41 percent more students are taking
science and math in the high schools than were taking those
subjects five years ago. You expected more. 80 you got more.
I believe what worked for Tennessee will work for America.
And Wednesday night, I announced America's education goals --
goals developed with the Governors of all fifty states.
Part of the answer means getting back to basics. Recently
one kid was asked if he knew what the "Three R's" were. He said,
"Sure: Reading. 'Riting. And Remote Control."
Well, just as we're re-doubling our efforts to boost
education, so we've doubled the "Three R's" as well. We have six
goals -- "Six R's" for education in the Nineties.
The first is Readiness. By the Year 2000, every child in
America will start school ready to learn. And we've called for a
record increase -- an extra half-billion dollars to ensure a fair
start -- through project Head Start.
Our next goal might be called "Search and Rescue." " We will
target America's most at-risk youth, and get them the help they
need -- the help they deserve. Our 10-year goal -- to raise
America's high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent.
Third, it's time to Re-establish standards. By the new
century, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having
4
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live -- the
world of math, English, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new Renaissance in science and math,
to make America's students first in the world by the Year 2000.
Next -- Reading. A competitive America must be a literate
America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge and
skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Last -- and most fundamental -- in every school in America,
we've got to create an environment conducive to learning. That
means disciplined schools. That means drug-free schools.
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it. Not Ben Franklin -- Aretha Franklin.
She calls it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Kids need respect for
teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves.
All six goals are important. And Lamar, I was thrilled to
learn that Tennessee -- a major research university and a pillar
of the science-rich, Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken the
lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. Your new Summer School for
Math and Science -- and its academy for America's top elementary
and high school teachers -- is sure to make a difference.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since
I first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last
spring. The time for study is past. The time for action is now.
Building America's competitive strength today also means
5
that we need quick Congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. That
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to
doubling the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for Research and
Development -- R & D. New help for R & E -- Research and
Experimentation -- by making the R & E Tax Credit permanent. And
funds to improve math and science education: The Eisenhower
Education Grants would nearly double to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more
scholarly works, more breakthroughs, more international prizes.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower used his State of the
Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real problem,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
Today, I am taking action by announcing the formation of the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Comprised of some of the best scientific minds in the country, we
will meet tomorrow at Camp David to discuss ways to maintain U.S.
supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean
more to strengthening our educational system and competitive edge
than any other single endeavor. I'm talking about space. For in
6
the coming century, first in space will mean first on Earth. And
America intends to stay Number One.
Tennessee has already made important contributions to the
space program. Rhea Seddon, one of America's first women
astronauts, is a graduate of U.T.'s College of Medicine. And
researchers at U.T.'s Space Institute in Tullahoma are working
with NASA to develop advanced space propulsion systems for the
next generation of manned and unmanned missions.
In the new century -- your century -- those new systems may
help take Americans back to the Moon and beyond. Our goal: To
place Americans on Mars -- and to do it within the working
lifetimes of scientists and engineers who will be recruited for
the effort today. And just as Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to
open the continent, our commitment to the Moon/Mars initiative
will open the Universe. It's the opportunity of a lifetime --
and offers a lifetime of opportunity.
Yet, some wonder if America has lost its competitive edge,
and ask if we must now look overseas for the answer. They point
to last week's launch in Japan -- a new satellite sent to orbit
the Moon. They forget that 26 years ago today -- long before
many of you were born -- America's Ranger 6 landed on the Moon.
The United States is the "defending world champion." But,
we have to defend our title day-by-day, week-by-week, year-in and
year-out. The Tennessee of Bob Neyland and Johnny Majors, of
Wade Houston and Pat Summitt, knows something about defending
athletic dynasties. Here it's done the old-fashioned way, the
7
Tennessee way, the American way.
You can play smart. But there are no shortcuts. It takes
hard work and grit. It demands the constant renewal of new
talent and new ideas -- always tempered by veteran coaching. And
it means sweating harder, reaching higher, and seeing farther
than the other guy.
It's never easy, keeping that No. 1 ranking. Pat Summitt
said it in 1984, just before bringing the U.S. women's basketball
team to another Olympic Gold medal. She said: "We're expected
to win now. That's a greater challenge than when you're expected
to finish second."
Pat's right. We are going to need as never before the "can-
do" attitude that brought our ancestors to America -- and that
brought America to greatness. When they asked your own Sgt. York
how he captured 132 enemy prisoners and 32 machine guns all by
himself, he answered: "I surrounded 'em."
That's what I'd expect from a Tennessean. And that kind of
spirit is going to carry us into the 21st Century and beyond.
And as we approach the challenges of tomorrow, in a world
increasingly hungry for yesterday's values, I hope you'll
continue to give voice to Tennessee's frontier virtues: Hard
work. Loyalty. Love of faith, family and the Volunteer state.
When we hear America singing, it is often the sound of
Tennessee. The bluegrass fiddling of the mountains. The gospel
and country sound of Nashville. The jazz, the blues, of Memphis.
It is the stuff of legend, the spirit of faith and hope. And
8
with spirit like that -- America's going to do a Tennessee waltz,
all over the competition. III
Thank you for your warm greeting. God bless you. God bless
Tennessee. And God bless the U.S.A.
#
#
#
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 1, 1990
MEMORANDUM FOR CHRISS WINSTON
Deputy Assistant to the President for
Communications
FROM:
BRENT O. HATCH BAH
Associate Counsel to the President
SUBJECT:
Presidential Remarks -- University of Tennessee,
Knoxville
Counsel's office has reviewed the above-referenced Presidential
remarks. We have no legal objections.
Thank you for the opportunity to review this matter.
CC: James W. Cicconi
00 : all I NAV 06
Document No. 109479
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
01/31/90
NOON 02/01/90
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
SUBJECT:
(01/31 draft three)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
ROGICH
BATES
UNTERMEYER
CARD
ROGERS
X
CICCONI
PINKERTON
DEMAREST
BROMLEY
FITZWATER
ALBRECHT
GRAY
WINSTON
HAGIN
ANDERSON
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston by NOON on Thursday, 02/01, with a copy to my office.
Thanks.
RESPONSE:
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
McNally/Simon
January 31, 1990
Draft Three (B:TENN)
PRESIDENTIAL REMARK$990 UNIVERSITY20F TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE
ALUMNI GYMNASIUM
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1990, 3:05 P.M.
[[ACKNOWLEDGMENTS];
Sorry we were a little late getting in. But you now how it
is on this campus. Even I can't find a parking place.
It's great to be back in Tennessee. I'm very proud of this
state, and this University. And I hear some of you noticed the
T-shirt I had on while jogging down in Texas in December -- the
"Big Orange" colors of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Back in Washington they debated which move took more guts --
invading Panama, or going to Texas wearing a Big Orange T-shirt.
I got the shirt in Washington when Pat Summitt came to the
Rose Garden last April with Tennessee's Lady Volunteers -- the
1989 NCAA National Champions.
And when they came to Washington the Lady Vols had only one
request. Not to see the Oval Office. Not to see the Wright
brothers plane. Not even Georgetown at night. What they wanted
to see was Millie's new puppies.
of course we said yes. But now it's my turn. And as long
as I'm at U.T., it seems I ought to get to meet "SMOKEY."
I am proud of Tennessee, and your great sports traditions.
But the truth is, what makes this university so special says a
lot about what makes America so special. It's not the winner's
trophy at the end of the quest. It's the quest itself. And in
Tennessee, as in America, that means the quest for excellence.
2
At U.T., the quest for excellence starts not on the
basketball court or the football field but in the classroom.
Maybe you heard that at the White House, I bragged as much about
the Lady Vols' 14 years with a 100 percent graduation rate as I
did about their basketball championship.
Earlier this week, I issued my first formal budget as
President, a blueprint for the year ahead. And two days ago, I
stood in the U.S. Capitol -- stood before the American people --
and reported to you on the State of the Union.
[[But don't worry if you missed the speech -- you're not
going to hear the two words that strike terror in any college
classroom: 11 "Pop quiz!" \\\]]
At the heart of my address was a sense of confidence that
America today is second to none -- and sense of commitment, a
plan to keep America second to none in the years ahead.
The foundation for our plan -- the foundation for our future
-- is anchored by a cornerstone we call "Educational Excellence."
Education is our most enduring legacy, vital to everything
we are and can become. And my budget calls for record funding,
reflecting this belief. But as I said Wednesday night, real
improvement in our schools is not simply a matter of spending
more. It is a matter of asking more -- expecting more -- of our
schools, our teachers, our kids -- and of ourselves.
You in Tennessee know that goals and high expectations work.
Five years ago, Governor Alexander told Tennessee's eighth
graders: "If you want to go to state universities -- you're
3
going to have to take more math and science."
There was a good deal of grumbling at first. But today,
almost all freshman are meeting those requirements.
As a result, admission scores are up. Retention rates are
up. And best of all -- 41 percent more students are taking
science and math in the high schools than were taking those
subjects five years ago. You expected more. So you got more.
I believe what worked for Tennessee will work for America.
And Wednesday night, I announced America's education goals --
goals developed with the Governors of all fifty states.
Part of the answer means getting back to basics. Recently
one kid was asked if he knew what the "Three R's" were. He said,
"Sure: Reading. 'Riting. And Remote Control."
Well, just as we're re-doubling our efforts to boost
education, so we've doubled the "Three R's" as well. We have six
goals -- "Six R's" for education in the Nineties.
The first is Readiness. By the Year 2000, every child in
America will start school ready to learn. And we've called for a
record increase -- an extra half-billion dollars to ensure a fair
start -- through project Head Start.
Our next goal might be called "Search and Rescue." We will
target America's most at-risk youth, and get them the help they
need -- the help they deserve. Our 10-year goal -- to raise
America's high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent.
Third, it's time to Re-establish standards. By the new
century, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having
4
demonstrated competency over the world in which they live -- the
world of math, English, science, history and geography.
And we're calling for a new Renaissance in science and math,
to make America's students first in the world by the Year 2000.
Next -- Reading. A competitive America must be a literate
America, where every man and woman possesses the knowledge and
skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Last -- and most fundamental -- in every school in America,
we've got to create an environment conducive to learning. That
means disciplined schools. That means drug-free schools.
The solution to chaos in our classrooms is no mystery.
Franklin had a word for it. Not Ben Franklin -- Aretha Franklin.
She calls it: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Kids need respect for
teachers. Respect for learning. Respect for themselves.
All six goals are important. And Lamar, I was thrilled to
learn that Tennessee -- a major research university and a pillar
of the science-rich, Oak Ridge Corridor -- has already taken the
lead in responding to our challenge to use science and technology
to boost America's competitiveness. Your new Summer School for
Math and Science -- and its academy for America's top elementary
and high school teachers -- is sure to make a difference.
Unbelievably, it was all put together in a week. And the
speed of Tennessee's response proves what we've been saying since
I first sent my Educational Excellence package to Congress last
spring. The time for study is past. The time for action is now.
Building America's competitive strength today also means
5
that we need quick Congressional action on our other proposals
for investing in new capital -- intellectual capital. That
includes everything from reforming product liability laws to
doubling the budget of the National Science Foundation.
It means a record-high increase in funds for Research and
Development -- R & D. New help for R & E -- Research and
Experimentation -- by making the R & E Tax Credit permanent. And
funds to improve math and science education: The Eisenhower
Education Grants would nearly double to $230 million.
In science and technology, the United States is today the
undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We produce more
scholarly works, more breakthroughs, more international prizes.
But like any champion, we cannot rest on our reputation.
More than 30 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower used his State of the
Union speech to address a similar challenge. "Our real problem,"
said Ike, "is not our strength today. It is rather the vital
necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."
Today, I am taking action by announcing the formation of the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Comprised of some of the best scientific minds in the country, we
will meet tomorrow at Camp David to discuss ways to maintain U.S.
supremacy in these fields.
One way to do that is by challenging the impossible. And
that brings to mind another challenge that will probably mean
more to strengthening our educational system and competitive edge
than any other single endeavor. I'm talking about space. For in
6
the coming century, first in space will mean first on Earth. And
America intends to stay Number One.
Tennessee has already made important contributions to the
space program. Rhea Seddon, one of America's first women
astronauts, is a graduate of U.T.'s College of Medicine. And
researchers at U.T.'s Space Institute in Tullahoma are working
with NASA to develop advanced space propulsion systems for the
next generation of manned and unmanned missions.
In the new century -- your century -- those new systems may
help take Americans back to the Moon and beyond. Our goal: To
place Americans on Mars -- and to do it within the working
lifetimes of scientists and engineers who will be recruited for
the effort today. And just as Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to
open the continent, our commitment to the Moon/Mars. initiative
will open the Universe. It's the opportunity of a lifetime --
and offers a lifetime of opportunity.
Yet, some wonder if America has lost its competitive edge,
and ask if we must now look overseas for the answer. They point
to last week's launch in Japan -- a new satellite sent to orbit
the Moon. They forget that 26 years ago today -- long before
many of you were born -- America's Ranger 6 landed on the Moon.
The United States is the "defending world champion." But,
we have to defend our title day-by-day, week-by-week, year-in and
year-out. The Tennessee of Bob Neyland and Johnny Majors, of
Wade Houston and Pat Summitt, knows something about defending
athletic dynasties. Here it's done the old-fashioned way, the
7
Tennessee way, the American way.
You can play smart. But there are no shortcuts. It takes
hard work and grit. It demands the constant renewal of new
talent and new ideas -- always tempered by veteran coaching. And
it means sweating harder, reaching higher, and seeing farther
than the other guy.
It's never easy, keeping that No. 1 ranking. Pat Summitt
said it in 1984, just before bringing the U.S. women's basketball
team to another Olympic Gold medal. She said: "We're expected
to win now. That's a greater challenge than when you're expected
to finish second."
Pat's right. We are going to need as never before the "can-
do" attitude that brought our ancestors to America -- and that
brought America to greatness. When they asked your. own Sgt. York
how he captured 132 enemy prisoners and 32 machine guns all by
himself, he answered: "I surrounded 'em."
That's what I'd expect from a Tennessean. And that kind of
spirit is going to carry us into the 21st Century and beyond.
And as we approach the challenges of tomorrow, in a world
increasingly hungry for yesterday's values, I hope you'll
continue to give voice to Tennessee's frontier virtues: Hard
work. Loyalty. Love of faith, family and the Volunteer state.
When we hear America singing, it is often the sound of
Tennessee. The bluegrass fiddling of the mountains. The gospel
and country sound of Nashville. The jazz, the blues, of Memphis.
It is the stuff of legend, the spirit of faith and hope. And
8
with spirit like that -- America's going to do a Tennessee waltz,
all over the competition. III
Thank you for your warm greeting. God bless you. God bless
Tennessee. And God bless the U.S.A.
#
#
#