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FOIA Number: Originally Processed With FOIA(s): S FOIA MARKER This is not a textual record. This is used as an administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential Library Staff. Record Group/Collection: George H.W. Bush Presidential Records Collection/Office of Origin: Speechwriting, White House Office of Series: Smith, Curt, Files Subseries: Chron File, 1989-1992 OA/ID Number: 13890 Folder ID Number: 13890-017 Folder Title: John Major, Washington D.C., 6/6/92 Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: G 18 29 1 6 (Smith/Aarhus) Draft One June 2, 1992 BRIT PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: JOHN MAJOR SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1992 Ladies and gentlemen. I want to welcome Prime Minister Major to America, and say how pleased I am with our talks. / We spoke to, and of, our special relationship. We met as colleagues, and as friends. / It has been said that Britain and America are two nations separated by a common language. / We are also joined by a common culture and heritage, civilization and soul. / Dwight Eisenhower -- beloved in both countries -- once put it best. To preserve the freedoms only God can grant, Ike said, "a Londoner will fight. So will a citizen of Abilene.' " // Forty-eight years ago today, Ike and Monty -- Churchill and FDR -- linked hearts, and minds, to defend all we hold dear. Our goal was peace. To win it, we first had to win a war. / So we formed the greatest armada in the history of man. June 6, 1944 told the world: Aggression will not stand. // In Korea, Viet Nam -- in crises large and small -- we reaffirmed our relationship. Then came the Persian Gulf -- where again we stood fast so that liberty could stand tall. / Years from now, men will marvel at British and American heroism in the Gulf. They will talk of the 82nd Airborne and the Desert Rats - - as we do now of El Alamein and the Burma Road and Monte Cassino and Utah Beach. / 2 They will salute Britain's help in forging our great coalition -- its belief that life means nothing without fidelity to principle. / They will recall how the last year reaffirmed our alliance of the rule of law and basic rights / the fact that there will always be an England / and England will always be our friend. / / Our Nation sprang from England's belief in the sanctity of the individual. Today, that belief has never been stronger -- our alliance never firmer -- our desire never deeper to build a free and peaceful world. / So the Prime Minister and I talked of cooperation culturally / economically / intellectually / militarily. / Debating -- discussing -- how resolution in the cause of freedom can best lift and transform the globe. // Great Britain has been likened to a bull dog. To freedom's enemies she resembles more a pit bull. / Think of steel, integrity, creativity, and conviction -- that indelibly British mix known as character. / Our challenge now is to use those qualities to achieve what another Prime Minister asked in 1943, as the tide turned toward the Allies. Addressing the Congress, Winston Churchill said: "By singleness of purpose, by tenacity and endurance such as we have so far displayed -- by these, and only by these, can we discharge our duty to the future of the world and to the dignity of man. " // Mr. Prime Minister, on the face of freedom -- Winston Churchill, like Margaret Thatcher, like you today -- are the 3 stiff upper lip. / Thank you for your duty -- and for your love of freedom. / Now, we'll be glad to answer questions. # # # # (Smith/Aarhus) Draft Two June 2, 1992 BRIT PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: JOHN MAJOR SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1992 Ladies and gentlemen. I want to welcome Prime Minister Major to America, and say how pleased I am with our talks. / ((First, let me say it's always good to spend some time with someone who knows a thing or two about coming from behind to win an election. )) // ( (I should also note that the Prime Minister's father once played minor-league baseball here in the U.S., so John has a connection to two great sports. / He was going to explain cricket to me, but his visit lasts only two days.) ) // / Even so, the Prime Minister and I spent many hours talking about our countries' special relationship. / We responded to each other not with just the formal handshake of two allies -- but with the warm embrace of two friends. // Dwight Eisenhower -- beloved in Britain and America -- as usual, put it best. // To preserve God's freedoms, Ike said, "A Londoner will fight. So will a citizen of Abilene.' " // Forty-eight years ago today, Ike and Monty -- Churchill and FDR -- Allied soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen -- heroes all -- fought side-by-side. Our goal was peace. To win it, we first had to win a war. / So we formed the greatest armada in 2 the history of man. June 6, 1944 told the world: Aggression will not stand. // Americans endured great hardships in the war, but unlike the British, we were not subjected to direct enemy bombing of our cities night after night, week after week. / It is largely because the British proved that bombs can destroy buildings but not spirit, that the Allies -- and freedom -- prevailed. // In Korea, Viet Nam -- in crises large and small -- we reaffirmed our relationship. Then came the Persian Gulf -- where again we stood fast so that liberty could stand tall. / "Operation Desert Storm" proved once more that the jackals of oppression are no match for the eagle and the lion of freedom. It showed why years from now, men will marvel at British and American heroism in the Gulf. // They will talk of the 82nd Airborne and Desert Rats -- as we do now of El Alamein and Burma Road and Monte Cassino and Utah Beach. / They will salute Britain's help in forging our great coalition -- its belief that life means nothing without fidelity to principle. / They will recall how the last year reaffirmed our alliance of the rule of law and basic rights / the fact that there will always be an England / and England will always be our friend. // Our Nation sprang from England's belief in the sanctity of the individual. Today, that belief has never been stronger -- our alliance never firmer -- our desire never deeper to build a free and peaceful world. / So the Prime Minister and I talked of 3 cooperation culturally / economically / intellectually / militarily. / Discussing how resolution in the cause of freedom can best lift and transform the globe. // Great Britain has been likened to a bull dog. To freedom's enemies she resembles more a pit bull. / Think of steel, integrity, creativity, and conviction -- that indelibly British mix known as character. / Our challenge now is to use those qualities to achieve what another Prime Minister asked in 1943, as the tide turned toward the Allies. // Addressing the Congress, Winston Churchill said: "By singleness of purpose, by tenacity and endurance such as we have so far displayed -- by these, and only by these, can we discharge our duty to the future of the world and to the dignity of man. " // Mr. Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, like Margaret Thatcher, like you today -- are the stiff upper lip on the face of freedom. / Thank you for your duty, and for our talks today. / Now, we'll be glad to answer questions. # # # #