Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
323154880
label
Summer Olympics, Washington, DC 8/11/92 [OA 8130]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
323154880
contentType
document
title
Summer Olympics, Washington, DC 8/11/92 [OA 8130]
citationUrl
identifierLocal
13890-022
collections
Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Curt Smith Chronological Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
323154880
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
d9b4ac3196b53182
ocrText
Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Smith, Curt, Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1992
OA/ID Number:
13890
Folder ID Number:
13890-022
Folder Title:
Summer Olympics, Washington D.C., 8/11/92
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
18
29
1
6
(Smith/Walters)
Draft Two
August 6, 1992
SUMMER
ATTN: DRAFT WILL BE REVISED PENDING WEEKEND OLYMPIC RESULTS
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
SUMMER OLYMPICS
SOUTH LAWN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1992
5:00 P.M.
/ President of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Ladies and
gentlemen, fellow athletes and Americans. / Welcome to the White
House. / It's an honor to have the U.S. Olympic team here,
though I almost didn't recognize you without Bob Costas as a
voiceover.
First, let me say it's nice to see our great Olympic
athletes without hearing the words, "We'll be right back after
this message. / Today, my message comes from a grateful people:
Whether you took home a gold, silver, bronze, or simply gave your
best, you're all winners in the eyes of every American. / / Were proud of
you.
Over the last couple of weeks America was completely caught
up in the Olympic spirit. For instance, the other night Barbara
asked me to help her re-arrange a couple of chairs in the
residence. I said, "What's the degree of difficulty?" //
For sixteen days / over hundreds of hours 1 you made
training for
years
excellence crucial to the American spirit -- and that spirit
central to the American character. / You gave of your heart --
and of yourselves. You helped the Olympics race enrich the human
race. Two weeks ago, a flaming arrow lit the Olympic torch. YOu
lit again the definition of excellence: No. 1 -- U. / S. / A. //
2
Yesterday I got to thinking about you -- and I remmebered
that quote about "the game [being] well worth the candle
burned long into the night." // For years the candle you've lit
will keep memory's flame alive. But who lit it? For many of
today's champions -- the answer, simply, is family. //
Ask diver Mark Lenzi. He'll talk about dad's endless
carpools or mom's care packages -- his favorite brownies, her
special lasagna. / Talk to Summer Sanders, one of swimming's
"New Kids on the Block. " She'll tell you that "success comes
down to the people around you. / ( (Incidentally, I'm especially
amazed at the feats of the synchronized swimmers. Maybe it's
X.
because I live in a city where it's tough to get any two people
to agree on anything. ) ) //
I think of the Odens sisters Kim and Elaina --
volleyball's "Sisters of Smash.' // ((These West Coast women
made the competition "wish they all could be California girls. ")
X
men's
// Then, there's the mae volleyball team. We've had a lot of
athletes proudly represent the symbol of the bald eagle -- byt
they're the first to look like one. //
Next, look at Gwen Torrence: With her two-year-old son,
this sprinter shifts the mommy track into the passing lane. //
She calls her husband, , "my backbone. " / Sounds like the
American character. / He calls her "priority number one. " /
Sounds like the American family. / He concludes: "I want to see
her on top of the world because I've seen the bottom with her. "
//
3
All of us have been at the bottom -- only to clear hurdles
that once seemed impossible. / Think of the inspirational
stories at this year's Olympics Gail Devers overcoming her
Graves Diease. Gail -- we don't love you because you're the
fastest woman in the world. We love you because you're one of
the most courageous women in the world. / For more inspiration,
try Shannon Miller overcoming a bone chip in her left elbow --
and, of course, Charles Barkley overcoming his shyness. // Each
showed how Americans compete to win -- not for themselves alone -
- but for the Family of America. //
For them -- for you -- family is more than their No. 1 fan
club. It's a shoulder to cry on. It's the friend that's always
there. Whether you're an Olympic athlete -- an armchair fan --
or even a President with twelve grandkids -- no trophies or
medals can take its place as an heirloom of the heart. / Think
of the vignettes -- the keepers -- of the Barcelona Games. Think
of weight-lifting. ( ( , watching you on TV, I you're even
-
stronger than I thought you were. Whenever you feel your heavy
weightlifting equipment isn't enough of a challenge, you're
welcome to drop by and bench-press the Federal budget. )) //
Think of -- another strong man. ((I've come to value his
advice. For instance, he tells me I don't have to pump iron. So
I'm going to keep my arms in shape just by carrying Millie's
investment portfolio. )) //
Perhaps the best metaphor for family was the Dream Team. //
4
You know, the last basketball team to be here was in May -- the
great Harlem Globetrotters. / I told them we had a lot in
common. I got a lot of laughs when I played basketball. The
difference is they're funny on purpose. // Some called the Dream
Team poetry in motion. / I also call them history in action. /
And to those who think our basketball team might be less
competitive four years from now in Atlanta, I have just two words
to say: Shaquille O'Neal.
( (Several days ago, I was talking about all this to a fellow
athlete, Arnold Schwarzenegger. I told him you were a role model
for make people start exercising. He said he said the same
thing: "I just use those two magic words -- 'or else. '"))
Well, like Arnold, you've said, "Hasta la vista, baby" to
couch potatoes. " // You've inspired the dad who plays softball
with his girls / the mom shooting skeet with her kids / the
family who swims as a team. / Someone once asked me, "What are
you trying to prove by competing in so many sports?" // I told
him I'n not trying to prove anything. I'm just trying to be the
first President to get his picture on a Wheaties box. //
The 1992 Summer Olympics Team doesn't just deserve the
Breakfast of Champions. You became the champions of America --
and an example to the world. // I remember coaching Little
League for my kids down in Texas -- Barbara driving those
carpools all over creation. / I learned there that when you take
time out to play catch or shoot hoops with your kids -- you teach
them more than how to throw a knuckleball or drive the lane. You
5
teach them competition / self-discipline / self-reliance /
teamwork. The qualities that make a good citizen -- and, yes, a
great Olympian. / /
Earlier, I mentioned California's Odens sisters. Once, Kim
told where they learned the spunk behind their spike. "It's
simple. We weren't raised to be quitters." //
How true for all the heroes of Barcelona. / You showed the
way to America's
You scored a knockout punch against those
who doubt America
//
said: "
." [[Re. American spirit/
Olympic spirit. ]] By showing that, you proved that the Olympics
-- like America -- are truly Number One. //
For that, I thank you - and for coming to the White House.
God bless you, and the wondrous land that you have made so proud
-- the United States of America.
# # # #
Recently, millions of music fans shared a magical moment.
Subbing for Gloria Estafan, Jon Secada stepped forward /
unleashed his voice / and sang the song which launched his
career.
Its title was "Always something." / Tonight, Jon brought
something extra to a wonderful performance. / Born in Cuba --
his grace now lifts the world. / Barbara and I want to thank you
for an unforgettable evening. //