October 8, 1971, Elkins, West Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 8, 1971 OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY THE WHITE HOUSE REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT AT 35TH ANNUAL MOUNTAIN STATES FOREST FESTIVAL DAVIS-ELKINS COLLEGE, ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA 2:33 P.M. EDT Your Majesty, Queen Sylvia, Your Royal Highnesses of the Mountain Festival Court, all of the distinguished guests who have participated in this program, and all of you who are gathered here on the campus of this great college: I want you to know that I am privileged to be here, and since, in the introduction, mention has been made of the historical significance of a visit of the President of the United States anyplace on the Earth, let me tell you that this has a special meaning to me today for some very personal reasons. Since I have assumed this office, I have traveled further in that space of time than anyone who has held it. That is not because particularly of what I was able to do, but because transportation speeds up and we have faster planes. We can go further and faster than ever before. But as I stand here today, this is a moment when, for the first time since we had 50 States, a President of the United States has visited every one of the States of the Union. West Virginia is number 50. When Governor Arch Moore came to talk to me about coming here, he, along with Congressman Staggers and the two Senators, were also speaking on that subject, I reminded him that it would be the 50th State. He said, "We don't mind your coming to West Virginia as the 50th State, but remember, we are not the 50th State; we are the first State in this country." It is that kind of State pride, that kind of competi- tive spirit, that has made this country great, that makes this State great, that makes the people of these hills and these mountains have the character and the strength that you have had from the time you were a State. I want you to know that in all of my travels to 50 States, I have seen many beautiful days, many great crowds, but I can say without fear of contradiction -- and all the members of the press, of the White House Corps traveling with me, will agree -- that never in any one of the 50 States have we seen a more beautiful day, a more beautiful court, or a more beauti- ful country than we have here in West Virginia today. But I also on this occasion pay tribute not only to the Queen and her Court, those lovely ladies, but also to those who have served with me and are serving with me at the present time, working for your State and for this country; to your Governor, who is in my office on so many occasions working for what West Virginia needs and for what it is entitled, a man that I have great respect for and one who has demonstrated MORE