76 Jan. 16 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2006

Remarks to Reporters Following a way, is the first elected woman President on Visit to the National Archives and the Continent of Africa. Records Administration I want to thank Dr. DeGioia and the good January 16, 2006 folks at Georgetown University. I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who are It seems fitting on Martin Luther King here. By the way, Condoleezza Rice is not Day that I come and look at the Emanci- here, because she’s with Laura. [Laughter] pation Proclamation in its original form. I want to thank Majority Leader Bill Frist Abraham Lincoln recognized that all men are and his wife, Karyn, other Members of Con- created equal. Martin Luther King lived on gress who are here. I appreciate Bruce Gor- that admonition to call our country to a high- don, the president of the NAACP, for his er calling, and today we celebrate the life strong leadership. of an American who called Americans to ac- It is such an honor always to be in the count when we didn’t live up to our ideals. presence of Dorothy Height. And I want to Allen, thanks for having me. I would thank Tiffany Thompson for being here to strongly recommend our fellow citizens come represent her good dad—wondering where to this house of archives—a house that ar- your brother was. [Laughter] DeGioia hired chives a lot of our important documents. It’s him, and he’s working. [Laughter] Thank you really an amazing place; it’s really fascinating. all for being here. I appreciate you and your staff, thanking you. When our Founders declared America’s All right, thank you all. See you later today. independence, they invoked the self-evident NOTE: The President spoke at 9 a.m. in the East truth that all men are created equal. Our Rotunda Gallery. In his remarks, he referred to Constitution was written to put the principles Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein. of a free and equal society into practice. It A tape was not available for verification of the is a living document. It required amendment content of these remarks. to make sure that promise was fulfilled, amendments like the abolishment of slavery, Remarks at Georgetown University’s the guarantee of equal protection, and the right to vote for all Americans. Dr. King ‘‘Let Freedom Ring’’ Celebration called these documents America’s great January 16, 2006 ‘‘Charters of Freedom,’’ and he continued to Thank you all. Thanks for the kind intro- trust in their power even when the practice duction, and thanks for the invitation to be of America did not live up to their promise. here. It’s an honor to join you on this national As children of the South, Martin Luther holiday celebrating one of America’s most King and Rosa Parks both came to the civil important lives: Martin Luther King, Jr. rights movement with long personal experi- Every year on this day, we reflect on the ence of the evils of discrimination and seg- great movement for civil rights that trans- regation. Dr. King called the daily humilia- formed our country. We remember leaders tions endured by black Americans ‘‘the jan- like Rosa Parks, who today is being honored gling discords of our Nation.’’ And Rosa with the John Thompson, Jr., Legacy of a Parks famously experienced it when that bus Dream Award. And we recommit ourselves driver had her arrested for refusing his order to working for the dream that Martin Luther to give up her seat to a white man. King gave his life for: an America where the But Mrs. Parks and Dr. King shared a dignity of every person is respected; where deep belief in a hopeful future. They strongly people are judged not by the color of their believed that segregation could not stand skin—by the content of their character; and once it was held up to the light in all its ugli- where the hope of a better tomorrow is in ness. And because of their spirit and their every neighborhood in this country. work, the cruelty and humiliation of Jim I’m sorry Laura is not with me. She’s lead- Crow is a thing of the past. ing a delegation to Liberia for the swearing- As well, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mrs. in of President Johnson Sirleaf, who, by the Parks’ faith in the future reflected their faith

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