Administration of George Bush, 1991 / Mar. 22

Chief State School Officers. He served as Baptist University (B.S., 1964); Washington Nevada’s superintendent of public instruc- State University (M.A.T., 1970); and from tion and before coming to the Department the University of Nevada, Reno, (Ed.D., of Education in 1989, as State super- 1987). He is married, has four children, intendent of education in Illinois. two grandchildren, and resides in Spring- Dr. Sanders graduated from Wayland field, IL.

Remarks at the Swearing-In Ceremony for Lamar Alexander as Secretary of Education March 22, 1991

The President. Thank you all. Thank you, Our setting today in this great Air and Bill Carl. It’s a pleasure to be here to wit- Space Museum is a fitting site for this cere- ness the swearing-in of our new Secretary mony. It reminds us of another time when of Education, Governor Lamar Alexander. this nation set for itself a national goal, that To the members of the Cabinet—and I see of landing a man on the moon. And we so many here; distinguished Members of did it. the United States Congress—and I see Lamar Alexander understands that real many here; to former Secretaries—I’m reform, real restructuring of American edu- told—don’t spot them right now—that Bill cation can only take place at the State and Brock and Mel Laird were here. local level. And that’s one of the key reasons Let me just welcome all of you—those that I’ve asked him to become Secretary from the White House. I’d like to, at the Alexander. He knows the key to success outset of this, pay my respects to the man is to make certain education reform is na- who is going to do the honors, Judge John tional, not Federal. Nationally, we have es- Minor Wisdom, one of the most distin- tablished goals. We’re setting standards, es- guished jurists in the United States, who tablishing priorities, and in the process, is with us here today. we’re raising expectations. We must bring For a challenge of this magnitude, it is all levels of government and all Americans my very good fortune to be able to call together—parents, teachers, students, civic on a man with Lamar Alexander’s consider- and business leaders, and all interested citi- able experience. He comes to this task the zens—to achieve our goals. son of teachers. He’s served as a very valued member of our Education Policy Advisory On the Federal level, we can serve as Committee, and most recently he’s served a catalyst for change. We can point the the students of his home State as president way forward, contribute ideas, and help of the University of Tennessee. Five years States and schools meet higher, better ago, as chairman of the National Governors’ standards. Association, he piloted the 50-State edu- The Department of Education, through cation survey, ‘‘Time for Results,’’ a report research and development, can help iden- that put us on the path to the six national tify practical ways to improve teaching and education goals that guide our efforts from learning for all students. We also can create now to the year 2000. incentives for change, and we can start with As a public servant, educator, and author, freedom of choice. Lamar Alexander is a true renaissance I know this idea has generated its share man—a man with great common sense, who of controversy. But it isn’t radical; it’s com- knows what works. And he’s also one of mon sense. It rests on a principle central Tennessee’s leading philosophers. He’s got to democratic society: the idea that individ- a saying you’ve probably already heard: uals are capable of making wise decisions ‘‘Today a rooster. Tomorrow a feather dust- for themselves. In education, the concept of er.’’ [Laughter] choice recognizes that parents are the real

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experts on what’s best for their kids. Bill Brock and Bill Coleman over here— Often, parents with means—families in but please stand up, we’re going to make the mid-to-upper income brackets—already you committed to this goal we’re under- have choice. They can send their children taking right now. [Laughter] to private schools or move to districts with Let me also say to you and to all the the strongest public schools. Poor parents dedicated people at this Department, Mr. don’t have these choices. So, let’s be clear Secretary: There is no single issue that de- about who can benefit the most from great- termines more about America, about our er freedom of choice. It’s poor families who dreams and our destiny, than education. will benefit most from a healthy competi- America’s future walks through the doors tion in our schools. of our schools every single day. For the With Lamar as the sparkplug, we’re going sake of that future, America can settle for to move forward towards our national goals on many fronts and reiterate our commit- nothing short of excellence in our schools. ment to educational excellence. We’re going Because of our commitment to education, to make our schools better and more ac- we’re creating a great team at the Education countable, and we’re going to reward excel- Department. Just this morning I announced lence in our teachers. And we’re going to my intention to nominate David Kearns, challenge our children to learn. And we’re chairman of Xerox, to become the Deputy going to encourage all American adults to Secretary of Education. David, would you recognize that learning is a lifelong process. please stand up? After all, learning doesn’t happen only He may be coming out of the loftiest in school. Lamar likes to talk about some- echelons of the business world, but no thing he calls the 91-percent factor: the fact American business leader has more out- that by the time the average American standing credentials or a deeper commit- youth reaches the age of 18, he’s spent 9 ment to improve education for all our chil- percent of his time in the classroom and dren. And then, I’ve asked Ted Sanders, 91 percent outside of it. We must work the former president of the country’s chief as a society to support the kind of values, State school officers and who has served culture—the vital sense of community and, so ably as Acting Secretary, a man to whom yes, citizenship—that gives real meaning to I will always be grateful, to take on the all that our children learn. new dual responsibility of Chief Financial I know some people question whether Officer, Deputy Under Secretary for Plan- we can meet the ambitious goals we’ve set ning, Budget and Evaluation, a key post. for ourselves, whether we can lower the Ted, we’re delighted. Would you please drop-out rate or rise to first rank worldwide stand for us? in math and science. Well, I’m convinced And with the help and support of the that we can. Think about this: the grad- uating class of the year 2000 is a third- dedicated professionals at the Department, grader today. Think about what it means and there are so many—many with us here to be an 8-year-old, about the world of today. And I want to thank each and every learning that lies ahead. Let’s help those one of you. I am confident now that this kids learn all they can on the journey from is a team equal to the task before us. 8 to 18, and then let’s see where they take Lamar and David were over yesterday us in the next century. and they presented me a fantastic pro- Mr. Secretary, first let me say that this, posal—how we can go about meeting these as far as I’m concerned, is going to be a national education goals. I’m excited about team effort for all of our Cabinet Depart- it. And I told them that which I want to ments. I think every Cabinet Secretary has say once again but this time to all the em- some role to play in helping you meet these ployees, those who are working at the De- educational goals. And with that in mind, partment of Education: This is priority. And I would like to ask the members of our I am committed as President to working Cabinet that are here to stand up—and the with you and to supporting you in achieving former members I do see now, Mel and these national goals.

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I thank you all for being here for this thing I’m very much looking forward to. wonderful ceremony. And now it is with I also want to thank my sister Jane and great pleasure that I witness the swearing- her husband, Bill Carl, for coming from in of Secretary Lamar Alexander. Thank you Dallas. Their sons, Jeremy and David, our all very much. nephews, sent me this message: ‘‘Tell Uncle [At this point, Secretary Alexander was Lamar congratulations, and we hope this sworn in.] doesn’t mean more homework.’’ [Laughter] That made me think of how Jane and I Secretary Alexander. Mr. President and grew up in Maryville, Tennessee, with our Barbara, distinguished Members of the sister Ann. We were ready to learn because Congress, it’s very difficult to put anyone our mother took care of herself when she else ahead of Judge Wisdom, as you can was pregnant. She read to us—she and our tell. I want to thank President Bush for father read ‘‘Winnie the Pooh’’ and ‘‘The giving me one of the most exciting opportu- Little Engine that Could’’ and ‘‘The Adven- nities in America: helping him be the Edu- tures of Tom Sawyer’’ even before we went cation President. to school. And I want to thank Barbara Bush for We had more preschool education than keeping up front the importance of literacy anybody in this room because our mother for every American. And I want to thank had the town’s only preschool education Judge Wisdom who, for the last 40 years program in a converted garage in her back- or so, has been one of the most vigorous yard, and she had nowhere else to put us, members of the Federal judiciary and one and so we went there. We knew what we of the most adventuresome. On one were expected to learn in school and we evening, he brought the entire Fifth Circuit learned it because our teachers expected Court of Appeals down to Your Father’s us to. And they helped us, as did our par- Mustache to hear our washboard band play ents. when I was his law clerk. The most dangerous thing going in Mary- I want to thank the President’s own Ma- ville when we were growing up was football, rine Band. I’ve never heard the Marine and drugs were something you took when Band play ‘‘Rocky Top’’ before, and I’m you were sick. There was always some adult glad—[laughter]—to hear that. And the hovering around to make sure we got a children from Amidon and the young men pat on the back when we did something and women from Cardozo, thank you for right, and that we didn’t get away with being here today. much. When we got in trouble at school, And Honey and Drew and Leslee and we got in trouble at home. That was the Kathryn and Will, thank you for putting way we grew up. up with a notorious father and one who Jeremy and David, my nephews, and our has required you to move three times in children are coming along in a very dif- the last 9 months. For our friends, who ferent world. All over America people are have come on short notice from a lot of trying to adjust to that world. That adjust- different places, thank you. To members ment is what we call our education. And of the Cabinet, I’m the junior member of because it is not easy, it is at the top of the team and looking forward to being a our concerns. part of it. To Members of the United States On March 6th, President Bush talked to Senate for taking such an interest in me Congress and the American people about and then after a while—[laughter]—con- reaching our potential, that we should make firming me unanimously, I thank you for this country all that it should be. I like that. And for the members of the Tennessee to look at things that way, too—not as one delegation and other Members of the Con- big problem but as one big opportunity. gress who are here. I want to help President Bush be the Edu- And, Mr. President, you’re a terrific re- cation President, to help America do as well cruiter. To have a chance to work with at home as it has done overseas. Almost David Kearns and Ted Sanders as a part everything we do at home has education of the President’s education team is some- at the bottom of it.

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My nephews, David and Jeremy, may not er right after I was nominated. And she think this is such good news because it may told him, ‘‘When Lamar grew up, I was mean for them higher standards, tougher teaching and Andy was on the school board. tests, and probably more homework. They And at the dinner table we talked about may find themselves and certainly their chil- better schools.’’ We need that kind of talk dren going to schools that are radically dif- going on at every dinner table in America. ferent learning systems than what we see Our Education President can mobilize today, as different from what they know that army, can get that kind of talk going today as this lunar module is from the pro- and I hope I can be a sparkplug for change peller airplane. to help him do that. This is the most visited museum in the Thank you. world. And it is that because it stands as a symbol of what can happen when we un- Note: The President spoke at 9:40 a.m. at leash America’s creative genius. We need the National Air and Space Museum. In the to unleash that creative genius to create ceremony, the following persons were re- the best schools in the world. ferred to: William J. Carl III, pastor of the Jeremy and David’s parents, Jane and First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX, Bill, will be doing what the President just who gave the invocation and introduced the said. They’ll be going back to school, too, President; Mr. Carl’s wife, Jane, sister of because whatever they learned growing up Secretary Alexander, and their sons, Jeremy isn’t enough to live and work in the world and David; former Secretary of Labor Wil- the way it is today. And in downtown Dallas liam E. Brock III; former Secretary of De- and in Maryville and everywhere, commu- fense Melvin R. Laird; John Minor Wisdom, nities will be finding that the school can’t senior circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Ap- do it all, or even most—help a child grow peals for the Fifth Circuit; former Secretary up the way we had the chance to grow of Transportation William T. Coleman, Jr.; up. David T. Kearns, nominee for Deputy Sec- Doing well at home is as important as retary of Education; Ted Sanders, Under doing well overseas and will be infinitely Secretary of Education; Secretary Alexan- more complex because the army the Presi- der’s wife, Honey, and children, Andrew, dent has to mobilize is every American. Leslee, Kathryn, and William; and the Sec- An enterprising reporter found our moth- retary’s parents, Flo and Andrew Alexander.

Statement on the Strategic Defense Initiative March 22, 1991

Eight years ago, the Strategic Defense the Soviet Union, the threat from ballistic Initiative spurred research and develop- missile proliferation is growing. Today, U.S. ment of technologies necessary to defend forces abroad and U.S. allies live under a the United States and our allies from the growing threat from ballistic missile attack. threat posed by ballistic missiles. Since While the Patriot air defense system per- 1983, SDI has accomplished much. Techno- formed remarkably well, we can do far bet- logical and engineering breakthroughs have ter in protecting our troops and our friends brought us closer to smart or even brilliant and allies. We will have to, because we will defenses. We have proved that it is possible face much more dangerous threats than the to intercept a ballistic missile warhead in Scud. Moreover, the decisions we make on space. But much work remains to be done SDI today will affect our capabilities into before we have the defenses we need. the next century. By then, the Even as we are hopeful that we can achieve a more stable strategic balance with

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