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Remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception December 4, 2005

Dec. 3 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005

and-return, and we’re speeding up the re- law enforcement officers to focus on crimi- moval process. nals, drug dealers, terrorists, and others Second, we must fix weak and unneces- who mean us harm. sary provisions in our immigration laws, in- This program would not create an auto- cluding senseless rules that require us to matic path to citizenship, and it would not release illegal immigrants if their home provide amnesty. I oppose amnesty. Re- countries do not take them back in a set warding lawbreakers would encourage oth- period of time. ers to break the law and keep pressure Third, we must stop people from cross- on our border. A temporary-worker pro- ing the border illegally in the first place. gram will relieve pressure on the border So we’re hiring thousands more Border Pa- and help us more effectively enforce our trol agents. We’re deploying new tech- immigration laws. nology to expand their reach and effective- Our Nation has been strengthened by ness, and we’re constructing physical bar- generations of immigrants who became riers to entry. Americans through patience, hard work, Comprehensive immigration reform also and assimilation. In this new century, we requires us to improve enforcement of our must continue to welcome legal immigrants laws in the interior of our country, because and help them learn the customs and val- border security and interior enforcement go ues that unite all Americans, including lib- hand in hand. In October, I signed legisla- erty and civic responsibility, equality under tion that more than doubled the resources God, tolerance for others, and the English for interior enforcement, so we’ll increase language. In the coming months, I look the number of immigration enforcement forward to working with Congress on com- agents and criminal investigators, enhance prehensive immigration reform that will en- worksite enforcement, and continue to go force our laws, secure our border, and up- after smugglers, gang members, and human hold our deepest values. traffickers. Our immigration laws apply Thank you for listening. across all of America, and we will enforce those laws throughout our land. NOTE: The address was recorded at 7:03 a.m. Finally, comprehensive immigration re- on December 2 in the Cabinet Room at the form requires us to create a new tem- for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on porary-worker program that relieves pres- December 3. The transcript was made avail- sure on the border but rejects amnesty. able by the Office of the Press Secretary on By creating a legal channel for willing em- December 2 but was embargoed for release ployers to hire willing workers, we will re- until the broadcast. The Office of the Press duce the number of workers trying to sneak Secretary also released a Spanish language across the border, and that would free up transcript of this address.

Remarks at the Reception December 4, 2005

Please be seated. Thanks for coming, and extend a special welcome to this year’s hon- welcome to the White House. The annual orees and to their families and friends. reception for the Kennedy Center Honors The Kennedy Center Honors are pre- is always a memorable event, and Laura sented for exceptional accomplishment in and I are happy you all could join us. We the performing arts. Once again, the Center

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has selected five extraordinary Americans dancers as the leader of the Suzanne for this high distinction. Each of these hon- Farrell . orees, in a lifetime of achievement, has set In the words of one of her dancers, a standard of excellence that is admired Suzanne ‘‘inspires you. You want to give throughout the world. All of them have her everything you have because she meets earned a unique place in the cultural life you each step of the way.’’ She does this of the and a special respect every day with the spirit and the patience among their fellow Americans. and the kindness of a truly lovely woman. The first Kennedy Center Honors were She is widely appreciated as the greatest presented in 1978 to a group that included ballerina this country has produced, and the the eminent choreographer, George United States of America is proud to honor Balanchine. And on that stage that evening, . dancing in tribute was the great Suzanne discovered very early in life Farrell. Together, Balanchine and Farrell she loved to act, and the world discovered gave the world of ballet one of the rarest that she was better at the craft than almost and most successful collaborations in his- anyone else. Fifty years ago, when her tory. He created masterpieces just for her, beautiful face was on the cover of Time and no one epitomizes the style and grace magazine, the story inside offered the con- of Balanchine choreography as much as Su- fident and accurate prediction that she zanne Farrell. would be a star ‘‘for the rest of her life.’’ She first came to New York from Cin- cinnati. And only after a year at the Amer- Julie Harris has excelled in every forum ican School of Ballet, she made her profes- she has attempted, from historical drama sional debut in 1961. Before long, word to tragedy, to musical , to Shake- began to circulate there was something speare. She is known for one of the most new—someone new, someone very special hauntingly loving—lovely voices in theater, at the Ballet. When she and she stands nearly alone in the depth took the stage as Dulcinea in , and range of her talent. She became a star she became a sensation. In that perform- on Broadway at age 24, playing a 12-year- ance, a reviewer said, Suzanne Farrell was old girl in ‘‘The Member of the Wedding,’’ ‘‘absolutely flawless, technically impeccable, and was nominated for an Oscar when she light as a bubble, perfect in line and style.’’ played the same role for film. Whatever In hundreds of performances over a 28- age or personality or struggle the role calls year period, Suzanne Farrell was never for, Julie Harris can fill it, with meaning known to depart from that standard. This and feeling and complete believability. She was a ballerina who had it all, grace, has thrilled audiences as St. Joan of Arc strength, and the ability to act, turn, and and Mary Todd Lincoln and Florence jump with perfection. During classes, Nightingale, Queen Victoria, and Emily Balanchine often coached dancers with Dickinson. three words: ‘‘Do like Suzanne.’’ [Laughter] Her greatest admirers, perhaps, are her In performances as diverse as ‘‘Agon,’’ fellow actors. Boris Karloff said Julie ‘‘is ‘‘Theme and ,’’ ‘‘Scotch Sym- always in complete control of herself, just phony,’’ and ‘‘Clarinade,’’ she had a mes- as a fine pianist is always the master of merizing effect on her audiences. Watching his music.’’ The screen pioneer, Ethel her was said to be ‘‘one of the sublime Barrymore, put it even more simply. She theatrical experiences of an era.’’ One ad- said, ‘‘The girl can do anything.’’ [Laughter] mirer said that Suzanne was a dancer who The most respected actress in American ‘‘made audiences sweat.’’ This remarkable theater has received five — lady is now guiding a new generation of more than any other performer—plus a

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Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achieve- an actor with flawless comic timing, and ment in the Theatre. She has also won he earned an Oscar nomination for his role a Grammy and three Emmys and has ap- in ‘‘The .’’ peared in many television plays and motion In his capacity to grow and to excel as pictures. In her career, Julie Harris has an artist, Redford has shown very starred with , George C. few limitations. In 1980, he decided to try Scott, , , and working behind the camera. The result was Sir Lawrence Olivier. She’s the girl who ‘‘,’’ and it won him the appeared opposite James Dean in the ‘‘East Oscar for best actor [director]. * Soon after- of Eden.’’ ward, he founded a workshop for inde- Julie Harris has been called Broadway’s pendent American filmmakers at Sundance, ‘‘tiniest tower of strength,’’ a woman of which has done so much to encourage and deep intelligence and discipline. She is teach emerging filmmakers. known, as well, for her gentle spirit. As Robert Redford is a public-spirited man, one stage manager put it, Julie Harris is a Westerner who cares about the issues. ‘‘an angel—everyone loves her.’’ It’s hard He knows what he believes, and he’s not to imagine the American stage without the afraid to tell people. [Laughter] Over the face, the voice, and the limitless talent of years, he’s had a strong influence on public Julie Harris. She has found happiness in policy. [Laughter] And it doesn’t hurt— her life’s work, and we thank her for shar- [laughter]—and it doesn’t hurt that he’s ing that happiness with the whole world. quite a charismatic guy. [Laughter] One There was a time when Robert Redford time, he found himself speaking in front thought his life’s work might be as a base- of a group of people in a profession he ball player. [Laughter] Well, he went to didn’t think too much of. So he stepped college on an athletic scholarship, but his to the mike and gave them a piece of his interests soon turned to the arts and even- mind. When he finished, one of the people tually to acting. Years later, when he was that he had just scolded rushed right up hitting home runs as the character, Roy and said, ‘‘Did you really make the jump Hobbs, a reviewer of the film said this: off the cliff in ‘’?’’ [Laughter] ‘‘Robert Redford reminds those who need When Robert Redford speaks, you hear reminding that he is one of the perfect more than an actor or director. You hear male film stars, extraordinarily handsome, the voice of an active, passionate, com- effortlessly fascinating, and enormously tal- mitted citizen. His family can be proud that ented. His role here gives us ample chance this man they love is one of the most famil- to see another kind of ‘natural’ in his ele- iar faces in the world, one of the biggest ment.’’ names in movies, and an alltime favorite For more than four decades, Robert of his fellow Americans. Congratulations. Redford has been one of America’s most Turner’s life began in Tennessee watchable and credible actors. From early in a town called Nutbush. [Laughter] I’ve appearances and televised plays and on never been there, but—[laughter]—I’ve Broadway, he moved easily into the film passed a few sign wavers who apparently and into film history. We all remember his want me to know about it. [Laughter] As finest dramatic roles, with a girl, she worked in the cotton fields and in ‘‘,’’ with his notebook sang in the church choir. In her amazing in ‘‘All the President’s Men,’’ on the elec- journey, went on to sell tens tion trail in ‘‘The Candidate,’’ and in the of millions of records and earned a place Utah wilderness as ‘‘Jeremiah Johnson.’’ in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Paired with in two legendary films, Robert Redford also proved to be * White House correction.

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She’s written music classics and a best- not wanting to miss a single note or a single selling book. And a movie about her life move by this electrifying artist. was nominated for two Oscars. As a per- There’s nobody quite like Tina Turner, former, Tina Turner is known to ‘‘transcend and in the arc of her life, there is so much age, gender, race, and social status.’’ On to admire—the incredible musical gifts, the one of her tour stops in Texas, a concert inner strength, and the moral courage. reviewer described an audience that in- She’s a woman of achievement and ele- cluded ‘‘college students, and biker chicks gance and class. And it’s an honor to wel- wearing jeans and leather vests, ten-gallon- come you to the White House. hat-wearing cowboys, and finger-snapping once said, ‘‘What I try to grandpas.’’ [Laughter] Everyone was there do is give a performance and have every- for the same reason—to see one of the body say, ‘God, I love that song.’ ’’ Well, greatest live entertainers ever to come out he’s known that satisfaction throughout his of the United States. career. When you hear the title of a Tony Tina Turner, it has been said, ‘‘com- Bennett song, all at once you can hear the mands that stage with the sheer force of man singing it—‘‘Fly Me to the Moon,’’ her full-throttle voice and magnetic pres- ‘‘The Good Life,’’ ‘‘The Best Is Yet To ence.’’ People stand in wonder at the nat- Come,’’ ‘‘Just in Time.’’ ural skill, the energy and sensuality, and This son of New York made his singing the most famous legs in show business. debut as a little boy in 1936, standing be- side Mayor LaGuardia at the opening of [Laughter] Behave yourself. [Laughter] the Triborough Bridge. Much time has Her voice has been described as com- passed, and at this point, the Triborough bining ‘‘’s husky break and Bridge is showing some age. [Laughter] ’s growl with some of Aretha The little boy who sang that day is still Franklin’s soaring cadences.’’ She moves looking pretty good. [Laughter] better and faster than dancers less than half Perhaps his biggest professional break her age; she does it all in four-inch high came in the late , when he was open- heels. [Laughter] ing for in Greenwich Village, She first became a star in the ‘‘Ike and and she introduced him to . Tina Turner Revue.’’ She made music his- When he learned this young man’s name tory with a rendition of ‘‘’’ that was Anthony Dominick Benedetto, Mr. no artist could ever hope to match. It won Hope said, ‘‘That’s too long for the mar- the Grammy and still wins her fans. quee, let’s simplify it and call you Tony In the , the brave lady had to start Bennett.’’ over again, on her own. It was a hard time. Soon he was one of the great nightclub All she owned in the world was her stage singers, performing through the years with name and her God-given talent. These, the likes of and Count combined with her persevering character, Basie and appearing on the ‘‘Tonight Show’’ led to a phenomenal solo career. A single as ’s first guest. When Tony album, ‘‘,’’ sold more than recorded ‘‘I Left My in San Fran- 12 million copies, and the year it was re- cisco,’’ he won his first Grammy, and the leased won her three Grammys. She has song took him from the clubs to Carnegie produced a string of hits that are familiar Hall. From that day to this, he’s been play- across the world, including ‘‘What’s Love ing to sellout crowds. He’s won a total of Got To Do With It?’’ and ‘‘Simply The 11 Grammys and a lifetime achievement Best.’’ She has played before some of the award. largest concert crowds ever assembled, and And it’s a symbol of his endurance that each time, every eye is trained on the stage, this man who was making records when

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Harry Truman lived in the White House admired. He’s a deeply committed humani- has become a favorite of the MTV genera- tarian. He’s a man of character who served tion. As one newspaper declared, ‘‘Tony in the U.S. Army in World War II, and Bennett has not just bridged the generation he marched for civil rights with Martin Lu- gap, he demolished it.’’ [Laughter] The ther King, Jr. vocal style and interpretive skill of Tony Of his career, Tony Bennett has said, Bennett are without equal. And no other ‘‘The audience has been beautiful to me.’’ singer is held in higher regard by his fellow And the sentiment is entirely mutual. Ev- entertainers. B.B. King once said, ‘‘To be erybody likes the man. He’s been aptly de- near him is a highlight of my life. I’ve scribed as ‘‘the kind of celebrity who cab- met two Presidents in office; I’ve met the drivers call by his first name.’’ We’re joyful Pope, Pavarotti—and Tony Bennett.’’ that he remains a friendly presence in [Laughter] declared that American life, an entertainer still at the Tony Bennett was the best singer in his top of his game, and a voice we love to lifetime. hear. Tonight our Nation honors Mr. Tony His vocal talent and love for music came Bennett. from his dad, John Benedetto, who passed Each of these honorees has enriched our away when Tony was 10 years old. In his culture and reflected credit on our great memoir, Tony writes that John was a ‘‘very country. It’s a true pleasure to be in their poetic man, full of love and warmth, who company and to let them know just how sang with a gentle, sensitive voice I can much they mean to the people of the still hear.’’ Tony’s mom, Anna, undoubtedly United States. Congratulations. Thanks for saw those same qualities in her son. He coming. called her, ‘‘my one guiding star.’’ And in a long life, Anna watched her boy rise to the top and remain there. Tony Bennett is also a very talented NOTE: The President spoke at 5:13 p.m. on painter whose work is widely exhibited and the State Floor at the White House.

Remarks at the Children’s Holiday Reception December 5, 2005

The President. Thanks for coming. Wel- I particularly want to welcome those of come. We’re glad you’re here. This is you here who have got a mom or dad serv- Laura; I’m George W. [Laughter] We hope ing our country in the United States mili- you’ve had some fun here. I hope nobody tary. I know it’s hard when they’re away; pinched Rudolph on the nose. [Laughter] this has got to be a difficult time for you. No, nobody did. That’s good—Rudolph is But we really want you to know that they’re happy about that too. [Laughter] doing important work. They’re not only We welcome the students from Stratford protecting the country, but they’re helping Landing Elementary School in Alexandria other boys and girls live in freedom like and Glen Haven Elementary School in Sil- we do here in the United States, and that’s ver Spring. We’re glad you all are here. important. So one message I want to give We want to welcome your teachers and you is, we’re really proud of your mom your parents. Thanks for coming. We’re or dad, and you tell them thanks—thanks glad you’re at the White House. on behalf of a grateful nation.

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