Remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception December 4, 2005
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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- White House 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 Kennedy Center Honors 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 1804 VerDate Nov 24 2008 15:10 May 27, 2009 Jkt 206693 PO 00000 Frm 00636 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\206693A.022 206693A cprice-sewell on PROD1PC72 with HEARING Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / Dec. 4 has selected five extraordinary Americans dancers as the leader of the Suzanne for this high distinction. Each of these hon- Farrell Ballet. 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 United States 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, Suzanne Farrell. dancing in tribute was the great Suzanne Julie Harris 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 comedy, 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 New York City Ballet. When she and she stands nearly alone in the depth took the stage as Dulcinea in Don Quixote, 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 Variations,’’ ‘‘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 Tony Awards— lady is now guiding a new generation of more than any other performer—plus a 1805 VerDate Nov 24 2008 15:10 May 27, 2009 Jkt 206693 PO 00000 Frm 00637 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\206693A.022 206693A cprice-sewell on PROD1PC72 with HEARING Dec. 4 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 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 Sting.’’ 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, Robert Redford has shown very starred with Robert Redford, George C. few limitations. In 1980, he decided to try Scott, Lauren Bacall, Shelley Winters, and working behind the camera. The result was Sir Lawrence Olivier. She’s the girl who ‘‘Ordinary People,’’ 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.