Remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception December 8, 1996

2474 Dec. 7 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

ments, and demand personal responsibility. forward to the Kennedy Center honorees And across the board, as we give welfare coming here, especially because this is such funds back to the States, we will protect the a great season of celebration. Tonight we pay guarantees of health care, nutrition, and child tribute to five performing artists whose work care, all of which are critical to helping fami- has transformed the landscape of American lies move from welfare to work. And we’ll art. continue to crack down on child support en- America is more than the land we live on. forcement. It is even more than its people. It is an ideal. Welfare as we knew it was a bad deal for Our artists express that ideal and give voice everyone. We’re determined to create a bet- to the common experience. They are the ter deal. We want to say to every American, singers of the American soul. Their art chal- work pays. We raised the minimum wage; lenges us and deepens our understanding of we expanded the earned-income tax credit ourselves and the world around us. It is my to allow the working poor to keep more of privilege to welcome them, along with their what they earn. Now we have to create a families and friends, to the White House. million jobs for people on welfare by giving Edward Albee’s life epitomizes the rebel- businesses incentives to hire people off wel- lious spirit of art. Maybe I ought to repeat fare and enlisting the private sector in a na- that. [Laughter] From childhood, he chal- tional effort to bring all Americans into the lenged convention. He left college for the economic mainstream. We have to have help streets of New York where he worked by day from the private sector. and wrote by night. For 10 years he pursued Together we can make the permanent his art with single-minded purpose but with- under class a thing of the past. But we have out recognition. Then, in only 3 weeks in a moral obligation to do that through welfare 1958, he wrote a play that took the American reform, working together in our commu- theater by storm and changed it forever, nities, our businesses, our churches, and our schools. Every organization which employs ‘‘Zoo Story,’’ a play about a young drifter and people should consider hiring someone off a well-to-do stranger who meet on a lonely welfare, and every State ought to give those park bench. It was the first of many plays organizations the incentives to do so, so that by Edward Albee that dared us to look at we can help families reclaim the right to ourselves in the same stark light he turned know they can take care of themselves and on our fears, our failings, and our dreams. their own obligations. For over 40 years, his work has defied con- Our future does not have to be one with vention and set a standard of innovation that so many people living trapped lives. The door few can match. From ‘‘Who’s Afraid of Vir- has now been opened to a new era of free- ginia Woolf’’ to ‘‘Tiny Alice’’ to ‘‘Three Tall dom and independence. And now it’s up to Women,’’ his plays have invigorated the us, to all of us, to help all the people who American theater and inspired a new genera- need it through that door, one family at a tion of playwrights to do the same. time. Tonight our Nation, born in rebellion, pays Thanks for listening. tribute to you, Edward Albee. In your rebel- lion, the American theater was reborn. NOTE: The address was recorded at 5:25 p.m. on Bennett Leslie Carter was born in the December 6 in the Roosevelt Room at the White tough New York neighborhood that became House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December the site of the Lincoln Center, where eight 7. decades later he would be cheered to the rafters. From the small clubs of the Harlem Remarks at the Kennedy Center Renaissance where he began playing saxo- Honors Reception phone to world tours for the biggest of the December 8, 1996 big bands, Benny Carter redefined American jazz. From the start, his fellow musicians said Thank you very much, and welcome to the the way he played the sax was amazing. They White House. Every year Hillary and I look say that about me, too. [Laughter] But I don’t

VerDate 22-AUG-97 11:32 Sep 29, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P50DE4.009 p50de4 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996 / Dec. 8 2475

think they mean it in quite the same way. world. Johnny Cash, you have our applause, [Laughter] our admiration, and we have your records. Benny Carter’s influence on jazz is im- [Laughter] measurable. Whether he played with them Jack Lemmon first appeared on the stage or not, all the great bands used his arrange- at the age of 4. He had just one line, ‘‘Hark! ments. He virtually arranged the Swing Era, A pistol shot.’’ [Laughter] The audience and his rhythms have set feet tapping all over laughed then, too. [Laughter] And a star was the world. Indeed, on our recent trip to Thai- born. Consumed with a passion for perform- land when Hillary and I visited with the King ing, the young Jack Lemmon didn’t have and Queen—the King, as some of you may much time for books. Even at Harvard, he know, is one of the world’s greatest jazz spent more time writing songs than essays. fans—and 3 minutes after I was introduced But he was preparing himself for a different to him, he said, ‘‘Now, do you know Benny future, studying to become one of the most Carter? He was just here.’’ [Laughter] gifted actors of our time. His sounds have suffused American films Once called ‘‘a clown for the age of anxi- and television, from Busby Berkeley to the ety,’’ Jack Lemmon embodies a typically Marx Brothers, from ‘‘Stormy Weather’’ to American sense of humor, fresh, irreverent, ‘‘Hannah and Her Sisters.’’ And he brought wryly optimistic, even when the chips are jazz to the Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall, down. From ‘‘Mister Roberts’’ to ‘‘Some Like ensuring its rightful place in our cultural pan- It Hot’’ to ‘‘Grumpy Old Men,’’ one and two, theon. Benny’s popularity is as strong as ever. he is at once a hilarious everyman and a com- He was named Jazz Artist of the Year in his plete original. And in dramatic works like eighties. And this year, at 89, he has per- ‘‘Missing’’ and ‘‘Glengarry Glen Ross,’’ he has formed from Bangkok to Boston. We are taken the kind of risks that elevate an actor’s grateful that he—we’re glad he was willing work from the unremarkable to the unforget- to take the weekend off—[laughter]—to re- table. ceive our Nation’s standing ovation. Thank Now, you know he is portraying a former you, Benny Carter. President of the United States in a new Johnny Cash grew up chopping cotton in movie, ‘‘My Fellow Americans,’’ a President, a small town in southeast Arkansas. Every I might add, of the other party—[laughter]— Sunday in a little church, he was transported but I’d still like to have points from Jack by gospel music from the hard world he knew Lemmon any day, and America thanks you, to a far horizon. And he transformed the Jack Lemmon, for all the points you’ve given trouble he had known into gruff music of to us. God bless you. ache, heart, and hope, even against the odds. Maria Tallchief was born in the Osage In- He was still just a kid in the Army when he dian Territory of Oklahoma. She was invited wrote ‘‘Folsom Prison Blues’’ and just out of to dance at the Hollywood Bowl at the age the service when ‘‘I Walk the Line’’ hit the of 15 and joined the famed Ballet Russe de charts. Fifty million records and 27 albums Monte Carlo not long after that. Her talent later, Johnny Cash has redefined the bound- destined her for distinction, and once she aries of country music. He is the loner, the met George Balanchine, their brilliant col- man in black, a hard edged writer with a soft laboration ensured her place in dance his- heart. With his wife, the very gifted June tory. At the New York City Ballet, which she Carter Cash, and family often by his side, helped turn into America’s greatest dance he has traveled all over the world to give a company, she thrilled audiences with her voice to the feelings of farmers and workers, performances of ‘‘Firebird’’ and ‘‘Swan prisoners and lovers. Lake.’’ She could spin across the stage faster From the heartland of America, he’s sung than any other ballerina, but she did it with for the people who are the heart of America. an ethereal grace that made it look effortless. Through his music, he has proved again and Critics and fans said it was pointless to watch again the redeeming power of struggle and anyone else when she was on stage. faith. And he has made country music not A great cultural ambassador, Maria just music for our country but for the entire Tallchief brought American ballet to the

VerDate 22-AUG-97 11:32 Sep 29, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P50DE4.009 p50de4 2476 Dec. 8 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1996

world, even in dancing in Moscow at the democratic, and at peace for the first time height of the cold war. She put an American in history; one in which we will work to forge stamp on every role she danced. Her art is a partnership with Russia, adapt NATO to preserved not only in film but in the memo- the demands of a new era, and invite the ries of everyone who ever saw her perform. first aspiring members from among Europe’s And her influence lives on now in the young new democracies into NATO. My goal is to dancers she teaches. Thank you, Maria see them become full members of the alli- Tallchief, for the radiance of your art. ance for NATO’s 50th birthday in 1999. Edward Albee, Benny Carter, Johnny It’s fitting that this step comes on Human Cash, Jack Lemmon, Maria Tallchief: five Rights Day and on Bill of Rights Day and artists who have devoted their entire lives to in Human Rights Week. The prospect of enriching our lives. It is nearly impossible to NATO membership and integration into the measure the extent of their influence or the West has been a very strong incentive for pleasure they have brought to so many mil- Europe’s new democracies to expand their lions of people. We honor them tonight for political freedoms and to promote universal their passion, for their spirits, for the Amer- human rights. ican ideal they bring to life in their work. Working together with our allies and our Thank you, thank you, and God bless you partners, we’re building a world where, as all. Judge Learned Hand once said, rights know no boundaries and justice no frontiers. NOTE: The President spoke at 5:48 p.m. in the For the first time in history, more than East Room at the White House. half the world’s people now live under gov- ernments of their own choosing. Today we Remarks on Signing the dedicate ourselves to the unfinished task of Proclamation on Human Rights extending freedom’s reach. Promoting de- December 10, 1996 mocracy and human rights reflects our ideals and reinforces our interests. It’s a fundamen- The President. This may be one of those tal pillar of our foreign policy. cases where the introduction was better than History shows that nations where rights the speech. [Laughter] Thank you, Julie, and are respected and governments are freely thank all of you for being here. I’m honored chosen are more likely to be partners in to be with this distinguished group on peace and prosperity. That is why we’ve Human Rights Day. I want to thank all of worked hard over the last 4 years to help you in attendance. I think Congresswoman equality and freedom take root in South Afri- Connie Morella is here. Where are you, ca, to stop the reign of terror in Haiti, to Connie? There you are, right in front of me. promote reform in Bosnia and Russia, to [Laughter] Our AID Administrator, Brian bring freedom back to Bosnia, and peace, Atwood; Assistant Secretary John Shattuck; and to enable millions of suffering people all Assistant Secretary Phyllis Oakley; and all of around the world to reclaim their simple you who represent organizations who have human dignity. That is why we must continue done so much to advance the cause of free- to support the world’s newest democracies dom around the world. I want to say a special and to keep the pressure on its remaining word of welcome to my good friend Gerry repressive regimes. Ferraro. Thank you for being here. The First Lady and I have just had a re- Before I begin what I want to say about markable meeting with these six women. human rights, I think it is appropriate on They are courageous in promoting human Human Rights Day that I have just gotten rights in different ways. They are courageous a report from the Secretary of State, Warren in promoting democracy and empowerment Christopher, who is meeting with our NATO by helping women to live up to their poten- foreign ministers in Brussels, that, together, tial. You can just look at them and see that they agreed to hold an historic NATO sum- they’ve put the lie to the notion that human mit in July in Madrid to carry forward our rights is some Western cultural idea that has goal of building a Europe that is undivided, no place in other societies.

VerDate 22-AUG-97 11:32 Sep 29, 1997 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P50DE4.009 p50de4