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And then the reason the two older gentle- it, so—because that’s where everybody has to men are here is, as I was mentioning, barber- come, right? shops are where a lot of men still come, and we So the—although I was teasing these guys, want to work with them—we want to work cutting their hair wouldn’t be that complicat- with barbershops to figure out how we can get ed. [Laughter] You just take a—[laughter]. better information to fathers about resources Isn’t that right? I was just saying you got to give that are available to them, where they can find these guys a discount if they come in for a hair- job training programs, they can find support cut, because that will only take 5 minutes. groups for fathers. Because the more informa- [Laughter] tion we’re getting out there to folks about how they can take responsibility for their kids, make So all right, guys, thank you. Let—we’re go- sure that they’re in their child’s lives, help sup- ing to eat in peace now. port their mother even if they’re not living with the mother—it makes a huge difference. NOTE: The President spoke at 12:26 p.m. In It turns out that with the father being in- his remarks, he referred to 1st Lt. William Ed- volved, the kids are less likely to do drugs, wards, USA, and his children David, Jacob, they’re less likely to—girls are less likely to Elana, and Luke; Capt. Joubert Paulino, USA, have teen pregnancy. And so that message is and his children Jonah and Julia; and barbers something that we want to make sure gets out Otis Gamble and Nurney Mason of Washing- there. And barbershops are a good place to do ton, DC.

Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to President Shi- mon Peres of Israel June 13, 2012

Good evening, everybody. Please have a ner for peace—and in particular, I’m so seat. On behalf of Michelle and myself, wel- pleased to see Secretary Madeleine Albright, come to the White House on this beautiful who is here this evening; and one of the great summer evening. moral voices of our time and an inspiration to The United States is fortunate to have many us all, Professor Elie Wiesel. allies and partners around the world. Of The man, the life that we honor tonight is course, one of our strongest allies, and one of nothing short of extraordinary. Shimon took on our closest friends, is the State of Israel. And his first assignment in Ben-Gurion’s Haganah, no individual has done so much over so many during the struggle for Israeli independence in years to build our alliance and to bring our two 1947, when he was still in his early twenties. nations closer as the leader that we honor to- He ran for President of Israel, and won, when night, our friend Shimon Peres. he was 83. [Laughter] Among many special guests this evening we By the way, I should mention that I just are especially grateful for the presence of Shi- learned that his son-in-law is also his doctor. mon’s children—Zvia, Yoni, and Chemi—and And I asked for all his tips. [Laughter] their families. Please rise so we can give you a Shimon has been serving his nation, and big round of applause. strengthening the bonds between our two na- We have here someone representing a fami- tions, for some 65 years, the entire life of the ly that has given so much for peace, a voice for State of Israel. Ben-Gurion and Meir, Begin peace that carries on with the legacy of her fa- and Rabin, these giants of Israel’s founding ther Yitzhak Rabin, and that’s Dalia. We are generation now belong to the ages. But tonight grateful to have you here. Leaders who’ve we have the rare privilege in history, and that’s helped ensure that the United States is a part- to be in the presence of a true founding father.

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Shimon, you have never stopped serving. because the security of the State of Israel is And in 2 months, we’ll join our Israeli friends non-negotiable, and the bonds between us are in marking another milestone, your 89th birth- unbreakable. day. Of course, Shimon also knows that a nation’s Now, I think Shimon would be the first to security depends not just on the strength of its tell you that in the ups and downs of Israeli arms, but upon the righteousness of its deeds, politics, he has been counted out more than its moral compass. He knows, as Scripture once. But in him we see the essence of Israel teaches, that we must not only seek peace, but itself, an indomitable spirit that will not be de- we must pursue peace. And so it has been the nied. He’s persevered, serving in virtually ev- cause of his life: peace, security, and dignity for ery position: in dozens of Cabinets, some two Israelis and Palestinians and all Israel’s Arab dozen ministerial posts, Defense Minister, Fi- neighbors. And even in the darkest moments, nance Minister, Foreign Minister three he’s never lost hope in, as he puts it, “a Middle times—try that, Madeleine—[laughter]—and East that is not a killing field, but a field of cre- now, the ninth President of Israel. And I think ativity and growth.” President Clinton would agree with me on this: At times, some have seen his hope and Shimon Peres is the ultimate “comeback kid.” called Shimon Peres a dreamer. And they are [Laughter] right. Just look at his life. The dream of genera- And he’s still going—on Facebook, on You- tions, after 2,000 years, to return to Israel, the Tube—[laughter]—connecting with young historic homeland of the Jewish people, Shi- people, looking to new technologies, always mon lived it. The dream of independence, a facing tomorrow. Recently, he was asked, Jewish State of Israel, he helped win it. The “What do you want your legacy to be?” And dream of an Israel strong enough to defend it- Shimon replied, “Well, it’s too early for me to self, by itself, against any threat, backed by an think about it.” [Laughter] ironclad alliance with the United States of Shimon, you earned your place in history America, he helped build it. long ago. And I know your work is far from The dream of making the desert bloom, he done. But tonight is another example of how and his wife Sonya were part of the generation it’s never too early for the rest of us to cele- that achieved it. The dream of the high-tech brate your legendary life. Israel we see today, he helped spark it. That Shimon teaches us to never settle for the historic handshake on the White House lawn, world as it is. We have a vision for the world as he helped to create it. That awful night in Tel it ought to be, and we have to strive for it. Per- Aviv, when he and Yitzhak sang a song for haps Shimon’s spirit comes from what he calls peace, and the grief that followed, he guided the Jewish “dissatisfaction gene.” [Laughter] his people through it. The dream of democracy “A good Jew,” he says, “can never be satisfied.” in the Middle East and the hopes of a new gen- There is a constant impulse to question, to do eration, including so many young Arabs, he even better. So too with nations, we must keep knows we must welcome it and nurture it. challenging ourselves, keep striving for our So yes, Shimon Peres—born in a shtetl in ideals, for the future that we know is possible. what was then Poland, who rose to become Shimon knows the necessity of strength. As President of Israel—he is a dreamer. And Ben-Gurion said, “An Israel capable of defend- rightly so. For he knows what we must never ing herself, which cannot be destroyed, can forget: With faith in ourselves and courage in bring peace nearer.” And so he’s worked with our hearts, no dream is too big, no vision is be- every American President since John F. Ken- yond our reach. nedy. That’s why I’ve worked with Prime Min- And so it falls on each of us—to all of us—to ister Netanyahu to ensure that the security co- keep searching, to keep striving for that future operation between the United States and Isra- that we know is possible, for the peace our el is closer and stronger than it has ever been, children deserve.

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And so it is a high honor for me to bestow L’chaim. Cheers. this statesman, this warrior for peace, Ameri- I have one last order of business to attend ca’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential to. Before I ask our recipient to come to the Medal of Freedom. And I’d ask you to please stage—while I began my remarks, I was not yet join me in welcoming President Peres to the sure whether one more—or two more guests presentation. of honor had arrived. I think it would be en- tirely appropriate at this point for us also to ac- [At this point, Lt. Cmdr. John F. McCarthy, knowledge two people who have constantly USCG, Coast Guard Aide to the President, sought to achieve peace, not only in the Middle read the citation, and the President presented East, but all around the world—one of them the medal.] happens to be traveling a lot these days on my behalf—[laughter]—and I am extraordinarily Before inviting remarks from President Peres, grateful to them. Shimon, I know that you’re I’d like to conclude by inviting you all to join me pleased to have two very dear friends to help in a toast, with the words that Shimon spoke celebrate this evening: President Bill Clinton when he accepted the Peace Prize in Oslo: and our outstanding Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. “From my earliest youth, I have known Ladies and gentlemen, President Shimon that while one is obliged to plan with care Peres. the stages of one’s journey, one is entitled to dream, and keep dreaming, of its desti- NOTE: The President spoke at 7:12 p.m. in the nation. A man may feel as old as his years, East Room at the White House. In his re- yet as young as his dreams.” marks, he referred to Zvia and Raphael Walden, daughter and son-in-law, and Yoni Shimon, to all our friends here tonight and and Nehemia “Chemi” Peres, sons, of Presi- to our fellow citizens across America and Isra- dent Peres; former Secretary of State Made- el, may we never lose sight of our destination. leine K. Albright; and Nobel Prize winner, au- Shalom, and may we always be as young as our thor, and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. The dreams. transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Presi- [A toast was offered.] dent Peres.

Remarks at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio June 14, 2012

The President. Thank you! Thank you, ev- Now, those of you who have a seat, feel free erybody. Good afternoon, everybody. It is to sit down. [Laughter] great to be back in Cleveland. It is great to be Audience member. We love you! back here at Cuyahoga Community College. The President. Thank you. I want to, first of all, thank Angela for her in- Audience members. Four more years! Four troduction and sharing her story. I know her more years! Four more years! daughter is very proud of her; I know her The President. Thank you. daughter is here today. So give her a big round So, Ohio, over the next 5 months, this elec- of applause. I want to thank your president, tion will take many twists and many turns. Polls Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton. And I want to thank will go up, and polls will go down. There will some Members of Congress who made the trip be no shortage of gaffes and controversies that today: Representative Marcia Fudge, Repre- keep both campaigns busy and give the press sentative Betty Sutton, and Representative something to write about. You may have heard, Marcy Kaptur. I recently made my own unique contribution

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