Dec. 6 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2008

free and democratic Iraq that is emerging our men and women in Iraq, it is decisively in the heart of the Middle East. on its way to being won. The American people have sacrificed a Thank you for listening. great deal to reach this moment. The battle in Iraq has required a large amount of time and a large amount of money. Our men NOTE: The address was recorded at 6:50 a.m. and women in uniform have carried out on December 5 in the Cabinet Room at the difficult and dangerous missions and en- White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on dured long separations from friends and December 6. The transcript was made avail- family. And thousands of our finest citizens able by the Office of the Press Secretary on have given their lives to make our country December 5, but was embargoed for release safer and bring us to this new day. The until the broadcast. The Office of the Press war in Iraq is not yet over, but thanks Secretary also released a Spanish language to these agreements and the courage of transcript of this address.

Remarks at the Union League of Philadelphia’s Unveiling of the President’s Portrait in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania December 6, 2008

Good morning. Welcome to my hanging. like me, he married very well. So Joan, [Laughter] Thank you for coming, and thanks for being here, and I appreciate you thank you for your warm welcome. supporting this good man during some very First, I’d like to compliment Mark Card- difficult times. er. He did a really fine job with a chal- I thank the Hoopers for paying for this lenging subject. [Laughter] I was taken work. I thank Jim Straw and the Abraham aback by how much gray paint you had Lincoln Foundation and the foundation to use—[laughter]—which speaks more members who are here today. I appreciate about my job than yours. [Laughter] But you preserving the legacy of a good man. thanks a lot. It’s been a joy to work with I am—it turns out, this award had been you, and I’m confident this portrait will given to folks I have had the honor of stand the test of time. serving with: Vice President Dick Cheney, I want to thank Fred and Frank for wel- Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld, Sec- coming me here. I thank you for the medal. retary Tom Ridge—three good men who I’m keeping pretty good company, which are dedicated and patriot public servants. I will speak about in a minute. I’m especially proud to be a co-recipient First of all, I do want to thank the board of directors of the Union League for taking with a guy I call 41, the 1987 Gold Medal time out of your Saturday to be here. And Award winner, the guy I call dad; you call I appreciate all the guests who have come him President Bush. We owe our achieve- as well. ments to the same savvy political counselor I particularly want to say thanks to my and firm disciplinarian, Barbara. [Laughter] friend Arlen Specter for joining us, and And they’re both doing well, by the way. he—[applause]. It’s been a joy working Mother is coming out of the hospital. I with you, most of the time. [Laughter] He’s hope they don’t put this on TV, but she’s a pretty independent-minded fellow— a tough old bird—[laughter]—whose spirits HEARING [laughter]—who is honest and decent. And are soaring high. with

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The motto of the Union League is ‘‘Love flinchingly throughout his Presidency. Lib- of Country Leads.’’ You obviously love our erty is given to every man, woman, and country, because you continue to lead in child on the face of the Earth. I believe, ways that make Philadelphia a more com- like Lincoln, there is an Almighty, and a passionate place, and I want to thank you gift of that Almighty to every man is free- for that. I appreciate the fact that you have dom. He has taught Presidents that you mentoring programs and internships and must act on your principles and make tough scholarships, that basically says the dream decisions, regardless of the political con- is for all who live in this country. I thank sequences. you for your efforts to preserve historical I have been a—I have drawn strength treasures. One can learn a lot from the from his example. I have learned lessons past, and the Union League is doing its by reading about Abraham Lincoln. And part to tell the true story of our great Na- I want to thank you for preserving his leg- tion. acy. In short, I thank you for your service And most importantly, I thank you for to your community and our country. your kind words and your heartfelt prayers I also thank you for preserving the legacy during the last 8 years. It has been—some- of Abraham Lincoln. I’m about to be a body said, ‘‘What’s it’s like to be Presi- member of the ex-Presidents’ club, so I’ll dent?’’ I said, ‘‘Some days you’re happy, just call him Abe. [Laughter] If he were some days not so happy, every day joyous around I could say, ‘‘You call me W.’’ to serve the United States.’’ [Laughter] He—I don’t know if you know God bless you, and God bless our coun- this or not, but there’s a place in the Oval try. Office where the President puts the most influential President—portrait of, I guess NOTE: The President spoke at 10:38 a.m. in you’d say, influential President. I’m some- Lincoln Hall at the Union League of Phila- what conflicted about the influential Presi- delphia. In his remarks, he referred to paint- dent, so I say, 41’s portrait hangs in my er Mark Carder; Frederick C. Haab, Jr., heart, 16 hangs on the wall. president, Union League of Philadelphia; I found it interesting that the League Frank Giordano, member, and James B. was founded in 1862 to support President Straw, chairman, board of trustees, Abraham Lincoln in a time when his leadership was Lincoln Foundation of the Union League of deeply controversial. [Laughter] Look, I Philadelphia; Bruce and Eileen Hooper, know how he felt. [Laughter] commissioners of the President’s portrait; But the principles on which he stood former Secretary of Defense Donald H. have stood the test of time. ‘‘All men are Rumsfeld; and former Secretary of Home- created equal under God,’’ he said un- land Security Thomas J. Ridge.

Interview With Sam Ryan of CBS Sports in Philadelphia December 6, 2008

Army-Navy Football Game The President. Well, it means to me that Ms. Ryan. Mr. President, we know this I have—I got a chance to come and be is one of the most storied rivalries in all with people who will be joining the finest of sports. What does the Army-Navy game military in the history of the world. HEARING mean to you? with

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