Dec. 13 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2004 Remarks on the Nomination of Michael O. Leavitt To Be Secretary of Health and Human Services December 13, 2004 The President. Thank you. Good morn- closely with State and local officials to en- ing. I am pleased to announce the nomina- sure that public health programs function tion of Michael O. Leavitt as the Secretary as effectively as possible. And throughout of Health and Human Services. Last year his career as Governor and as Secretary I welcomed Mike to my Cabinet as the of Health and Human Services, Tommy Administrator of the Environmental Protec- Thompson has led efforts to reform welfare tion Agency. In that office, he has enforced laws and to help more people transition high standards and a spirit of cooperation from welfare to work. Tommy Thompson and with good common sense. He has is a good friend who has given every day upheld this administration’s commitment to of the last 38 years to public service. As sustain improvements in the quality of the he and Sue Ann move on to new chal- natural environment. He has managed the lenges, Tommy has my deep gratitude for EPA with skill and with a focus on results. a job well done. I’ve come to know Mike as a fine executive, My new nominee for HHS Secretary, as a man of great compassion. He is an like Tommy Thompson, served many years ideal choice to lead one of the largest de- as a Governor. The people of Utah elected partments of the United States Govern- Mike Leavitt to three terms, and during ment. his administration, Utah was named one of The Department of Health and Human Services touches the life of every person the best managed State governments in the in this country. From the safety of our food country. Governor Leavitt was a leader in and medicine to the Medicare program to welfare reform, resource management, and preparing for any kind of health emergency, environmental stewardship. He improved HHS has comprehensive responsibilities for child welfare services in the State and the health of Americans. To meet those made strides toward expanding access to responsibilities, the Department needs health care for children. He made govern- many thousands of skilled professionals and ment services more accessible through the a leader who is able to act on many fronts Internet, and he always insisted that the all at once. government remain accountable to the peo- For the last 4 years, HHS has served ple it serves. the American people extremely well under When confirmed by the Senate, Mike the energetic leadership of Tommy Thomp- Leavitt will be charged with a broad agenda son. Early in his tenure, our Nation went for the health and safety of the American on a wartime footing and had to prepare people. In this new term, we will imple- for emergencies of a kind never seen be- ment the first-ever prescription drug ben- fore. Secretary Thompson led the effort to efit for seniors under Medicare. We will prepare the medical infrastructure for any expand Federal cooperation with faith- terrorist challenge. based groups that provide essential services, At the same time, he has presided over such as counseling and treatment for addic- dramatic increases in medical research, tions. We will continue pursuing the great adding to the promise of hopeful new promise of medical research, always ensur- cures. He’s helped set in motion major im- ing that the work is carried out with vigor provements in Medicare, which will benefit and moral integrity. We will not relent in seniors all across America. He has worked our efforts to protect the American people 3070 Administration of George W. Bush, 2004 / Dec. 14 from disease and the use of disease as a [At this point, Secretary-designate Leavitt weapon against us. made brief remarks.] Mike Leavitt is the right leader to lead The President. Good job. HHS in meeting all these vital commit- ments. I thank him for accepting this new NOTE: The President spoke at 10:38 a.m. in responsibility. I also thank his wife, Jackie, the Roosevelt Room at the White House. and their son Westin for being with us The transcript released by the Office of the today. I urge the Senate to confirm Gov- Press Secretary also included the remarks of ernor Leavitt’s nomination as soon as pos- Secretary-designate Leavitt. The Office of sible. the Press Secretary also released a Spanish Congratulations. language transcript of these remarks. Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom December 14, 2004 The President. Good morning, and wel- 138,000 per year. Under George’s leader- come to the White House. Laura and I ship, the number of yearly graduates from are proud to have you all here today, espe- the Clandestine Service Training Program cially our three honorees and their families have increased nearly sixfold. And just and their friends. about every CIA officer can tell you a story The Presidential Medal of Freedom is about Director Tenet’s hands-on style of our Nation’s highest civil award, given to management. He was often seen in the men and women of exceptional merit, in- hallways, chewing on an unlit cigar— tegrity, and achievement. Today this honor [laughter]—or showing up at their cafeteria goes to three men who have played pivotal table and talking shop. roles in great events and whose efforts have George and his wife, Stephanie, came made our country more secure and ad- to know the people of the CIA, and the vanced the cause of human liberty. people of the CIA came to know them George Tenet learned the value of hard as decent, caring people who love their work as a busboy in the 20th Century country and love their family, especially Diner, the family restaurant in Queens, their son, John Michael. New York. Between work and school and Early in his tenure as DCI, George athletics, George always kept up with cur- Tenet was one of the first to recognize rent events and world affairs, and that en- and address the growing threat to America thusiasm led him into public service. from radical terrorist networks. Imme- In Washington, George immersed him- diately after the attacks of September the self in the field of intelligence work. After 11th, George was ready with a plan to a long career in the legislative and execu- strike back at Al Qaida and to topple the tive branches of Government, George was Taliban. CIA officers were on the ground tapped by President Bill Clinton to run the in Afghanistan within days. Seasoned Amer- Agency he loved. His challenges at the CIA ican intelligence officers, armed with laptop were many. George acted quickly and ag- computers, Afghan clothes, and a visionary gressively to rebuild the Agency’s capabili- plan, rode horseback with the fighters of ties. He made the recruitment of new tal- the Northern Alliance, identified key tar- ent a top priority. Applications to join the gets for our military, and helped to free Agency have now soared to more than a nation. 3071.