Remarks on presenting Arts and Humanities Awards - US President Bill Clinton

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Oct 11, 1993

[The President congratulated Mr. Franklin, and Hillary Clinton presented the award.]

Hanna Holborn Gray has had a turly remarkable career. She served for 15 years as president of the University of Chicago, where she became a highly visible and widely acclaimed advocate for higher education. She has been honored for her scholarship, her words, and her work in many ways, especially in receiving the President Medal of Freedom, our country's highest civilian award. She deserves greatly the award she receives today. Hanna Gray.

[The President congratulated Ms. Gray, and Hillary Clinton presented the award.]

After a distinguished career as chairman and chief executive officer of Time Incorproated, Andrew Heiskell was appointed founding chairman of the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities in 1982. As a leader in promoting the arts and humanities, he energetically, and I echo energetically, persuaded cultural leaders and business executives to support cultural activities and institutions. He filled a void in American life at a time when we needed him. And today we think him for that. Andrew Heiskell.

[The President congratulated Mr. Heiskell, and Hillary Clinton presented the award.]

There are a lot of funny people. He said "All this and dinner, too?" [Laughter]

Historian Laurel T. Ulrich has introduced both scholarly and public audiences to the lives of ordinary people in New England's past. Her recent book "A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, based on her diary," won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for History, among other honors.

Now that I have become President, perhaps I can say this with greater authority than would otherwise be the case: We oftentimes tend to see our history too much through the lives and works of the famous and not enough through the remarkable lives of the people who are not famous. She has made a truly significant contribution to our understanding of our roots. And for that we thank her.

[The President congratulated Ms. Ulrich, and Hillary Clinton presented the award.]

And now I have one last special honor, and that is to present to Congressman Sidney Yates the Presidential Citizens Medal for his exemplary deeds of service in the area of arts and humanities. The last time Congressman Yates was here for an occasion at the White House, it happened to be on the day he and his wife were celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary. And today, we honor him for that many years and more of dedication to our common cause. Congressman Yates, please come forward.

[The President congratulated Mr. Yates, and Hillary Clinton presented the medal.]

Again, let me thank the honorees for being here today, thank all of you in the audience who have come to support them and to support the arts.

Before we go, I just can't resist saying this. Just before I came out here, I learned today that a great American writer and a friend of Hillary's and mine, Toni Morrison, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature today. I hope that in the years and struggles ahead we will work hard together to keep the arts and humanities alive and flourishing, not just here in the Nation's Capital or in the cultural capitals of this great land but in every community and in every neighborhood.