For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
October 21, 2003
Remarks by the Vice President at Reception for Congressman Jim Leach
October 20, 2003
Cedar Rapids Exhibition Center
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
6:09 P.M. CDT
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you all very much. You know, when
you've been in this business as long as I have, you've been introduced
a lot of times, but I've never had that amount of creativity devoted to
the introduction of just the plain old Vice President. (Laughter and
applause.) That's great, Jim. I appreciate it. The anti-Kafka? Is that
what you called me? I've been called a lot of things. (Laughter.) Some
say, well, they'll have to go home and check and see whether or not
that was a favorable term. (Laughter.)
No, but I am delighted to be back in Iowa and back in Cedar Rapids,
and I appreciate your warm welcome. But I am especially pleased to be
here today with Jim, because Jim and I have been friends for many, many
years. Lynne and I have known Jim and Deba longer than we can count.
Jim and I first got to know each other more than 30 years ago -- I
guess it was 1969 -- when we both went to work for a young, up and
comer then, a budding politician. Jim had already worked for him when
he was in the House of Representatives. He was in his mid-30s. His name
was Don Rumsfeld. And he was no longer a congressman from Illinois; he
was running the Office of Economic Opportunity. And Jim and I went to
work for him in the executive branch some 34, almost 35 years ago.
Subsequent to that, of course, Jim had important assignments at the
State Department, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. I went to
work for President Ford. Eventually, in 1976, Jim got elected to the
House of Representatives. In 1978, I got elected to the House of
Representatives. My state of Wyoming was a little bit different than
Iowa in the sense that we only had one congressman for the entire
state. It was a small delegation. (Laughter.) But it was quality.
(Laughter.)
But, so I followed Jim by two years in the House, but one of the great
privileges in the House are the friendships and the relationships that
deepen as a result of your time there, and I had the great privilege of
serving for ten years with Jim. And it has subsequently, obviously,
been a great pleasure now to return to government, and one of the nice
things about going back after I thought I'd finished my career in
politics and planned to enjoy private life, to return back to
Washington with the President and become part of his administration has
been the privilege of renewing a lot of those old friendships and
relationships with men and women that I had worked with previously, and
now we've gotten back together again. And I think of people like Jim
that I worked with in the Congress, and Don Rumsfeld is back at
Defense. He hasn't made any progress at all in about 30 years -- same
old job. (Laughter.) Colin Powell at the State Department, et cetera.
Jim, of course, is one of the most respected members of Congress. All
of you know that here in the Second District in Iowa. (Applause.) His
colleagues in both parties know him as a careful thinker, an
independent voice, and a devoted public servant. Jim and I don't always
agree on every issue, but there was never any doubt in my mind that he
arrived at his views and position after careful and thoughtful
deliberation, and as a matter of deep, personal conviction.
I think Jim Leach is about as fine a representative as Iowa has ever
sent to the United States Congress, and President Bush and I are
confident you're going to re-elect him to another term come next
November. (Applause.)
Now, in the 2000 election, we noticed Iowa was pretty close in the
presidential contest last time around. Of course, the national contest
was pretty close, too. But in 2004, we expect to carry Iowa by a
substantial margin. (Applause.)
The President and I have been honored to serve this country over the
first years of the new century. It has been a time when the U.S. has
faced some historic challenges, and a time when our great country has
risen to meet those challenges. Americans, I think, have much to be
proud of over what's been accomplished as a nation, and right at the
top of the list of what we need to be proud of is our President, George
W. Bush. (Applause.)
In the weeks following the terrorist attack on 9/11, people in every
part of the country, regardless of party, took comfort and pride in the
character and the conduct of our President. From that day to this, he
has led a steady, focused, and relentless campaign against the enemies
who struck America and killed our fellow citizens.
Not long after September 11th, one high-ranking al Qaeda official
said, "This is the beginning of the end of America." It's pretty clear
this terrorist did not know us. It's pretty clear that the terrorists
who attacked us did not understand the strength and the resilience of
this country. And they did not understand the determination of our
President.
As we stand here today, nearly two-thirds of the al Qaeda known
leaders have been captured or killed. Those still at large are living
in fear, as they should be. Their fears are well founded, because we
are on their trail. In Afghanistan, the Taliban regime brutalized an
entire population and harbored al Qaeda -- and that regime is no more.
In Iraq, a ruthless dictator cultivated weapons of mass destruction and
the means to deliver them. He gave support to terrorists -- and his
regime is no more.
We are rolling back the terrorist threat at the very heart of its
power, in the Middle East. And our war on terror will continue until
every enemy who plots against the American people is confronted and
defeated.
In these battles, the men and women who wear the uniform of the United
States have performed with enormous skill and great courage.
(Applause.) As a former Secretary of Defense -- and I know you join me
in this sentiment -- I have never been more proud of the men and women
of the United States military. (Applause.)
These fine young men and women deserve our wholehearted support. They
deserve to have their bravery in battle recognized and to have us
acknowledge as well the progress they have made in helping the people
of Iraq emerge into a new era of self-rule and stability. The men and
women of the military are rebuilding schools, repairing medical
facilities, and training Iraqis to provide security for their fellow
citizens. Our men and women in uniform are playing a classic role, one
they undertook after World War II, when they brought help and hope to
people all across Europe. Now, in the Middle East, they are earning the
trust of the people they have liberated from tyranny.
One of the most important commitments George Bush and I made during
the 2000 campaign was that the armed forces would be given every
resource they need and the respect that they deserve -- and we have
kept our word.
Making sure that our nation is secure has been the principal concern
of this administration. And so has been the economic well-being of our
citizens. By the time we took office, the economy was sliding into
recession, and that situation was worsened by the impact and the shock
of 9/11. To get it growing again, we moved aggressively to deliver
significant tax relief. We have done this because we believe that when
families and small businesses and farms are hurting, the best way to
help them is to let them keep more of what they earn. (Applause.) It's
important to remember that the money we spend in Washington is not the
government's money -- it's the people's money.
This administration has delivered the largest tax relief package since
Ronald Reagan was in the White House, and we are beginning now to see
the economic recovery and strong signs of future economic growth as a
result. As you know, there are some who have suggested they want to
roll back the Bush tax cuts. I occasionally hear these voices on the
nightly news. But, in fact, the Bush tax cuts are bringing us out of
the recession. The President and I will not be satisfied until every
person who wants a job can find a job. (Applause.)
President Bush has made education reform a high priority. It was for
him when he was Governor of Texas, and it is today in the White House.
He has reached across the aisle to enact a program that encourages high
aspirations and gives parents the information they need to know if
their children's schools are making progress.
Education has been one of those issues where there has been a lot of
talk about it over the years, but under this President's leadership
talk was turned to action. Similarly, after many failed attempts in the
1990s, we now have trade promotion authority to open up new markets for
America's farmers, ranchers and manufacturers.
On issue after issue, President Bush has led the way in making
progress for the American people. One of the sure signs of his
leadership can be seen every day in the people that he has brought to
government. As someone who has spent many years in public service, I
can tell you this is one of the finest teams ever assembled by a
President of the United States. (Applause.) And that barbecue smells
awful good, doesn't it? (Laughter.)
All of us in this administration, and Republicans in the House and
Senate, recognize our job is not to rest on a strong record, but to
keep adding to that record.
Abroad, the fundamental interest of the nation requires that we oppose
threats to our freedom and security wherever they may gather. Yet
overcoming threats is only the beginning of America's responsibilities.
In the Middle East, we are encouraging free markets, democracy and
tolerance -- because these are the ideas and the aspirations that
overcome violence, and turn societies to the pursuits of peace. Under
President Bush, this nation acts in the world according to both our
fundamental interests and our founding ideals. We believe in the right
of all people to live in freedom, and all who strive and sacrifice for
the cause of freedom will have a friend in the United States of
America.
Here at home, we have a full agenda, and some pressing business to
complete. After many years of inaction, we are nearing major reform in
Medicare -- reform that strengthens the system, and provides America's
seniors with prescription drug coverage. We must also improve the
health care system through liability reform. Doctors, here in Iowa and
all across America, should be able to spend their time healing
patients, instead of fighting off frivolous lawsuits. (Applause.)
Thanks to the President's leadership, Congress is nearing passage of a
comprehensive energy plan. The President has proposed a strategy based
on greater energy efficiency and conservation, cleaner technology, and
the production of more natural gas, ethanol, and other energy. Energy
sources such as ethanol and biodiesel are grown right here on Iowa's
farms -- the safest place to meet our future energy needs. For the sake
of our economic security and our national security, we must make this
nation less dependent on foreign oil. (Applause.)
We have achieved a great deal during our time in office. But there is
still a great deal left to do in Washington -- and around the world
this nation has many serious responsibilities and challenges. The
campaign season will come in due course -- obviously, it's already
arrived in Iowa -- and when it does, President Bush and I will run hard
and take nothing for granted. We understand the key to victory is to do
the work we have been given, and to do it well. We intend to make good
use of every day we have the honor of serving the American people.
For my part, I am proud to serve beside a President who has the
commitment, the integrity, the judgment, the compassion, and the
courage to lead the nation in a time of testing...a President of the
United States who has brought honor and dignity to the White House.
(Applause.)
President Bush and I are deeply honored by your confidence in us, and
by your commitment to the cause we all share. We are very grateful to
the Second District for sending Jim Leach to Washington. He has been a
steady leader in Congress, and he reflects great credit on the people
of Iowa. We look forward to working with him for a long time to come.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END 6:30 P.M. CDT
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