Remarks from Library Opening

Among President Clinton, Senator Clinton, President Carter, President George W. Bush, and President George H.W. Bush, who would have thought that the remarks that were talked about the most were those of the senior Bush? George H.W. gave a complimentary, frank, and self-deprecating speech that had people talking as they tried to get warm and dry after standing in the rain for four or more hours.

Here's what stood out for me:

President Clinton:
"America has two great dominant strands of political thought -- we're represented up here on this stage -- conservatism, which, at its very best, draws lies that should not be crossed; and progressivism, which, at its very best, breaks down barriers that are no longer needed or should never have been erected in the first place...

"What it [the library] is to me is the symbol of not only what I tried to do, but what I want to do with the rest of my life: building bridges from yesterday to tomorrow, building bridges across racial and religious and ethnic and income and political divides, building bridges....

"What should our shared values be? Everybody counts. Everybody deserves a chance. Everybody has got a responsibility to fulfill. We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter, but our common humanity matters more. So I tell you that we can continue building our bridge to tomorrow. It will require some red American line-drawing and some blue American barrier-breaking, but we can do it together."

President Jimmy Carter:
"As a goveror, as a candidate, and as president, Bill Clinton brought insight, wisdom, and determination to bear on the issues that he addressed. He was a leader who could inspire other people to go beyond what they thought were their limits to join him in accomplishing great goals....

"Let me say that at the end of a very difficult political year -- more difficult for some of us than others -- it is valuable for the world to see two Democrats and two Republicans assembled together all honoring the great nation that has permitted us to serve."

President George H.W. Bush:
"Through his indefatigable determination, not only did he lift himself and his family up, he also went on to touch the lives of millions around the world as president of the United States, giving them hope. Of course, it always has to be said that Bill Clinton was one of the most gifted American political figures in modern times. Trust me, I learned this the hard way....

"And seeing him out on the campaign trail, it was plain to see how he fed off the energy and the hopes and the aspirations of the American people. Simply put, he was a natural, and he made it look too easy. And oh, how I hated him for that. Another gripe, Bill Clinton enjoyed debates too much fo my taste. You know, to be very frank with you now, I hated debates....

"But one of the great blessings [of being a former president] is the way one-time political adversaries have the tendency to become friends, and I feel such is certainly the case between President Clinton and me....

"Every time he got knocked down, which can happen in politics, he got right back up. In fact, he made the comeback his trademark. And therein lies the greatest lesson every offered to future generations: Never give up, never give in, keep on fighting."

Senator Hillary Clinton:
"I cannot wait for you to see this and tour this museum. The building is like my husband: It's open, it's expansive, it's welcoming, it's filled with light. And the exhibits tell a story of someone who loves his fellow man, who cares deeply about the future of all of our children, who recognizes our common humanity."

President George W. Bush:
"President Clinton led our country with optimism and a great affection for the American people....In the White House, the whole nation witnessed his brilliance and his mastery of detail, his persuasive power and his persistence. The president is not the kind to give up a fight. His staffers have been known to say, 'If Clinton were the Titanic, the iceberg would sink.' During his presidency, Bill Clinton seized important opportunities on issues from welfare to trade....And in all his actions and decisions, the American people sensed a deep empathy for the poor and the powerless."

Here are complete transcripts for BC, HRC, JC, GHWB, and GWB.