Remarks by the First Lady at National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards

Remarks by the President at Champions of Change ConnectED Event

South Court Auditorium

2:28 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, hello, everybody.  Have a seat, have a seat.  And thank you, Misa, for the introduction and, more importantly, what you are doing in the classroom every single day, which is making such a big difference.  And I want to welcome all of you who are here.  This is one of my favorite events we do periodically.  It gives me an opportunity to say thanks and recognize people who are making extraordinary contributions in their local communities.  And we’re learning from you, seeing what works, seeing what has an impact. 

We call them Champions of Change:  people who have done some innovative work that hopefully can be replicated in other parts of the country once they have good models that are having success.  And today, we are honoring 10 educators who use technology to support one of our country’s top priorities, and that’s preparing our kids and our workers for the competition that they’re going to face in a 21st century global economy. 

In an age when the world’s information is just a click away, we’ve got to bring our schools and our libraries into the 21st century.  That’s why five months ago I launched an initiative that we’re calling ConnectED to bring high-speed Internet to 99 percent of American students over the next five years.  And this is going to be a top priority for me.  It’s going to take some hard work across my administration, but I’m committed to getting it done. 

Because this is not just about wiring schools; it’s about changing students’ lives.  It’s about using technology to give students a chance to learn at their own pace, whether they’re catching up on a subject or moving ahead to the next level.  It’s about giving teachers a better data set so they can see exactly what’s working and what isn’t for particular students.  It’s about unleashing a new market for educational devices and apps that will create jobs and spur innovation. 

And it’s about supporting outstanding, innovative educators like our Champions for Change.  Because of their work in North Dakota, young people with autism are using educational apps to discover abilities that they didn’t even know that they had.  In Colorado, preschoolers have now obtained access to a digital discovery center that helps them to get a great education from the earliest age.  In Georgia, students at an after-school technology club are learning skills that are going to help them succeed in college and throughout their careers.  And today’s Champions of Change are helping to give our students what every parent wants for their child -- the chance to go as far as their talents and hard work will take them.

So to all of our Champions for Change, we want to thank you for your extraordinary efforts.  As long as I’m President, I’m going to keep working not only to support the great work that educators and librarians are doing across the country but more fundamentally to make sure that young people are getting every opportunity that they deserve to thrive and succeed in this modern economy.  And I see some young people here and they look like they’re doing pretty good.  (Laughter.)  Although they may be bored by me making too long a speech.  (Laughter.)

Thank you very much, everybody. 

END
2:34 P.M. EST

Remarks by the President at Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony

East Room

11:17 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning!  (Applause.)  Good morning, everybody!  Everybody, please have a seat.  Have a seat.

Well, on behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House.  This is one of my favorite events every year, especially special this year, as I look at this extraordinary group of individuals and our opportunity to honor them with our nation’s highest civilian honor -- the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

And this year, it’s just a little more special because this marks the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy establishing this award.  We’re honored, by the way, today to have with us one of my favorite people -- Ethel Kennedy -- and a pretty good basketball player, President Kennedy’s grandson, Jack.  (Applause.)  

This medal has been bestowed on more than 500 deserving people.  Tonight, I’m looking forward to joining some of these honorees, as well as members of the Kennedy family, as we pay tribute to these 50 years of excellence.  And this morning, we’re honored to add 16 new names to this distinguished list. 

Today, we salute fierce competitors who became true champions.  In the sweltering heat of a Chicago summer, Ernie Banks walked into the Cubs locker room and didn’t like what he saw.  “Everybody was sitting around, heads down, depressed,” he recalled.  So Ernie piped up and said, “Boy, what a great day!  Let’s play two!”  (Laughter.)  That’s “Mr. Cub” -- a man who came up through the Negro Leagues, making $7 a day, and became the first black player to suit up for the Cubs and one of the greatest hitters of all time.  And in the process, Ernie became known as much for his 512 home runs as for his cheer and his optimism and his eternal faith that someday the Cubs would go all the way.  (Laughter.)   

And that's serious belief.  (Laughter.)  That is something that even a White Sox fan like me can respect.  (Laughter.)  But he is just a wonderful man and a great icon of my hometown.
 
Speaking of sports, Dean Smith is one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history, but his successes go far beyond Xs and Os.  Even as he won 78 percent of his games, he graduated 96 percent of his players.  The first coach to use multiple defenses in a game, he was the pioneer who popularized the idea of “pointing to the passer” -- after a basket, players should point to the teammate who passed them the ball.  And with his first national title on the line, he did have the good sense to give the ball to a 19-year-old kid named Michael Jordan.  (Laughter.)  Although they used to joke that the only person who ever held Michael under 20 was Dean Smith.  (Laughter.)   

While Coach Smith couldn’t join us today due to an illness that he’s facing with extraordinary courage, we also honor his courage in helping to change our country -- he recruited the first black scholarship athlete to North Carolina and helped to integrate a restaurant and a neighborhood in Chapel Hill.  That's the kind of character that he represented on and off the court.

We salute innovators who pushed the limits of science, changing how we see the world -- and ourselves.  And growing up, Sally Ride read about the space program in the newspaper almost every day, and she thought this was “the coolest thing around.”  When she was a PhD candidate at Stanford she saw an ad for astronauts in the student newspaper and she seized the opportunity.  As the first American woman in space, Sally didn’t just break the stratospheric glass ceiling, she blasted through it.  And when she came back to Earth, she devoted her life to helping girls excel in fields like math, science and engineering.  “Young girls need to see role models,” she said, “you can’t be what you can’t see.”  Today, our daughters -- including Malia and Sasha -- can set their sights a little bit higher because Sally Ride showed them the way.

Now, all of us have moments when we look back and wonder, “What the heck was I thinking?”  I have that -- (laughter) -- quite a bit.  Psychologist Daniel Kahneman has made that simple question his life’s work.  In a storied career in Israel and America, he basically invented the study of human decision-making.  He’s helped us to understand everything from behavioral economics to “Does living in California make people happy?”  It’s an interesting question.  He’s also been called an expert on irrational behavior -- so I'm sure that he could shed some light on Washington.  (Laughter.) 

But what truly sets Daniel apart is his curiosity.  Guided by his belief that people are “endlessly complicated and interesting,” at 79 he’s still discovering new insights into how we think and learn, not just so we understand each other, but so we can work and live together more effectively. 

Dr. Mario Molina’s love of science started as a young boy in Mexico City, in a homemade laboratory in a bathroom at home.  And that passion for discovery led Mario to become one of the most respected chemists of his era.  He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize -- or the Nobel Prize, rather, not only for his path-breaking research, but also for his insistence that when we ignore dangerous carbon emissions we risk destroying the ozone layer and endangering our planet.  And thanks to Mario’s work, the world came together to address a common threat, and today, inspired by his example, we’re working to leave our planet safer and cleaner for future generations.

We also have to salute musicians, who bring such joy to our lives.  Loretta Lynn was 19 the first time she won the big -- she won big at the local fair.  Her canned vegetables brought home 17 blue ribbons -- (laughter) -- and made her “Canner of the Year.” (Laughter.)  Now, that’s impressive.  (Laughter.) 

For a girl from Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, that was fame.  Fortunately for all of us, she decided to try her hand at things other than canning.  Her first guitar cost $17, and with it this coal miner’s daughter gave voice to a generation, singing what no one wanted to talk about and saying what no one wanted to think about.  And now, over 50 years after she cut her first record -- and canned her first vegetables -- (laughter) -- Loretta Lynn still reigns as the rule-breaking, record-setting queen of country music. 

As a young man in Cuba, Arturo Sandoval loved jazz so much it landed him in jail.  It was the Cold War, and the only radio station where he could hear jazz was the Voice of America, which was dangerous to listen to.  But Arturo listened anyway.  Later, he defected to the United States knowing he might never see his parents or beloved homeland again.  “Without freedom,” he said, “there is no life.”  And today, Arturo is an American citizen and one of the most celebrated trumpet players in the world.  “There isn’t any place on Earth where the people don’t know about jazz,” he says, and that’s true in part because musicians like him have sacrificed so much to play it.

We salute pioneers who pushed our nation towards greater justice and equality.  A Baptist minister, C.T. Vivian was one of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s closest advisors.  “Martin taught us,” he says, “that it’s in the action that we find out who we really are.”  And time and again, Reverend Vivian was among the first to be in the action:  In 1947, joining a sit-in to integrate an Illinois restaurant; one of the first Freedom Riders; in Selma, on the courthouse steps to register blacks to vote, for which he was beaten, bloodied and jailed.  Rosa Parks said of him, “Even after things had supposedly been taken care of and we had our rights, he was still out there, inspiring the next generation, including me,” helping kids go to college with a program that would become Upward Bound.  And at 89 years old, Reverend Vivian is still out there, still in the action, pushing us closer to our founding ideals.

Now, early in the morning the day of the March on Washington, the National Mall was far from full and some in the press were beginning to wonder if the event would be a failure.  But the march’s chief organizer, Bayard Rustin, didn’t panic.  As the story goes, he looked down at a piece of paper, looked back up, and reassured reporters that everything was right on schedule.  The only thing those reporters didn’t know was that the paper he was holding was blank.  (Laughter.)  He didn’t know how it was going to work out, but Bayard had an unshakable optimism, nerves of steel, and, most importantly, a faith that if the cause is just and people are organized, nothing can stand in our way. 

So, for decades, this great leader, often at Dr. King’s side, was denied his rightful place in history because he was openly gay.  No medal can change that, but today, we honor Bayard Rustin’s memory by taking our place in his march towards true equality, no matter who we are or who we love.  (Applause.)

Speaking of game-changers, disrupters, there was a young girl names Gloria Steinem who arrived in New York to make her mark as a journalist, and magazines only wanted to write articles like “How to Cook without Really Cooking for Men.”  (Laughter.)  Gloria noticed things like that.  (Laughter.)  She’s been called a “champion noticer.”  She’s alert to all the ways, large and small, that women had been and, in some cases, continue to be treated unfairly just because they’re women. 

As a writer, a speaker, an activist, she awakened a vast and often skeptical public to problems like domestic violence, the lack of affordable child care, unfair hiring practices.  And because of her work, across America and around the world, more women are afforded the respect and opportunities that they deserve.  But she also changed how women thought about themselves.  And Gloria continues to pour her heart into teaching and mentoring.  Her one piece of advice to young girls is -- I love this -- “Do not listen to my advice.  Listen to the voice inside you and follow that.” 

When Patricia Wald’s law firm asked if she’d come back after having her first child, she said she’d like some time off to focus on her family -- devoted almost 10 years to raising five children.  But Patricia never lost the itch to practice law.  So while her husband watched the kids at home, she’d hit the library on weekends.  At the age 40, she went back to the courtroom to show the “young kids” a thing or two.  As the first female judge on the D.C. Circuit, Patricia was a top candidate for Attorney General.  After leaving the bench, her idea of retirement was to go to The Hague to preside over the trials of war criminals.  Patricia says she hopes enough women will become judges that “it’s not worth celebrating” anymore.  But today, we celebrate her.  And along with Gloria, she shows there are all kinds of paths listening to your own voice.
We salute communicators who shined a light on stories no one else was telling.  A veteran of World War II and more than a dozen Pacific battles, Ben Bradlee brought the same intensity and dedication to journalism.  Since joining The Washington Post 65 years ago, he transformed that newspaper into one of the finest in the world.  With Ben in charge, the Post published the Pentagon Papers, revealing the true history of America’s involvement in Vietnam; exposed Watergate; unleashed a new era of investigative journalism, holding America’s leaders accountable and reminding us that our freedom as a nation rests on our freedom of the press.  When Ben retired, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan put the admiration of many into a poem:  “O rare Ben Bradlee/His reign has ceased/But his nation stands/Its strength increased.”

And I also indicated to Ben he can pull off those shirts and I can't.  (Laughter.)  He always looks so cool in them.  (Laughter.) 
Early in Oprah Winfrey’s career, her bosses told her she should change her name to Susie.  (Laughter.)  I have to pause here to say I got the same advice.  (Laughter and applause.)  They didn't say I should be named "Susie," but they suggested I should change my name.  (Laughter.)  People can relate to Susie, that's what they said.  It turned out, surprisingly, that people could relate to Oprah just fine. 
In more than 4,500 episodes of her show, her message was always, "You can."  "You can do and you can be and you can grow and it can be better."  And she was living proof, rising from a childhood of poverty and abuse to the pinnacle of the entertainment universe.  But even with 40 Emmys, the distinction of being the first black female billionaire, Oprah’s greatest strength has always been her ability to help us discover the best in ourselves.  Michelle and I count ourselves among her many devoted fans and friends.  As one of those fans wrote, “I didn’t know I had a light in me until Oprah told me it was there.”  What a great gift.
And, finally, we salute public servants who’ve strengthened our nation.  Daniel Inouye was a humble man and didn’t wear his Medal of Honor very often.  Instead, he liked to wear a pin representing the Good Conduct Medal he earned as a teenage private.  “To behave yourself takes special effort,” he said,  “and I did not want to dishonor my family.”  Danny always honored his family and his country, even when his country didn’t always honor him. 
After being classified as an “enemy alien,” Danny joined a Japanese American unit that became one of the most decorated in World War II.  And as the second-longest serving senator in American history, he showed a generation of young people -- including one kid with a funny name growing up in Hawaii who noticed that there was somebody during some of those hearings in Washington that didn't look like everybody else, which meant maybe I had a chance to do something important, too.  He taught all of us that no matter what you look like or where you come from, this country has a place for everybody who’s willing to serve and work hard.
A proud Hoosier, Dick Lugar has served America for more than half a century, from a young Navy lieutenant to a respected leader in the United States Senate.  I’ll always be thankful to Dick for taking me -- a new, junior senator -- under his wing, including travels together to review some of his visionary work, the destruction of Cold War arsenals in the former Soviet Union  -- something that doesn’t get a lot of public notice, but was absolutely critical to making us safer in the wake of the Cold War.
Now, I should say, traveling with Dick you get close to unexploded landmines, mortar shells, test tubes filled with anthrax and the plague.  (Laughter.)  His legacy, though, is the thousands of missiles and bombers and submarines and warheads that no longer threaten us because of his extraordinary work.  And our nation and our world are safer because of this statesman. And in a time of unrelenting partisanship, Dick Lugar’s decency, his commitment to bipartisan problem-solving, stand as a model of what public service ought to be.  
Now, last, but never least, we honor a leader who we still remember with such extraordinary fondness.  He still remembers as a child waving goodbye to his mom -- tears in her eyes -- as she went off to nursing school so she could provide for her family.  And I think lifting up families like his own became the story of Bill Clinton’s life.  He remembered what his mom had to do on behalf of him and he wanted to make sure that he made life better and easier for so many people all across the country that were struggling in those same ways and had those same hopes and dreams.  So as a governor, he transformed education so more kids could pursue those dreams.  As President, he proved that, with the right choices, you could grow the economy, lift people out of poverty.  We could shrink our deficits and still invest in our families, our health, our schools, science, technology.  In other words, we can go farther when we look out for each other. 

And as we’ve all seen, as President, he was just getting started.  He doesn’t stop.  He’s helped lead relief efforts after the Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake.  His foundation and global initiative have helped to save or improve the lives of literally hundreds of millions of people.  And, of course, I am most grateful for his patience during the endless travels of my Secretary of State.  (Laughter.) 

So I’m grateful, Bill, as well for the advice and counsel that you’ve offered me on and off the golf course.  (Laughter.)  And most importantly, for your lifesaving work around the world, which represents what’s the very best in America.  So thank you so much, President Clinton.  (Applause.)

So these are the recipients of the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom.  These are the men and women who in their extraordinary lives remind us all of the beauty of the human spirit, the values that define us as Americans, the potential that lives inside of all of us.  I could not be more happy and more honored to participate in this ceremony here today.

With that, what I would like to do is invite our honorees to just sit there and let all of us stand and give you a big round of applause.  (Applause.) 

I guess we should actually give them the medals, though.  (Laughter.)  Where are my -- here we go.  Lee, you want to hit it?

MILITARY AIDE:  Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients.

Ernie Banks.  (Applause.)  With an unmatched enthusiasm for America’s pastime, Ernie Banks slugged, sprinted and smiled his way into the record books.  Known to fans as “Mr. Cub,” he played an extraordinary 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, during which he was named to 11 All-Star teams, hit over 500 home runs, and won back-to-back Most Valuable Player honors.  Ernie Banks was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, and he will forever be known as one of the finest power hitters and most dynamic players of all time.  (Applause.)  

Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee.  (Applause.)  A titan of journalism, Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee is one of the most respected newsmen of his generation.  After serving our nation in World War II, Ben Bradlee went on to defend liberty here at home. Testing the limits of a free press during his tenure as executive editor of The Washington Post, he oversaw coverage of the Watergate scandal and successfully challenged the federal government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers. His passion for accuracy and unyielding pursuit of truth continue to set the standard for journalism.  (Applause.) 

The Honorable William J. Clinton.  (Applause.)  Among the finest public servants of our time, President William J. Clinton argued cases for the people of Arkansas, served his state in the Governor’s Mansion, and guided our nation into a new century.  As the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton oversaw an era of challenge and change, prosperity and progress.  His work after leaving public office continues to reflect his passionate, unending commitment to improving the lives and livelihoods of people around the world.  In responding to needs both at home and abroad, and as founder of the Clinton Foundation, he has shown that through creative cooperation among women and men of goodwill, we can solve even the most intractable problems.  (Applause.) 

Irene Hirano Inouye, accepting on behalf of her husband, the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye.  (Applause.)  A true patriot and dedicated public servant, Daniel K. Inouye understood the power of leaders when united in common purpose to protect and promote the tenets we cherish as Americans.  As a member of the revered 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Daniel Inouye helped free Europe from the grasp of tyranny during World War II, for which he received the Medal of Honor.  Representing the people of Hawaii from the moment the islands joined the Union, he never lost sight of the ideals that bind us across the 50 states.  Senator Inouye’s reason and resolve helped make our country what it is today, and for that, we honor him.  (Applause.) 

Dr. Daniel Kahneman.  (Applause.)  Daniel Kahneman’s groundbreaking work earned him a Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his research developing prospect theory.  After escaping from Nazi-occupied France as a young boy and later joining the Israel Defense Forces, Dr. Kahneman grew interested in understanding the origins of people’s beliefs.  Combining psychology and economic analysis, and working alongside Dr. Amos Tversky, Dr. Kahneman used simple experiments to demonstrate how people make decisions under uncertain circumstances, and he forever changed the way we view human judgment.  (Applause.) 

The Honorable Richard G. Lugar.  (Applause.)  Representing the State of Indiana for over three decades in the United States Senate, Richard G. Lugar put country above party and self to forge bipartisan consensus.  Throughout his time in the Senate, he offered effective solutions to our national and international problems, advocating for the control of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction.  Working with Senator Sam Nunn, Richard Lugar established the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, one of our country’s most successful national security initiatives, helping to sustain American leadership and engage nations in collaboration after decades of confrontation.  He remains a strong voice on foreign policy issues, and his informed perspective will have broad influence for years to come. (Applause.) 

Loretta Lynn.  (Applause.)  Born a coal miner’s daughter, Loretta Lynn has followed a bold path to become a legend in country music.  A singer, songwriter, and author, she has written dozens of chart-topping songs, released scores of albums, and won numerous accolades.  Breaking barriers in country music and entertainment, she opened doors for women not only by winning tremendous achievements, but also by raising issues few dared to discuss.  Fearlessly telling her own stories with candor and humor, Loretta Lynn has brought a strong female voice to mainstream music, captured the emotions of women and men alike, and revealed the common truths about life as it is lived.  (Applause.)  

Dr. Mario Molina.  (Applause.)  The curiosity and creativity that inspired Mario Molina to convert his family’s bathroom into a laboratory as a child have driven him through decades of scientific research.  Born in Mexico, Dr. Molina’s passion for chemistry brought him to the United States, where his investigations of chlorofluorocarbons led to breakthroughs in our understanding of how they deplete the ozone layer.  The impact of his discoveries extends far beyond his field, affecting environmental policy and fostering international awareness, as well as earning him the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.  Today, Dr. Molina remains a global leader, continuing to study air quality, climate change, and the environment that connects us all.  (Applause.)

Tam O’Shaughnessy accepting on behalf of her life partner, Dr. Sally K. Ride.  (Applause.)  Thirty years ago, Dr. Sally K. Ride soared into space as the youngest American and first woman to wear the Stars and Stripes above Earth’s atmosphere.  As an astronaut, she sought to keep America at the forefront of space exploration.  As a role model, she fought tirelessly to inspire young people -- especially girls -- to become scientifically literate and to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.  At the end of her life, she became an inspiration for those battling pancreatic cancer, and for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.  The tale of a quiet hero, Sally Ride’s story demonstrates that the sky is no limit for those who dream of reaching for the stars.  (Applause.)

Walter Naegle accepting on behalf of his partner, Bayard Rustin.  (Applause.)  Bayard Rustin was a giant in the American Civil Rights Movement.  Openly gay at a time when many had to hide who they loved, his unwavering belief that we are all equal members of a “single human family” took him from his first Freedom Ride to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights movement.  Thanks to his unparalleled skills as an organizer, progress that once seemed impossible appears, in retrospect, to have been inevitable.  Fifty years after the March on Washington he organized, America honors Bayard Rustin as one of its greatest architects for social change and a fearless advocate for its most vulnerable citizens.  (Applause.)  

Arturo Sandoval.  (Applause.)  Arturo Sandoval is one of the world’s finest jazz musicians.  Born into poverty in Cuba and held back by his government, he risked everything to share his gifts with the world -- eventually defecting with help from Dizzy Gillespie, his mentor and friend.  In the decades since, this astonishing trumpeter, pianist, and composer has inspired audiences in every corner of the world and awakened a new generation of great performers.  He remains one of the best ever to play.  (Applause.)

Linnea Smith, accepting on behalf of her husband, Dean E. Smith.  (Applause.)  Dean E. Smith spent 36 seasons taking college basketball to new heights.  As head coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he led his team to 11 Final Fours, two national titles, and 879 victories, retiring as the winningest men’s college basketball coach in history.  Dean Smith brought the same commitment to supporting his players off the court.  He helped more than 96 percent of his lettermen graduate.  And in an era of deep division, he taught players to overcome bigotry with courage and compassion.  He will forever stand as one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history.  (Applause.)

Gloria Steiner.  (Applause.)  A trailblazing writer and feminist organizer, Gloria Steinem has been at the forefront of the fight for equality and social justice for more than four decades.  Instrumental to a broad range of initiatives and issues, from establishing Ms. Magazine and Take Our Daughters to Work Day, to pushing for women’s self-empowerment and an end to sex trafficking.  She has promoted lasting political and social change in America and abroad.  Through her reporting and speaking, she has shaped debates on the intersection of sex and race, brought critical problems to national attention, and forged new opportunities for women in media.  Gloria Steinem continues to move us all to take up the cause of reaching for a more just tomorrow.  (Applause.)

Reverend C.T. Vivian.  (Applause.)  Equipped only with courage and an overwhelming commitment to social justice, the Reverend C.T. Vivian was a stalwart activist on the march toward racial equality.  Whether at a lunch counter, on a Freedom Ride, or behind the bars of a prison cell, he was unafraid to take bold action in the face of fierce resistance.  By pushing change through nonviolent demonstration and advocacy, C.T. Vivian established and led numerous organizations to support underserved individuals and communities.  His legacy of combating injustice will shine as an example for generations to come.  (Applause.)

Patricia McGowan Wald.  (Applause.)  Patricia McGowan Wald made history as the first woman appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  Rising to Chief Judge of the Court, she always strove to better understand the law and fairly apply it.  After leaving federal service, Judge Wald helped institute standards for justice and the rule of law at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague.  Hailed as a model judge, she laid a foundation for countless women within the legal profession and helped unveil the humanity within the law.  (Applause.)

Oprah G. Winfrey.  (Applause.)  Oprah G. Winfrey is a global media icon.  When she launched The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1986, there were few women -- and even fewer women of color -- with a national platform to discuss the issues and events shaping our times.  But over the 25 years that followed, Oprah Winfrey’s innate gift for tapping into our most fervent hopes and deepest fears drew millions of viewers across every background, making her show the highest-rated talk show in television history.  Off screen, Oprah Winfrey has used her influence to support underserved communities and to lift up the lives of young people -- especially young women -- around the world.  In her story, we are reminded that no dream can be deferred when we refuse to let life’s obstacles keep us down.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  The Medal of Freedom honorees -- please.  (Applause.) 

Well, that concludes the formal part of today’s ceremony.  I want to thank all of you for being here.  Obviously, we are deeply indebted to those who we honor here today.  And we’re going to have an opportunity to take some pictures with the honorees and their family members. 

The rest of you, I understand the food here is pretty good. (Laughter.)  So I hope you enjoy the reception, and I hope we carry away from this a reminder of what JFK understood to be the essence of the American spirit -- that it’s represented here.  And some of us may be less talented, but we all have the opportunity to serve and to open people’s hearts and minds in our smaller orbits.  So I hope everybody has been as inspired, as I have been, participating and being with these people here today.

Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)

END
12:00 P.M. EST

Remarks to the Press by Vice President Joe Biden and President Ricardo Martinelli of Panama

Presidential Palace
Panama City, Panama

11:42 A.M. EST

PRESIDENT MARTINELLI:  (As interpreted.)  Thank you very much.  First of all, I would like to welcome Vice President Joseph Biden and his entire team, made up of senators, representatives and mayors from various cities in the United States, as well as their aides. 

This has been a very profitable meeting in which we have discussed a variety of subjects, among which is the subject of security -- regional security -- and the ongoing support that Panama and the United States contribute for hemispheric security with everything involving drug trafficking, terrorism, and other forms of trafficking.

Likewise we have discussed the expansion of the Canal and how significant and important it is for world commerce, as well as, very specially, for the East Coast of the United States.  It is imperative and necessary that the ports on the East Coast of the United States increase the dredging capability of their ports and go to at least 50 feet depth in order to take advantage of the new sizes of ships -- the post-Panamax ships that will be able to transit the Panama Canal with the expansion.  For that purpose, it’s necessary for the East Coast ports in the United States to increase their depth to 50 feet.  This will bring a number of benefits not only for Panama and for the world economy, but also for the enormous amount of jobs and other opportunities that will be created in an enormous number of ports in the United States.

As you well know, the Panamanian government and the Panama Canal have begun the expansion of the Canal, and this Canal expansion leads to a completion in 2015.  And likewise, we have discussed with Vice President Biden that already the United States and a number of other friendly countries must begin to study the possibility of Canal expansion, to do the appropriate studies so that when they’re done in a few years, what is called a fourth set of locks be completed, because as you well know, the world maritime community is continually innovating and increasing capabilities, and therefore, there is great potential for Panama to continue taking advantage of its position as a multimodal hub, which is very well complemented by what is happening in the ports along the East Coast of the United States.

We've also discussed the diplomatic and commercial relationship between Panama and the United States, and both governments will continue to work on the improvement of these relations and in order to increase world trade and hemispheric security.

Many thanks.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, Mr. President, let me begin by saying it’s great to be with you again.  You’ve been a great friend to my country and you’ve been a good friend to me.  And I appreciate it very much.

Folks, we had a terrific conversation with the President and his Cabinet.  And my colleagues and I -- the mayors of some of the largest cities in America, as well as United States Senator Johnny Isakson from the great state of Georgia, and the gentlewoman, the Congresswoman from south Florida -- we had one of the best conversations that I've experienced, and I've been doing this a long time.

And I want to thank you, Mr. President, your administration, and the Panamanian people, for your friendship to the United States of America.  And again, I want to personally thank the Panamanian people for that friendship.

You know, modernizing the Canal, Mr. President, is an investment in your future, but it is also a consequential investment in the future of the United States of America.  It protects Panama’s unique place in the world economy as a new generation of massive container ships and tankers hits the high seas.  You're moving from the ability to accommodate a ship that's 106 feet wide to a ship that's 160 feet wide, doubling the commerce.  And it’s an incredible consequence to this global economy.

But the reason I traveled here -- with our Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx; the Senator from Georgia, Senator Isakson; the Congresswoman from Florida, Debbie Wasserman- Shultz; the Atlanta Mayor -- the Mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed; the Mayor of Baltimore, Stephanie Rollins-Blake; and the Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter -- and your press may be asking, why am I mentioning each of their names.  I mention each of their names because they are in and they lead cities that have the potential to vastly expand the economic commerce, the jobs and the economy of their states and cities as a consequence of what the Panamanian people have done.

And it matters -- it matters a great deal to the American people.  It matters to our manufacturers.  It matters to our farmers, our Merchant Marine, and our longshoremen.  It matters a great deal, as you know, Mr. President, to businessmen that will enable American business to be more competitive.  People locate businesses and manufacturing facilities in places where they can quickly, cheaply, and responsibly get their product to market.  That only occurs if there is serious infrastructure to accommodate what the world economy is witnessing as a consequence of the Canal being widened, because when goods travel faster and cheaper, it increases commerce around the world. 

And it matters to the people those businesses will hire because this will create jobs -- not only jobs it's already created in Panama, but jobs in the United States of America and up and down the Americas.  The fact of the matter is these are not just ordinary jobs, these are good, decent jobs -- jobs you can raise a middle-class family on, jobs that you can care for your family. 

So that’s a long way of saying, Mr. President, we owe you and the people of Panama for continuing to have a forward-looking vision and not only strengthening your country, but quite frankly, strengthening the Hemisphere. 

It's also a reflection of a larger reality, Mr. President, that you and I have talked about in the past and again today, and that is the Americans -- the Americas, the Western Hemisphere, I say to all the people of Panama -- the Western Hemisphere is emerging as a region of opportunity.  In the mind of President Obama and me, there is no reason why the 20th century -- the 21st century will not be led by the Western Hemisphere as the center of gravity for the world economy.

Latin America, for the first time in our lifetime, has -- first time in history -- has 150 million people who are middle class, and strong -- for the first time.  For the first time in history you can look from Canada to the tip of Argentina and envision a hemisphere that is democratic, middle class, and secure -- and growing.  That has never occurred before in history.

The world's -- Latin America, particularly North America, is emerging as the energy center of gravity for the world.  It's shifting to the Western Hemisphere; from the sands of the Arabian Peninsula to the Western Hemisphere.  It will be the new center of gravity for energy production in the world.  We can now realistically envision and work toward, as I said, an Americas that are secure, middle class and democratic from the continent -- from Canada all the way to the tip of South America.

The question in my country is no longer what I believe Latin Americans are tired of hearing -- this notion of a benevolent America, the United States, what can we do for our brethren in the Hemisphere.  It's no longer that.  That’s not how President Obama and I look at it.  We look at it as what can we do together -- what can we do together.  And what you've done with the Canal is an example of the mutual contributions being made. 

This is a region -- the Hemisphere is a region that is growing and has unlimited potential.  And so it's what can we do together -- no longer -- as I said earlier, it's no longer these assertions of America's backyard.  This is the front yard.  This is a different world.  This is a different set of opportunities for all of us.  And that’s what President Martinelli and I spoke about today, and, I must admit, we've spoken about it in the past privately. 

We discussed the next steps forward in our economic partnership.  The United States supports Panama's long-term ambition to build an economy that rivals Singapore; one where there is fair competition, high standards, the rule of law, and transparent and open markets.  That is the future.  That will be the gold standard.  That’s the standard to which countries will repair, attract investment and jobs and growth.

These are the principles behind the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement.  And in the years since it went in force, trade between the United States and Panama has already grown in one year by 18 percent. 

But there's much more work to be done.  We support Panama's effort to level the economic playing field, reduce corruption -- something every country has to contend with.  We want to work together to iron out the last unresolved issues to fully implement the trade agreement that we have made. 

And just as you connect the Atlantic and Pacific, Mr. President, Panama can be the economic bridge between the North and the South in a literal sense.  That’s the choice for Panamanians to make, not for the United States, but you can be that bridge.  The benefits of greater regional economic integration in connecting roads, energy grids, markets, they are considerable.  They're considerable not only for Panama but for the hemisphere.  As President Obama said in Costa Rica in May, if you and your neighbors choose this path, the United States will be there and help you get there. 

You know, we're ready right now to make it easier for personal travel to take place, make it easier for Panamanians to travel to the United States.  Today, I'm pleased to announce on behalf of President Obama that Panama will be the newest member of the U.S. Global Entry Program.  That means Panamanian citizens can be prescreened to travel faster through immigration ports in the United States of America.  Facilitating the flow of people is good for trade, it's good for tourism, and it's good for relationships between the countries.  It's a reflection of our friendship and our trust in Panama and the Panamanian people.  And we're honored that President Martinelli will be the first Panamanian citizen to take part in this.

And I want to say to your Minister of Security, Mr. Mulino, the great work that Panama has done on the security side of the equation. 

As we streamline the travel and trade, we're also working together to stop illegal trafficking.  Panama has interdicted 175 metric tons of cocaine.  Cooperation between our law enforcement agencies is excellent and been at a peak that hasn't existed before.  And Panama is rising and in some cases exceeding its responsibilities not only to us, but to the region. 

And so last July, a vessel traveling through the Panama Canal from Cuba to North Korea claimed it was carrying sugar.  Well, it was a sweet cargo, but it wasn't sugar.  It wasn't sugar.  And Panama did something we haven't come to expect everywhere in the world -- it stepped up.  It stepped up where others might have stepped back.  We think it's a violation of U.S. sanctions [sic].  But, nonetheless, Panama stepped up.  You found and confiscated weapons heading from Cuba to North Korea. 

The United States is thankful for your taking on that international responsibility.  And you made a significant contribution for real to global security, not just U.S. security.  We are pretty well capable of handling our own security.  But you contributed to global security.  That is what responsible nations do and that's what you have done.

And as a member of the Organization of American States, we also made a collective commitment -- you and I and the Organization of American States -- to hold free and fair elections.  President Martinelli reaffirmed his commitment to that today. 

It's larger than any one of us.  Each democratic success story, each democratic election stacked upon one another, strengthens the entire hemisphere.  That's how the hemisphere is being built.  Panama has an opportunity to do just that again when you go to the polls in 2014. 

And I look forward, as I've told the President, today, after leaving here and going to my embassy, and we're going to go to the Canal, I'm also going to meet with the respective presidential candidates in the 2014 election. 

And, finally, I updated President Martinelli and his colleagues in our efforts to achieve comprehensive immigration reform.  It is the priority for the President and me now.  We need -- we need -- to update and make more rational our immigration policy in the United States of America.  It's a matter of simple justice and respect.  Respect and dignity needs to be brought to the 11 million undocumented men, women and children, allowing them to come out of the shadows.  They are not only Hispanic.  They represent every part of the world.  They are Asian.  They are Irish.  They are Russian.  They are African.  But they deserve to be treated with dignity. 

In my experience in the family I come from, you measure a man or woman in how they feel about you and how they treat the people who are like you.  This is a matter -- this is a matter of respect.  This is a matter of hemispheric respect, in my view.

And so, when we respect your countrymen on our soil, I hope that sends the message as to how we feel -- that we respect you and all folks in the hemisphere.  And we do.  But it's also a matter, as you pointed out in your own immigration policy here, Mr. President, it's also a matter of just naked self-interest -- naked self-interest. 

Our Congressional Budget Office, sort of the gold standard of what constitutes economic growth -- our Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that the comprehensive immigration reform the President and I are pushing will grow the U.S. economy by $1.4 trillion over the next decade and a half -- $1.4 trillion. 

I was saying that recently -- I've traveled about 800,000 miles since being Vice President.  I was recently in Singapore.  And if I can say, I told the President -- and this is not part of my formal remarks -- but I met with one of the wisest men that most leaders around the world have sought out -- Lee Kuan Yew, a former President of Singapore.  And I sat with him.  And he is 92 years old, and his health is somewhat frail, but his mind is, as my mother would say, sharp as a tack.  I don't know how you translate that into Spanish.  (Laughter.)  

But I sat with him and I said, “Mr. President, what is China doing now?”  He said, the Chinese are in America, “The United States looking for that black box that is buried.”  And I'm thinking black box?  What does he mean by that?  It's like the flight recorder data in an aircraft.  I said, black box?  He said, yes.  He said, “That secret that allows the United States to be the only country in the world that constantly is able to remake itself, to reinvent itself.” 

And, I said, oh, Mr. President, I can tell you what's in that black box.  It's a constant stream of immigration.  It's the constant refurbishing of the energy of America by new cultures, new language, new people. 

And, I said the second thing in that black box is every America has stamped in their DNA, whether they are immigrants or they are born there, that they have -- every young student is encouraged to shed the notion of respect for orthodoxy.  The only way new things happen is when orthodoxy is put aside.  That's the secret of the United States of America.  And Panama and the rest of this hemisphere is a big part of the secret of our success.

So I came to say thank you, Mr. President -- thank you, thank the Panamanian people -- and I look forward to this relationship continuing to grow and prosper.  And as a consequence of what you've done at the Canal, we have the possibility of expanding our economy by hundreds of billions of dollars over the near term. 

So, thank you, Mr. President.  And I look forward to seeing you again.  (Applause.)  

END
12:03 P.M. EST