Presidency. Tonight, our focus is on two president s, george h. W. Bush and bill clinton. Well, in 1991,2 days after leaving forces against iraq, george bush went before congress to talk about the hard work of. And in 1995, at the university of texas in austin, bill talked about Race Relations and the opportunity to improve them. Heres president and president clinton. It moves power and Decision Making closer to the people, and it reinforces the theme of this administration appreciation and encouragement of the innovative powers of states as laboratories. This nation was founded by leaders who, understood that power belongs in the hands of people, and they plan for the future. And so must we. Here and all around the world. As americans, we know there are times when we must step and accept our responsibility to lead the world away from the dark chaos of dictators, toward the brighter promise of a better day. Almost 50 years ago, we began a long struggle against aggressive totalitarianism. Now we face another defining for america and for the world. There is no one more devoted, more committed to the hard work of freedom than. Every soldier and sailor, every marine, airman and guardsmen, every man and woman now serving in the persian gulf gulf. Know how they deserve deserve. And. And and. What a fitting tribute them. To see. What a wonderful fitting tribute to them. Each of them has volunteered. Volunteered to provide for this nations defense. And now they bravely struggle to earn for america, for the world and for future generations, a just and lasting peace. Our to them must equal to their commitment to their country. They are truly americas finest and. The war in the gulf is not a war we wanted. We worked hard to avoid war for more than five months. We, along with the arab league, the european community, the United Nations, tried every diplomatic avenue u. N. Secretary general perez, decoy our president s gorbachev, mr. Ozil, mubarak and benjy, kings fahd and hassan, prime ministers, major and andreotti just to name a few. All worked for a solution. But and again, Saddam Hussein flatly rejected, the path of diplomacy and peace. The world well knows how this conflict began and when it began on august 2nd, when saddam and sacked a small, defenseless neighbor. And i am certain of how it will end so that peace can. We will prevail. Tonight. Thank you. Tonight. Tonight, am pleased to report that we are on course. Iraqs capacity to sustain war is being destroyed. Investment. Our training. Our planning. All are paying off. Time will not. Saddams salvation. Our purpose in the persian gulf remains constant to drive out of kuwait, to restore kuwaits legitimate government and ensure the stability and of this region. Let me make clear what i mean by the regions and security. We do not seek. The destruction of iraq. Its culture or its people. Rather, we seek an iraq that uses its resources not to destroy, not to serve the ambitions of a tyrant, but to build a better life for itself and its neighbors. We seek a persian gulf where conflict is no longer the rule or the strong or neither tempted nor able to intimidate the weak. Most americans know instinctively why we are in the gulf. They know we had to stop saddam now, not later. They know that this brutal dictator will do anything and will use any weapon will commit any outrage, no matter how many innocent suffer. They know we must make sure that control of the worlds Oil Resources does not into his hands. Only to finance further aggression. They know that we need to build a new enduring peace based not on arms races and confrontation, but on shared principles and the rule of law. And we all realize that our responsibility be the catalyst for peace and in the region does not end with the successful conclusion of this war. Democracy brings the undeniable value of thoughtful dissent. And weve heard some dissenting voices here at home, some handful reckless, most responsible. But the fact that all voices, the right to speak out is of the reasons weve been united in purpose principle for 200 years. Our progress in this great struggle is the result of years of vigilance and a steadfast commitment to a strong defense. And now with remarque about technological advances like the patriot missile, we can against Ballistic Missile attacks aimed at innocents, civilians. Looking forward, i have directed that the sdi program be refocused on providing protection from limited Ballistic Missile strikes, whatever their source. Let us pursue an sdi that can deal with any future threat to the united to our forces overseas and to our friends and allies. The quality of american technology. Thanks to the american worker, has enabled us to successful deal with difficult military conditions and help minimize these precious loss of life. We have given our and women the very best and they deserve it. We all have a special place in our hearts for the families of our men and women serving in the gulf. They are represented here tonight by norman schwarzkopf. Were all very grateful. To general schwarzkopf, to all those serving with him. And i might also recognize one who came with with message schwarzkopf, alma powell, the wife of the distinguished chairman of the joint chiefs, and. And to the families and to the families, let me say our forces in the gulf will not stay there one day longer than is necessary to complete their mission. The courage and the success of the raaf pilots of the kuwaiti, saudi, french the canadians, the italians, the pilots of gutter and bahrain. All are proof that for the First Time Since world war two, the International Community is united. The leadership of the United Nations once only a hope for ideal, is now confirming its founders vision. And i am heartened we are not being asked to bear the Financial Burdens of this struggle. Last year, our friends and allies provide the bulk of the economic costs desert shield, and now having received commitments over 40 billion for the first three months of 1991, i am confident. They will do no less as we move through desert storm. But the world has to wonder what the dictator of iraq is thinking. If he thinks it by targeting innocent civilians in israel and saudi arabia, that he will gain advantage. He is dead wrong and. And if he thinks that he will advance his cause through tragic and despair, Global Environmental terrorism, he is dead wrong. And if he thinks that by abusing the coalition prisoners of war, he will benefit, he is dead wrong. We will succeed in the gulf. And when we do, the World Community will have sent an enduring warning to any dictator or present or future who contemplates outlaw aggression. The world can therefore seize this opportunity to fulfill the long held promise of a new world order where brutality will go unrewarded and aggression will meet collective resistance. Yes yes, the United States bears a major share of leadership in this effort among the nations of the world. Only the United States of America Needs to back it up. Were the only nation on this that could assemble the forces of peace. This is the burden of leadership and the strength that has made america the beacon of freedom in a searching world. This nation has never found glory in war. Our people have never wanted to abandon the blessings of home and work for distant lands and deadly conflict. If we fight in anger, it is only because we have to fight at all. And all of us. Yearn for a world where we will never have to fight again. Each of us will measure within ourselves the value of this great struggle. Any cost in lives, any cost is beyond our power to measure that the cost of closing our eyes to aggression is beyond power. To imagine. This we do know. Our cause is just. Our cause is moral. Our cause is right. Let. That future generations understand the burden and blessings of freedom. Let them say we stood. Were duty required us to stand. Let them know that together we affirmed america and the world as a community of conscience. The winds of are with us now. The forces of freedom are together and we move the next century. More than ever that, we have the will at home and abroad to do what must be done. The hard work of freedom. May god bless the United States of america. Thank you very, very much. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank. And youre watching American History series speeches that defined the presidency. Now were going to turn from george h. W. Bush to his successor, bill clinton, at the university of texas, talking about Race Relations. Its 1995. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. You know, when i was a boy growing up in arkansas, i thought it highly i thought it highly unlikely that i would ever become president. The United States. Perhaps the only thing even more unlikely was that i should ever have the opportunity to be cheered at the university of texas. And. I must say, i am grateful for both of them. President chancellor cunningham, dean olson olson to the Texas Longhorn band. Thank you for playing hail to the chief. You magnificent. To my long time friend of. Nearly 25 years now, bernard rapoport, thank you for your statement and, your inspiration and your life of generous giving to this Great University and so many other good causes. All the distinguished guests in the audience. I hesitate to start. But i thank my friend and father and your fellow texan henry cisneros, for coming down here with me and his magnificent work as secretary of hud. I thank, your congressman, lloyd doggett, and his wife, libby, for flying down with me. And im glad to see, my dear friend, congressman jake pickle here. I miss you. The attorney general, dan morales. The land commissioner, gary morrow. I thank of them for being here. Thank you, lucy johnson, for being here. And. Please give my regards to wonderful mother. I. I have not seen her here. There she is. And i have to recognize and. Your former congresswoman and, now distinguished professor Barbara Jordan for, the magnificent job you did on the immigration issue. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. My wife told me about coming so much. I wanted to come and see for myself. I also know, as all of you do that there is no such thing as saying no to liz carpenter. I drag it out as long as i could just to a few more jokes. My fellow americans. I want to begin by telling you that i am hopeful about america. When i looked at in the cabal up here introducing me and i shook with these other young, young students, i looked into their eyes, i saw the american button on that gentlemans shirt. I am. I was reminded as i talk about this thorny subject of race today, i was reminded of what Winston Churchill said about. The United States, when president roosevelt was trying to pass the lendlease act so that we could britain in their war against nazi germany before we ourselves were involved. And for a good while, the issue was hanging fire. And it was unclear whether the congress would permit us to help britain, who at that time was the only bulwark against tyranny in europe. Winston churchill said, i have great confidence in the judgment and the common sense of the American People and their leaders. They invariably do right thing after. They have examined every other alternative. So i say to you, let me begin by saying that i can see, in the eyes of the students and in the spirit this moment, we will do the right thing. In recent weeks, every one of us has been made aware a simple truth white americans and black americans often see the same world and grasp directly different ways. Ways that go beyond and beneath the Simpson Trial and its aftermath, which brought these perceptions so starkly into the open. The rift we see before us that is tearing at the heart of america exist. In spite of the remarkable Progress Black americans have made in the last since Martin Luther king swept america up in his dream and president johnson spoke so powerfully for the dignity of man and the destiny of democracy. See, in demanding that congress guarantee for Voting Rights to blacks. The rift between blacks and whites exists still in a very special way in america, in spite of the fact that we have become much more racially and ethnically diverse and that hispanic americans themselves are no strangers to discrimination, are now almost 10 of our national. The reasons for this divide are many. Some are rooted in the awful history and stubborn persistence of racism. Some are rooted in the different ways we experience the threats of modern life to personal security, family values, and strong communities. Some are rooted in the fact that we still havent learned to talk. Frankly, to listen carefully, and to Work Together across racial lines almost 30 years ago, dr. Martin luther king took his last march sanitation workers in memphis. They marched for dignity, equality and economic justice. Many carried placards that read simply i, a man man. The throngs of men marching in washington today, almost all of them are doing so for the same stated reason. But there is profound difference between this march and those of 30 years ago. 30 years ago, the marchers were demanding the dignity and opportunity they were due because in the face of terrible discrimination they had worked hard, raise their children, paid their taxes, obey the laws and fought our wars. Well, todays marches also about pride and dignity and respect. But after a of deepening social problems that disproportionately impact black americans, it is also about black men taking renewed responsibility for themselves, their families and their communities. Its about saying to crime and drugs and violence. Its about standing up for atonement and reconciliation. Its about insisting that others do the same and offering help them. Its about frank admission that unless black men shoulder their load no one else can help them or their brothers, their sisters and their children escape. The hard, bleak that too many of them still face. Of course, some of those in the march do have a history that is far from its message of atonement and reconciliation. 1 million men are right to be standing up for personal responsibility, but 1 million men do not make right. One mans message of malice and division. No good house was built on a bad foundation. Nothing good ever came of hate. So let us pray today that all who march, all who speak will, stand for atonement, for reconciliation, for responsibility. Let us pray that those who have spoken for hatred division in the past will turn away from that past and give voice to the true of those ordinary american boys who march. If that happens. If that happens, the men and the women who are there with them will be marching in better lives for themselves and their families. And they could be marching into a Better Future for america. Today we face a choice. One way leads to further separation, bitterness and more lost futures. The other, the path of courage and wisdom leads to unity, to reconciliation, to a rich opportunity. All americans to make the most of the lives god gave them. This moment in which the racial divide is so clearly out in the open need not a setback for us. It presents us with a great opportunity. And we dare not let it pass us by. In the past, when weve the courage to face the truth about our failure to live up to our own best ideals, weve grown stronger, moved forward and restored. Proud american optimism. At such turning points, america to preserve the union and abolish slavery. To embrace womens suffrage, to guarantee basic legal rights to america without regard to race. Under the leadership of president johnson, at each of these moments, we looked in the National Mirror and were brave enough to say this is not who we are. We are better than that. Abraham lincoln reminded us that a house divided against itself cannot stand when divisions have threatened to bring our house down. Somehow, we have always moved together to shore it up. My fellow americans, our house is the greatest democracy in all human history. And with its racial and ethnic diversity, it has beaten the odds of human history. But we know that divisions remain. And we still have work to do. The two worlds we see now, each can contain both truths and distortion. Both black and white americans must face this more honest is the only gateway to the many acts of reconciliation that unite our worlds. At last. And the one America White america must understand and acknowledge the roots of black pain. It began with unequal treatment. First in law and later, in fact, africanamericans indeed have lived too long with a Justice System that in too many cases has been and continues to be less than just just. The record abuses extends from lynchings and trumped up charges to false arrest and police brutality. The tragedies of emmett till and rodney king are bloody markers on the same road. Still today, too many of our officers play by the rules of the battle old days. It is beyond wrong when law abiding black parents have to tell their law abiding children to fear police who salaries are paid by their own taxes. And blacks are right to think is terribly wrong. When africanamerican men are many times more likely to be victims of than any other group in this country. When there are more africanamerican men in our corrections system, in our colleges, when almost one in three africanamerican men in their are either in jail, on parole, or otherwise under the supervision of the criminal Justice System. Nearly one in three. And that is a disproportionate percentage in comparison to the percentage blacks who use drugs in our society. Now i would like every white person here and in america to take a moment, think how he or she would feel if one in thre