For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 15, 2001
Embargoed Until Delivery
At 10 06 A.M. Edt Saturday, June 16, 2001 Radio Address by the President to the Nation the Oval Office the First Lady Good Morning. This Weekend, Millions of Americans Will Celebrate Father's Day. on This Day, Sons and Daughters Pause To Reflect on All the Ways in Which Our Fathers and Grandfathers Contribute To Our Lives, with Ball Games and Band-Aids, Advice and Sacrifice, Patience
and strength. Words fall short when we
attempt to describe the full extent of our love and appreciation for
them. When we try to express our gratitude for everything
they do for us, the fortunate among us know that we can always rely on
a dad or a granddad. Sadly, there are those
whose lives aren't touched by the loving hand of a father. I
hope they, too, find a way to observe this day with a caring role model
or other family members. I am blessed to have
a many fond memories of my father. I remember fun trips
together when I was a child, bumping along the dusty roads of West
Texas in our car, heading for El Paso where my grandmother lived.
My dad once said that when my mother brought
him home to meet her parents for the first time, my grandmother was
laying brick when they arrived. My dad thought he had
married into a family whose women could do anything, and he made me
believe that I could be anything. Whether our
fathers live one room away, a plane flight away, or years away in the
twilight of our memories, we remember them as we commemorate Father's
Day. It is a day to acknowledge all the spoken words and
unspoken kindnesses that fathers and grandfathers have shown us through
the years. So thank you for your strength,
your love, and your support for your children. Happy
Father's Day to all of you. And I want to wish a Happy
Father's Day to the father of my children. Happy Father's
Day, Mr. President. THE
PRESIDENT: Thank you, Laura. Many
Americans believe that their father is the finest man they have ever
known. That's certainly true in my case. My dad
provided me with life's greatest gift: unconditional
love. And he still makes sure all his children know how much
he loves us. Fathers are so important in the
lives of children. They provide love and encouragement, they
are the object of a young child's admiration, and they provide their
sons and daughters with an example of what it means to be a good
man. When fathers are absent, children are often lost to a
world of hopelessness and hardship. Our laws should promote
responsible fatherhood. And so our
Administration strongly supports community-based fatherhood
programs. We are taking steps to make adoption more
affordable. And for innocent children who are born into
fractured families, we provide support for mentoring programs.
Ultimately, fatherhood is a deeply personal
calling. Our own children are given to our care, and they
depend on our love. Every parent knows that raising a child
is among the most hopeful and affirming experiences a human being will
ever know. So many of my generation had the
same experience I did. When we held our children for the
first time, we found ourselves. We found a world of duty and
love that changed our lives. And since that day, "Dad" has
been the important title I have ever held or will ever hold.
Laura and I wish all the fathers listening a
Happy Father's Day. So many of you provide to your children
daily care and guidance, nurture and protection, discipline and love,
and it's making a world of difference. On behalf of them, we
want to express our appreciation. Thank you
for listening.
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