For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2001
Remarks by the President
And Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker During Swearing-In Ceremony the East Room
2:48 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Baker,
you've drawn quite a crowd here to the White
House. (Laughter.) Mr. Vice President, Mr.
Secretary, CIA Director George Tenet, I believe is
here. Justice O'Connor is here, thank you so much for
coming. The Ambassador from Japan is here, thank you very
much for being here, Mr. Ambassador, and your lovely wife.
Madeleine Albright, I believe is here --
Madame Secretary. Larry Eagleburger is
here. Elizabeth Dole, I believe is
here. Senator. Elizabeth, thank you very
much. The former Ambassadors to the country of Japan are on
the stage with us, they have been introduced. Members of the
United States Senate are here. Members of the Tennessee
congressional delegation are here.
Thank you all for coming, and
welcome. Today, we call upon one of America's most valued
statesmen to help be the keeper of one of America's most valued
friendships. Howard Baker has held many titles during the
course of his long and distinguished career. They include
sailor, senator, Minority Leader, Majority Leader and White House Chief
of Staff.
In a few moments, he'll add "ambassador" to
that list. And, once again, America is very
grateful. (Applause.)
All the former ambassadors here are living
examples of the very highest standards of diplomatic
excellence. And between them, Mike Mansfield, Walter
Mondale, Tom Foley and Howard Baker have accumulated over a hundred
years of elected office. (Laughter.) That's a lot
of balloon drops. (Laughter.)
Thirty-four of those years are accounted for
by Mike Mansfield alone. The senator began the tradition of high-level
political figures serving as our Ambassador to Japan. He
held that post for more than 11 years, longer than anyone
else. Japanese press calls these figures "o-mono" -- the big
guys. (Laughter.) Well, we're all very honored to
have the original big guy with us.
And by the way, Senator Thurmond, he informed
me -- with quite clear language -- that he is four months younger than
you are. (Laughter.)
We send the very best people to Japan because
the United States has no more important partner in the world than
Japan. Our alliance is rooted in the vital strategic and
economic interests that we share. It is the cornerstone of
peace and prosperity in Asia. And today this partnership is
helping us tackle global problems, as well.
I'm looking forward to welcoming the Prime
Minister this weekend at Camp David. Together, we will
explore ways we can continue to strengthen our security
relationship. We will talk about the Prime Minister's agenda
for reforming and revitalizing the Japanese economy. We'll
discuss how our countries can work together on realistic and effective
responses to global problems such as AIDS in Africa and climate
change.
I will also tell the Prime Minister that
America's thirty-eighth Ambassador to Japan is a man of extraordinary
ability, grace and good humor. In every post he has held,
Howard Baker has brought uncommon intelligence and an uncanny ability
to calm the ship of state, even in days of crisis.
He comes from good stock. His
grandmother, Lillie "Mother Ladd" Mauser -- (laughter) -- was
Tennessee's first woman sheriff. (Laughter.) His father and
his step-mother both served in the House. He married into
good stock, as well. He counts Senator Everett Dirksen and
the grand old man of the Grand Old Party, Alf Landon, as
fathers-in-law. And what the Prime Minister is going to find
out, he took an extraordinary woman as a bride, in Senator Nancy
Kassebaum Baker. (Applause.)
In the Senate, Howard Baker had a list of
rules for being an effective senator. He called it the
Baker's Dozen. The list included: listen more
often than you speak; be patient; tell the truth, whether you have to
or not; and, finally, be civil and encourage others to do the same.
Well, these rules help explain why Howard
Baker has made such a mark on American history. They are why
he's going to keep making his mark for the years to
come. Congratulations.
AMBASSADOR BAKER: Thank you,
sir. (Applause.)
(Ambassador-designate Baker was sworn
in.) (Applause.)
AMBASSADOR BAKER: Mr. President,
Secretary Powell, Ambassadors, my former colleagues in the Senate, in
the House of Representatives, ladies and gentlemen, this is truly an
overwhelming experience and I am grateful. I am happy to be here, Mr.
President, to speak for this country and to speak for you in Japan.
I have conferred with you, with the Secretary
of Defense, Secretary of State, Vice President, many others in your
Cabinet and this government, many in the Congress. I
understand my responsibility and I will discharge it.
I understand, as well, that there is a
special, unique relationship that exists between the United States and
Japan. It is remarkable, indeed, that given our history and
relationship that Japan and the United States would develop this strong
bond, this mutuality of respect, this shared common view of the
necessity for peace in the world.
My friend, Mike Mansfield, and one of my
predecessors in this office, was fond of saying the bilateral
relationship between the United States and Japan is the most important
bilateral relationship in the world, bar none. And I always wondered,
Mr. Ambassador, how "bar none" got translated into
Japanese. (Laughter.)
But Mike Mansfield, I agree with you, it is
indeed the most important bilateral relationship, at least in my life
and in my career, and it will continue to be. It is the
cornerstone of our policy, not only in Japan but in Asia, as well, and
throughout the world.
Mr. President, I am grateful to you for giving
us this opportunity. I am grateful to you, Secretary Powell,
for giving me the chance to serve with you once again. I am
glad for all of those who helped us navigate the rocks and shoals of
confirmation, of filling out 86 pages of forms -- (laughter) -- of
transiting the requirements of the Office of Government Ethics --
(laughter) -- of the survival of our marriage -- (laughter). More than
once, Nancy would point out to me or I would point out to her, this too
will pass. (Laughter.)
But, my friends, I could not do this without
Nancy at my side, and together we will be a partnership to speak for
this nation, to make our contribution to that relationship and to the
peace of the world.
Mr. President, I thank you,
sir. (Applause.)
END 3:00
P.M. EDT
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