Remarks at a Dinner
Hosted by Republican Members of the Senate
Thank
you, Bob, and thank you all very much. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed
dinner tonight. At the White House we're still eating leftover turkey.
[Laughter]
But
really, tonight means a lot to Nancy and me -- to be here with all of you, to
think of all we've done. What a team we've been, and what a time this has been.
My friends, we need have no regrets; we deserve to be proud. Day in and day
out, you faced the opposition and fought the tough battles. In fact, when I
told Bob Hope I was coming here tonight, he thought I was to do a U.S.O. show.
[Laughter]
And
I want to also salute the Senate spouses. Between the considerable work that
you do and your campaign efforts and the terrible work hours those Senators
keep, I think you, the spouses, have been nothing less than valiant.
Now,
I must say, I wish we could have regained control of this body. I think you all
know the difference between a Republican Senate and a Democratic Senate. It's
the difference between a super majority and a simple majority. [Laughter] I'd
better just let you think about that one. [Laughter]
But
I believe that it won't be too long before the Republicans win control of the
Congress, the same way we keep winning the White House. And sooner or later the
other party is going to have to take the hint and put themselves out of their
misery.
But,
no, it's kind of like the story they tell about the great French writer Alexandre Dumas. They say that he and another fellow had a
terrible dispute that could only be settled by a duel. The two men were both
such good marksmen that they agreed to draw straws and the loser would shoot
himself. [Laughter] Well, Dumas drew the short straw, so he took his gun, went
into a room, closed the door. And then a single shot
rang out. And the people rushed to look into the room. And there was Dumas
standing there holding the gun in his hand. ``Gentlemen,'' he said, ``a
remarkable thing has just happened. I missed.'' [Laughter]
Well,
to those just elected to the Senate -- and I worked with most of you in the
past -- it was great to see you along the campaign trail. We're so glad you
made it, and I know that great things lie in store for you. To those of you who
are leaving office, let me say, again, thank you. Life is a book with many
chapters. You have written great things in that book which no one can erase,
and your greatest chapters still lie ahead. And to all of you who will continue
to serve in this great body, the foundation of our great Republic, I know that
you will continue to do honor to America and that you will give George Bush the
same friendship, support, and solidarity that you gave me.
And
really, what you've done has been much more than that. Eight years ago, you and
I formed a partnership, a partnership dedicated to restoring
And
I want to say a special thank you to a good friend, Bob Dole, a man who I've
come to know so well. He is a man so widely respected and admired that even
Senators on the other side of the aisle routinely steal his jokes. [Laughter]
But his title of leader is not just a job title; it's a description of the man.
And no one has served his country with more loyalty and dedication than he has.
I have relied on Bob Dole's help and counsel since I took office, and he's
never let me down. Let me just say again, Bob, thank you.
And
as I prepare to return to
We're
counting on you to help secure for our children the brightest future the world
has ever known, to help keep a promise that is as old as this land we love and
as big as the sky. It's the American vision of creating a new nation of free
people, a country that would be a light unto the nations, and a shining city
upon a hill. It is that vision that brought each one of us here to
Nancy
and I will never forget you and what you have meant to us. You've been good
friends. You've served
All
I can say and mean with all my heart is thank you all and God bless you all.
Note: The President
spoke at