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CIVIL RIGHTS SUMMIT, APRIL 10th, 2014.
>> THANK YOU ALL. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS
SUMMIT. WE HAVE IN THIS ROOM THE LBJ
LBJ -- MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LBJ FOUNDATION, MANY
MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND MANY PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE BEEN
IN THE PROCEEDINGS OVER THE PAST THREE DAYS, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT.
THANK YOU ALL, WE COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER
PARTNER THAN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
AND -- [ APPLAUSE ]
-- AND I'M -- I NOT ONLY WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT
POWERS, I ALSO WANT TO INVITE HIM TO THE PODIUM TO
SAY A FEW WORDS. BILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WELL, THANK YOU, MARK. AND TO ALL OF YOU THIS
EVENING, WELCOME. WE'RE
IN THE LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON LIBRARY, BUT WE'RE
ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND I DO
DO, FOR OUR CAMPUS, WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU.
TO THE
UNIVERSITY. WE HAVE HAD A SPECTACULAR
THREE DAYS ON THE CAMPUS, CELEBRATING THE 50th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND HONORING THE
LEGACY OF PRESIDENT LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON AND MARK, I
WANT TO CONGRATULATE
YOU, THE L.B.J. FOUNDATION AND
EVERYONE ELSE AT THE LBJ LIBRARY WHO HAS DONE SUCH A
MARVELOUS, MARVELOUS JOB. AND THERE IS NO
BETTER WAY TO FINISH AND CAP THIS GREAT
CELEBRATION THAN BY HAVING ANOTHER SON OF TEXAS, THE 43
43rd PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, GEORGE W.
BUSH AND THE FIRST LADY, FIRST OF TEXAS AND THEN OF
THE UNITED STATES, LAURA BUSH, HERE WITH US TODAY.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT IN A MOMENT BUT --
BUT LET ME SAY, MR. MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS A BETTER STATE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS A BETTER COUNTRY.
AND A BETTER WORLD. AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE,
THANK YOU FOR STEWARDING AND MAKING IT BETTER IN THE GAME
OF BASEBALL. [LAUGHTER].
AND LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY TO YOU,
TWO, THANK YOU. TO LAURA.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT A BETTER STATE AND A BETTER
COUNTRY AND A BETTER WORLD AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR
IMPROVING THE CULTURE OF OUR STATE AND THE EDUCATION OF
OUR STATE. AND THE LITERACY.
IN OUR STATE. GOD BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]
ANYBODY WHO KNOWS PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH KNOWS THAT
HE'S ALWAYS ON TIME AND HE LIKES THINGS TO BE BRIEF.
INCLUDING INTRODUCTIONS. AND WHEN I ASKED THE STAFF
HOW BRIEF WOULD YOU LIKE THE INTRODUCTION, THEY SAID
SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
WELCOME GEORGE W. BUSH. [LAUGHTER].
BUT IN THIS CASE, PRESIDENT BUSH HAS ASKED ME TO SAY A
FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ONE LIVING PRESIDENT WHO WASN'T
HERE DURING THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
ONE OF OUR HONORARY CO-- CO--CHAIRS, OUR 41st
PRESIDENT, GEORGE HERBERT WALKER, BUSH.
THE ELDER BUSH BEGAN HIS POLITICAL CAREER IN THIS
STATE WHEN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AS AT ITS HEIGHT.
WHEN HE RAN FOR THE SENATE IN 1964 AGAINST RALPH YARBOR
YARBORUGH WHO AT GREAT POLITICAL COST SUPPORTED THE
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, CANDIDATE BUSH HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO USE YARBORUGH YARBORUGH'S VOTE AGAINST HIM
HIM. AS HE WROTE TO A FRIEND IN
JULY OF THE SAME YEAR, I WANT TO WIN, BUT NOT AT THE
EXPENSE OF JUSTICE, NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DIGNITY
OF ANY MAN. NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF HURT
HURTING A FRIEND, YOU ARE TEACHING MY CHILDREN A
PREJUDICE WHICH I DO DO NOT FEEL.
MR. BUSH LOST THAT RACE, BUT HE WON A SEAT IN CONGRESS IN
1966. TWO YEARS LATER, HE INCURRED
HIS OWN POLITICAL COST BY VOTING FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS
ACT OF 1968, BETTER KNOWN AS THE FAIR HOUSING ACT.
THIS IS FROM ANOTHER LETTER HE WROTE, BEFORE CASTING HIS
VOTE FOR THE FAIR HOUSING ACT.
I'LL VOTE FOR THIS BILL ON FINAL PASSAGE.
HAVE MISGIVES, GIANT POLITICAL MISGIVINGS MISGIVINGS,
ALSO CONSTITUTION.
BUT I'M FOR THE BILL AND IN MY HEART I KNOW THAT YOU ARE
RIGHT ABOUT THE SYMBOLISM OF OPEN HOUSING.
THE MAIL IS MORE ON THIS SUBJECT THAN ANY OTHER
SUBJECT THAT I'VE ADDRESSED IN CONGRESS.
ALL AGAINST, EXCEPT FOR TWO LETTERS.
500 TO TWO, I WOULD GUESS. BUT THIS WILL BE MY
CHARACTER BUILDER. WE, OF COURSE, KNOW
PRESIDENT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH AS A BEACON OF
CHARACTER. AMONG THE THINGS THAT HE DID
TO FURTHER THE CAUSE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AS PRESIDENT
WERE TO REAUTHORIZE THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND TO SIGN
THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990, A
LANDMARK LAW THAT BANS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON
DISABILITY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT HE PASSED
HIS VALUES ON TO HIS SON, OUR 43rd PRESIDENT, WHO I
HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING NOW.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING,
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU ALL. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. BE SEATED
. I THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE BACK TO THE LBJ LIBRARY.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I INTRODUCED MY MOTHER.
WHICH IS A PRETTY TOUGH TASK TASK.
[LAUGHTER]. YOU KNOW, I'M IMPRESSED BY
THE NEW RENOVATIONS, MARK, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
SHOWING THEM TO ME. FORMER PRESIDENTS COMPARE
THEIR LIBRARYIES THE WAY OTHER MEN MAY COMPARE THEIR
THEIR -- WELL -- [LAUGHTER]. JUST WONDERING HOW LBJ WOULD
HAVE HANDLED THAT. [LAUGHTER].
HE WAS A FUNNY GUY AT TIMES. [LAUGHTER].
THE -- THE PRESIDENT TODAY QUOTED ONE OF MY FAVORITE
L.B.J. LINES WHEN HE SAID, " "IF ONE MORNING HE SAID I
WALKED ON THE WATER ACROSS THE POTOMAC RIVER, THE
HEADLINE THAT AFTERNOON WOULD READ THE PRESIDENT
CANNOT SWIM." THE REAL INFLUENCE OF A
PRESIDENT IS NOT FOUND IN THE HEADLINES.
IT CAN ONLY BE JUDGED WITH TIME.
AND AT THE DISTANCE OF A HALF A CENTURY WE KNOW WITH
COMPLETE CERTAINTY THAT AMERICA IS A MORE JUST AND
GENEROUS COUNTRY BECAUSE LBJ SET HIS MIND AND WILL TO THE
CAUSE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. [ APPLAUSE ]
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AND SO IS LAURA.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US. [ APPLAUSE ]
MARK YOU'VE DONE -- [ [ APPLAUSE ] -- YOU DON'T
NEED TO GET CARRIED AWAY. ANYWAY, THRILLED TO BE HERE
WITH THE JOHNSON FAMILY, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR HOSPITALITY, LINDA AND LUCY, WE'RE MEMBERS OF THE
SIBLING CLUB! I -- AND BILL POWERS,
PRESIDENT OF U.T. GREETED US US.
THANK YOU, BILL, FOR YOUR SERVICE HERE TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. DAVID FERRERIO IS HERE THE
ARCHIVEIST. MARGARET SPELLINGS,
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION WHEN I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE
PRESIDENT, I KNOW SHE'S HERE SOMEWHERE.
[ APPLAUSE ] YEAH.
NOT THAT GREAT OF SEAT. [LAUGHTER].
BUT IT'S -- [LAUGHTER] -- YOU'RE IMPORTANT TO ME!
[LAUGHTER].
SO SHE IS THE HEAD OF THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL
CENTER. THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
REQUIRED THE SPIRITUAL AND MORAL LEADERSHIP OF REVEREND
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IT REQUIRED THE COURAGE AND
SACRIFICE OF PROTESTERS WHO WALKED TOWARD WATER HOSES
AND DOGS AND POLICE BATONS. BUT IN THE END, IT ALSO
REQUIRED A LEGISLATIVE STRATEGIST OF UNCOMMON
DETERMINATION AND SKILL TO TRANSLATE THE DEMANDS OF
CONSCIENCE INTO THE WORDS OF LAW.
WITHIN DAYS OF JOHN F. KENNEDY'S MURDER THE NEW
PRESIDENT DECIDED THAT HIS FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
WOULD BE CIVIL RIGHTS. HE WOULD TURN A NATION'S
GRIEF TOWARD A GREAT NATIONAL PURPOSE.
IN FIGHTING FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 PRESIDENT
LYNDON JOHNSON CALLED THE PARTY OF LINCOLN TO ITS BEST
TRADITIONS. HE CALLED ON HIS FELLOW
SOUTHERNERS TO LAY DOWN THE HEAVY BURDENS OF THEIR PAST.
HE AFFIRMED THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WHEN OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FAIL IN THEIR
PRIMARY DUTIES. HE MADE ONE PRINCIPLE CLEAR
FOR ALL TIME: A SEGREGATEED SOCIETY CAN NEVER BE A
SUCCESSFUL SOCIETY. BECAUSE THE ONLY SUCCESS
WORTH HAVING IS ACHIEVEED TOGETHER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CALLED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT,
ALONG WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, A SECOND EMANCIPATION.
LYNDON JOHNSON WAS CONTINUING THE WORK OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WHICH IS REALLY THE WORK OF THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.
AND THROUGH THESE EFFORTS LBJ EARNED THE HIGHEST
COMPLIMENT A DEMOCRACY CAN PROVIDE.
HE MADE US ONE PEOPLE. I'VE GOT GREAT RESPECT FOR
THE WAY PRESIDENT JOHNSON USED THE PRESIDENCY TO
ACHIEVE BIG GOALS. HE UNDERSTOOD THE RISKS FOR
HIS PARTY, AND THE RISKS TO HIS COALITION IN PUSHING
CIVIL RIGHTS. NO ONE KNEW POLITICS BETTER
THAN LBJ. YET WHEN CHALLENGED HE
RESPONDED, "WELL, WHAT THE HELL IS THE PRESIDENCY FOR?"
EVERY GENERATION OF AMERICAN AMERICANS WILL LOOK BACK AT
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND SAY SAY, "THIS IS WHAT THE
PRESIDENCY IS FOR." [ APPLAUSE ]
IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT MANY OF THE DEFINEING
STRUGGLES OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA, FROM LITTLE ROCK
CENTRAL TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI, TOOK PLACE IN
EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS. THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN
OPPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION ALWAYS DENY REAL LEARNING.
THOSE WHO FIGHT OPPRESSION ALWAYS INSIST ON EQUAL
EDUCATION. THROUGH CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS WE
ASSURE JUSTICE IN THE PRESENT, THROUGH EDUCATION
WE SECURE JUSTICE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
KING KNEW THIS AND CALLED EDUCATION A ROAD TO EQUALITY
AND CITIZENSHIP. BOTH THESE DESTINATIONS ARE
VERY IMPORTANT. EDUCATION PROVIDES THE
SKILLS NECESSARY TO EXPAND HORIZONS.
AND ALLOW FOR ECONOMIC SUCCESS.
EDUCATION ALSO EXPOSES YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO THE GREAT
IDEALS OF OUR HERITAGE. LIBERTY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
PARTICIPATION AND PATRIOTISM PATRIOTISM.
AND IN SO DOING, WE SECURE OUR DEMOCRATIC WAY OF LIFE.
LYNDON JOHNSON KNEW THE CENTRALITY OF EDUCATION TO
CIVIL RIGHTS. AT THE AGE OF 21 WHILE WORK
WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH SAN MARCOS TEACHERS COLLEGE, LBJ
TAUGHT FIFTH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADEERS IN COTULLA,
TEXAS, HIS STUDENTS WERE THE IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN OF
MIGRANT WORKERS. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE
EXPERIENCE OF BEING AN 11 11-YEAR-OLD WHO FORGOT YOUR
HOMEWORK AND TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT TO LYNDON JOHNSON
JOHNSON? [LAUGHTER].
I SUSPECT THAT JOHNSON TREATMENT WAS PRETTY GOOD
FOR CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE. THE REST OF HIS LIFE, LYNDON
JOHNSON CREDITED THIS EXPERIENCE IN COTULLA AS HIS
FIRST LESSON IN POVERTY AND PREJUDICE.
IT HELPS EXPLAIN THE PASSION HE BROUGHT TO THE ISSUE OF
EDUCATION. IN 1965, HE CONVENED THE
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION.
THE SAME YEAR HE PUSHED THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT. WHICH FOCUSED NEW FUNDING ON
THE WORST INEQUITYIES AND MADE SUPPORT TO SCHOOL
DISTRICTS CONTINGENT UPON NON-DISCRIMINATION.
HE PASSED THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT AND HEAD START
START. IN 2007, TO RECOGNIZE HIS
ENDURING INFLUENCE, I SIGNED A LAW NAMING THE EDUCATION
BUILDING IN WASHINGTON AFTER PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND IT WAS MY HONOR TO WELCOME THE JOHNSON FAMILY.
ALL OF THEM. TO THE OVAL OFFICE.
BUT I WAS PARTICULARLY HONORED TO HAVE MADE THE
PHONE CALL TO YOUR MOTHER, ONE OF THE GREAT LADIES IN
TEXAS HISTORY, AND IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY AS WELL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THE 1960S BEGAN A LIMITED ROLE FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN AMERICAN EDUCATION.
THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN SOME HAVE CLAIMED.
AND WORSE THAN MANY HAD HOPED.
THESE PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY TITLE I, HELPED BREAK DOWN
THE DUAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE SOUTH.
POORER STATES HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS RELATIVE TO RICHER
STATES. SINCE THE 1970S, THE
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS BETWEEN WHITES AND MINORITIES HAVE
NARROWED. DURING THE LAST 50 YEARS,
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN GENERALLY POSITIVE.
BUT COMPLETELY INSUFFICIENT. EDUCATION AMERICA IS NO
LONGER LEGALLY SEPARATE, BUT IT IS STILL NOT EFFECTIVELY
EQUAL. QUALITY EDUCATION FOR
EVERYONE OF EVERY BACKGROUND REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST
URGENT CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES OF OUR TIME.
[ APPLAUSE ]
BEGINNING IN THE 1990S, MANY STATES, INCLUDING THE GREAT
GREATEST STATE, THAT BEING TEXAS, LOST PATIENCE WITH
THE PACE OF CHANGE. THESE REFORM EFFORTS GATHER
GATHERED INTO A NATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY MOVEMENT AND
CULMINATEED IN THE BIPARTISAN EFFORT CALLED NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND. IT IS A RARE KIND OF ISSUE
THAT COULD UNITE TED KENNEDY KENNEDY, ME AND GEORGE
MILLER. [LAUGHTER].
SOMEBODY TOLD ME MILLER IS HERE.
>> WAS. >> WAS HERE.
>> AWESOME GUY, BY THE WAY. WE FOUND COMMON GROUND IN
THIS, SCHOOLS MUST DEMONSTRATE IMPROVEED RESULTS
ON READING AND MATH FOR MINORITY CHILDREN OR FACE
CONSEQUENCES IF THEY DON'T. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT
ANYTHING SO BASIC COULD BE SO CONTROVERSIAL.
IT WAS. AND IT STILL IS.
BETWEEN 1999 AND 2008 READ READING SCORES FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN NINE NINE-YEAR-OLDS INCREASED
ABOUT TWO GRADE LEVELS. MATH SCORES FOR HISPANIC
NINE-YEAR-OLDS ROSE ABOUT THE SAME.
THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP WAS CLOSING.
SADLY, THE GAINS HAVE STALL STALLED.
NO LAW IS PERFECT. EVERY LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT
EVENTUALLY REQUIRES ADJUSTMENT.
BUT THE PROBLEM COMES WHEN PEOPLE START TO GIVE UP ON
THE GOAL. SOME HAVE IDEOLOGICAL
ROLE IN EDUCATION. SOME ARE TOO COMFORTABLE
WITH THE STATUS QUO. THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN
IDEOLOGY AND COMPLACENCY SEEMS TO BE GETTING STRONGER
STRONGER. I FEAR THAT THE SOFT BIGOTRY
OF LOW EXPECTATIONS IS RETURNING.
AND FOR THE SAKE OF AMERICA AMERICA'S CHILDREN, THAT IS
SOMETHING WE CANNOT ALLOW. LET ME FOCUS ON ONE FACT
THAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE EVEN TO CONTEMPLATE.
ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT TESTING, THE AVERAGE READING
SCORE FOR A WHITE STUDENT AT AGE 13 IS ABOUT THE SAME AS
AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AT AGE 17.
IT'S A FOUR-YEAR, FOUR-GRADE ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
IN OUR ECONOMY WHERE HIGHER SKILLS ARE EVER MORE
NECESSARY, THAT IS SCANDALOUS.
IN A NATION DEDICATED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY THAT'S
SCANDALOUS. AMONG THE POLITICAL ERAS OF
KING, JOHNSON, DIRKSON AND HUMPHREY, THIS SHOULD BE A
NATIONAL SCANDAL DEMANDING ACTION.
[ APPLAUSE ]
NONE OF THE SOLUTIONS ARE EASY.
WE DON'T HAVE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE A FEDERAL EDUCATION
SYSTEM. POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY ARE
PROPERLY SPREAD ON MANY LEVELS SO THE NEED FOR RE
REFORM AND CREATIVITY IS SPREAD ON MANY LEVELS.
AND SOMETIMES TEACHING PROFESSIONALS FEEL TRAPPED
IN THE SAME MASSIVE, I AM IMMUTE IMMUTABLE STRUCTURES AS
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. BUT WHATEVER DIFFICULTYIES WE
FACE, THEY WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED BY WEAKENING
ACCOUNTABILITY. THERE'S A GROWING TEMPTATION
AMONG PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES AT
THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, TO LOWER EXPECTATIONS
EXPECTATIONS. BUT ANY EDUCATION GAINS WE
MAKE WILL EVENTUALLY BE UNDERMINED BY LOWERING OUR
SIGHTS IN THE CLASSROOM. WITHOUT MEANINGFUL ACCOUNT
ACCOUNTABILITY, OUR SIGHTS INTO REALITY WILL BE DIMMED.
WITHOUT MEANINGFUL ACCOUNT ACCOUNTABILITY, IT IS POOR
AND MINORITY CHILDREN WHO SUFFER THE MOST.
THE GOAL OF ENDING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS SHOULD
UNITE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
IT SHOULD UNITE TEACHERS AND PARENTS, BUSINESS LEADERS
AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS. IT SHOULD UNITE ANYONE
COMMITTED TO A REASONABLE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM,
TRANSPARENCY WITH RESULTS AND HOLDING THE SYSTEM
ACCOUNTABLE. ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN UN
UNLEASHING LOCAL CREATIVITY, WHILE MAINTAINING CLEAR
MEASURES AND OBJECTIVES. THERE IS A NEEDED FEDERAL
ROLE. IT'S NOT TO DICTATE METHODS,
BUT TO HELP EDUCATE POOR AND MINORITY AND SPECIAL
EDUCATION CHILDREN. BUT WHEN WE INVEST TAXPAYERS
TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, IT IS ONLY RIGHT TO INSIST UPON
RESULTS. [ APPLAUSE ]
AND WHEN WE FIND POOR RESULTS, IT IS ONLY RIGHT TO
BLOW THE WHISTLE ON MEDIOCRI MEDIOCRITY.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS A UNIFYING NATIONAL PURPOSE
BUT IT IS NOT A NATURAL CONDITION.
IT MUST BE PURPOSELY AND CAREFULLY BUILT BY EVERY
GENERATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
IT IS THE CONTINUING GOAL OF EDUCATION REFORM.
AND IT REALLY IS A CONTINUING WORK OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT. IT IS CENTRAL TO OUR EFFORTS
AT THE BUSH INSTITUTE AND CENTRAL TO THE LEGACY OF THE
36th PRESIDENT. WHEN LYNDON JOHNSON RETURNED
TO COTULLA AS PRESIDENT, MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE A SCENE
SCENE, AND SPOKE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE HE
HAD TAUGHT 38 YEARS BEFORE, HERE'S WHAT HE SAID, HE SAID
"IN THAT YEAR I THINK THAT I LEARNED FAR MORE THAN I
THE GREATEST LESSON WAS THIS ONE.
NOTHING AT ALL MATTERS MORE THAN TRAINED INTELLIGENCE.
IT IS THE KEY NOT ONLY TO SUCCESS IN LIFE, BUT IT IS
THE KEY TO MEANING IN LIFE." AND THAT IS TRUE FOR OUR
NATION, TOO. ON THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION
WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MEANING OF AMERICA.
AND THE EXTENT OF ITS PROMISE.
AND IN THIS CAUSE, THE PASSION AND ENERGY OF LYNDON