Text 55, 90 rader
Skriven 2004-11-09 23:32:48 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0411092) for Tue, 2004 Nov 9
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Remarks by First Lady Laura Bush at Reopening of Pennsylvania Avenue in
Front of the White House to Pedestrians
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For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
November 9, 2004

Remarks by First Lady Laura Bush at Reopening of Pennsylvania Avenue in
Front of the White House to Pedestrians
Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C.



10:20 A.M. EST

MRS. BUSH: Thank you very much, Mary. Thank you for your leadership. And
congratulations on a marvelous Pennsylvania Avenue. And especially thanks
to the Federal Highway Administration for their great work. Thanks to Mayor
Williams for your constant support for the reopening of Pennsylvania
Avenue, and to Chairman Cogbill for your vision, and to our architect,
Michael Valkenburgh for your marvelous design. Thank you very much.

Of course, a special thanks to Dick Friedman and everyone at the National
Capital Planning Commission, the National Park Service, the United States
Secret Service for the long hours you've put into the design and reopening
of Pennsylvania Avenue. And I especially appreciate John Carl Warnecke,
thank you so much for even bringing this idea to my attention and thank you
for the work you've already done for Lafayette Park. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)

Today, after many months of anticipation, we celebrate the opening of the
newly designed Pennsylvania Avenue. And I know this process hasn't been
easy. After all, as Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, if you don't
have 40 years to spare, don't get involved in urban renewal. (Laughter.)

But in just a few months, you've transformed Pennsylvania Avenue into this
very inviting urban landscape. And I've watched from those windows for the
last year as this has happened. It's been a really wonderful process to
watch, and it's so thrilling to have the fences down now and have it back
open again.

This thoroughfare has always been a connector, connecting the White House
and the Capitol and the three branches of government. And a new
Pennsylvania Avenue will again connect visitors with this glorious city,
with the people's house and with American heritage.

President Bush and I look forward to continuing the great tradition
established by President Jefferson of walking along this avenue on
Inauguration Day. School children can explore the avenue and see where
carriages once waited for President Jackson under the North Portico.
Visitors can meet here and travel to the many monuments, theaters and
restaurants that are right here around the White House. And benches along
the open walkways will make welcome spots for residents to enjoy the
historic scenery of Washington, D.C.

I'm proud that this stretch of the Avenue of the People has been designed
for the people. In addition to the benches and the pedestrian walkways,
rows of mature American elms will be planted this spring. The American elm
will provide a spectacular promenade and welcome shade for pedestrians.
These elms will replace native elm trees that once lined the south side of
the avenue.

President John Quincy Adams was very fond of the American elm, and a tree
that he planted in 1826 graced the southeast lawn of the White House until
1990. A year later, Barbara Bush planted a tree propagated from the Adams
elm on the White House grounds. And I'm really happy to continue the
tradition by planting elms here along the avenue. (Applause.)

More than 200 years ago, Pierre L'Enfant looked upon a stretch of land and
imagined a city worthy of great ideals and great leaders. Pennsylvania
Avenue would be his grand avenue and he hoped to line it with institutions
that would be, and I quote, "attractive to the learned and afford diversion
to the idle."

Thanks to all of you, we take another step in fulfilling his vision.
Congratulations on this great milestone. And thanks for your great work.

And now it's my honor to introduce a mayor who not only makes our capital
city a great place to visit, but he also makes it a wonderful place to call
home. Mayor Anthony Williams. (Applause.)

END 10:24 A.M. EST
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