 We'll get everybody to gather on the present for a group photo. I can't say that I was reading Dick on the search. I've just had a chance to meet with Bill Bennett representing 13 exceptional research libraries. And I wanted to drop by and say a few words to all of you about the significance of the humanities in American life. And this administration's recognition of their importance. This isn't a more appropriate place in all of the White House to do that than right here in the Roosevelt Room. People tend to forget it, besides being a soldier and an outdoorsman and a statesman. Teddy Roosevelt was a humanist in the best sense of the word. A gifted scholar, an author, and was as much at home in the realm of ideas as in the world of action. Incidentally, I would just like to interject that there is a new piece of art or whatever here in the Roosevelt Room thanks to the family. Theodore Roosevelt, who recently came, presented the first time it has ever been on public exhibition, but it will now be housed here in this room. And that is Teddy Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Award. And we're indeed proud to have it here. The world was different then. He got it sitting on a yacht. He took a boat ride with the representative of the Japanese, the Russians, and peacekeepers. We're sure that he'd approve of the grants that were announced today, especially since they will be matched at least three to one by private contributions. Back in 1933, Alfred North Whitehead listed the five most important qualities of a civilized society as truth, beauty, adventure, art, and peace. I don't think anyone's improved on that simple but profound formula. I must never forget that it is the humanities, their study, their preservation, their growth that provide the intellectual underpinnings for our values as a civilization. And deep in our understanding and appreciation of truth, beauty, adventure, art, and peace. Now, you and I know and Bill Bennett is certainly aware that it is often the arts, especially the performing arts, that seem to receive the lion's share of public attention. As a former actor, I can't really complain about it. But I do feel that it's important for us all to remember the cultural foundation for so much of the great art we all enjoy. On our ability to appreciate it and to draw their inspiration from the humanities. So I want to take this occasion to express my personal commitment to the humanities and to reaffirm the administration support of the nationally endowment for the humanities. While the federal government doesn't have the resources to be the major source of funding for the humanities, our administration has shown that it can use its limited resources to support the basic disciplines and essential activities of the humanities. It also has shown through example of encouragement the federal government can attempt to stimulate increased private sector giving forward the support of the humanities. We believe that such federal activity is appropriate, that the humanities are crucial for the vitality of our nation's educational and cultural life and the maintenance of our civilization. This also applies to the 13 outstanding independent research libraries that are represented here today. So I thank you all for coming and for the vital contribution that each of you is helping to make in our life and through our life as a free and a creative society. Thank you very much. We racked our brains to think about what we could give you. Surprising though it may be, it is a book. On the last volume of Jefferson and this time it was supported in part by the grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities will send the whole set over. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Don. Secretary Reagan, Secretary Pierce Treasurer, Duke Cannon. Ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome to the White House. This is, you know there's a study about an alumnus who visited his alma mater and while he was waiting to speak with his former economics professor. He notably shocked that the professor was giving the same examination that he'd given years ago. And when a former student asked the professor how he could get by giving this same economic test and not expect cheating, the professor said, not to worry. We leave the questions the same, we change the answers. I can't resist also, I know I told this but recently come to my attention. Having a degree in economics, you see, I can say some of these things. I have to take your time for a moment and tell about the three gentlemen who found themselves facing St. Peter. And St. Peter said there was only room at the time for one and they decided that whichever one of them was the oldest profession would be admitted. One spoke up immediately and said, well, I'm a doctor so I guess that means me. Because he said the Lord made Adam and then he made Eve out of a rib of Adam which required surgery and therefore that must be the oldest profession. Another gentleman shouldered him aside and said, I'm an engineer. And before that took place, all was chaos and God created, ended the chaos and created the world in six days. He must have been an engineer. He thought he had settled until the third gentleman said, I'm an economist. Where do you think they got all that chaos? Well, some of you may know I was a member of your committee in 1974 when it was still called the United States Industrial Payroll Savings Committee. And I was volunteer chairman for state governments that year as governor of California. So this is something of a reunion. I see that John Debuts is here. And John was chairman that year and George Schultz was secretary of the Treasury. All three of us have changed our status a bit since then. I may gotten the best of the deal. I don't know. Sometimes I'm asked about being president and I just have to say, I like the job. So I may stick with it for a little while. But we all have responsibilities for looking out for our country. And that's why we're here. As volunteers for the Savings Pond program, you're all serving the best tradition of American volunteerism. Your work, as you know, is vital in our efforts to manage the debt and reduce its cost to the taxpayers. Today's Savings Pond program is the best that's ever been offered. And this is in large measure due to the work of John Bryan and his 1982 committee who helped get the needed legislation through the Congress. Since the payment of market-based interest on bonds was authorized late October, the public and the press have given it high marks. Their best reaction to Savings Bonds in many years. Financial columnist Sylvia Porter, a longtime supporter of bonds, called it a decent deal and suggested that people participate because they'll be getting a break on Savings Bonds that's never been offered before. Sylvia and other supporters whose enthusiasm ebbed because of the Treasury could not offer competitive rates have come on strongly on our behalf now that we've added a whole new dimension to the system. Reform, of course, was long overdue. And with your help, we're going to put the Savings Bond program back in the mainstream of economic choices and make no mistake, America needs a strong Savings Bond program. Our future economic health depends on it. As leaders of our nation's top businesses and state and local government units, you can help the program succeed by making sure that the payroll savings plan succeeds. Your role is essential because 80% of bond sales are made through payroll savings. And your leadership will increase the savings and every dollar in Savings Bonds means one dollar less the Treasury will need to borrow in the market, reducing the pressure on interest rates and freeing more funds for private investment. I'm counting on each of you and I want you to know that I appreciate very much the task that you've taken on. You know, your 85 Chairman Jim Robinson is a very persuasive fellow. When we met a few weeks ago with the time I authorized the market-based rate, he took advantage of that moment to sign me up. And now that's what I call closing the sale. Thanks to Jim's salesmanship, I was the first person to sign up for the new program. Follow his lead, sign yourself up and sign up your fellow executives. If you do, 1983 will be the best savings bond campaign year ever. Everybody has a unique tradition. Many members have led highly successful, innovative campaigns. George Stinson led the Byzantennial Bond Drive, one of the best. Chuck Piliot put the blimp behind saving bonds in 1978 and just kept it there. Another committee, men have graduated from committee to bigger and better things. Bill Miller, for instance, became chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. And then Don Regan did his share, too. He spent nine years from 71 to 80 selling savings bonds in New York. Now he's joined a new firm down here in Washington where he's being even more effective. I look to you to continue the tradition of accomplishment. Your work for savings bonds will be remembered. And you're offering an example of good citizenship of which you can be rightfully proud. So I just want to thank you for your efforts and say God bless you and carry on. Don't bother to try to sell me. I've already been sold. Thank you very much. Mark, let's go. Sit down any place. It doesn't make a difference because they're going to change after the photo. They really are. Thank you very much. And then the... Thank you. Here, I agree. One more group. One more group. Yeah, I'll be out and get those pictures out. They'll have all sorts of... Second wave. Mr. President, you've decided to send more troops, more peacekeepers to Lebanon. Well, that is the truth here. It's a little awkward doing this, so I'm not taking questions, but I just have to tell you we're here to get a briefing on the situation. Are you not here because the peace process is bogged down? Lights are here. Thank you. Lights. Thank you. That was the most interesting dinner the other night. I mean, I thought it was a social event. We went to the South Africa University. And just before dinner, they announced that four of us were going to go to the living room and a table with a boat out. And the other 60 guests went in the dining room. I had a jar of some math. How's it going on Saturday night? It's a new day. I'm not working. We're going to work this over as we talk about the South and Southern. That was a lot of new things. All right. This is where you are. This is where you are. This is where you are. This is where you are. This is where you are. This is where you are. This is where you are. This is where you are. What can we do about this conversation? This can't be a deal. Sorry, doctor. was for the thing that the Congress has told us to do. That's right. Put it in the heart of my talk today. Put it in the... Just be heard in the struggle. That's earlier. That's earlier. Not an open option, unfortunately. And no one has mentioned that in the reorienting press. The whole thing is like the Dutch government. There are five factions each of which has 17% and nobody's very authenticated. No, nobody's... I'll do that. I'll do that all five times. These are his sisters. We have Becky. Oh, hello there. And this is Hill. And this is Hill. And me. Let me get you in a little bit further. You were hidden over there about... Hello, Mr. President. Hello there. It's nice to see you. You're doing a good job. Mr. Schoenig. Mr. President. Well, I know we're going to take some pictures over and find them. Yes. Fireplace there. But first I'm going to sign a letter over here, which I'm very interested in. You're going to sign a proclamation. When I'm not here in the White House, yes, I have a ranch up in California. Yeah, I think so. I'll just give you a signature. Do you want to go to it? Do you want to go to it? What's the best thing? That's what I do. Please go. Please go. Please go. Please go. Please. It's... Well, I see you're in California, too. So that's for a... Well, it's not too far from your place. Sometime you'll... They don't very often let me get out there, but now, when they do, that'll be very nice. You bet. I always know they're pretty good. They're well-trained horses, you know. They give you a good ride. I just didn't have some beautiful nude white one. Oh. What? And they've got two horses. No, only one. Not if you know how to ride them. No. He's in California, too. Yeah. Oh, sure. Especially when you're going to sign a proclamation. Yes. Thank you, gentlemen. Why don't you come over here where I'm going to sign a proclamation so that all of them can see you? What if right up here besides the... Oh, I'm sorry. Is that okay? And then I should... Now, I'm very happy to sign this letter because this letter is declaring men January the March of Dimes month. In the March of Dimes, this is its silver anniversary. It's 25th year. Last year it raised $80 million. Just to help... That's a little darker. That's a little darker. That was darker. Okay. That's my name, but it's very poorly written on account of I was kind of busy here, although it's not too well written anytime. But this, I'm really very proud to participate in this because this is to help boys and girls learn sometimes with problems. So just like you, they can swim and they can be active. Well, that's the letter that I wrote. That proclaims that January, this coming January, everybody in the miracle notes the March of Dimes. Now, well, one thing first, I know your eye is on that jar. First, I'm going to give you... My name is... I'm going to give you this pen as a souvenir of this occasion. Maybe I better let your sister... parents hold it. And for you and your sisters, this is... that's what you're going to get. It's a jar, and that's the presidential seal on there in my name, but inside there are jelly beans. Wow. Well, yeah. I think it's kind of sealed. I think your brothers and sisters are going to have to help you help you get at that. Can you give me a big squeeze? A big squeeze. Can I give you a kiss? You can? I bet if he can take it, I can take it. Show him. Yeah, sure. Oh. That's pretty strong. Pitchi. Show me the other shoulder. The other shoulder. The other shoulder you can... Do it with your head on this shoulder and account of those fellas with the cameras. All right? Now, we're going over in front of the fire. Have some pitch. We have to get him. Get him. Oh, no. in front of it. We've even got a screen in front of it. Well, that's kind of because it's the end of the day. Alright, you and I turn around now. Don't we want the family? Let's get one, just the two of you alone. Just the one? Just part of it. We have folks that are down here. Great. I live in Paso Robles too. Yes, he lives for you. So I need a picture with you. For my five children. Okay, why don't we have a family? Oh, yeah? What's that? Come on in here. Mother? Good. Hey there. That's it. Thank you, those friends. Thank you. Oh. It's been wonderful. He is. He's almost as old as he is. Here it is. Now, you've got the pen. You've got the pen. I've got some jelly beans. Are you going to share this with me? Here you go. Oh, sure. For me, Christmas stockings for Santa Claus. How about those? She gets this one. Well, thank you very much. These shall be hung in the White House because that's where we're going to have Christmas this year. Yes, sir. Well, thank you very much. We have a few other little things. This one in the City of Paso Robles. Thank you very much. And Beckins. Hey, if you're a picture, well... These are pictures. I don't know if you want to do this or not, but this is from my brothers and I at a store in Paso Robles, and we have a baseball team. We'd love to have a picture of you to put it on our wall. Oh. Okay. It's hard to go. It's hard. It's hard. It's hard. It comes with baseball and our team. All right. Yes, sir. You know, once I was... before I was this, I was an actor, and I played a very great baseball player in my story, Grover Cleveland Alexander. Right. Same old Alex. That's what I'm doing here. How many? That's... The press has got somebody going to the show. I don't know how many of them are here. Okay. Okay. Okay. I don't know where we're going.