 And good evening and welcome to the White House. And you know, I realize that this is an anniversary occasion, but I go back with your kind of music long before the beginning of the association. When WHO, Clear Channel Station to Moyne, Iowa, and as a matter of fact, at one point, we had a program director who wasn't sympathetic to that kind of music. But the head of the company was, and he wanted more of it, and I can never forget the program director slamming down the phone and then saying to those of us who are present, all right, I'll put two coffins of pine on the 729. But seriously, since country music is only a very few art forms that we can claim as purely American, it is a special pleasure to welcome its brightest stars to the White House and our national home. You belong here. Your music belongs here, and I hope you agree. It sounds pretty good, and it bounces off these historic walls. Someone once said that it's easier to understand a nation by listening to its music than it is by learning their language. When you listen to country music, you hear the beauty of our wide open spaces, the emotions of a people whose hearts are as big and full as the land they live in. The country's sound has become a goodwill ambassador for us all around the world through its variety, spreading an understanding of our basic values, our high spirit, and determined self-reliance. And as others understand this music, they also understand and appreciate our deep-seated love of country, freedom, and God. On behalf of all Americans, I want to congratulate the Country Music Association on its 25th anniversary. On the art form it is nurtured in the music with which your members have enriched our lives. All America celebrates with you. And I particularly look forward to one whale of a concert at Constitution Hall. What an appropriate place to make music history was such a profoundly American tradition. So welcome to Washington and happy anniversary. Thank you and God bless you. I don't feel right to stand in front of you. Mr. President, Mrs. Reagan, distinguished members of Congress, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the board of directors of the Country Music Association and the artists appearing here for the 25th anniversary show, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for you hosting this marvelous reception. Mr. President, as a memento of the show and CMA's 25th anniversary, we would like to present for you for your record collection, a personally autographed album from each of the artists that will appear on the show tomorrow night. They're too heavy to pick up, so I'm not gonna try to do that. That's what these are the two cases here. In addition, we have a special personal leather-bound copy of Billboard Magazine special issue released this week commemorating this 25th anniversary. I'm gonna just pick that up. Billboard Magazine. And, let's see if we can get rid of that. In addition, thank you. The last deal we have is some tour jackets embroidered with your names and with the 25th anniversary emblem. And I'm told, I'm not too sure if it's right, if you'll put these on, it'll get you backstage anywhere you go. The music, and he didn't really mean anything by Billboard. I'm having enough trouble with the press. I keep Billboard on my side. I, we're looking forward to that. Oh, thank you. Listen how nice of you to send that letter up in the number.