 I brought some security with me today. I want to begin by thanking Bill Bennett for being here today and for his tenure as Secretary of Education. Bill, I'll have some additional things to say at the appropriate moment, but I don't want to let this occasion pass without noting my own belief that you've been the best thing to happen to American education since the McGuffey Reader. And now I'm delighted to present to you this afternoon, Laurel F. Cavasos, my nominee for the post of Secretary of Education. A distinguished educator, Dr. Cavasos holds master's and doctorate degrees in zoology and physiology, has been an anatomy professor at the Medical College of Virginia, Tufts University and Texas Tech, has served as a department chairman and dean of the Tufts University School of Medicine, and for the last eight years has been president of Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where he has been widely credited with expanding the scope of their programs and endowment, gaining national recognition for himself and his innovative leadership. As the head of the university and Health Sciences Center with more than 24,000 students and more than 8,500 employees, Dr. Cavasos is no stranger to the duties of administration. So with his administrative skills and his many accomplishments in the field of education, Dr. Cavasos is an ideal selection for this cabinet post. His views on education further qualify him, asked once by an interviewer what other rungs there were on his career ladder. He thought for a few moments, shook his head and said, as far as I'm concerned, I reached the pinnacle 30 years ago. I wanted to be a professor. Well, his commitment to the profession of teaching and to excellence in education, his belief in getting back to basics and things like homework, and above all, his emphasis on education's special importance to America's minorities are messages I hope that he will sound far and wide across the nation. Dr. Cavasos has been a leader in helping minorities gain educational opportunity. It is work where he believes progress has been made, but where much remains to be done. And I share that view. And Dr. Cavasos, you'll have my every assistance in carrying on this important work for America's minorities. Now, finally, I want to add a brief biographical note about Dr. Cavasos. He is the first Texas Tech graduate to head that university, and it is a special source of pride to his family and to the people of Texas that he is the first Hispanic to head such a major institution. The influence of Hispanic culture is evident in our everyday life. Its values such as family, work, neighborhood, and religion are a great and sustaining influence in American life, an influence that in the years ahead will continue to enrich our national life and heritage. So let me close if I may on a personal note. This job has had its thrills during the past 91 months, and not a few of those experiences I've shared with those of you in this room, but it's hard right now to think of a more exciting moment than this one, and the knowledge that Dr. Cavasos will be the first Hispanic American member of the cabinet. That says a lot about him and about Americans of Hispanic heritage. It also says something about America, about America as a place of opportunity and hope. Dr. Cavasos is the embodiment of that tradition. This is a proud day, not just for Dr. Cavasos, his family, and Hispanic Americans. It's a proud day for all Americans. I look forward to working with the new secretary. Dr. Cavasos, as an Hispanic American once said to me, let me assure you, me caza es su caza. Did you select him because he was Hispanic? I selected him because he seemed to be the best-fitted man to follow Mr. Bennett. It is one of George Bush's campaign promises, Mr. President, to... George Bush had promised that when he was elected, he would name an Hispanic to his cabinet. Are you stealing his funding? No, I'm just still working at the job here. Mr. President, no. Dr. Cavasos... Mr. President, tell him to fix your name in George Bush's cabinet. Did the vice president have any role in this? Let's go ahead with the statements there, John, and then we'll continue. I would like to express my appreciation to you, Mr. President, for the confidence and trust that you've placed in me by asking me to lead the Department of Education, if confirmed by the Senate. Your administration has clearly demonstrated that education is one of its highest priorities, and the initiatives that you have begun in this vital area will be of tremendous benefit to this nation and to this nation's future. I share your views, and I look forward to serving you and our great country in this most important post. Thank you very much, Mr. President. President, is there any politics in this at all with Texas being such an important state? Let me speak to that. He's on and he's bigger than I am. That's right, and it's still my classroom for another 30 days. Well, I mean, just for the moment, 30 seconds. I have just met with Dr. Cavasos as his plane. He has a distinguished academic career and a strong commitment to education. His story is an American success story. It's a tribute to his abilities and his hard work and to opportunity in the United States of America. I'm confident that Dr. Cavasos will find his new job interesting. I know I certainly found it interesting. I look forward to handing over the keys, the apple, the pencils, the ruler, everything else on September 20th, but not before. And along the lines of this classroom metaphor, Mr. President, I know you have another class to go to, so we all want to wish Dr. Cavasos well and offer our congratulations, and I am to remind you about that other meeting. Mr. President, the story ain't going to step down. The story ain't going to step down soon. Are we negotiating that? The principal just told me I got to get out of the class. Stay after school. Right on that platform.