Remarks by President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Former President George W. Bush and Former First Lady Laura Bush at the Official Portrait Unveiling
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
East Room
1:31 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Well, good afternoon, everybody. Thank you, Fred, for that introduction. To President George H. W. Bush and Barbara, to all the members of the Bush family who are here — it is a great privilege to have you here today. And to President and Mrs. Bush, welcome back to the house that you called home for eight years.
The White House is many things at once. It’s a working office, it’s a living museum, it’s an enduring symbol of our democracy. But at the end of the day, when the visitors go home and the lights go down, a few of us are blessed with the tremendous honor to actually live here.
I think it’s fair to say that every President is acutely aware that we are just temporary residents — we’re renters here. We’re charged with the upkeep until our lease runs out. But we also leave a piece of ourselves in this place. And today, with the unveiling of the portraits next to me, President and Mrs. Bush will take their place alongside men and women who built this country and those who worked to perfect it.
It’s been said that no one can ever truly understand what it’s like being President until they sit behind that desk and feel the weight and responsibility for the first time. And that is true. After three and a half years in office — and much more gray hair — (laughter) — I have a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the Presidents who came before me, including my immediate predecessor, President Bush.
In this job, no decision that reaches your desk is easy. No choice you make is without costs. No matter how hard you try, you’re not going to make everybody happy. I think that’s something President Bush and I both learned pretty quickly. (Laughter.)
And that’s why, from time to time, those of us who have had the privilege to hold this office find ourselves turning to the only people on
You can read the rest of this article at:: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/31/remarks-president-obama-first-lady-michelle-obama-former-president-georg
Short URL: http://thepresidency.us/?p=16641
Posted by RobertButler
on May 31 2012. Filed under Barack Obama.
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