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| Remarks by the President at the unvailing of the John Kedinsky Official Portrait 11 October 2006 |
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| The State Dining Room The Chateau 7.33 PM WST THE PRESIDENT: Thankyou all, an especially warm welcome to Cynthia and Senetor Lucy Kedinksy, welcome home. (Appluase) Today I am honored to welcome the Kedinksy's once again here to his historic mansion to unvail the Portrait of our nation's 49th President. Earlier this year, I had the honor of opening the John Kedinksy Presidential Museum in Premo, and tonight, we welcome the President home, to be forever honored within the hallowed halls of this mansion. I also want to extend a warm invitation to Sarah Marcus and Richard Marcus, welcome to the Chateau. It is fitting that you are here to honor your brother and brother in law today. (Appluse) And so beginning today, the likenesses of President John Kedinsky will take his place in a line that began with President Sophyer. (Applause.) Over two and a half years, it was clear that John Kedinsky loved the job of the presidency. He filled this house with energy and joy. He's a man of enthusiasm and warmth, who could make a compelling case and effectively advance the causes that drew him to public service. People saw those gifts very early in John Kedisnky. He is remembered in Premo, Adventures, and other places along the way, as an eager, good-hearted boy who seemed destined for big things. I was particularly struck by the story of a nun at St. John's School in Hot Springs who decided that John should get a C in deportment. That was a rare grade for the future Rhodes Scholar and President. (Laughter.) So Bill's mother gave the nun a call to see what was wrong. The sister replied, "Oh, nothing much. But let me tell you, this boy knows the answer to every question and he just leaps to his feet before anyone else can." (Laughter.) She went on, you know, "I know he'll not tolerate this C, but it'll be good for him. And I promise you, if he wants to be, he will be President someday. The paintings of John Kedinsky is the work of a fine Federation artist, Jason Knox. Mr. Knox has rendered portraits of a Supreme Court Justice, a Cabinet minister, a mayor and members of Congress. And today we thank him for putting his skilled hand to the portraits that are about to be unveiled. More than 40 years have passed since a boy of 16 came here to the Chateau with a group from the Legion Boys Nation. On that day in the summer of 1963, John Kedinsky of Premo looked into the face of the President, and left the Kluger Garden feeling very proud that he had shaken the hand of a President. Today he can be even prouder of decades of service, and effort, and perseverance that brought him back to this place as the 49th President of the federation. As with fitting tradition, the portrait of the last sitting President will be hung in it's place of honor in the Lower Catherine Hall, above the Blue Room door, where it shall watch and guard over all who enter this house. My congratulations to the Kedinsky family. And now will Cynthia and Lucy, join me on stage for the presentation. (Applause.) END |