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Executive Order 13107 - Implementation of Human Rights Treaties
Executive Order 13107 - Implementation of Human Rights Treaties
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Remarks on the Unveiling of a know and respect Mike Espy in that endeav-
Portrait of Former Secretary of or.
Agriculture Michael Espy I knew we also shared a vision for America,
a new approach to government rooted in our
December 10, 1998 most enduring values, changed and shaped
to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Oh, happy day. [Laughter] Id like to begin
The need for change was nowhere more evi-
by thanking Deputy Secretary Rominger,
dent than at the Department of Agriculture,
who has served so well both Secretary Espy
which has, as Dan Glickman said, since the
and Secretary Glickman. I thank Dan Glick-
time of President Lincoln, nurtured the
man and Rhoda for being a part of our ad-
seeds of renewal for America.
ministrations family.
On Christmas Eve I said, The Depart-
Dan Glickman pointed out when I dis-
cussed this appointment with him that he ment of Agriculture cant simply be a stolid
would be in the proud tradition of my com- representative of the interests of the past. It
mitment to a Cabinet that looks like America has to be a real force for family farmers in
and to diversity because there were even our country, for the agricultural issues of
fewer Jewish farmers than black farmers. today and tomorrow. Mike understood that.
[Laughter] As the first African-American to become the
I want to thank my friends Reverend Secretary of Agriculture, he was the very em-
Wintley Phipps, Reverend Walter Fauntroy, bodiment of change. Not only here but in
Reverend Beecher Hicks, and the Howard many other areas of administration policy
Gospel Choir here. They are wonderful. I one of eight African-Americans who have
thank the members of the Cabinet and now served in the Presidents Cabinet in the
former members of the Cabinet who are last 6 years. And I am very grateful for that.
here, Secretary Herman, Secretary Richard- And Im grateful to Senator Leahy and
son, Secretary OLeary, EPA Administrator Senator Carol Moseley-Braun for confirming
Browner, Ambassador Barshefsky. John Po- them all.
desta and Bob Nash and a whole slew of peo- In his 2 years at the helm Mike changed
ple from the White House are here; Senator the Department of Agriculture as profoundly
Leahy, Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, Con- and beneficially as any Secretary in its his-
gressmen Clyburn, Jefferson, Eddie Bernice tory. It is fitting today we raise his portrait.
Johnson, Stenholm, Congressman Thomp- He made history, and today we honor him
son. Were glad to see former Congressmen for it.
Montgomery and Coelho and many other Id like to talk a little bit about his record
former Members of Congress here. And Rev- as Secretary of Agriculture. His first great
erend Jackson, thank you for coming; and to challenge came only a few days after he start-
the Espy family and all the members of Mike ed on the job, when an outbreak of e-coli
Espys extended family here. from tainted meat took the lives of three chil-
Six years ago, on Christmas Eve, I an- dren in Washington State. Mike went to
nounced that I would nominate, and I quote, Washington, promised the victims families
my neighbor, my friend, and my supporter, strong action, and he delivered.
Mike Espy to be Secretary of Agriculture. The new science-based inspection proce-
He was a young Congressman from Mis- dures developed during his tenure and put
sissippi when I served as Governor of Arkan- into place under Secretary Glickman have
sas. We shared a passion for many issues, in- cut incidents of salmonella contamination in
cluding rural development. pork by a third, in poultry by nearly 50 per-
As a Congressman, Mike worked with my cent, according to the preliminary data we
Senator, Dale Bumpers, to set up the Lower have. The Department of Agriculture has no
Mississippi Delta Development Commission, higher responsibility than ensuring the safety
a commission I had the honor to chair. It of Americas food supply. Today it is fulfilling
brought jobs and growth to one of Americas that responsibility, thanks in no small meas-
poorest, least developed regions. I came to ure to Mike Espys leadership.