Remarks at a Dinner Honoring Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.

I privilege to introduce to you the President of the United States [Applause] thank you very much thank you Thank You Reverend clergy mr. prime minister mr. speaker ladies and gentlemen I want to begin tonight by saying how touched I am to know that Tim wanted me here this evening why he even called me himself last week and said mr. president make sure you don't miss the dinner Tuesday night [Laughter] [Applause] but to be honest I've always known the tip was behind me even even it was only at the State of the Union address as I made each proposal I could hear tip whispering to the George Bush forget it no way fat chance I think it was inevitable oh that there'd be a standoff between us imagine one Irishman trying to corner another Irishman in the Oval Office but despite all this tip wanted me here he said that since it was March 17 that was only fitting that someone dropped by who actually had known st. Patrick [Laughter] and that's true tip I did know st. Patrick in fact we both changed to the same political party at about the same time [Laughter] now it's true that tip and I have had our political disagreements sure I said some things about tip and tip said some things about me but that's all history and anyway you know how it is I forget [Laughter] [Applause] I just follow that old motto forgive and forget or is it forget and forgive ladies and gentlemen I think you know tip and I've been kidding each other for some time now and I hope you also know how much I hope this continues for many years to come little kidding if is after all a sign of affection the sort of things that friends do to each other and mr. speaker I'm grateful you have permitted me in the past and I hope in the future that singular honor the honor of calling you my friend I think the fact [Applause] I think the fact of our friendship is testimony to the political system that we're part of and the country we live in a country which permits to not so shy and not so retiring Irishmen to have it out on the issues rather than on each other or their countrymen but in addition to celebrating a country and a personal friendship I wanted to come here tonight to join you in saluting Tip O'Neill to salute him for the years of dedication and devotion to country tips recollections of politics go back of course far beyond my own he said he's seen some who play the game well and others who do not he's seen some who loved politics and some who came to it only out of a sense of duty but through it all tip has been a vital and forceful part of America's political tradition a tradition that he has truly enriched yet Tip O'Neill represents far more than just this political tradition deep within to is the memory of places like back bay and South Boston the docks the piers those who came off the ships in Boston Harbor seeking a better land a better way for their children and they found that something between or better they rose above the prejudice and the hardship tip would see one of his contemporaries become president John F Kennedy would be 68 today had he lived and Tip can remember those golden hours better than most in this room and then not too many years later there was another of immigrants stock who would become Speaker of the House in so short a time so much leadership from one city one place one people how fitting that Boston College a place that became to so many of those new arrivals a symbol of moving upward and onward how fitting that Boston College whose towers on the heights have reached a heaven zone blue for so many should sponsor this salute to tip O'Neal tip you are a true son of Boston College and our friend [Applause] and we salute you you are also a leader of the nation and for that we honor you but you also embody so much of what this nation is all about the hope that is America so you make us proud as well my friend you make us proud thank you you you

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Length: 7min 14sec (434 seconds)

Published: Wed Aug 15 2012