George Herbert Walker Bush

“ The teen years are as challenging as they are exciting, and at a time when young Americans are facing more serious pressures than ever before—from substance abuse and violence to sexual promiscuity and dropping out of school—it is fitting that we set aside this day to reaffirm the unique, God-given potential of every teenager. ”

“ We must provide our teens with opportunity and hope, with firm yet loving moral guidance and discipline, and—most important—with clear, consistent examples of personal responsibility and virtue.
No child is destined to become a "bad teen." Through loving, responsible parenting and through the support of schools, churches, and communities that set high standards of character and conduct for people of all ages, we can help every young American to recognize and attain his or her fullest potential. ”

“ It is vital that we recognize and reinforce good behavior among teens and instill in every child a positive sense of responsibility, self-control, and self-worth. The pursuit of freedom and independence is characteristic of adolescence. ”