George Herbert Walker Bush

“ Throughout his quest to end racial segregation in the United States and to promote understanding and respect among all people, Martin Luther King urged America to fulfill its promise—and its potential—as a Nation dedicated to the belief "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." ”

“ A minister by vocation, Martin Luther King sought righteous hearts as well as just laws. He warned that humankind suffered from "a poverty of the spirit which stands in stark contrast to our scientific and technological abundance." In this last decade of the 20th century, as we marvel at the historic achievements of the past 100 years and anticipate the many to come, let us enrich our children with a wealth of encouragement, hope, and moral guidance—and with living examples of racial comity and friendship. ”

“ King's assassination in 1968 at the age of 39 prevented his living to see the fulfillment of his dreams for America, his legacy has continued to challenge and inspire us. Over the years the United States has continued to eliminate legal and attitudinal barriers that have, in the past, limited opportunities on the basis of race. We must go on striving to realize Dr. King's vision of an America where individuals are "not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." ”