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The President: Thank you
very much, Secretary Mattis,
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for that wonderful introduction
and for your devoted service
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to our nation.
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Nobody has done
it like you.
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I'm thrilled to be back on
this magnificent ship
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for this historic moment with
the amazing men and women
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of the United States Navy.
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(Applause.)
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I was with you four months ago,
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and I knew that I had to be here
today, and I told you
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I'd be back to congratulate
you and the crew and everybody
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involved on
commissioning the newest,
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largest, and most advanced
aircraft carrier
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in the history of this world.
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That's a big achievement.
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After today, wherever this
ship sails, you will all carry
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a proud title: plank
owner of the USS Gerald R. Ford.
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(Applause.)
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For the rest of your lives,
you'll be able to tell
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your friends
and family that you served
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on the greatest ship in
the United States Navy
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and, in my opinion, on the
greatest ship anywhere
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in the world.
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Everyone should take a
moment to celebrate
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this incredible achievement.
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I want to thank the many
public servants who have
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joined us here today:
Treasury Secretary
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Mnuchin, Governor Snyder,
Governor McAuliffe,
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Senator Wicker, and
members of Congress,
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Secretary Stackley,
Admiral Richardson,
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senior military leaders, and, of
course,
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the great Captain McCormack.
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(Applause.)
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Captain, I know you will
exemplify integrity at the helm.
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And have a good time
doing it, Captain.
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Proud of you.
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Thanks to the entire Ford
family -- Susan, Jack, Steve,
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and Mike -- for
all that you've done
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to support this ship
on its voyage.
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Thank you, Susan.
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(Applause.)
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Thank you.
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I also want to recognize
two other people who were
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very special to
President Ford.
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Thank you, Vice President
Cheney and former
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Secretary of
Defense Rumsfeld.
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Thank you.
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(Applause.)
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They look great.
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They look great.
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As we put this stunning
ship into the service
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of our nation, we must
also pay tribute
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to the thousands of citizens,
military and civilian,
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who helped design
and build her.
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Their love of country has
been poured into
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every rivet and bulkhead
on this vessel.
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You hammered, chiseled,
and sculpted this mighty hull.
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You were there when the
first steel was cut, when
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the turbines first roared
to life, and when those
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beautiful bronze propellers
first began to spin --
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and spin they did.
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And now you are here to
witness the moment
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when your incredible work of
art becomes the pride
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of the United States Navy and
a symbol of American power
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and prestige, no matter
where in the world you go.
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American steel and
American hands
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have constructed a 100,000-ton
message to the world:
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American might is second
to none, and we're getting
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bigger, and better, and
stronger every day
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of my administration.
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That I can tell you.
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(Applause.)
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Wherever this vessel cuts
through the horizon,
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our allies will
rest easy and our enemies
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will shake with fear
because everyone will know
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that America is coming and
America is coming strong.
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(Applause.)
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To every worker from
Newport News Shipbuilding
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and every craftsman and engineer
who helped build this incredible
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fortress on the sea,
today we salute you.
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Thank you.
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(Applause.)
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Your skill and your grit
build the instruments of war
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that preserve peace.
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This ship is the deterrent
that keeps us from having
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to fight in the
first place.
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But this ship also ensures
that if a fight does come,
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it will always end the
same way; we will win, win, win.
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We will never lose.
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We will win.
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(Applause.)
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When it comes to battle,
we don't want a fair fight.
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We want just the opposite.
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We demand victory, and we
will have total victory,
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believe me.
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(Applause.)
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Having the best technology
and equipment is only one part
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of the American
military dominance.
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Our true strength
is our people.
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Our greatest weapon
is all of you.
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Our nation endures because we
have citizens who love America
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and who are
willing to fight for America.
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(Applause.)
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We are so very
blessed with warriors
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who are willing to serve
America in the greatest
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fighting force in the
history --
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the United States military.
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Today this ship officially
begins its role
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in the noble military history
of our great nation.
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In a few moments, I will
commission this wonderful,
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beautiful, but very,
very powerful warship.
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Captain McCormack
will assume command.
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He will set the first watch, and
then the crew of the Gerald R. Ford
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will man the ship
and bring her to life.
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(Applause.)
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A ship is only as good as
the people who serve on it,
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and the American sailor is
the best anywhere in the world.
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Among you are great
welders, radar
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technicians, machine
operators, and pilots.
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You take pride in your work
and America takes pride in you.
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We love you.
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We are proud of you.
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Thank you.
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(Applause.)
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But that is
why it is so fitting
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that this ship is named after
a sailor of tremendous
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character, integrity,
and wisdom.
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You know that, Susan.
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Gerald Ford was raised
in American heartland.
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He grew up in Grand Rapids
and became an Eagle Scout.
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He played football at the
University of Michigan on
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a team that won two
national championships.
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And listen to this:
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On that great team,
he was named MVP.
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Not bad.
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He then went to Yale Law
School, and after Pearl Harbor,
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he volunteered to serve.
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President Ford joined the Navy
and asked to be sent to sea.
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He wanted to do
that very badly.
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He never really knew why;
he felt it was a calling.
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He was assigned to a new
carrier -- the Monterey --
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becoming a plank
owner himself
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on its commissioning in 1943.
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From there, he sailed to
the Pacific and saw action
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-- and a lot of action
-- in the Pacific War.
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Like so many others of his
generation, Gerald Ford
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returned home and
started a family.
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He ran for Congress, where
he served the people
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of Michigan with honor
for many years.
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From there, he became
Vice President
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and then President of the United
States of America.
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With this ship, we honor
him for his lifetime
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of selfless and
distinguished service.
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We also remember his wife,
Betty -- I remember her well
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-- and we honor the
bravery she showed
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in living her life so that her
experiences could help others.
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Susan, she was a great
woman -- a great woman.
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(Applause.)
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Gerald Ford said that his time
in the Navy convinced him
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that our lack of military
preparation before World War II
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has only encouraged our enemies
to fight harder and harder
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and harder.
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He learned a lot.
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In the future, Ford said,
I felt the United States
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had to be strong.
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Never again could we
allow our military
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to be anything but the
absolute best.
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If he could see this ship today,
President Gerald Ford
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would see his vision
brought to life,
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and he would see his legacy of
service being carried on
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by each and
every one of you.
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(Applause.)
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Gerald Ford embodied American
values like few others:
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love of family, love of
freedom, and, most of all,
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love of country.
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He knew that patriotism is
the heartbeat of a nation.
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He knew that we must love our
country in order to protect it.
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And he knew that we must
have pride in our history
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if we are going to have
confidence in our future.
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The men and women of
America's Armed Services
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are part of a
living history.
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You uphold timeless
customs and traditions,
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and you protect our nation
and our freedom
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for the next generation to come.
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You are fulfilling your
duty to this nation,
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and now it is the job of our
government to fulfill
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its duty to you.
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(Applause.)
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For years, our government has
subjected the military
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to unpredictable funding and a
devastating defense sequester.
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You remember that?
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Sequester -- not good.
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This has led to deferred
maintenance,
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a lack of investment in new
equipment and technology,
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and a shortfall in
military readiness.
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In other words, it's been a
very, very bad period of time
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for our military.
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That is why we reached a deal to
secure an additional $20 billion
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for defense this year --
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00:12:51,303 --> 00:12:56,343
and it's going up -- and why I
asked Congress for another
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$54 billion for next year.
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00:12:59,712 --> 00:13:07,022
Now, we need Congress to
do its job and pass the budget
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that provides
for higher, stable,
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00:13:10,156 --> 00:13:15,366
and predictable funding levels
for our military needs
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00:13:15,361 --> 00:13:18,201
that our fighting men and
women deserve --
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00:13:18,197 --> 00:13:21,567
and you will get, believe me.
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00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:26,437
President Trump, I will
tell you -- you will get it.
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Don't worry about it.
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00:13:28,307 --> 00:13:31,677
But I don't mind getting a
little hand, so call that
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00:13:31,677 --> 00:13:37,047
congressman and call that
senator and make sure you get it.
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00:13:37,049 --> 00:13:45,559
(Applause.)
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00:13:45,558 --> 00:13:47,858
And by the way, you can
also call those senators
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00:13:47,860 --> 00:13:51,360
to make sure you get healthcare.
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00:13:51,363 --> 00:13:55,773
(Applause.)
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00:13:55,768 --> 00:14:01,908
We must end the defense
sequester once and for all.
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00:14:01,907 --> 00:14:04,977
We must also reform
defense acquisitions
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00:14:04,977 --> 00:14:07,377
to ensure that we are getting
the best equipment
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00:14:07,379 --> 00:14:11,589
at the best prices so that our
dollars are used only
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00:14:11,584 --> 00:14:16,124
for the best interests of our
country and those who serve.
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00:14:16,121 --> 00:14:19,521
We do not want
cost overruns.
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00:14:19,525 --> 00:14:23,965
We want the best equipment,
but we want it built ahead
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00:14:23,963 --> 00:14:29,273
of schedule and we want
it built under budget.
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00:14:29,268 --> 00:14:33,508
(Applause.)
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This is the very least we
can do for the patriots
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00:14:36,475 --> 00:14:40,245
who have volunteered to give
their sweat, their blood,
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00:14:40,246 --> 00:14:45,756
and, if they must, their very
lives for our great nation.
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00:14:45,751 --> 00:14:49,551
The commissioning of this
new American carrier marks
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00:14:49,555 --> 00:14:52,925
the renewal of our
commitment to a future
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00:14:52,925 --> 00:14:54,795
of American greatness.
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Greater than ever before,
remember that --
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00:14:59,765 --> 00:15:02,305
greater than ever before.
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Just moments from now, the
Captain will set the first watch
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00:15:07,573 --> 00:15:11,143
on the USS Gerald R. Ford
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and, with God's grace, a
watch will stand until the day
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00:15:15,614 --> 00:15:20,784
she is decommissioned
50 years or more from now.
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Most of you who will man
this ship today
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00:15:24,957 --> 00:15:28,827
are just about 20 years old.
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Together, you are embarking
on a truly great adventure.
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00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:37,733
The journey will require
all of your talents,
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00:15:37,736 --> 00:15:41,576
all of your efforts, and
all of your heart.
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As you know, the sea holds
many challenges and threats.
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But starting today, you will
face, together as a team
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00:15:50,282 --> 00:15:56,052
aboard this ship, which is your
responsibility and your home.
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Three generations of
Americans will eventually
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00:15:59,658 --> 00:16:01,328
man these decks.
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00:16:01,327 --> 00:16:03,697
Perhaps even some of
your own children
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00:16:03,696 --> 00:16:06,536
and grandchildren someday.
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00:16:06,532 --> 00:16:09,202
You will inspire many
more American patriots
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00:16:09,201 --> 00:16:12,471
to follow your lead
and to serve.
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And one day, when you are
old and have lived a long
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00:16:17,009 --> 00:16:21,009
and hopefully happy and
successful life,
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00:16:21,013 --> 00:16:24,553
you may find yourselves back
aboard this ship
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00:16:24,550 --> 00:16:29,360
surrounded by your family
to mark its decommissioning.
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00:16:29,355 --> 00:16:33,955
And on that day, our
entire nation will honor
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00:16:33,959 --> 00:16:38,869
not just this carrier, it
will honor you and the role
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00:16:38,864 --> 00:16:43,134
you will have played
in keeping America safe,
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00:16:43,135 --> 00:16:44,875
strong, and free.
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00:16:44,870 --> 00:16:50,710
To every patriot who will
serve on this ship today
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00:16:50,709 --> 00:16:55,419
and throughout history, I
say this:
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00:16:55,414 --> 00:17:02,154
Keep the watch, protect her,
defend her, and love her.
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00:17:02,154 --> 00:17:04,894
Good luck and Godspeed.
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00:17:04,890 --> 00:17:09,700
Thank you to the Ford family,
and thank you to every sailor
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00:17:09,695 --> 00:17:12,135
in the greatest navy on Earth.
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00:17:12,131 --> 00:17:17,171
God bless you, God
bless the Gerald R. Ford,
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00:17:17,169 --> 00:17:21,609
and God bless the
United States of America.
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00:17:21,607 --> 00:17:23,177
Thank you very much.
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00:17:23,175 --> 00:17:24,745
God bless you all.
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00:17:24,743 --> 00:17:47,663
(Applause.)
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00:17:47,666 --> 00:17:49,206
Captain McCormack:
Thank you, Mr. President.
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00:17:49,201 --> 00:17:52,171
And I would be honored if
you would place Gerald R. Ford
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00:17:52,171 --> 00:17:54,841
in commission.
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00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,210
Will the guests
please rise?
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00:17:59,044 --> 00:18:01,444
Ship's company, attention.
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00:18:05,617 --> 00:18:12,257
The President: I hereby place
United States Ship Gerald R. Ford
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00:18:12,257 --> 00:18:14,927
in commission.
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00:18:14,927 --> 00:18:19,097
May God bless and guide
this warship
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00:18:19,097 --> 00:18:24,507
and all who shall sail in her.
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00:18:24,503 --> 00:18:25,843
God bless you.
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00:18:25,838 --> 00:18:27,268
Thank you.
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00:18:27,272 --> 00:18:31,842
(Applause.)