Pelosi Honors Jackie Robinson at Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony
Pelosi Honors Jackie Robinson at Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony
Wednesday, March 2, 2005
Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, other Congressional leaders, and President Bush today honored Jackie Robinson with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest expression of national appreciation bestowed by the United States Congress. The ceremony took place in the Capitol.
"Mr. President, First Lady Laura Bush, we are so honored you are here. Mr. Speaker, distinguished Leaders of the Senate and House, honored guests, and a special welcome to the Robinson family, to Sharon and David and especially to Rachel.
"Rachel Robinson and the Robinson family, it is an honor to have you here today to as we bare witness to the greatness of Jackie Robinson. Throughout his life, Jackie credited Rachel for providing the support that allowed him to work through the difficulties in his baseball career. He once wrote of Rachel: 'Strong, loving, gentle, and brave, she is never afraid to either criticize or comfort.'
"Thank you, Rachel, for sharing Jackie with us, and for the opportunity to acknowledge the work your family has done to change the world.
"It is told that Happy Chandler, then the Commissioner of Baseball, prayed over his historic decision to integrate our national past time. He asked himself, 'How can I meet my Maker and tell Him that although my country drafted this man to serve in the United States Army, I would not agree to draft him to play major league baseball?'
"We are proud that today, in this generation, his grandson, Ben Chandler, serves as a Member of the House of Representative from Kentucky.
"When Jackie Robinson was signed, the courageous Dodger General Manager Branch Rickey said to him, 'Jackie, we've got no army. There's virtually nobody on our side. No owner, no umpires, very few newspapermen. And I'm afraid that many fans may be hostile. We can win only if we can convince the world that I am doing this because you're a great ballplayer, and a fine gentleman.'
"Jackie Robinson left no room for doubt. He was a great ballplayer, and he was a fine gentleman, and he was so much more. He was an American hero who stood for equality, decency, and morality.
"Jackie Robinson met injustice with dignity and determination. When he first took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers, fans catcalled him. Pitchers threw at him. Base-runners came at him with their spikes a little higher.
"Of this time, Rachel has said: 'I think the lesson for us is: if you have an overriding goal that you're trying to achieve, there are times when you must transcend the obstacles that are being put in your way. Jack wanted to integrate athletics. He could not afford to create an incident on the field that would interfere with reaching this goal.'
"And so, somehow, Jackie stayed above it all. He not only stayed above it all, he excelled above all, becoming rookie of the year and leading the Dodgers to six pennants and winning a World Series.
"Jackie's impact went far beyond his own accomplishments. Hank Aaron wrote 'Before Jackie Robinson broke the color line, I wasn't even permitted to think about being a professional baseball player.'
"And this being family day, I want to acknowledge that Congressman David Scott of Georgia is the brother-in-law of Hank Aaron and is here with us today.
"And Jackie's impact went further than baseball. For example, one of Jackie's teammates on the UCLA track team was a young man named Tom Bradley. Tom Bradley had wonderful aspirations to be a member of the police force in Los Angeles but he set his sight higher because of Jackie Robinson. He later became the first African American mayor of Los Angeles.
"And I know Jackie Robinson removed obstacles and was an inspiration to our very distinguished Congressional Black Caucus, which was acknowledged earlier by its distinguished leader Mel Watt.
"Jackie Robinson's work continues today through the Jackie Robinson Foundation, established by Rachel to provide educational and leadership opportunities for minority students. Just as she was the source of strength and grace for Jackie, Rachel is the heart and soul of the foundation.
"In an interview with students, Rachel said: 'At any age, one can look around in your own setting and in your own family and find ways to contribute to social change. When you see attitudes that hurt others, or limit their opportunities, you can say to yourself: what is my part in this? Can I be a catalyst for change in my school, on my block, in my church, wherever I am?
"Today, we honor Jackie Robinson's legacy so supported by Rachel in changing America for the better. And we re-dedicate ourselves to building an America where the halls of power, as well as the halls of fame, reflect the full diversity of all Americans.
"At the end of his first season, Jackie Robinson was featured on the cover of Time Magazine. Below it, it said in very small print: 'He and the boss took a chance.' Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey did take a chance. And in so doing, Jackie gave America a chance. A chance to overcome the barrier of race that so divided our nation. A chance to live up to the words enshrined in our founding documents.
"That is why it is so fitting that today we honor Jack Roosevelt Robinson with Congress' highest expression of national appreciation, the Congressional Gold Medal.
"Thank you."