Artists and extremists, and crediting former president Donald Trumps actions and rhetoric toward u. S. Politicians. These remarks are 40 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome ambassador cindy mccain. I hear my grandsons, good morning everyone. I am so pleased to be here this morning to see not only only all of you but certainly the president who is here, mr president , madam governor, esteemed guests welcomed. What is the first step of many in the creation of an enduring impactful and fitting legacy for my husband . It has taken five long years since johns death to have the honor of standing here before you with the proud knowledge of what now stands before all of us. Thanks to the work of so many people. This future library will provide the beating heart and soul to help further the causes. John so dearly believed in and will be the impetus to bring them back to where they belong to the place that he loves. Arizona. The road ahead is just beginning, but we know where it will lead. John would have hated if we had made this occasion just about him. But instead he would have wanted to make it about what is most important, johns constant mantra of service to a cause greater than ones self interest. And this will be embodied here within this project. From nurturing the flame of democracy, calling others to a cause of character driven leadership or championing the issues most important to arizonans. His indominable spirit will live on through the actions and the ideals that we will imbue here. There is no more starkly manifest personification of these causes and how they bring us together than the fact that President Biden is here to get us underway. While john and he differed on Many Political issues through their respective careers, the great causes that brought them together and were most important to our nation are shared in this venture. It is my true hope that it will also serve as a motivation to inspire a new generation to take on the mental of mantle of Public Service and to fight for the worthy causes. They believe in just as john did, we would not be capable of this great undertaking without the efforts of countless friends and advocates. I cannot thank those who have brought us here today. To name a few, of course, the mccain family, governor doy, governor ducey, governor hobbs, and of course, President Biden. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. [applause] and when and we know that your faith and assistance are the foundation of the great work that lays ahead. And now in true john mccain fashion, we have much to do. Im going to introduce the president , but give me just a second to add a special note if i may, i dont know that many of you even know this. I was a young woman teaching special education and i went to spring break on spring break with my parents to hawaii. And while i was there, we were invited to this glorious reception held on behalf of a Senate Delegation on their way to china. During the course of that event, there were two people that came over to me and said, you have got to meet this man in this room. President biden and mrs. Biden introduced me to my husband and i am so grateful for that. [applause] it is my sincere honor to introduce to you, president joe biden. [applause] pres. Biden please. I put a little more meat on that bone. That last one. John and i used to travel together and when john got back from all that time in vietnam in prison, he was released. He decided he wanted to go back to stay in the military. And he was assigned to the United States senate and to the military office there that travels with senators. When i travel abroad and john and i put in a couple of 100,000 miles together. And on our way to, i think i was going to china, i can remember what the destination was. China, i think. And i put in a couple of 100,000 and we stopped in we stopped in hawaii and the uh the chief naval of operations was there showing me around and they did an event for me and john kept looking at your mom. Oh, im serious. And he said, god, shes beautiful. I said, yeah, she is, john. And i said, well i come and say hi to her. I said no, no. Well, as your mom, i wont go into more detail, but ill tell you, i insisted that they meet and i take, i take credit for you guys, and i just told your mom john and i had something in common. We both married way above our station, way above our station, cindy. I should call you madam ambassador. Thank you for all you have done, all you do, you continue to do. Jack and bridget the entire mccain family and all those who love the mccain family. [applause] oh, i didnt see you all up there. Oh, dont jump, dont jump. [laughter] well, i tell you what, its an honor to be with you. Its a genuine honor. Governor hobbs, youve done an incredible job. Youve been a leader and defender of democracy and youve always been available when ive called, and i hope ive been available when you called as well. Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests in the end, john mccain thought about the beginning. Five years ago as john was dying from brain cancer, john wrote a farewell letter to the nation that he said that he served so well in both war and in peace. His words track back centuries to americas founding and then toward the triumphant future. Heres what john wrote and i quote, we are citizens of the world, the worlds greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil. Americans never quit, they never hide from history. America makes history and john was right. Every other, every other nation in the world has been founded on either grouping by ethnicity, religion, background. Was right. Were the most unique nation in the world. Were founded on an idea, the only major nation in the world, founded on an idea, an idea that we are all created equal and endowed by our, the image of god, endowed by our creator to be able to treated equal throughout our lives. Weve never fully lived up to that idea, but weve never walked away from it, but theres danger. Were walking too far away from it. Now, the way we talk in this, in this country because a long line of patrons like john mccain kept it from ever becoming something other than what it is. I often think about our friendship of 40 years, the hammer and tong debates wed have in the senate. Wed argue, were like two brothers. Wed argue like hell. I mean, really go out with one another, then wed go to lunch together. No, not a joke. Or john ride home with me. I mean, we, we travel the world together and by the way, when he found this magnificent woman and got married, im the guy that convinced him to run in arizona as a republican bless me father for you got to admit, cindy, i did, i talked to him and i said, john, you can do this job. My only worry is youll do it too well. But look running up the sides of the Nations Highest Office when he was running for president , i was on the Vice President ial ticket. We still remained friends. The conversation we had, he had with my son, be the attorney general of the state of delaware, a decorated major in the us army was a guy who spent a year in iraq about serving in a war overseas, about the courage and the battle against the same cancer. And i took john and my son two weeks ago, i thought about china as i was standing in another part of the world in vietnam. I dont want to excuse me. If i it was an emotional trip, i was there to usher in a 50 year arc of progress. The two countries pushed by john and i might add another john, the former secretary of state john from massachusetts won the silver star as well. Once at war, we are now choosing the highest possible partnership made possible through johns leadership. I mean to sincerely think about it while illinois, i visited a marker depicting where, where john had endured. All the pain, imprisoned 5. 5 years, solitary confinement for two years, given an opportunity an opportunity to come home. If he just said a couple things. He was beaten, bloodied bones, broken, isolated, tortured, left, unable to raise his arms above his shoulders. As i stood there paying my respects. I thought about how much i missed my friend and its not hyperbole from the bottom of my heart. I mean this, i thought about Something Else as well. I thought about how much america missed john right now. How much america needed johns courage and foresight and vision. I thought about what john stood for, what he fought for, what hes willing to die for. I thought about what we owed john, what i owed him and what we owe each other. We owed each other as well. America as well. You see john is one of those patriots. When they die, their voices are never silent. They still speak to us. They tug at both our hearts and our conscience and they pose the most profound questions. Who are we . What do we stand for . What do we believe . What will we be for, john . It was Country First. Sounds like a like a movie, but its real with john, honor, duty, decency, freedom, liberty, democracy. And now history has brought us to a new time of testing. Very few of us will ever be asked to endure what john mccain endured. But all of us are being asked right now, what will we do to maintain our democracy . Will we as john wrote, never quit when we not hide from history, but make history. Will we put partisanship aside and put Country First . I say we must and we will, we will. But its not easy. Its not easy. Have you . Why dont you . Wait, hang on, hang on a second. Ill be happy to meet you after i speak. Ok, you get the clear. Bye. Yeah. Well, i tell you what if you shush up, ill meet with you immediately after this. Ok . Democracy never is easy as we just demonstrated, the cause is worth giving our all for democracy makes all things possible. Let me begin with the core principles. Democracy means rule of the people, not rule the monarchs, not rule the money, not rule of the mighty, regardless of party. That means respecting free and Fair Elections. Accepting the outcome, win or lose. It means you cant love your country only when you win. Democracy means rejecting and repudiating Political Violence regardless of party. Such violence is never, never, Never Acceptable in america. Its undemocratic and it must never be normalized to advance political power and democracy means respecting the institutions that govern a free society. That means adhering to the timeless words of the declaration of independence. We hold these truths to be self evident. A Mission Statement embodied in our constitution, our system of separation of powers and checks and balances our constitution. The ball work to prevent the abuse of power to ensure we the people move Forward Together under the law rather than believing the only way is one way or no way at all. But our institutions in our democracy, not just of government, the institutions of democracy depend on the constitution and our character, our character and the habits of our hearts and our minds. Institutions like the Mccain Institute and the new Mccain Library that we built at Arizona State university with the funding from the American Rescue plan which i signed in the law when i came to office, a library thats going to house johns archives. Host dialogue and debate, inspire future leaders around the world to serve tens of thousands underserved arizonans as a reminder of our obligation to one another. These principles of democracy are essential in a free society, but they have always been embattled today. Lets be clear while we made progress, democracy is still at risk. This is not hyperbole. Its a simple truth, a simple truth. I made the defense and protection and preservation of american democracy. The central issue of my presidency from the speech i made at gettysburg in the inaugural address to the anniversary of june 6th insurrection, our january 6th insurrection to Independence Hall in philadelphia. To the speech i made at Union Station in washington. Ive spoken about the danger of election denialism, Political Violence and the battle for the soul of America Today in america to honor an institution devoted to the defense of democracy named in honor of a true patriot. Im here to speak about another threat to our democracy that we all too often ignore the threat to our Political Institutions to our constitution itself. And the very character of our nation, democracy is maintained by adhering to the constitution and the march to perfecting our union by protecting and expanding rights with each successive generation, including that little guy. Hes going to talk about it and its ok in my house, kids prevail. Ok. This adherence is an, is an optional. We cant be situational. We cant be only there when its good for yourself. Its constant and unyielding even when its easy and most important when its hard for centuries. American constitution has been a model for the world with other countries adopting we the people as theyre north star as well. But as we know, we know how damaged our institutions of democracy, the judiciary, the legislature, the executive have become in the eyes of the American People, even the world from attacks within the past few years. I know virtually every major world leader. Thats what i did when i was a senator as Vice President. And now everywhere i go in the world, ive met now with over 100 heads of state of the nations of the world. Everywhere i go, they look and they ask a question. Is it going to be ok . Think about this. The first meeting i attended of the g7, the seven wealthiest nations in the world in europe, the nato meeting, i sat down, it was in january after being elected, the late, early february and i was in england and i sat down and said, americas back. Macron looked at me and he said, mr president , for how long . For how long . And then chancellor of germany said, mr president , what would you think if you pick up the paper tomorrow tomorrow . The london times and said 1000 people broke down the doors of parliament marched and killed two bobbies in order to overthrow an election of the new prime minister. What would you think . Then . What would think . What would we think the leading nation in the world having gone through and through . And many of you travel internationally, many of, you know, people from around the world, id be surprised if you heard anything different than the concern about. Are we ok . Is the democracy going to be sustained for that institutional damage . We see distrust and division among our own people . Im here to tell you, we lose these institutions of our government at our own peril. And ive always been clear. Democracy is not a partisan issue. Its an american issue. Ive come to honor the Mccain Institute of library because they are a home of a proud republican who put his Country First. Our commitment should be no less because democracy should unite all americans, regardless of political affiliation. And theres something dangerous happening in america. Now, theres an Extremist Movement that does not share the basic beliefs in our democracy, the maga movement, not every republican, not even a majority of republicans adhere to the magnus extremist ideology. I know because ive been able to work with republicans my whole career. But theres no question that Todays Republican Party is driven and intimidated by maga republican extremists. Their extreme agenda if carried out would fundamentally all of the institutions of american democracy as we know it, my friends, theyre not hiding in their attacks. They are openly promoting them, attacking the free press as the enemy of the people. Attacking the rule of law is an impediment, fomenting Voter Suppression and election subversion. Did you ever think wed be having debates at your stage of your careers or banning books, banning books and burying history, extremists in congress more determined to shut down the government to burn the place down than to let the peoples business be done. Our us military and this is not hyperbole. Ive said it for the last two years is the Strongest Military in the history of the world, not just the stars in the world, in the history of the world. The most diverse, the most powerful in the history of the world. And its being accused of being weak and woke by the opposition. One guy in alabama is holding up the promotion of every hundreds of these officers. Frankly, these extremists have no idea what the hell theyre talking about. Im serious. Were pushing an ocean the defeated former president expressed when he was in office and believes it applies only to him. And this is a dangerous notion. This president is above the law, no limits on power. Trump says the constitution gave him the right to do whatever he wants as president , ive never heard a president say that in jest not guided by the constitution or by comment, service and decency toward our fellow americans but by vengeance and vindictiveness, we see the headlines sweeping expansion of president ial power goal to quote all of the balance of power by increasing the president s authority over every part of the federal government. What did they intend to do once they wrote the Constitutional Order of checks and balances and separation of powers limit the independence of federal agencies. Put them under the thumb of a president. Give the president the power to refuse to spend money that congress has appropriated. If he doesnt like what is being spent for not veto, it doesnt like what its being spent for us there. Get rid of long standing protections for Civil Servants. Remember what he did was leaving office . He imposed a new thing as the Civil Service, but then he imposed the new schedule schedule. F was called, these Civil Servants had to pledge loyalty to the president , not the constitution. They did not require any protections of the president to be able to wholesale fire them if they wanted because they had no Civil Service protection. One of the first things i got rid of when i became president , just consider these as actual quotes from mega the mega movement. I am your retribution, sliding throats of Civil Servants replacing them with extreme political cronies, extremists proclaim support for law enforcement. Only to say we must destroy the fbi. Its not one person, its a controlling element. The house Republican Party whitewash attacks of january 6th by calling the spear and stomping of police a legitimate political discourse. Do you ever think youd hear leaders of Political Parties in the United States of america speak like that seizing power, concentrating power, attempting to abuse power, purging and packing key institutions. Spewing conspiracy theories, spreading lies for profit and power to divide america in every way, inciting violence against those who risk their lives to keep america safe, weaponizing against the very soul of who we are as americans. This maga threat is a threat to the brick and mortar of our democratic institutions, but its also a threat to the character of our nation. Gives our constitution life that binds us together as america is a common cause. None of this is surprising. Now theyve tried to govern that way before, but thank god they failed. But they havent given up. Just look at recent days, accusations of treason, treason against the Major News Network because they dont like his coverage. I dont know what the hell id say about fox. If that becomes real but think about it, im joking but think about it tomorrow. I have the honor of overseeing the change of responsibilities of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the United States military. From one genuine hero and patron general mark milley to another general cq brown, both both defining leaders of our time. And yet here is what you hear from maga extremists about the retiring patriot general honoring his oath to the constitution. Hes a traitor and times gone by the punishment, times gone by the punishment would have been death. End of quote, this is United States of america. This is the United States of america. And although i dont believe even a majority of republicans think that the silence is deafening, the silence is deafening. Hardly any republican called out such heinous statements. Just watch one mega center outrageously said, blocking the promotions of hundreds of top military leaders and affecting not only those leaders but their families, their children extremists claim support of our troops, but the Army Military readiness leadership, troop morale, freezing pay, freezing military families in limbo. Just say, look the other way, the defeated former president refused to pay respects at an American Cemetery near paris, referring an american servicemen buried there. And ive been to the cemetery asers and losers quotes. Im not making this up. I know we all tried not to remember it, but thats what he said. He called servicemen, suckers and losers is john, a sucker was my son beau who lived next to a burn pit for a year, came home and died. Was he a sucker for volunteering to serve his country . Same guy who denigrates terrorism of john mccain. Its not wrong. Its un american but it never changes. The extremists across the country have made it clear where they stand for the challenge for the rest of america for the majority of americans to make clear where we stand. Do we still believe in the constitution to believe in the basic decency and respect the whole country should honestly ask itself and i mean, it sincerely what it wants and understand the threats to our democracy. I believe very strongly that defining feature of our democracy is our constitution. I believe in the separation of powers and checks and balances. That debate and disagreement do not lead to disunion. I believe in free and Fair Elections and a peaceful transfer of power. I believe there is no place in america. None, none, none. For Political Violence, we have to denounce hate, not embolden it across the aisle across the country . I see fellow americans, not immortal enemies. Were a great nation because were good people. I believe in honor decency and respect. I was able to get the infrastructure bill passed. Its over a trillion dollars. The majority of it so far has gone to red states who didnt vote for me because i represent all. No, im serious. I represent all americans. The need is and i believe every president should be a president for all americans to use the office of the president of the United Nations uphold the duty to care for all americans. Ive tried my very best and im sure i havent met the test of all of you want me to meet but tried my very best to meet the highest standards whether you voted for me or not. Because thats the job to deliver light, not heat, to make sure democracy delivers for everyone to know. Were a nation of unlimited possibilities of wisdom and decency. A nation focused on the future. I spent more time with xi jinping than, than any world leader has 68 hours alone with just he and i and an interpreter traveled 17,000 miles with him here and in china on the tibetan plateau, he turned to me and he asked me, he said, can you define america for me . And i was deadly earnest. I said yes, in one word possibilities. We in america believe anything is possible. If we try it, anything we do together, we can get done. We face some tough times in recent years and im proud of progress we made as a country. But the real credit doesnt go to me and my administration for the progress for this progress. The real heroes of the story, are you the American People . And thats not hyperbole again, which is why im asking you that regardless of whether youre a democrat republican or independent, put the preservation of our democracy before everything else. Put our Country First over the past few years, we can and should be proud of american democracy, proud of what weve been able to hold on to. We cant take democracy for granted. Remember when youre in high school and college, if you took Political Science said, every generation has to protect democracy. I used to think that that was just a saying. But here i am as president United States of america making this speech. But my fear, the diminishment of democracy folks, every generation has to be vigilant. You know, toward the end of my senate campaign, i convinced tom thurman to vote for the civil rights legislation. Not a joke. I thought, well, you can, you can defeat hate, you cant defeat it, just bury it when someone comes along and lifts up the rock and breaths a little oxygen in there. It comes roaring back, it comes roaring back. We should all remember democracies dont have to die at the end of a rifle. They can die when people are silent, when they fail to stand up or condemn the threats to democracy. People are willing to give away that which is most precious to them because they feel frustrated, disillusioned, tired, alienated. I get it. I really do. I get it for all his faults. American democracy remains the best path forward. To prosperity, possibilities, progress, fair play, equality, democracy requires all of us and all the major parties you matter. And again, im not just trying to be nicer you matter all of you in this auditorium because history and common sense tell us that we can change things by adhering to our constitution and our institutions of democracy. Our task, our sacred task of our time is to make sure that they change not for the worst, but for the better that democracy survives and thrives not be smashed, smashed by a movement more interested in power than a principle. Its up to us, the American People, in my view, the more people vote, the more engaged, the whole nation becomes, the stronger democracy will be. So the answer to the threats we face is engagement. Its not to sit in the sidelines, its to build coalitions and community to remind ourselves, there is a clear majority of us who believe in our democracy and are ready to protect it to the students here today. Young people across the country, youre the reason im so optimistic. I know, i dont look it, but ive been doing this for a long time inside. Ive never been more optimistic about americas chances in domestic and Foreign Policy than today. I really mean it because the young people, 100,000 students at this university and all across america, they are the most gifted, the most tolerant, the most talented and the best educated generation in american history. Its your generation more than anyone else who will answer the questions, the legitimate questions, the young man asked me who i want to go. I can meet with questions for america. Who are we . What do we stand for . What do we believe . Who will we be . Its not your burden alone for your generation will not be ignored, will not be shunned, will not be silent. Ive said it before. Were at an Inflection Point in our history. One of those moments that not only happens once every several generations happens once every eight or nine generations where the decisions made in a short period of time were in now are going to determine the course of this country and the world for the next six or seven decades. So you me, every american who is committed to preserving our democracy and our constitutional protections. We carry special responsibility. We have to stand up for American Values embedded in the constitution, the declaration of independence because we know the maga shamans have already proven they wont. You know, Madeleine Albright wrote a book, the former secretary of state saying were the essential nation, we are. And i think youve sensed an approach, cindy, havent you any room . I walk in and no matter what heads of state, im with everything stops. Not because of joe biden, but because im president of the United States of america, we are the essential nation. We are the essential nation. The rest of the world is looking. So we have to stand up for our constitution, our institutions of democracy because ma have made it clear theyre not going to. History is watching, the world is watching and most important. Our children and grandchildren will hold us responsible. So let me close to this in three years, will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence. A moment, not only about our past, celebrating all weve done, but the moment about the future. But all we can be still be imagine that moment and ask, what do we want to be . Nows our time to continue to choose and secure a sacred cause of american democracy. I know we can meet this moment. John knew we could meet this moment. He believed that so many patriots before him did the character destiny in our own lives in the life of this nation. He believed in us. Thats what we see in the Mccain Institute library and every day places across america doing extraordinary things. I remember the soul of america. Depends on the souls of all americans, how we choose to see our nation, how we choose to see ourselves, how we choose to lead, not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. So lets never quit. Lets never hide from history. Lets make history. If we do that, well have done our duty to our country and to each other, future generations say we kept the faith will approved for all its imperfections. America is still a place of possibilities. A beacon for the world. A promise realized where the power forever resides with. We, the people. Thats our soul, thats who we truly are, thats who must always be. And thats why ive never been more optimistic about americas future. We just need to remember who we are. We are the United States of america. There is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we act together, god bless you all. May god bless john mccain and his family and may god protect our troops. Thank you. Members of the house are returning for votes. Thisli