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Mr Chairman. Wagner or perhaps on this special day of music at least we should call you may have Wagner my. Was my. Guest of Honor ladies and gentlemen the day that Van Cliburn triumph was announced I can tell you what the atmosphere at the Juilliard School was quite changed it was more a can I would say that out of a college campus the morning after a victory in the big game of the year and we were all full of course great sense of pride in this achievement and we knew that the success would not merely be a personal one which would advance his acceptance as an artist but would have broader implications as well and we now see just a few weeks after the event that both of these things have certainly been realized everywhere it would seem that people are waiting to hear him play and certainly his victory has been cheered as a dramatic symbol of America's achievement in music. And it is good this then but it is very good because some of us I think need to be reminded of our achievements in music in some foreign quarters surprise was expressed that an American could have achieved such distinction in music and I think it is very good that this has been expressed because it perhaps will help awaken some of our own countryman So the fact that we have marvelous composers and performers in this country and that American musicians can be counted among the best anywhere in the world. The trial's going Moscow all the wonderful shelling that was made by the winner and he would want me to say by the other American contestants as well and other wonderful musicians who have won prizes and other corner of the world on the model of things that have been happening with the touring artist that we've been studying abroad in the last several years the individual artists in the wonderful organizations including our own to La Monica which is now having such a great success in South America all of these things prove ladies and gentlemen incontrovertibly that music is a national asset and has greatly enhanced American prestige in the realm of spiritual and intellectual accomplishment and a Van let me just say quite simply your alma mater is proud of you thank you. Next an American composer and international composer Mr Richard Rogers. Mr Chairman Mr Mann just a crybaby. Briefly Mr Sherman said everything I'd expected to. I'm terribly proud of a number of things to be here to bring to the so that he would have been born in the city there's rice enough to know what it's doing today. To rule being a member of the I'm the mother to a grand jury I took an educated hear your music and most of all. To read this. Very old diplomat. Very bright and Dermot tremendous job. Repairs stand testicular thing which I can only hope I know that he will increase his vocabulary tremendously and I know that he would use it it will look just a feast Thank you. Next speaker is a pianist composer teacher and author. Is also it's one of his works is entitled rush hour in Hong Kong but he says there is no rush hour in Hong Kong. He was the first contemporary American composer whose music was performed by Tuscany and his little latest book is called speaking Spanish to. Chasen's. String bass and the man Van Gogh. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen then called his mother from Moscow right after he won the prize and he said same as anybody heard about this. And. We've heard about it then now is that we have and never before in our history has it been much important to acknowledge every action every event which creates not destroys which integrates not just integrates human I'm honest communication this summer with substantially the unprecedented honest which I've come to Van and I said I thought we'd live to say the day that this would happen to a musician and. Then as I am these honest abundantly quite apart from the artistic triumphs which won for him and for every American and you're a steam and you luck actually France remarkable gifts have long been known to our musical world has won the most significant awards that our country has to offer the Russians did not discover a fan club or what they did was to embrace enthusiastically and appreciatively. That as a nation value highly and what we as a nation and let's face it have regarded much to apathetically the root of the artist which they recognize as a fry reaching an essential part of everyday existence and which really have regarded as a somewhat isolated ivory tower activity than from Moscow or triumph as dramatically ignited our conscience and consciousness I read this that the cultural symbols of our country are just as vital and revealing as every other aspect of our national life and it can only enhance and stature to say that today he stands as a symbol of our country's highest occasional and artistic standards and as a shining representative of our great natural resources native talent which we have too often neglected and even squandered fans victory hammering home truths that really needed very much to have impressed upon our nation that I could melt a thousand differences and to run an affirmation that music and so mount the barriers of language and ideology and that artists can rush in and read statesman said to tread this very long awaited a reckoning van has made a contribution to our national life which cannot be underestimated and which has led to this memorable day in his life but it is also a memorable day in the life of another man a man who spontaneous response to an American artistic victory whose proclamation of this day is Van Cliburn day is even now at this moment writing his name the largest in the cultural history of an entire nation. Robert Wagner. The chairman of the wrist luncheon and chairman of the National Theatre and academy is. Trying to rush at four P.M. this afternoon to represent and. On President Eisenhower's cultural exchange program I have the privilege of presenting Mr Robert W. it out. Like Mr. Right now was deprived. It's my drink great privilege to present the first and. Then try been a ride which proves to manners you know and I mean. I would like to say that the premise of providing the civil rights. I enjoy have a deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks to a great American in her own right a great musician first taught a great pupil and given him the techniques to express his own Well family American spirit for the peoples of the world I don't know the. Just as they use. And I hope you will enjoy it I might like to read the inscription on it to you so that your friends may hear it. The Van Cliburn award for outstanding service. Plus a little light. By a teacher of professional who has contributed immensely to Khaled. Pressurization and the understanding of good music among the young audiences and students nine hundred fifty eight. Jim Cameron that. Gentleman. I'm deeply grateful for this beautiful gift and the thoughts that go. Today I consider is a happy me of my musical life. I have had the power in times achievement but it gives me great joy. There has been our city for the Conky bridge from Istanbul Dean and I adapted and made our home thanks. I've just been told that. I. Have a Nazi a fact that Mrs Jones a female baby is in the audience and I was told that since yesterday it has been arranged that Van Cliburn were playing at the Brussels fair with the Philadelphia Orchestra and I think they are closers now on route to the right is that correct that is it. Russia. But I thought you might like to know that it's just been settled. Come on. Ladies and gentlemen. In basketball who may have brought a right on a very great pleasure that cries with us today as a great Russian conductor and run for gentleman Mr Crewe contraction I want to present him and I want to say just a word before he rises to receive a prize I want to say bliss that's a dash for the. Country Russian. Tax prep class no. Remember our share our vets are on they can I do her. I want you know ladies and gentlemen especially that I was a speak Russian I want you to know. That. This means that as I promised to pay a tribute to a great Russian conductor Well gentleman who conducted now I never said Let the concert last evening it cry making all out and that last. Piece. You are all. That I work. Well I am a Western distinguished guests of Mr Meyer one. Best. Young broaching rough the most a mere pre-sliced you should avoid this period with Mr Premier run a person who speaks of North Korea I'm very aware that I could have a chance to conduct here in United States first concert after one was in Moscow. Where it's a great it's a Teamster Russia stand yet. But we'll set up a line here a pianist you of course must be great for that and your country appears great and talented piano player. No Russian produced critic you know of interesting may say with Q-Tip but your pride is a little to reassure true Russian people. Are all. Well rounded nationalist and yet watching know that there is a one in our country a lot of friends you know the stand perceive you have suitable not pleasurable uterus you are at a somewhere but surely there is yet to visit a lot of country by their first friends is a great friends the best friends. I. See on national So let's hear specially when you mind him with. The nation it was. People watch for the successes and achievements. But that's right she knew damn well you had a schedule about something I don't stay at this you see what I don't do that it's saying it musical he kept with. Her he gets the really. The right. Stuff when I come back to where I was I don't tell people how when you love music how are you not your run and. Because you're great I took you to music I thought. For all. The others was cause I stood national but you're pretty divine that you had to interpret that Mr one zany chutney pianist lead but I must run which in Cairo Syrian children. I should like to say that I don't people like to run not only because he is a very good musician but because he's very good and very. Man or young man. For him. In the approach it's a question that you know. But it's a negotiating yet we're still cut right you should think and I just say there's a reason I said I prefer going out thank you but I still screw in the interrogation and I can look up the president if he wanted and now if you talk of his musical career I should like to ask him how I should like to see him all his life in peace level. Musician role a good man. While that's necessary is going on I want you to know that divan Cliburn will play at next summer at the stadium concerts. And. You want to know that Mr Dowling and Mr Robert Dalin will be a return on your important May I please. If you will forgive me I would like very much to read a letter that I am standing. By with Mr Dowling to Mr Black America who is the director of breast cancer. Mr Mike Ahlers office of the Ministry of Culture and there was a runner for to me and I only realized dawned upon me that Mr Darling was leaving but I wanted to take this letter back and I want to read it to you. Do Mr BRADLEY You know this is very hurried I missed much confusion but this is the first opportunity I've had to say thank you for everything and all the great happiness you gave me I have told Mr Dowling are about the wonderful people of the Soviet Union and of course as I predicted the public has been quite overjoyed and ecstatic over my stroke and action not only for his artistic achievements but his sterling character and sincerity which is projected so much goodwill and RAF from the Soviet Union to us here in the United States of course the personal feelings I have for clearing up the trail which I too deep to tell please extend for me until I can buy a personal letter of appreciation to the U.S.S.R. press. To my faithful and run a full interpreter in Rio de My friend you go clear month that with me and so now I'm Stockman Lev Lawson go the less likely not the only mention a few ruthless letter comes my everlasting gratitude for that most precious commodity in life kindness of sincerity friendship man always be worthy of love friendship which I shall always come to Bangkok. Because of the time element and because you have a very old one but to treat very wonderful treats coming my own remarks you'll be glad to know I have been deleted our next speaker. I next biggest study of the violin as a boy and often went to the opera and symphony with his father and he loved music all these life I have the high privilege to present in the chief executive of the city of New York on of or I would have like. Thank you very much last up Pattison distinguished guest of honest and Cliburn. Lovely parents and ladies and gentlemen I know that we are all. Waiting with great anxiety to hear from our guest of honor and then hear him play and I'll make my remarks very brief. I did play the violin I'm a frustrated violin player but I'm happy to say I'm an honorary member of a double two and there are only two of. Us to show my mention that we ought to call them a Viking that today and you know music because health even in political life because a friend of mine from Detroit. Came to New York in nineteen fifty three during the election that year and got into a taxi and they asked the taxi driver who he was going to vote for for mayor and he said I'm going to vote for Ragnor He said My Maybe he said Bogner he said I said two weeks ago my daughter was married and they played some of his music out when. If he. If he says good mayor as he is a musician I think the be all right. But seriously I've made my little talk down at city hall where we were highly honored and very delighted to receive this fine young America and I know that in receiving him here in Iowa City we pay ourselves tribute as a city of culture as a city which appreciates music and all that it stands for we pay on it to us selves too because we in our way honor a young man whom I'm sure we all realize stands for everything that is fine in our city and in America and in the world here a great deal easier days about the problems of our young men and women. And as I've often emphasized not too much credit is given to those ninety eight percent of youngsters who are good and fine and will do a much better job when they take over running this country of ours and we have a could hope to do and we certainly have in my opinion one of the finest examples of a young American who has through his genius and through his personality overcome barriers between nations and has done so much to bring people together and we honor him as a great artist we honor him as a real and fine American and we're proud that he had proud of his wonderful musical education right here in the city of New York which prides itself as I said before to on its culture and its love of music and all that is fine in life and therefore. A great privilege for me as mayor of New Yawk as a humble New Yorker and again as a frustrated violin player to present this medal of the city of New York to our guest of honor which reads presented to Van Cliburn outstanding musician and. Goodwill by Robert F. Wagner mayor of the city of New York and I present this to you Dan. On behalf of all of the people of our city with love and affection to you and your lovely. You see. I'm forgettable moments. I think will be my two gold medals. But since we're all here together and we're all sort of friends as I think everyone invited today with those we all felt very close to as my friends I hope that you will actually yes said occasional prayer for me as a person. As a musician and I never failed to live up to what is happening today but then another thing I realized far too well it could have happened to someone else and the circumstances made it I was just too so for that I'm very happy if I can be used. In this world as we go through life all of us must be used for something and we all have everyone's way. Mission if we want to call it that and I think now before us all of us who love music play music who write music. Any part even the most invaluable person the listener We are all Americans we have certainly much we can do now with so much new incentive. I flew she ate everything you will never know just how much you will never know how humble I feel to be here and to to perceive this and to know about everything that you love me. Then. As I already appeared before you in this book wired in I will speak in the only language that transcends all talks with music. I haven't. For. Thanks. Ladies and gentlemen. Please be seated for just a moment. We are going to have the opportunity to hear that. Call for that man addiction. Van Cliburn has it will be very happy to remain here and shake hands and sign autographs for all those who can remain and I would like now to call on Reverend Richard Hamilton to pronounce the benediction. And to Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before his presence with exceeding joy. The glory. Majesty. Minion and power. And ever of all. That concludes the luncheon and of course we are all unanimous and thanking him for his wonderful performance.