thank you. thank you very much. thank you. thank you so much. please, everybody have a seat. good morning, everybody. it is good to be with so many friends united in prayer. and i begin by giving all praise and honor to god for bringing us together here today. i want to thank our co-chairs, mark and jeff, to my dear friend, the guy who always has my back, vice president biden, all the members of congress. joe deserves a hand. [ applause ] >> all the members of congress and my cabinet who are here today, all the distinguished guests who have traveled a long way to be part of this. i'm not going to be as funny as eric, but i'm grateful that he

shared his message with us. michelle and i feel truly blessed to be here. this is my third year coming to this prayer breakfast as president. as jeff mentioned, before that i came as senator. i have to say it's easier coming as president. i don't have to get here quite as early. but it's always been an opportunity that i cherished, a chance to step back for a moment, for us to come together as brothers and sisters, see god's face together. at a time when it's easy to lose ourselves in the rush and clamor of our own lives or get caught up in the noise and rancor that too often passes as politics today. these moments of prayer slow us down. they humble us.

they remind us that no matter how much responsibility we have, how fancy our titles, how much power we think we hold, we are imperfect vessels. we could all benefit from turning to our creater, listening to him. avoiding phoney religiousity, listening to him. this is especially important right now when we're facing some big challenges as a nation. our economy is making progress as we recover from the worst crisis in three generations, but far too many families are still struggling to find work or make the mortgage, pay for college or in some cases, even buy food. our men and women in uniform have made us safer and more

secure, and we are eternally grateful to them, but war and suffering and hardship still remain in too many corners of the globe, and a lot of those men and women who we celebrate on veteran's day and memorial day come back and find that when it comes to finding a job or getting the kind of care that they need, we're not always there the way we need to be. it's absolutely true that meeting these challenges requires sound decision making, requires smart policies. we know the part of living in a pluralistic society means our pure religious beliefs alone can't help every challenge we face, but in our moments of prayer, i'm reminded that faith and values play an enormous role in motivating us to solve some of our most urgent problems.

and keeping us going when we suffer setbacks and keeping us going in the minds and hearts and needs of others. we can't leave our values at the door. we leave our values at the door, we abandon much of the moral glue that has held our morals together and become somewhat of a more perfect union. james adams, martin luther king, jr., dorothy day, abraham heshel. many in american history did their work not just because it was sound policy or they had done good analysis or understood how to exercise good politics but because their faith and

their values dictated it. and called for bold action. sometimes in the face of indifference, sometimes in the face of resistance. this is no different today for millions of americans, and it's certainly not for me. i wake up each morning and i say a brief prayer. i spend a little time in scripture and devotion. and from time to time, friends of mine, some here today, friends like joel hunter or pb jakes will come by the oval office or come by the phone or they'll send me an e-mail and we'll pray together and they'll pray for me and my family and for our country. but i don't stop there. i would be remiss if i stopped there. if my values were limited to

personal moments of prayer or private conversations with pastors or friends, so instead i must try imperfectly, but i must try those values motivate me as one leader of this great nation. so when i talk about our financial institutions playing by the same rules as folks on main street, when i talk about making sure insurance companies aren't discriminating against those who are already sick or making sure that unscrupulous lenders aren't taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us, i do so because i genuinely believe it will make the economy stronger for everybody, but i also do it because i know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and

treated unfairly over the last few years. and i believe in god's command to love thy neighbor as thyself. i know that golden rule is found in every religion in every set of beliefs from hinduism, to judi judism. because i talk about the morals when people are struggling, people on a fixed income, or student loans or middle class families that can barely pay the bills to shoulder the burden alone, and i think to myself, if i'm willing to give something up to somebody who has been extraordinarily blessed, give up

some of the tax breaks that i enjoy, i actually think that's going to make economic sense. but for me as a christian, it also coincides with jesus' teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required. it mirrors the islamic belief that those who have been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others or the jewish doctrine of moderation in consideration for others. when i talk about giving every american a fair shot at opportunity, it's because i believe. suddenly we have theretrain for remember. that helps us all prosper. it means maybe that research lab on the cusp of a life-saving

discovery or the company looking for skilled workers is going to do a little bit better, and we'll all do better as a consequence. it makes economic sense, but part of that belief comes from. not an island. i'm not alone in my. and when i decide to stand up for foreign aid or prevent atrocities in plays like uganda. this is about promoting values or leadership around the world. it's about the.

those are the margins of this society. speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. brothers, it may reflect the. our part to help. those souls who had been giving so much, living by the principal that we are our brother's keeper, carrying for the poor and those. and their values that far always made this wunt when we don't just give.

we don't just do it one day a year. they are the ones that have defined my own self-journey. today, with as many challenges as we face, is the value i believe we're going to have to return to in the hopes many. we can he werestly achieve. in the words of political cal program. at all times. a particular kplam would not

suit inn suit another. our policies are not biblical. it is god who is infallible, not us. so instead it is our hope that people of goodwill can pursue their common grounds and the common good as best they know how. with respect for each other. and i have to say that siometims we talk about respect, but we don't act in respect towards each other during the course of these debates. but each and every day for many in this room, biblical injunctions are not just words, they are also deeds. every single day in different ways, so many of you are living out your faith and service to

others. just last month, it was inspiring to see thousands of young christians filling the georgia dome at the passion conference to worship the god who set the captives free and work to end modern slavery. since we've expanded and strengthened the white house faith-based initiative, we partnered with catholic charities to help americans struggling with poverty, working with organizations like world vision and jewish american world service and islamic relief to bring hope to those suffering around the world. colleges across the country have answered our entinterfaith. by promoting responsible fatherhood, strengthening adoption, from helping people find jobs to helping serve our veterans, we're linking arms with faith-based groups all across the country.

i think we all understand that these values cannot truly find voice in our policies unless they bind a place in our heart. we're required to have a living, breathing, active faith in our own lives. and each of us is called on to give something of ourselves for the betterment of others and to live the truth of our faith, not just with words, but with deeds. so even as we join the great debates of our age, how we best put people back to work, how we ensure an opportunity for every child, the role of government in protecting this extraordinary planet god has made for us, how we lessen the occasions of war, even as we debate these great issues, we must be reminded of the difference that we can make each day in our small

interactions, in our personal lives as a loving husband or a supportive parent or a good neighbor or a helpful colleague. in each of these roles, we help bring his kingdom to earth. and as important as government policy may be in shaping our world, we are reminded that it's the cumulative acts of kindness and courage and charity and love, it's the respect we show each other and the generosity that we share with with each other, that in our everyday lives will somehow sustain us during these times. if nobody can have pit i on my

brother, how can the love of god with with him. mark read a letter from billy graham, and it took me back to one of the great honors of my life, which was visiting reverend graham at his mountaintop retreat in north carolina when i was on vacation with my family in a hotel not far away. i can still remember se -- 91. he welcomes me as he would a family member or close friend. this man with great plans that inspired a nation. this man who seemed larger than

life greeted was. before i left. and when i started to pray, i felt the urge to pray for him. i really didn't know what to say. how do you pray when it comes to the man who lost so much. so i prayed. i prayed -- from some of my great preacher friend to play. and we ended with an embrace and

warm good bi and identify thought about it in the many days since. i thought about my noen sitter wal journey. through my own. finding christ when he wasn'ting of him the fact that i would saying a prayer for billy graham, a man whose faith had changed the world and sustained him through try uts and. that sichl fact humbled me to my

dort. . not only in my christian life but in the lives of this nation and the values that hold it together and keep us strong. i know that you will guys us. he always has and he always will. and si know the challenges for each of you in the days ahead. thank you very much. [ applause ]

>> thank you, mr. president, for sharing your heart and your faith with us. you have a room full of people here praying for you and your family. god bless the president of the united states of america. [ applause ] >> speaking of powerful people, let's hear one more time from jackie ivanko. [ applause ]

♪ ♪ thy kingdom come ♪ thy will be done ♪ on earth as it is in heaven

♪ give us this daily bread ♪ and forgive us our debts ♪ as we forgive our debtors ♪ and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us ♪ ♪ from evil for thine is the

kingdom ♪ ♪ and the power and the glory ♪ forever ♪ god is the kingdom and the power ♪ ♪ and the glory ♪ forever and ever ♪ amen

[ applause ] >> thank you. [ applause ] >> thank you, jackie. may god's blessings continue with you. my thanks to the president, eric, all of our speakers up here this morning. you have given us a lot to think about. now it's our job to ponder these things in our hearts and to turn those good ideas into action.

>> being a part of the nation prayer breakfast is a privilege. i believe god is counting on you and me to love and pray where we were. let's complain a lot less and let's pray and love a lot more so god can use us to make a better world. now we will close in prayer here in just a moment with robert griffin iii. as soon as robert finishes his prayer, we would ask everyone to remain in their places and visit with the people at your seats while the president and first lady leave. and now to close us in prayer is robert griffin iii of baylor university. [ applause ] >> before i close in prayer, i

would like to say sic 'em, bears. mr. president, if you get tired of running the president or get bored, i would like to play you in basketball. it would be a friendly competition. i would not dunk on you at all. this has been a really long breakfast. the longest i have ever been a part of [ laughter ] >> god has a plan. >> i guess everyone up here got a memo. both of my cups are empty down there. i drank them. no one else drank anything. i really have to use the bathroom [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> i'll close us out so we can all do that. if you could bow your heads. father, god, we thank you for this day you made and we are rejoice. today has been a truly great

day. main great speakers and a lovely singer who brought many to tears. father, god, we thank you that we can sit up here and thank you for so many things and be here all day. we thank you for having the ability to make a difference in everyone's lives. giving us the power to go out and change the world. we thank you for your love, your grace and mercy. as we leave today, we thank you that you could take those qualities with our words and actions. in jesus' name we pray, amen. [ applause ]

we as explorers of literature have a responsibility. for those evof you discoversini

you have a responsibility. can you create anything in the world you want reflecting history or not and feel comfortable in that creation or must you censor yourself? >> professor william foster on the reflection of the "n" word places in culture. he changed the reading habits. a look at "time" founder henry luce. saturday morning at 9:30 eastern and sunday at 5:00 p.m. january, 1901, the oil boom hits and the gusher makes texas a leading oil producer state. visit the boom towns and streets of beaumont, texas. american history tv. this weekend on c-span 3. this is c-span3 with politics and public affairs programming throughout