president trump will attend the ceremony and deliver remarks to the people expected to attend. saturday, 10:00 eastern on c-span. and listen live on the free radio app. ceremonyissioning marks the beginning of active duty for a newly built naval vessel. up next, we should -- will show you three aircraft carrier commissioning ceremonies. we begin with uss harry truman, the ninth nuclear powered aircraft carrier in the u.s. fleet.

harry truman was a missouri farmer. we know he was a man of his word. here on july 25, 1998, his ship has come in. [applause] president clinton. of coarse, his hometown is not a center of naval operations. coming south of missouri, we are completely landlocked. harry truman was an army man. but 1944, as a united states senator mahe's poke at the christening of the battleship missouri.

japan surrendered a year later. lifelong affection for , asship and came to rely on all presidents do, on the world cost greatest navy. the american people still feel a strong affection for harry truman. she seemed to some an ordinary man, but he became an ordinary president. -- extraordinary president. he represented the best in us and he gave us the best in himself. he never failed to live up to the word of his fellow missourian mark twain, who he kept on his desk at the oval office, always do right. this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. 50 years ago, when harry truman became our president, america faced a mountain of crises. europe lay shattered.

a cold war bred danger around the world. terrible new weapons made every false step of potential catastrophe. and angry voices were being raised at home by americans against other americans. at such a time and after the rigors of world war ii, some wanted to turn away from the world, to relinquish the leadership that had rescued freedom from tyranny, but harry truman said no. he made courageous decisions, focused always on doing right, making sure everyone knew the buck stopped with him. he approved massive aid to europe, including our former enemies, in one of the funds they did instincts -- in one of the farsighted -- he became the first reliever to

recognize the new state of israel, over the better protest of his advisors. that same year that stalin closed off western access to berlin, he ordered air support to the beleaguered city. in 50 years ago tomorrow, as secretary cohen has noted, harry truman made one of the best decisions any commander-in-chief ever made. he was sickened by stories of african-american veterans fighting heroically for an american war, only to return to violence and hatred. he wrote, "as president, i know this is bad. i shall fight to end evils like this. and despite the extraordinary political pressures against him, despite himself growing up in a segregated community, on july 26, 1948, harry truman ordered the armed forces to integrate with the executive order 9981.

from that day forward our men and women in uniform have truly been a force for freedom, and a shining example to all humanity. president truman's decisive acts made crystal clear that america would not stand by while the world unraveled, that our ideas were not just words on parchment, but guideposts for coming together as americans. as driven said in the first address by any american president to the naacp, when i say all americans, i mean all americans. when we scanned the landscape of the new century ahead, the future harry truman defined is the promise we now enjoy. think of what has happened growing out of the physicians he -- decisions he made 50 years ago.

the cold war is over, europe is thriving, berlin is united, greece and turkey are vital nato allies working to promote peace in the balkans. israel, japan, south korea are among our strong democratic partners. nato, the international monetary fund, are essential components of the architecture of peace and prosperity. these are not accidents of history. they reflect the vision of the leader we celebrate here today. harry truman new a president's ability to persuade others in the world is greatly enhanced when commanding the world's strongest military. when we restored hope in haiti, the navy was there to make it happen. when violence tore apart bosnia, legal operations helped create

conditions of peace. when we needed quick text and in the persian gulf last winter, the navy was there to put steel behind our diplomacy. and on this day our persuasiveness has been enhanced considerably. this carrier occupies four and a half acres, stands 20 stories tall, home to 6000 personal, about the size of harry truman's hometown. from aviators in the ready rooms to the engineers in their spaces, to catapult officers who can launch 4 aircraft in a minute, to the cooks that prepare meals every day, the crew of the harry truman will do us proud. to the families here today, we appreciate your commitment too. your loved ones on the harry s truman will never be sent into harm's way without clear purpose and superior preparation.

as secretary cohen has made clear, the readiness of our military will remain a top priority. today and into the future our forces will be fully capable of meeting our commitments around the world. we have done much to meet these readiness goals, but we must. as member of congress here keenly appreciate, congress is the vital partner in this effort. this year with bipartisan support we provide emergency funding for our military operations in bosnia, in southwest asia, and thus are able to meet critical readiness needs. but congress as yet has not approved the funding we need on the same terms for the operations in fiscal year 1999, which begins only nine weeks from now. if we are to remain fully repaired it is imperative that congress act. a month ago the defense department sent a request to

transfer $1 billion from lower priority programs to training, maintenance, and readiness requirements. to sustain our readiness again i ask congress to approve this request before the summer recess. this ship, the harry truman, is a monument to strength of character, to the character of the president and the characters of those who serve aboard her. the character of the shipyard workers that built her. the motto you have adopted says it all, the buck stops here. over the next 50 years america must continue to be responsible to say the buck stops with the united states. to ask the questions that the president we honor here today asked -- what are the decisions we make today mean for our children and grandchildren? is what we are doing good for

all of our people? will it deepen our freedom, expand opportunities, strengthens our unions, advances the cause of freedom and peace and security in the world? will it bring hope to the oppressed and fear to the oppressors? the very sight will recall the will and vision of the men who arrived when we needed him most. some will look at this carrier and see only her passive physical dimensions. i hope most of us will see something even bigger. the living spirit of america and her agent of one of the greatest leaders are still young nation has yet produced. to the men and women who will serve on the harry s truman, remember the buck stops the united states. god speed. and if he were here, he would say, give them hell.

god bless you and think you very much. [applause] >> as president trump prepares to speak at an event launching a new aircraft carrier, c-span commissioning ceremonies of the past. cheney athe the ceremony for the uss ronald reagan, the only ship named after a living resident. he was dealing with the effects of alzheimer's disease of the time and was unable to attend the ceremony. [applause] v.p. cheney: thank you very much mr. chairman, senator warner. thank you for those kind words. mrs. reagan, let me say what an honor it is to be with you and your family today. governor warner, secretary

johnson, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, i'm very pleased to visit naval station norfolk and i appreciate the warm welcome. i am sorry to disappoint those who wanted me to arrive the way the president did, on the uss lincoln. maybe when you are next in port i will try it. today we send forth a great american ship. during a great american name. to the officers and crew of this base, i bring personal greetings from our commander-in-chief, president george w. bush. [applause] v.p. cheney: for everyone that love the navy and honors its traditions, and everyone who admires the name and legacy of

our 40th president, this is truly a day for celebration. if the purpose of naming an aircraft carrier is to convey the strength and seriousness of this country and our military, then we have certainly accomplished that. something tells me that any potential adversary of the united states will take notice when word arrives that the uss ronald reagan has been sighted offshore. [applause] v.p. cheney: today our military gains 100,000 tons of american ingenuity and american power. this ship with its tremendous endurance and nearly unlimited range rises 20 stories above the water, nearly as long as the empire state building is tall, and will sail the seas for 20 years without refueling.

there is only one nation in the world that has the resources and skills needed to build a nuclear powered warship of this size and capacity. there is only one navy in the world that can project might and the its mission to the far corners of this earth. [applause] v.p. cheney: there is only one ship in the world that bears the name of a living american president. [applause] v.p. cheney: today, the uss ronald reagan becomes the newest member of the greatest navy ever assembled. i want to congratulate everyone who helped build this ship,

everyone who will sail in it, and everyone that will make it worthy of it great name. the navy we have today is in many ways a monument to the conviction of ronald reagan. he came to the presidency with a clear understanding of the tools our navy would need to protect the american people and to the defend our interests, to honor our commitments to allies, and maintain command of the seas. during his watch he authorized construction of four nimitz c lass carriers, the abraham lincoln, the george washington, the john c stennis, and the harry s truman. maritime superiority is for us a necessity. we must be able to venture into harm's way, controlling air, surface, and subsurface areas

to assure access to all oceans of the world. failure to do so, he warned, will leave the credibility of our conventional forces in doubt. president reagan spent eight years in the white house removing all doubt about the credibility of our forces or about the clarity of america's purposes. with complete courage and confidence he asserted the right of all people and all nations to live in freedom. he believed that history is on the side of liberty, and that all tyrannies are doomed to failure. [applause] v.p. cheney: he believed these things long before he became president and long before he ever entered politics. nothing could shake his determination to rebuild the

strength and the morale of every branch of the united states military. nothing could shake his deep moral confidence and sense of purpose, and because of these qualities, ronald reagan changed the course of history, as few men have ever done. [applause] v.p. cheney: you have seen the cause he stood for, vindicated in his own lifetime, and the free peoples of the world will honor his name for generations to come. [applause] v.p. cheney: the uss ronald reagan set sail in a world filled with new dangers. 22 months ago we learned the threats which gather for years in secret can suddenly appears in our own cities. in a moment of tragedy our nation was called to wage a global effort against terrorists

and the threats they pose. and under president bush this campaign has been unrelenting, and the conduct of our military has been superb. [applause] v.p. cheney: the outcome is certain. it will be complete victory for the united states in the cause of read on. -- freedom. in this war, our carriers have played and will continue to play a decisive role. on the morning of september 11, 2001, the aircraft carrier uss enterprise was heading home to norfolk. within moments the ship reversed course, and by the next day was within striking distance of afghanistan awaiting orders. it was soon joined by the carl vinson, kitty hawk, theodore

roosevelt, and the stennis. many of the combat missions supporting ground operations in afghanistan came from these carriers and gave the taliban its first and last glimpse of american air and sea power. [applause] v.p. cheney: carriers were deployed with equal effect for the liberation of iraq. that conflict signal a new era in warfare in which precisely targeted weapons launched from great staging bases at sea enable us to destroy the command centers of the enemy regime while sparing civilians and leaving infrastructure intact. in afghanistan and iraq we remove regimes that supported terror against others and brutalized their own people. those were swift camping but campaigns but they were not

easy. the united states remains prepared to confront danger wherever we must. as this nation leads the world in fighting terror, we cannot predict every turn in the future course of battle, but standing on this great floating air we field we can know at least we are ready to answer any challenge to the freedom and security of america and our friends. [applause] v.p. cheney: more than two decades ago, president reagan made his first voyage to an aircraft carrier, the uss constellation. he called that ship a powerful force in an uncertain world. and a generation later we can say that of the ship we have no w named for him. last month the constellation returned home from its final

deployment in the arabian gulf, where it served as the night carrier throughout operation iraqi freedom. the constellation will be replaced by the ronald reagan, which in its own time will know its share of heavy wins and rough seas. but in the lifetime of this carrier, as in the lifetime of its namesake, enemies of freedom will fall away and the realm of freedom will expand further across the face of the earth. [applause] v.p. cheney: as think this afternoon of our 40th president, we think also of the devoted wife at his side. mrs. reagan, our nation is so grateful to you. you have shared in your husband's great life, and today you share the hide of this tribute-- pride of this

from the people of the united states of america. [applause] v.p. cheney: may this ship find safe passage in all the voyages ahead, and may almighty god watch over the officers and crew of the uss ronald reagan. [applause] >> you're watching c-span's look back at aircraft carrier commissioning ceremonies. president trump speaks for the uss gerald ford. up next, remarks by george w. bush at a ceremony for a ship bearing his father's name. george bush senior also speaks of the event which launched the last nimitz class carrier.

howard by two nuclear reactors, it can operate for more than 20 years without feeling, and carries more than 80 aircraft. president bush: i want to thank you all for coming. laura and i are thrilled to help commission an awesome ship, and to honor an awesome man, president george h w bush. [applause] president bush: to prepare for the study i went up to some of my father's letters. i thought it was especially interesting to read one that he wrote in the late 1940's. he sent it to a friend. here is what he said. he said, you should see georgy now. whenever i come home he greets me and talks a blue streak.

sentences disjointed of course. [applause] [laughter] president bush: he tried to say everything and the results are often hilarious. some things do not change. [laughter] the aircraft carrier which we commission today may be the navy's newest ship, but she has already had an interesting past. her catapult testing took place during an unseasonable snap. -- cold snap. he christening was thrown into chaos by a fierce nor'easter. and during construction, the shipyard was closed down because of hurricane isabel. so in keeping with this ship's short history, i brought along

an equally strong force of nature, my mother. [laughter] thank you for joining us. vice president cheney has been a fabulous vice president is the -- of the united states. governor kane, thank you for your welcoming remarks. secretary of state condoleezza rice, i appreciate you joining us. other members of the administration and their families, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral , other members of the united states armed forces and their families, shipyard workers and managers, members of our family who have joined us,

and all the friends of george h.w. bush, we are glad you are here. the story of the uss h w bush begins in the early days of world war ii, when our dad enlisted in the united states navy. like many servicemen deployed overseas, he was sustained by a girl he loved back home. from her dorm room, she knitted socks for him. in remote pacific atolls, he collected seashells for her. when he returned home the first thing he did was to make her his bride. for 64 years ago this week, the love of my father's life has been barbara bush. [applause] president bush: over the years our parents have built a family

bound forever by closeness, warmth, and unconditional love. we will always feel blessed to have had the best father anyone could ever ask for. we will always be inspired by the faith, humor, patriotism, and compassion he talked to us through his own example. as long as we live, we will carry with us dad's lessons that integrity and honor are worth more than any title or treasure, and that the truest strength can come from the gentlest soul. george h.w. bush has the deep love of his family, the admiration of his friends, and the thanks of a grateful nation. [applause]

president bush: so what do you give a guy who has been blessed and has just about everything he has ever needed? well, an aircraft carrier. [laughter] this ship that bears are dad -- name is more than 95,000 tons of aluminum and steel. she will carry 6000 of the finest sailors and marines in the world. she represents the craftsmanship of many skilled elders and thousands of hours of preparation. and so, i can graduate all of you on this tremendous achievement. the ship is a fitting tribute to a generation of men with whom my dad was privileged to serve.

she is also a tribute to a new generation of soldiers and sailors and men and women. marines who have stepped forward to defend the usa. are facingtroops down a brutal enemy. again they are making america and the world safer, and again they will come home in victory. [applause] president bush: people often ask what i treasure most about being the president. nothing comes close to the honor of being your commander-in-chief. every day i am amazed by the skill and courage of our men and women in uniform.

and as we send the uss george h.w. bush to service, i know you will do credit to the sailors before you, and the good man for this ship is named. i ask that god protect this ship and let her know only victory and peace, and i ask god's continued blessings on our wonderful nation. thank you. [applause] >> thank you very much. thank you, mr. president. mr. vice president, all of the distinguished guests here. i want to single out captain of , how thankful we are to read it you will forgive an old navy man little reminiscing, being here at this ceremony takes me back 65 years to another commissioning. this one it in the shipyards of

philadelphia for the uss san jacinto, the carrier where my crewmates and i were preparing to serve in world war ii. speaking of not many of them being with us, i feel like phyllis stiller when she said all of my friends are dying in alphabetical order. but i am glad to be here. a few memories of that distant day stand out. first and foremost, it was during that trip to philadelphia where they gave my fiancee an engagement ring. she had come down for the ceremony with my mother and we had only just that week made our engagement public. i thought we had done a pretty good job keeping our romance a secret. by that point, it was possible the germans and the japanese were the only people that did not know we were getting married. the other memory that stands out from this first commissioning

was the fact that i thought that the san jack was by far the biggest ship or anything else i had ever seen. at 660 feet long and 120 feet high, it cut an impressive figure to be short. but next to this ship, it cannot compare. almost twice as long with a 4.5 acre landing field, a tower that exceeds up to 20 stories above the waterline, and a feature that a few of my granddaughters in particular would really like. that is right, on board this carrier there are mind-boggling 1400 telephones. for all of the special enhancements this carrier has received, all of the state of the art technology, safety and environmental features, the most important element will finally be added today in the form of the men and women that will serve aboard this floating naval air station. those who were sitting where i

was 65 years ago, preparing to serve aboard your new ship, i wish i was sitting out there with you, ready to start the adventures of my naval aviation career all over. i don't know if i could have handled the jets we fly today, but as you prepare to man this ship, i do know that you take with you the hopes and dreams of every american that cherishes freedom and peace, and you take home with you the undying respect and admiration of the entire bush family. in a few moments i will take her part in helping to set the first watch for cvn-77. and from that moment on, until this ship is retired many years from now, you will form an unbroken line of patriots protecting this piece of american territory. as someone who has stood that watch and remembers the quiet solitude of that experience. i know you will find comfort and inspiration, particularly in the night sky, where it is basking

in the splendor of the stars that you will truly understand the majesty of creation and bear witness to the certain hand of god. make no mistake, the work aboard this ship will be routinely difficult, and sometimes dangerous. but the freedom we seek and the peace we desire can only be found in the countless sacrifices you will make and everyday tasks you will perform. so thank you for your service. good luck to each and every one of you, and may god bless the men and women that sail on cvn-77. >> that live coverage of the commissioning t of the uss gerad r ford.

it is the newest nuclear powered high-tech aircraft carrier. president trump will attend the ceremony at the base in norfolk, virginia. saturday, 10:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. and listen live on the free c-span app. >> coming up next from washington journal, a look at the house republican budget proposal for fiscal year 2018. that is followed by a discussion on the global influence of the press. and later, president trump meets with service members at the uss arizona. "washington journal" continues. now, here to us discuss ongoing budget deliberations in the 2018 house gop