Intown pool report #3 intro remarks

The president opened the show standing at the presidential lectern. He opened by noting that "this is the first time a president of the United States has ever hosted the event. I don't know why. I dont know why." He then mentioned Johnny Carson. Moving on the honorees, he said, "Each of the incredible honorees earned the distinction many, many times over... They've given us immortal characters of the silver screen..unprecedented triumphs of the Broadway stage and unforgettable music that has become the soundtrack of our lives."

He added, "I want to listen to their music...They have lifted our spirits..touched our souls...millions and millions of people have watched them over the years." They are, he said, "among the greatest...ever to walk the face of the earth." He said, "I was telling them last night..you don't know how big you are."

"Personally I love them all. and America loves them all.: He called this "the most exciting night." He asked the audience to "join the first lady and me in honoring people who are legendary in so many ways..." He called George Strait "the undisputed champion of country." He praised Sylvester Stallone for his movies and his persistence. He called Michael Crawford "one of the brightest lights ever to grace the stage of Broadway and... a very special man." Gloria Gaynor he said is "a disco icon" with "unwavering faith," adding, "There has never been a voice like this one. That voice moved the world to dance. ..were going to survive." And, "finally one of the greatest bands in the history of rock and roll...straight out of the borough of Queens, NY, I know it well, KISS."

He called the members of the band "giants" and said everybody wanted them honored. He paid tribute to the late Ace Frehley, who died recently. He noted that his daughter is present and was at the White HOuse last night. "This was a daughter who cried all last night and that told me one thing. She loved her father. I usually see people who don't cry. They couldn't care less."

He said the honorees "exemplify the best of America and are part of the fabric of America... This is special. This is all about them."

He concluded saying, "The Kennedy Center is back and going to be bigger and greater than ever.." He hailed his success in raising money for the center. Then he went back to the artists. "There is one thread that connects all three amazing artists together and that is persistence.

Many of you are horrible, miserable people but you never give up.. unwavering commitment to absolute excellence... All of them have overcome great odds.... In the words of Rocky Balboa, they showed us that you keep moving forward. just keep moving forward." He said Stallone "said it strongly in the movie. It's all about winning, if you move forward that's how winning is done.... The winners are exactly what these great legends are about.... They also know how to go through hell."

Some pre-show quotes coming in pool report 4.