And I'm very proud of my own personal friendship with Helmut Schmidt.

I have a great admiration for him.

I will nominate Jean M. Wilkowski for the rank of Ambassador while serving as coordinator of United States preparations for the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development.

I will nominate Forrest J. Gerard, of Bowie, Md, to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs.

This Medal of Freedom can only express our gratitude, and our deepest thanks.

When I was a child in Georgia, there was another threat as well which was even more all-encompassing and which afflicted us as did a physical disease, and that was racial discrimination.

I'd like to first call Dr. Jonas Salk forward to present an award to him and to read a citation.

Our Founding Fathers spoke about the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but without freedom from oppression and from disease, the pursuit of happiness has little meaning.

He made our nation stronger because he made it better.

This medal will be displayed with Martin's Nobel Peace Prize in the completed Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Social Change.

I am deeply moved to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom along with Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life and work contributed so richly to the ultimate freedoms we seek.

Let us all once again rededicate our lives to the fulfillment of Martin Luther King's dream, which was truly the American dream.

The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award that's given in our country.

I urge the communications media, educators, the aerospace industry, scientific and public-service organizations and the American people to join with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during this period…

My own inclination, when a decision must be reached, would be to give those responsibilities to State and local officials.

I don't think there is any doubt that the Nation faces devastating consequences in the absence of a comprehensive and fair and understandable energy policy.

I think the country is well served when the different levels of government can cooperate and legitimately share responsibilities under our system of federalism.

HAROLD L. MURPHY, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, vice James C. Hill, elevated.