Bill Clinton: “Norman Lear has held up a mirror to American society and changed the way we look at it. From Archie Bunker's living room…”

“Norman Lear has held up a mirror to American society and changed the way we look at it. From Archie Bunker's living room in Queens to Fred Sanford's junkyard in Watts, he has employed the power of humor in the service of human understanding. His departure from traditional, two-dimensional television characters was risky. It showed the enormous respect he has for the judgment, the sense, and the heart of the American people. He gave us something real. He tackled issues head on. Archie Bunker, after all, was the best argument against his own bigotry. By laying it out unvarnished, Norman Lear took it apart and, in the process, made us laugh out loud. His commitment to promoting understanding and tolerance extends far beyond the screen. As founder of People For the American Way and the Business Enterprise Trust, he continues his work to deepen freedom, defend liberties, and reward social responsibility. The first time I ever met Norman Lear was in early 1981, shortly after the Presidential election of 1980, in which I became the youngest former Governor in American history. [Laughter] Norman Lear invited me to come talk about a project with him in New York, and he took me to a play on Broadway that he produced. We went to opening night. It closed 3 days later. [Laughter] We are here today because the intervening years have been kinder to both of us. [Laughter] I'm not sure Archie Bunker would approve, but Meathead would be proud and so are we. Colonel, read the citation. [Lieutenant Colonel Everhart read the citation, and the President presented the medal.]”