George Bush actually said...

The United States honors Natan Sharansky for his contributions to and sacrifices for the cause of democracy and freedom.

The United States honors Paul Johnson for his landmark contributions to sharing the lessons of the past so that they may inform the present ...

The United States honors Joshua Lederberg for his achievements in scientific discovery and his commitment to improving the lives of others.

On his watch, the United States military helped the Iraqi people establish a constitutional democracy in the heart of the Middle East.