George Lucas accepts the National Medal of Technology from President Bush.
Saluting "30 years of innovation in visual effects technology in the motion picture industry," President Bush presented George Lucas and Industrial Light & Magic with the National Medal of Technology.
At several points during the Monday morning ceremony, which took place in a packed East Room of the White House, Bush emphasized his administration's desire to promote math and science to kids and encourage them to go into tech fields. Numerous studies have found an alarming decline in tech savvy and interest among American students compared to kids in other countries.
But afterward, Lucas, who said he was pleased to receive the award, wondered whether the Bush administration might need some f/x work of its own to succeed.
"Things are obviously not going well, but whether they can turn it around remains to be seen," he said.
Asked if he offered to help Bush solve any problems, in Iraq for instance, Lucas replied, "I kept my mouth shut. I promised all my PR people I would."
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