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President Bush Discusses the Transition with Employees of the Executive
Office of the President
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 6, 2008

President Bush Discusses the Transition with Employees of the Executive
Office of the President South Lawn

˙ /news/releases/2008/11/20081106-1.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio ˙˙Photos ˙˙En Espa¤ol

˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Transition

11:12 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Mr. Vice President and Lynne,
thank you for being here with us. Laura and I welcome you to the South Lawn
-- better known as Barney's playground. (Laughter.)

I want to thank members of my Cabinet who've joined us. We've just finished
a Cabinet meeting, and it gave me a chance to tell them how much I
appreciate the good work they're doing during this critical time for our
nation.

I also appreciate the men and women who make up the Executive Office of the
President for joining us today. (Applause.) Some of you have been at the
White House for just a few months. Others arrived the same day that we did
nearly eight years ago. You're the ones who can tell that my hair has
gotten a little grayer. (Laughter.) Others are career employees who have
been here for 30, or 40, sometimes 50 years. I can tell that your hair has
gotten grayer. (Laughter.)

The people on this lawn represent diverse backgrounds, talents, and
experiences. Yet we all share a steadfast devotion to the United States. We
believe that service to our fellow citizens is a noble calling -- and the
privilege of a lifetime.

This is an exciting time for our country. Earlier this week, more than 120
million people voted for a new President and Congress -- one of the largest
turnouts in the history of the country. No matter how we cast our ballots,
this election gives us all reason to be proud of our democracy and our
country. And I hope you will join Laura and me in congratulating
President-Elect Obama, and wishing him the very best for his family and our
country. (Applause.)

Just before our inauguration in 2001, Laura and I went back to Midland,
Texas -- she was born there and I was raised there. I said that Laura and I
would "never quite settle in Washington." I told them:
"While the honor is
great, the work is temporary." This is true for many of us here today. This
peaceful transfer of power is one of the hallmarks of a true democracy. And
ensuring that this transition is as smooth as possible is a priority for
the rest of my presidency. We face economic challenges that will not pause
to let a new President settle in. This will also be America's first wartime
presidential transition in four decades. We're in a struggle against
violent extremists determined to attack us -- and they would like nothing
more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people.

So over the next 75 days, all of us must ensure that the next President and
his team can hit the ground running. For more than a year now, departments
and agencies throughout the federal government have been preparing for a
smooth transition. We've provided intelligence briefings to the
President-Elect, and the Department of Justice has approved security
clearances for members of his transition staff. In the coming weeks, we
will ask administration officials to brief the Obama team on ongoing policy
issues, ranging from the financial markets to the war in Iraq. I look
forward to discussing those issues with the President-Elect early next
week.

Offices within the White House are at work preparing extensive transition
materials. We're preparing career employees throughout the administration
to take on added responsibilities to help prevent any disruption to the
essential functions of the federal government.

Taken together, these measures represent an unprecedented effort to ensure
that the executive branch is prepared to fulfill its responsibilities at
all times. As we carry out this transition I know that you will continue to
conduct yourselves with the decency and professionalism you have shown
throughout my time in office.

A successful transition is just one of many important tasks remaining in
our last 75 days. To help address the global financial crisis, the
Secretary of Treasury is working endless hours, and I will host an
international summit here in Washington on November the 15th. This will be
a historic meeting -- and I'm confident that you will work hard to help
make it a success.

We'll also keep urging Congress to approve America's free trade agreements
with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. And we will continue to protect
this homeland by defeating the terrorists and extremists abroad, so we do
not have to face them here at home. (Applause.)

As January 20th draws near, some of you may be anxious about finding a new
job, or a new place to live. I know how you feel. (Laughter.) But between
now and then, we must keep our attention on the task at hand -- because the
American people expect no less. Earlier this year, I promised that I would
sprint to the finish. I am keeping that promise, and I know I have given
some of you a good workout along the way. As we head into this final
stretch, I ask you to remain focused on the goals ahead. I will be honored
to stand with you at the finish line. May God bless you.

END 11:19 A.M. EST

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