    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [December 15, 1993]
    [Page 2177]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2177]]

    Remarks on the Resignation of Les Aspin as Secretary of Defense
    December 15, 1993

        Ladies and gentlemen, it is with real sadness that today I accept
    Secretary Aspin's request to be relieved of his duties as Secretary of
    Defense for personal reasons. I am very grateful that he's agreed to
    remain at his post until January 20th, and beyond if necessary, so that
    we can plan together for the coming year and effect a smooth transition
    at the Pentagon.
        Les has been a close adviser and a friend of mine for a long time. I
    have valued his wise counsel as a key member of our national security
    team. And I have told him that after he takes the break he's requested,
    I very much hope he will consider other assignments for this
    administration.
        During a lifetime of public service in Congress, with our
    transition, and at the Pentagon, Les Aspin has made invaluable
    contributions to this Nation's defense and security. None of them have
    been more significant than his service as Secretary of Defense. Along
    with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he has provided solid leadership for our
    uniformed and civilian defense personnel during a period of transition
    that is historic and has at times been unsettling.
        He helped launch creative policy responses to the fundamental
    changes of this era, from the dissolution of the Soviet empire to the
    growing challenges of ethnic conflict and weapons proliferation. And
    through it all, he has led with character, with intelligence, with
    wisdom, and the unflappable good humor that is both his trademark and
    his secret weapon.
        One of his most important contributions in this past year has been
    his efforts to help our administration relate our defense strategy in
    this new era and our defense spending. Under his leadership, the
    Pentagon conducted the first comprehensive review of our forces since
    the end of the cold war. This now well-known, bottom-up review has
    provided our Nation with a profile of this era's threats and a vision of
    our force structure that will guide our Nation's military for many years
    to come.
        He's provided steady leadership for the entire defense community as
    it has confronted the inevitable downsizing that accompanied the end of
    the cold war. He acted on the recommendations of the base closure
    commission in a way that demonstrated equity, responsibility, and a
    great concern for the communities and the families that were hit hard by
    the closure of our military facilities. And as we've reduced our force
    levels, he's been the first to voice concerns for the men and women in
    uniform who shoulder the burden of our national security.
        His leadership has also been invaluable in helping our country to
    adapt to our military social changes. He led the way in our efforts to
    open the doors for women to serve our Nation in combat roles and helped
    to ensure more equitable rules toward homosexuals in our military. He's
    provided creative leadership as he's mobilized the Pentagon to develop
    new and stronger responses to the many security challenges of this new
    era, such as his new counterproliferation initiative. And on a range of
    tough decisions and tough challenges abroad, from Bosnia to Korea, he
    has called them as he saw them, bringing to bear a lifetime of
    experience and dedication and a razor-sharp mind to our Nation's
    security interest.
        Above all, Secretary Aspin has provided deep strategic thinking and
    leadership at a time of profound change in this world. As a result, when
    our citizens go to bed tonight, we can do so secure in the knowledge
    that our Nation is building the right forces and acquiring the right
    capabilities for this new era.
        I will always appreciate the thoughtful and dedicated and ultimately
    selfless service that Les Aspin provided to me and to this Nation over
    this last year. I asked a lot of him, tough times and tough problems. He
    gave even more to me, to our military, and to our country than was
    asked, and I will always be very, very grateful.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:21 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.