    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [November 7, 1996]
    [Pages 2089-2091]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Resignation of Secretary of State Warren Christopher and
    an Exchange With Reporters
    November 7, 1996

        The President. We are truly about to make a new beginning.
    Yesterday, at the wonderful welcome home that Hillary and Al and Tipper
    and I had at the White House, I saw a remarkable sight: Warren
    Christopher was wearing a T-shirt. [Laughter] He did have it on
    underneath his Saville Row suit. Nonetheless, it was there. This is the
    same Warren Christopher, I would remind you all, who made People
    magazine's best dressed list, the only man ever to eat Presidential
    M&M's on Air Force One with a knife and fork. [Laughter]
        Yesterday Secretary Christopher gave new meaning to my conviction
    that we are entering an age of new and remarkable possibility. Today it
    is with great regret at his departure but deep gratitude for his service
    to our administration and to our country that I have accepted Warren
    Christopher's decision to step down as Secretary of State.
        He has left the mark of his hand on history, not in some
    theoretical, intangible fashion but in concrete ways that have made a
    real difference in the lives of the American people and people around
    the world. He has served three previous Democratic administrations, as a
    trade negotiator, a Deputy Attorney General, a Deputy Secretary of State
    when he brought home our hostages from Iran. These past 4 years, I have
    been proud and privileged to have him by my side as Secretary of State.
        Today, if the children of the Middle East can imagine a future of
    cooperation, not conflict, if Bosnia's killing fields are once again
    playing fields, if the people of Haiti now live in democracy instead of
    under dictators, in no small measure, it is because of Warren
    Christopher. The cause of peace and freedom and decency have never had a
    more tireless or tenacious advocate.
        Those of us who have worked with Chris know that his quiet dignity
    masks a steely determination. Let me cite just one example.
        History will record that Bosnia's peace was secured at Dayton. It
    will also recall that, literally, until the last minute the outcome was
    in doubt. Our negotiators had their bags packed and were ready to head
    home without an agreement. But Chris refused to give up. And the force
    of his will finally convinced the Balkan leaders to give into the logic
    of peace.
        For all Secretary Christopher's skill at diffusing crises, I believe
    his lasting legacy was built behind the headlines, laying the
    foundations for our future. Under his leadership we've taken on new
    threats like terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and
    environmental degradation. We're seizing the opportunities to make the
    21st century more secure and prosperous for every American; working
    toward a Europe that is undivided, democratic, and at peace; building a
    new partnership with a strong and open Russia; meeting the challenges of
    change in Asia with strength and steadiness; opening more markets abroad
    and helping

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    American businesses to take advantage of these new opportunities.
        Perhaps most important, Warren Christopher's life provides powerful
    proof that America has a unique responsibility and a unique privilege to
    lead. He has helped the American people understand that we cannot lead
    on the cheap; it takes time, energy, and resources. And as we go
    forward, I pledge to protect and preserve the resources for our
    diplomacy that Warren Christopher has put to such good use.
        Finally, let me say, as all of you know, I owe Warren Christopher a
    debt that extends far beyond the broad range of his responsibilities.
    Few individuals did more to shape my first administration. He chaired
    our Vice Presidential search committee, and I'd say he came up with a
    pretty good recommendation. [Laughter] The American people have him to
    thank for my selection of Al Gore and the subsequent development of the
    most unique partnership in the history of the Presidency and the Vice
    Presidency. And I think it is clear that the Vice President has been the
    most influential and constructive force ever to occupy the Vice
    Presidency's office.
        Warren Christopher directed the 1992 transition, in particular, in
    building a Cabinet team that helped to put America on track as we enter
    the 21st century, one which a scholar of the Presidency wrote me and
    said was the most loyal Cabinet since Thomas Jefferson's first
    administration.
        These past 4 years, time and again, I have reached out to my friend
    for his counsel, his judgment, and his support. It is no exaggeration to
    say that Warren Christopher has literally been America's elder
    statesman. It's also no exaggeration today that he retains the energy,
    the vigor, and the capacity of a person half his age.
        I thank Secretary Christopher for agreeing to stay on until we
    select a successor. I will consult closely with him in that process. In
    the weeks ahead I may have a hard time finding him, however. The
    Secretary is continuing to do the vital business of our Nation,
    participating next week in the Cairo conference, traveling to China and
    throughout Asia, moving on to Europe to work on Bosnia, and adapting
    NATO to the future.
        Secretary Christopher already has set a 4-year record as America's
    most traveled diplomat-in-chief. If you could earn frequent flyer miles
    for Government travel, we would owe him at least a round trip on the
    space shuttle. [Laughter] The Vice President says that with the travel
    he's already logged in, he could go to the Moon and back and back to the
    Moon again. I want him to travel a few more miles so he will finish on
    the right planet. [Laughter]
        Through dignity, determination, hard work, and skill, through an
    unbelievable, powerful collection and combination of his intellect, his
    integrity, and his good heart, Warren Christopher has earned our
    Nation's admiration and a debt that can never be fully repaid. From the
    bottom of my heart, I thank him for his service to the Nation and his
    unique friendship to the President.
        Mr. Secretary.

    [At this point, Secretary Christopher made brief remarks.]

        Q. Mr. President, how will you go about choosing a successor? What's
    your plan for doing that?
        The President. Don't sit down now. It won't take long for me to
    answer this question. [Laughter]
        Let me say to all of you here in the press, I intend to have a press
    conference tomorrow afternoon, and I'll be more than happy to answer all
    of your questions in greater detail.
        But I will go about selecting a successor, first of all, by
    soliciting the Secretary of State's advice and the advice of others on
    our national security team and others beyond that with whom I have
    worked and whom I trust. And I'm sure I'll get some unsolicited advice
    as we go along, and that's a good thing. I believe that the Secretary
    will be difficult to replace, but I think there will be worthy Americans
    who can contribute, who are willing to serve. And with all these places
    where we have vacancies, I want to cast a wide net.
        And I think the American people sent us another message on Tuesday.
    They want us to work together. They like it when we try to have
    principled compromise. And they want us to create a vital center, that
    is, not one that just splits the difference but one that moves the
    country forward in an aggressive way, Republicans and Democrats and
    independents alike. And I will be looking, in all these personnel
    decisions that I have to make, across a broad span of American people to
    try to get the best people to create that vital center and take this
    country into the 21st century.

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        And I'll see you all tomorrow and look forward to answering your
    questions. Thank you. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:50 p.m. in the Cross Halls on the State
    Floor at the White House.