[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[September 29, 2000]
[Pages 1992-1993]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at Press Secretary Joe Lockhart's 
Last Press Briefing and an Exchange With Reporters
September 29, 2000

    The President. Most people think Joe's leaving for purely selfish, 
monetary reasons, but the truth is, he told me that I was no longer in 
enough trouble to make it interesting for him--[laughter]--that getting 
up every day and going to work and making policy and helping the 
Democrats, you know, it's boring him to tears. [Laughter] And he said he 
couldn't stand to be alone in his office crying anymore, and so he had 
to leave.
    So I have one little gift for him, a memorial of our one and only 
day playing golf together. [Laughter] It happened a couple of weeks ago. 
Here's Joe. [Laughter] And the caption is, ``Joe, typical day as 
Presidential Press Secretary, lost in the weeds.'' [Laughter] ``Unlike 
the press corps, I'll give you a mulligan.'' [Laughter]
    Let me say seriously, I know what a difficult job this is, and I 
know it takes a toll on everyone, and I know Joe's spent a lot of time 
away from his wonderful wife and beautiful 
daughter, who are here. I remember when I 
appointed him, there was all this yapping about whether he was heavy 
enough to do the job. [Laughter] He leaves with gravitas and gravy 
toss--[laughter]--and a lot of gratitude.
    I know that I have a different perspective than the members of the 
press corps, but I've been following this business a long time, a long 
time before I showed up. I don't believe I've ever seen anybody do this 
job better. I admire you. I'm grateful to you. I'll miss you, and I'll 
try to keep you bored. Thank you, friend.
    Press Secretary Lockhart. You don't have to hang around for this 
part. You don't really want to talk to them. [Laughter] I'm still on the 
clock. [Laughter]
    The President. You want us to go? Well, wait, I've got to do one 
thing. I have a gift for your successor, Jake. 
[Laughter]

[At this point, the President presented Press Secretary-designate Jake 
Siewert with a helmet.]

    The President. They're going to try to get even with you, and 
they're also going to try to get even for everything they couldn't get 
away with with Joe, so I thought you ought to have this. I hope you'll 
wear it to your first briefing. [Laughter]
    Press Secretary-Designate Jake Siewert. I 
worked enough on the Dukakis campaign not to put this on. [Laughter]
    The President. Joe?
    Press Secretary Lockhart. No, I won't put it on. [Laughter]

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, can I ask you, I guess on a serious note, about 
the violence in Jerusalem, and what that might mean to the peace 
process, and whether you would like to contact Chairman Arafat to see 
what you can do?
    The President. I'm working on all that right now, but I think the 
less I say about it, the

[[Page 1993]]

better. I may have something to say tomorrow, but I think today I'd like 
to say less and try to keep working.

2000 Campaign

    Q. What about the campaign? You seemed to be having an awful good 
time at that fundraiser a little while ago. [Laughter]
    The President. I was having a good time. It's easier for me when you 
don't have to run. It's easier. I'm having a good time.
    Do the briefing, Joe.
    Press Secretary Lockhart. Okay. [Laughter]
    The President. Keep me out of trouble. Stay bored. [Laughter] Bored.
    Press Secretary Lockhart. I can do that.
    The President. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 2 p.m. in the James S. Brady 
Briefing Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Mr. 
Lockhart's wife, Laura Logan, and daughter, Clare. A reporter referred 
to Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority. The President's 
remarks were included in the transcript of the press briefing by Press 
Secretary Lockhart.