    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [November 8, 2006]
    [Pages 2064-2067]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald H.
    Rumsfeld and the Nomination of Robert M.
    Gates To Be Secretary of Defense
    November 8, 2006

        The President. Good afternoon, and welcome to the White House.
    Earlier today I announced my intent to nominate Robert Gates to be the
    next Secretary of the Defense, and now I'm pleased to introduce him to
    the American people. I also am looking forward to paying tribute to the
    man he will succeed.
        America remains a nation at war. We face brutal enemies who despise
    our freedom and want to destroy our way of life. These enemies attacked
    our country on September the 11th, 2001. They fight us in Afghanistan
    and Iraq, and they remain determined to attack our country again.
    Against such enemies, there's only one way to protect the American
    people: We must stay on the offense and bring our enemies to justice,
    before they hurt us again.
        In this time of war, the President relies on the Secretary of
    Defense to provide military advice and direct our Nation's

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    Armed Forces as they engage our enemies across the world. The Secretary
    of Defense must be a man of vision who can see threats still over the
    horizon and prepare our Nation to meet them. Bob Gates is the right man
    to meet both of these critical challenges.
        Bob is one of our Nation's most accomplished public servants. He
    joined the CIA in 1966 and has nearly 27 years of national security
    experience, serving six Presidents of both political parties. He spent
    nearly 9 years serving on the National Security Council staff. And at
    the CIA, he rose from an entry-level employee to become the Director of
    the Central Intelligence. And his experience has prepared him well for
    this new assignment.
        Bob understands the challenges we face in Afghanistan. As President
    Reagan's Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, he helped lead
    America's efforts to drive Soviet forces from Afghanistan. Success in
    these efforts weakened the Soviet regime and helped hasten freedom's
    victory in the cold war.
        Bob understands the challenges facing our Nation in Iraq. He served
    as Deputy National Security Adviser to the first President Bush during Operation Desert Storm, as American troops
    repelled Iraqi aggression and drove Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait. More recently, he served as a
    member of the Iraq Study Group, a distinguished independent panel of
    Republicans and Democrats led by former Secretary of State Jim
    Baker and former Congressman Lee
    Hamilton. As part of this commission, he has
    traveled to Iraq and met with the country's leaders and our military
    commanders on the ground. He'll provide the Department with a fresh
    perspective and new ideas on how America can achieve our goals in Iraq.
        Bob understands how to lead large, complex institutions and
    transform them to meet new challenges. As Director of Central
    Intelligence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was
    responsible for leading all the foreign intelligence agencies of the
    United States. And he's brought that same leadership and abilities as
    his work as president of our Nation's sixth largest university, Texas
    A&M. When the A&M board of regents interviewed him for the job, he
    described himself as an agent of change. As president, he delivered on
    that promise, initiating wide-ranging reforms to almost every aspect of
    campus life. He'll bring that same transformational spirit to his work
    in the Department of Defense.
        Bob Gates is a patriot whose love for country was nurtured in the
    Kansas community where he was raised. He's worn our Nation's uniform.
    He's a strategic thinker who was educated at three of America's finest
    universities, receiving his bachelor's degree from William & Mary, a
    master's degree in history from Indiana University, and a doctorate in
    Russian and Soviet history from Georgetown.
        He's a leader in the business community who served on the boards of
    several major corporations. He's a man of integrity, candor, and sound
    judgment. He knows that the challenge of protecting our country is
    larger than any political party, and he has a record of working with
    leaders of both sides of the aisle to strengthen our national security.
    He has my confidence and my trust, and he will be an outstanding
    Secretary of Defense.
        Bob follows in the footsteps of one of America's most skilled and
    capable national security leaders, Donald Rumsfeld. Don is the longest
    serving member of my Cabinet, and next month, he will reach another
    milestone when he becomes the longest serving Secretary of Defense in
    the history of our Nation. I appreciate his willingness to continue
    serving until his successor is in place, because in a time of war, our
    Nation cannot be without a strong and steady hand leading our Department
    of Defense.
        Don has served in times of great consequence for our Nation. Few
    will forget the image of Don Rumsfeld as he helped

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    rescue workers carry the victims from the rubble of the Pentagon on
    September the 11th, 2001. In the weeks that followed, he directed the
    effort to plan our Nation's military response to an unprecedented attack
    on our soil. Under his leadership, U.S. and coalition forces launched
    one of the most innovative military campaigns in the history of modern
    warfare, driving the Taliban and its Al Qaida allies from power in a
    matter of weeks.
        In 2003, on my orders, he led the planning and execution of another
    historic military campaign, Operation Iraqi Freedom, that drove Saddam
    Hussein from power and helped the Iraqi
    people establish a constitutional democracy in the heart of the Middle
    East. History will record that on Don Rumsfeld's watch, the men and
    women of our military overthrew two terrorist regimes, liberated some 50
    million people, brought justice to the terrorist Zarqawi and scores of
    senior Al Qaida operatives, and helped stop new terrorist attacks on our
    people.
        America is safer and the world is more secure because of the service
    and the leadership of Donald Rumsfeld. As he led the Pentagon in an
    unprecedented war, Don never took his eye off another vital
    responsibility: preparing America for the threats that await us as this
    new century unfolds. He developed a new defense strategy. He established
    a new Northern Command to protect the homeland, a new Joint Forces
    Command to focus on transformation, a new Strategic Command to defend
    against long-range attack, and transformed the U.S. Special Operations
    Command for the war on terror.
        He led our efforts to create a new NATO Response Force that allows
    NATO to deploy rapidly anywhere in the world. He undertook the most
    sweeping transformation of America's global force posture since the end
    of World War II. He revitalized America's efforts to develop and deploy
    ballistic missile defenses and led a comprehensive review of America's
    nuclear forces that has allowed us to undertake dramatic reductions in
    offensive nuclear weapons.
        Don's work in these areas did not often make the headlines. But the
    reforms that he has set in motion are historic, and they will enhance
    the security of the American people for decades to come.
        Over the past 6 years, I've relied on Don Rumsfeld's advice and
    counsel. I've come to know his character and his integrity. As the
    Secretary of Defense, he has been dedicated to his mission, loyal to his
    President, and devoted to the courageous men and women of our Armed
    Forces.
        Don once famously said, ``There are known knowns, there are known
    unknowns, and there are unknown unknowns.'' Well, Mr. Secretary, here is
    a known known: Your service has made America stronger and made America a
    safer nation. You will be missed, and I wish you and Joyce all the best in the years to come.
        Don Rumsfeld is a tough act to follow. That's why I picked a man of
    Bob Gates's caliber to succeed him. When confirmed by the Senate, Bob
    will bring talent, energy, and innovation to the Department of Defense.
    He'll work every day to keep the American people safe and to make our
    Nation more secure. And he'll do a superb job as America's next
    Secretary of Defense.
        Bob, I appreciate you agreeing to serve our Nation again, and
    congratulations.

    [At this point, Secretary-designate Gates and Secretary of Defense
    Rumsfeld made brief remarks.]

    Note: The President spoke at 3:30 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam Hussein of
    Iraq; and Joyce Rumsfeld, wife of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. The
    transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included
    the remarks of Secretary-designate Gates and Secretary of Defense
    Rumsfeld. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.

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