    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [September 20, 2007]
    [Pages 1212-1213]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Resignation of Michael O. Johanns as Secretary of Agriculture
    September 20, 2007

        President Bush. Good morning. Mike Johanns has informed me that he
    plans to return home to Nebraska, which means that his service as
    Secretary of Agriculture must come to an end. Mike has been an
    outstanding member of my Cabinet. I knew he would be when I asked him to
    become the Secretary of Agriculture. I've known him for a long time.
    I've admired the fact that he is not only a decent person and an honest
    person, but he's a person who can get some things done.
        So I accepted his resignation, and Laura and
    I bid Mike and Stephanie a warm farewell.
    And I thank him from the bottom of my heart for leaving a State he loves
    to come here to Washington, DC, to work in an--to work as the Secretary
    of Agriculture. You know, Mike brought with him a lot of practical farm
    experience. After all, he was the proud son of a dairy farmer. He
    understands the importance of the land. He worked tirelessly on behalf
    of farmers and ranchers.
        And Mike Johanns did an outstanding job as the Secretary of
    Agriculture. He brought focus and energy to the Department. He was a
    champion of renewable fuels. He expanded the Department's commitment to
    conservation. He worked endlessly to open up foreign markets for
    American beef. He provided timely assistance to farmers and ranchers
    devastated by natural disasters. I couldn't have asked for a better
    Secretary of Agriculture.
        He worked hard to put in motion a good farm bill. I remember when
    Mike came here to the Oval, he said to me, he said, ``What I'm going to
    do is, I'm going to travel the country and reach out to the stakeholders
    to lay the foundation for farm legislation.'' And that's exactly what he
    did. And I got feedback from all around America that Mike Johanns
    listened. He wisely shepherded the process in such a way that we've got
    a good farm bill in front of the Congress. He set the framework for
    success, and I'm confident we can get a good bill passed.
        So I want to thank you for your good work getting this teed up.
        Secretary Johanns. Thank you, Mr. President.
        The President. He's got a good team over at the Secretary of--at the
    Department of Agriculture. In other words, Mike understands that you've
    got to surround yourself with good folks. And so I feel very comfortable
    asking Chuck Connor, the Deputy Secretary,
    to serve as the Acting Secretary. And I want to thank Chuck for his good
    work.
        Mike came by the White House here a couple of days ago, and he asked
    for my advice. And I appreciate it; everybody likes to have their
    counsel sought. And during the discussion, he told me he was interested
    in continuing to serve America, but in a different role. And I asked him
    if this was something he was seriously considering. In other words,
    sometimes you get these rumors out there in the political process where
    somebody feels like they've got to say, yes, I'm interested. But no
    question in my mind that Mike loves Nebraska, and he's serious about
    going home and possibly serving in a--the Nation in a different
    capacity.
        And my answer was--to Mike was, I support you, and I encourage you
    to follow your heart. If it's Mike's decision and Nebraska's choice, he
    would make an outstanding Member of the United States Senate. There is
    no doubt in my mind.
        And so I want to thank you for your service, thank you for your
    friendship, thank you for your commitment to America's farmers and
    ranchers and our country. And Laura and I wish
    you all the very best.

    [[Page 1213]]

    Note: The President spoke at 9:27 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also
    included the remarks of Secretary Johanns.