    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [November 8, 2008]
    [Pages 1352-1353]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    November 8, 2008

        Good morning. Earlier this week, more than 120 million Americans
    went to the polls and voted for a new President
    and Congress. No matter how we cast our ballots, all Americans have
    reason to be proud of our democracy. Our citizens have chosen a
    President who represents a triumph of the American story, a testament to
    hard work, optimism, and faith in the enduring promise of our Nation.
        When I called President-elect Obama to
    congratulate him on his historic victory, I told him that he can count
    on my complete cooperation as he makes his transition to the White
    House. Ensuring that this transition is seamless is a top priority for
    the rest of my time in office. Our country faces economic challenges
    that will not pause to let a new President settle in. This will also be
    America's first wartime Presidential transition in four decades. We're
    in a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us, and
    they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to
    harm the American people.
        So my administration will work hard to ensure that the next
    President and his team can hit the ground
    running. For more than a year now, the White House and agencies
    throughout the Federal Government have been preparing for a smooth
    transition. We've provided intelligence briefings to the President-
    elect, and the Department of Justice has approved security clearances
    for members of his transition staff. In the coming weeks, we will ask
    administration officials to brief the Obama team on major ongoing policy
    issues, ranging from the financial markets to the war in Iraq. I will
    keep the President-elect fully informed on important decisions during
    this critical time for our Nation. Taken together, these measures
    represent an unprecedented effort to ensure continuity throughout the
    executive branch.
        A successful transition is just one of the many important tasks
    remaining for my administration. Yesterday we learned that America's
    economy lost jobs in the month of October, and I will continue working
    hard to return our Nation to the path of prosperity and growth. To help
    address the global financial crisis, my administration will host an
    historic international summit in Washington on November the 15th. We
    will also keep urging Congress to approve America's free trade
    agreements with Colombia and Panama and South Korea. We will continue
    working to defeat the terrorists and extremists abroad to keep the
    American people safe here at home.

    [[Page 1353]]

        Americans expect their President to conduct the people's business. I
    will continue to uphold this solemn obligation for as long as this
    office remains in my trust. In the meantime, I join the American people
    in wishing President-elect Obama every success.
    Laura and I wish the Obama family as much joy and happiness as our
    family has found in this wonderful house.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10 a.m. on November 7 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 8. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    November 7, but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.