[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.