[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 2 (Monday, January 15, 2001)]
[Pages 66-67]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Private Party in Chicago

January 9, 2001

    We had a rally upstairs. You heard them, didn't you? In the 
ballroom. A little loud. And I hope we didn't interrupt you. So there's 
an overflow crowd in the lobby. And they said they have to go through 
the edge of another ballroom. [Laughter] So here I am. [Laughter]
    So I've invaded your dinner. [Laughter] Well, thank you for the 
wonderful, warm welcome. I'm in Chicago today to basically say goodbye 
to the people of Chicago and Illinois as President.
    It's a very happy day for me in many ways. This hotel--since you're 
here for that, I should tell you, this hotel plays a huge role in my 
life. And I have two pictures of this hotel. That's what I told them 
upstairs, I have two pictures of this hotel which I look at every day of 
my life. One is of the lobby on Saint Patrick's Day of 1992. Hillary and 
I are standing there with green graffiti--not graffiti, what do you call 
it?--confetti, not graffiti, confetti--[laughter]--it's been a long day 
and a long 8 years--[laughter]--confetti coming down, because that's the 
night that we won the Democratic primary in Illinois, which basically 
sealed my nomination.
    The second picture was my mother and my father dining here in 1946. 
And that's in my private office in the Residence of the

[[Page 67]]

White House. I look at it every night--every single night. So I've seen 
those two pictures of this place every day for 8 years. This is also 
where I basically kicked off my campaign in Illinois in December of 
1991, and so I'm very happy to be here.
    And I wanted to come here for my last appearance in Chicago as 
President. And I want to tell all of you that it's been an honor to 
serve. I'm glad my country is in better shape than it was 8 years ago. I 
thank all of you for the role that you've played in revitalizing our 
country. And I wish only the best for the future.
    I've said many times, and I'll say again, America may find people 
who do this job better than I have, but you will never find anybody who 
loved doing it any more.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 7:30 p.m. in the Empire Room at the Palmer 
House Hilton Hotel. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks.