[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 25 (Monday, June 23, 2003)]
[Page 789]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Departure for Greensboro, Georgia

June 20, 2003

Appointment of Scott McClellan as White House Press Secretary

    The President. I am, one, sad that Ari's leaving. He's done a 
fabulous job for my administration. I appreciate his friendship, his 
ability to handle a very tough job, and that is dealing with you.
    Fortunately, I've got a good man to take his place in Scott 
McClellan. I've known Scott for a long time. I look forward to working 
closely with him to make sure that the American people, and, of course, 
the press corps gets the information that's needed to reflect the 
philosophy and the decisionmaking of this administration. He'll be able 
to do the job like Ari did, with the highest amount of professionalism 
and class, and I've got the full confidence in my new Press Secretary.
    Deputy Press Secretary McClellan. Mr. President, I'm honored. Thank 
you for your support and confidence. Four-and-a-half years ago, I went 
to work for the President because I believed in his leadership and I 
believed in his agenda. I knew that the President was a results-
oriented, inclusive leader who governed from clear principles and 
compassionate conservative philosophy. And we have made a tremendous 
amount of progress in the last 2\1/2\ years, and I look forward to doing 
my small part as part of an outstanding White House team, to help him 
build upon that record of accomplishment.
    It is also a special privilege to be following my good friend, Ari 
Fleischer, who has served the President exceptionally well and served 
the American people exceptionally well. I look forward to working with 
the White House press corps, at least most of you, anyway, as we do our 
part to keep the American people informed about the decisions that are 
being made here in Washington, DC.
    So Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity, and I look forward 
to it.
    The President. Thank you very much. Ari, thank you, buddy. You've 
done a great job. Thank you all. Have a great weekend. See you in 
Georgia.

Note: The President spoke at 3:39 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.