[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 50 (Monday, December 13, 2004)]
[Pages 2929-2930]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Nomination of
Jim Nicholson To Be Secretary of Veterans Affairs

December 9, 2004

    The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. Good morning. I'm 
pleased to announce my nomination of Ambassador Jim Nicholson to the--to 
be the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    Jim Nicholson is a patriot, a man of deep conviction who has 
answered his country's call many times. As a young man from Iowa, raised 
in modest circumstances, he became a cadet at West Point in the late 
1950s and went on to become an Army Ranger and paratrooper. As a Ranger, 
he fought in Vietnam, where he won multiple decorations for bravery in 
combat, including the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. After 8 
years on active duty, he joined the Army Reserves, where he served for 
22 more years before retiring as a full colonel.
    Throughout his career, Jim has shown the same honor, integrity, and 
commitment to service that defined his life as a military officer. He 
and his wife, Suzanne, have given back generously to their community and 
have been leaders in numerous volunteer causes in their home State of 
Colorado. He was a respected chairman of the Republican National 
Committee. And for the past 3 years, he has served as the United States 
Ambassador to the Vatican. Jim has worked with the Vatican to advance 
many vital foreign policy goals, including fighting poverty, hunger, 
AIDS, expanding religious liberty around the world, and ending the 
brutal practice of human trafficking.
    I'm grateful to Jim for his superb work as our Ambassador, and I now 
have asked him to accept a new assignment, to serve his country and his 
fellow veterans.
    As Secretary of Veterans Affairs, he will lead a department of more 
than 230,000 employees responsible for ensuring our Nation's--that our 
Nation's veterans receive the health care and other benefits our country 
has promised them. Twenty-five million Americans are military veterans 
who stepped forward to serve when the Nation needed them. The Nation 
owes them in return a VA that is dedicated to effective, prompt 
attention to their needs. That has been a commitment of my 
administration for the last 4 years, and it will remain a commitment for 
the next 4 years.
    When confirmed by the Senate, Jim Nicholson will succeed Tony 
Principi, who has been a fine member of my Cabinet. Secretary Principi 
is a man who insists on results, and he has gotten results. Thanks to 
his leadership, veterans and their families have seen many improvements 
in VA services. They're receiving better care, and their claims are 
processed more quickly. Tony Principi has made it the Department's 
highest priority to

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assist veterans with service-related disabilities, low incomes, and 
other special needs. He's also launched a program to help homeless 
veterans find permanent housing. In all his work as Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, Tony Principi has shown himself to be an outstanding 
executive, a friend to his fellow veterans, and a goodhearted man. I'm 
proud of his service, and I wish him and Liz all the very best.
    Jim Nicholson will build on Tony Principi's achievements in 
continuing to modernize the VA, especially the VA health care system. 
Jim has the judgment and the character and the management expertise to 
do this job well.
    I thank him for agreeing to serve. I also thank Suzanne and other 
members of their family. I want to thank their son Nick and his wife, 
Charlotte; daughter, Katie, and son-in-law, Bo. I hope the Senate will 
confirm Jim Nicholson very soon. I look forward to welcoming him to my 
Cabinet.
    Congratulations.

[At this point, Secretary-Designate Nicholson made brief remarks.]

    The President. Good job, Jim. Thank you. Congratulations.

Note: The President spoke at 9:47 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary-Designate Nicholson.