[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 46 (Monday, November 19, 2007)]
[Pages 1502-1503]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for Michael B. Mukasey as Attorney 
General

November 14, 2007

    Thank you all very much. Good morning. I'm pleased to be back here 
at the Department of Justice and to join you for the swearing-in of 
Judge Michael Mukasey as the 81st Attorney General of the United States. 
We welcome Michael's wife, Susan, and their children, Marc and Jessica, 
their son-in-law, Corey, their grandchildren, William and Benjamin, and 
other members of the Mukasey family. We share their pride in Michael on 
this important day. And I appreciate you all coming to witness it.
    I particularly want to thank the Chief Justice of the United States, 
John Roberts, who is here to swear-in the General. I want to thank 
members of my Cabinet who have taken time off to come and welcome a new 
Cabinet member. I appreciate very much that Senator Arlen Specter of 
Pennsylvania, the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has 
joined us, along with Sam Brownback and Senator Lindsey Graham. Thank 
you all for coming. And thank you for making sure this good man not only 
made it to the floor of the Senate but was confirmed.
    I want to thank former Attorney General John Ashcroft, and welcome 
John as well as former Attorney General Dick Thornburgh. Thank you all 
for coming.
    The job of the Attorney General is one of the most important in our 
Nation's Government. The Attorney General must run the world's largest 
law firm and the central Agency for enforcement of our Federal laws. He 
must aggressively prosecute gun criminals and drug dealers, hold 
corporate wrongdoers to account, protect victims of child abuse and 
domestic violence, and uphold the civil rights of every American.
    In this time of war, the job of the Attorney General is also vital 
to America's national security. The Attorney General is responsible for 
our law enforcement community's efforts to detect, prevent, and disrupt 
terrorist attacks here at home. He must make certain that our 
intelligence and law enforcement communities work hand in hand to 
protect

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the American people from terrorist threats. He must ensure that we do 
everything within the law to defend the security of all Americans, while 
at the same time protecting the liberty of all Americans.
    Judge Michael Mukasey is the right man to take on these vital 
challenges. Michael understands the law from both sides of the bench. He 
served for more than 18 years as a U.S. District Court judge in New 
York, including 6 years as the chief judge. He was a lawyer in private 
practice. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Manhattan, 
where he headed the Official Corruption Unit.
    Judge Mukasey also understands the challenges facing our Nation in 
this time of war. He has written wisely on matters of constitutional law 
and national security. He knows what it takes to fight the war on terror 
effectively, and he knows how to do it in a matter that is consistent 
with our laws and our Constitution. He will bring clear purpose and 
resolve to the job of Attorney General. I look forward to working with 
him as a member of my Cabinet and a key player on our national security 
team.
    Our new Attorney General--as our new Attorney General, Michael 
Mukasey follows in the footsteps of a fine man and a fine American, Al 
Gonzales. I have known Al since our days working together in the State 
of Texas. As White House Counsel and as Attorney General in my 
administration, Al Gonzales worked tirelessly to make this country safer 
and to ensure that all Americans received equal justice before the law. 
Over many years, I have witnessed his integrity, his decency, and his 
deep dedication to the cause of justice. I am grateful for his 
friendship. I thank him for his service to our Nation. And Laura and I 
wish him and his wife, Becky, and their children, Jared, Graham, and 
Gabe, all the very best.
    I also thank Peter Keisler, who has served as Acting Attorney 
General during Judge Mukasey's confirmation process. Peter delayed his 
plans to leave the Justice Department in order to ensure that the 
Department had strong leadership during these past months. I appreciate 
the job you've done.
    With his departure, many of the most senior positions at the 
Department of Justice will now be vacant. In a time of war, it's vital 
that these positions be filled quickly. So in consultation with the 
Attorney General, I will announce tomorrow my nominations for several of 
these senior leadership positions. And I look forward to working with 
the Senate to fill these important positions at the Justice Department, 
so that America has the strongest, most capable national security team 
in place.
    As he embarks on his new responsibilities, Michael Mukasey has my 
complete trust and confidence. And he's going to have the trust and 
confidence of the men and women of the Department of Justice. The people 
here are good people, hard-working Americans. From the headquarters to 
U.S. Attorneys offices to remote posts overseas, these fine Americans, 
Judge, are working to keep the American people safe. They work everyday 
to fulfill the most important function of the Federal Government, and 
that's to protect the American people from harm. Their efforts are 
essential to the security of America. The people who work for Justice 
deserve the very best leadership, and you're going to have it with Judge 
Michael Mukasey.
    You'll find out what I found out. Judge Mukasey is a decent man, an 
outstanding lawyer, and a strong leader, and I am really looking forward 
to his wise counsel in the months ahead. Judge, I want to thank you for 
agreeing to serve our country once again, and congratulations.
    And now I ask Chief Justice John Roberts to administer the oath of 
office.

Note: The President spoke at 10:12 a.m. in the Great Hall at the 
Department of Justice. The transcript released by the Office of the 
Press Secretary also included the remarks of Attorney General Mukasey.