[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 44 (Monday, November 10, 2008)]
[Pages 1400-1401]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to White House Staff

November 6, 2008

    Thank you all for coming. Mr. Vice President and Lynne, thank you 
for being here with us. Laura and I welcome you to the South Lawn, 
better known as Barney's playground. [Laughter]
    I want to thank members of my Cabinet who've joined us. We've just 
finished a Cabinet meeting, and I gave them--it gave me a chance to tell 
them how much I appreciate the good work they're doing during this 
critical time for our Nation.
    I also appreciate the men and women who make up the Executive Office 
of the President for joining us today. Some of you have been at the 
White House for just a few months, others arrived the same day that we 
did nearly 8 years ago. You're the ones who can tell that my hair has 
gotten a little grayer. [Laughter] Others here are career employees who 
have been here for 30, or 40, or sometimes 50 years. I can tell that 
your hair has gotten grayer. [Laughter]
    People on this lawn represent diverse backgrounds, talents, and 
experiences. Yet we all share a steadfast devotion to the United States. 
We believe that service to our fellow citizens is a noble calling and 
the privilege of a lifetime.
    This is an exciting time for our country. Earlier this week, more 
than 120 million people voted for a new President and Congress, one of 
the largest turnouts in the history of the country. No matter how we 
cast our ballots, this election gives us all reason to be proud of our 
democracy and our country. And I hope you will join Laura and me in 
congratulating President-elect Obama and wishing him the very best for 
his family and our country.
    Just before our inauguration in 2001, Laura and I went back to 
Midland, Texas. She was born there, and I was raised there. I said that 
Laura and I would never quite settle in Washington. I told them: ``While 
the

[[Page 1401]]

honor is great, the work is temporary.'' This is true for many of us 
here today. This peaceful transfer of power is one of the hallmarks of a 
true democracy, and ensuring that this transition is as smooth as 
possible is a priority for the rest of my Presidency. We face 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 over the next 75 days, all of us must ensure that the next 
President and his team can hit the ground running. For more than a year 
now, departments 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 team. In the 
coming weeks, we will ask administration officials to brief the Obama 
team on ongoing policy issues, ranging from the financial markets to the 
war in Iraq. I look forward to discussing those issues with the 
President-elect early next week.
    Offices within the White House are at work preparing extensive 
transition materials. We're preparing career employees throughout the 
administration to take on added responsibilities to help prevent any 
disruption to the essential functions of the Federal Government.
    Taken together, these measures represent an unprecedented effort to 
ensure that the executive branch is prepared to fulfill its 
responsibilities at all times. As we carry out this transition, I know 
that you will continue to conduct yourselves with the decency and 
professionalism you have shown throughout my time in office.
    Successful transition is just one of the many important tasks 
remaining in our last 75 days. To help address the global financial 
crisis, the Secretary of Treasury is working endless hours, and I will 
host an international summit here in Washington on November the 15th. 
This will be an historic meeting, and I'm confident that you will work 
hard to help make it a success.
    We'll also keep urging Congress to approve America's free trade 
agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. And we will continue 
to protect this homeland by defeating the terrorists and extremists 
abroad, so we do not have to face them here at home.
    As January 20th draws near, some of you may be anxious about finding 
a new job or a new place to live. I know how you feel. [Laughter] But 
between now and then, we must keep our attention on the task at hand, 
because the American people expect no less. Earlier this year, I 
promised that I would sprint to the finish. I am keeping that promise, 
and I know I have given some of you a good workout along the way. As we 
head into the final stretch, I ask you to remain focused on the goals 
ahead. I will be honored to stand with you at the finish line. May God 
bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:12 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of these remarks.