I think the record should show that this is one of those spontaneous things that we always arrange whenever the President comes in to speak, and it will be so reported
in the press, and we don't mind, because they have to call it as they see it. But on our part, believe me, it is spontaneous. You are here to say goodbye to us, and we
don't have a good word for it in English-the best is au revoir. We will see you again. I just met with the members of the White House staff, you know, those who serve
here in the White House day in and day out, and I asked them to do what I ask all of you to do to the extent that you can and, of course, are requested to do so: to serve
our next President as you have served me and previous Presidents-because many of you have been here for many years-with devotion and dedication, because this
office, great as it is, can only be as great as the men and women who work for and with the President. This house, for example-I was thinking of it as we walked down
this hall, and I was comparing it to some of the great houses of the world that I have been in. This isn't the biggest house. Many, and most, in even smaller countries, are
much bigger. This isn't the finest house. Many in Europe, particularly, and in China, Asia, have paintings of great, great value, things that we just don't have here and,
probably, will never have until we are 1,000 years old or older. But this is the best house. It is the best house, because it has something far more important than numbers
of people who serve, far more important than numbers of rooms or how big it is, far more important than numbers of magnificent pieces of art. This house has a great
heart, and that heart comes from those who serve. I was rather sorry they didn't come down. We said goodbye to them upstairs. But they are really great. And I recall
after so many times I have made speeches, and some of them pretty tough, yet, I always come back, or after a hard day-and my days usually have run rather long-I
would always get a lift from them, because I might be a little down but they always smiled. And so it is with you. I look around here, and I see so many on this staff
that, you know, I should have been by your offices and shaken hands, and I would love to have talked to you and found out how to run the world-everybody wants to tell
the President what to do, and boy, he needs to be told many times-but I just haven't had the time. But I want you to know that each and every one of you, I know, is
indispensable to this Government. I am proud of this Cabinet. I am proud of all the members who have served in our Cabinet. I am proud of our subCabinet. I am proud
of our White House Staff. As I pointed out last night, sure, we have done some things wrong in this Administration, and the top man always takes the responsibility, and
I have never ducked it. But I want to say one thing: We can be proud of it – 5 1/2 years. No man or no woman came into this Administration and left it with more of
this world's goods than when he came in. No man or no woman ever profited at the public expense or the public till. That tells something about you. Mistakes, yes. But
for personal gain, never. You did what you believed in. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong. And I only wish that I were a wealthy man - at the present time, I have got
to find a way to pay my taxes-[laughter]-and if I were, I would like
to recompense you for the sacrifices that all of you have made to serve
in government.