Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wow. Folks, I came to thank you. You know, I don't think we could have done anything, I know we couldn't have done anything we did without you. Kamala and Doug and members of the cabinet, all the staff is here, all across all the agencies and friends, supporters. Jill and I are forever grateful to you. I mean that. We're genuinely grateful. As you heard me say before, no president gets to choose the moment day in our history, but they get to choose the team they [inaudible 00:00:37] history with and we chose the best damn team in the world. You are.
(00:40)
Now it's because of you, I mean this from the bottom of my heart because of you we got so much done for all Americans. I look down there and my Secretary of State, Tony Blinken [inaudible 00:00:55] only by his wife who worked for me first.
(00:57)
But look, I only hope to look back on these years and hope you look back on them the same pride I have of all you've done. And I'm proud of is that you did it upholding the core values of honesty, decency and integrity. I mean, no scandal. I mean, it's incredible what you did, and you represent the best of who we are as Americans. That's not a joke. That's real. And while we relied on your ideas and resolve and counsel, we also also, also relied on your families. To all your families, thank you, thank you, thank you for the sacrifices you made, I mean it, for being part of this journey. Every day I'm deeply moved by all, we all did for this country. I really mean it. This is going to mark down just what you did.
(01:52)
But the point I want to make today is to make clear my farewell address as we all do have more to… We have a lot more to do. If you heard the inaugural address today, you know we've got a lot more to do.
(02:09)
Look, I know for many years of experience, there are up and downs, but we have to stay with it. My dad taught me the measure of a person, you heard me say it before, is how quickly they get back up when they get knocked out. That's what we have to do right now, and we've always done our best as Americans. We never, never, never give up, ever.
(02:33)
We're leaving office. We're not leaving the fight. You're smart, you're skilled, you're passionate. The country needs you again, so all of you can stay engaged in all the ways you can, whether it's in public service or the private sector or philanthropy, academia, running for office yourself or anything else you choose to do. I give you my word. We believe in you. We, Jill and I, our family, believe in you. Just as I've said how the laws we enacted are seeds that are going to grow and bloom for decades to come, I say that to you as well. I have no doubt, no doubt you'll make this experience and take in the friendships you made, you made to continue to do amazing things for decades to come. That's why I see a future, all, all of them leading the way by you all.
(03:28)
So take some time to decompress, reconnect with your friends, spend more time with your family, but most of all, take care of yourselves and each other. I mean it.
(03:39)
Let me close where I began with my sincere gratitude and I really mean it from the bottom of my heart. I've been doing this for 50 years with the best group of people. Hard to say. It's been the honor of my life to serve as your president and I tell you what, the greater honor is being able to serve with all of you. You're incredible. You really are. You really are. Mark my words. History's going to judge what you've done as one of the most significant contributions that's been made by all of America.
(04:20)
Look, folks, let me close with that poem you heard me quote before. Seamus Heaney wrote, "Once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave of justice will rise up, and hope and history rhyme." You made it rhyme louder than it's rhymed in a long time. I really mean it. We're on the cusp of real change, so let's make hope and history rhyme.
(04:45)
I love you all. I'm keeping you too long, but thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you.
(04:50)
Can I go up this way?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
[inaudible 00:04:59]
Crowd (04:58):
Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
[inaudible 00:05:03]
Crowd (04:58):
Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Thank you.
Crowd (04:58):
Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. Thank you-