Remarks by the President at a DSCC Event

Private Residence
Portola Valley, California

7:56 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Well, first of all, I want to thank Vinod and Neeru and the entire family -- and these beasts -- (laughter) -- for hosting us here today.  These two could eat Bo in one gulp.  (Laughter.)  But it's wonderful to be here in this spectacular setting on such a beautiful day in Northern California, one of my favorite places.

There are a couple other people I want to acknowledge.  First of all, we've got three of the finest senators in the country who are here with us today.  The person who has the thankless but absolutely critical job of maintaining the Democratic majority in the Senate -- Michael Bennet from Colorado is here.  (Applause.)  We've got my fellow Midwesterner, who is doing wonderful work on a whole range of issues -- Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota.  (Applause.)  Where's Maria?  There she is.  And from the closest thing to being your neighbor, and somebody who obviously knows the extraordinary capacity, ingenuity and entrepreneurship because she's been in the field herself and does great work in the Senate every day -- Maria Cantwell.  (Applause.) 

We're going to have some time for questions, and hopefully some answers, in this great setting, so I'm going to be fairly brief.  I was telling Vinod that this morning I was in North Carolina at Mooresville Middle School.  And Mooresville Middle School ranks 110th out of 115 districts in North Carolina when it comes to spending per pupil.  They now rank second in performance in North Carolina.  And the reason is, is because they have this incredible superintendent who, several years ago, made what many considered a pretty radical decision -- he said, we're just going to eliminate textbooks.  We’re going to use the money to buy a laptop for every student and we are going to completely redesign our curriculum and how we engage our young people, and we’re going to train our teachers so that we completely transform the learning experience in this middle school. 

Actually, it starts in third grade and continues all the way through 12th, but I went to the middle school.  And so I had a chance to go from station to station -- kids who were creating their own films and poetry based on a book that they had read in English class; kids who were designing their own business plans in math class, figuring out when they’d go from red to black; young people who were debating the merits of studying mythology, using research that had been done entirely online. 

And what they’ve discovered is, is that the passion that young people now have for learning because of the -- since the ownership that they’ve got, because of the sense that instead of just sitting there passively with somebody at the front of the classroom, they are fully engaged in this constant creative exchange with each other and their teachers -- because of that, the school has transformed itself.

And so we were down there to announce our goal, which is that in five years, every school in America will be sufficiently equipped with broadband and wireless so that you’ve got 100 percent coverage -- or 99 percent coverage.  This is something it turns out we can do without Congress.  We’re going to meet this deadline, and it has the potential to be transformational in our education system, and save money in the process.

And I say that because not only am I in Silicon Valley, and around the world this is rightly viewed as the center of innovation, but also because so many of you who I’ve gotten to know over the years are yourselves innovators and entrepreneurs who have transformed the world because of the work that you’ve done.

The central question for America now is how do we engage the entire country in a conversation about using this incredible advantage we’ve got of openness and inquiry and discovery, how do we use that to make ourselves more competitive?  And how do we make sure that every single person in America has access to the platforms and the frameworks that they need so that if they’re willing to work hard they can succeed as well, the way Vinod succeeded, the way Mark succeeded, the way Steve succeeded, the way all of us in this room -- so many of us who started with not too much -- have been able to live out that American Dream.

Now, the good news is, that after an extraordinary economic crisis, the economy has stabilized.  We’re growing; housing is coming back, deficits are going down, auto industry has recovered, we’re creating jobs.  And as I travel around the world, it turns out, actually, we’ve got probably the best cards out of any country.  I know everybody worries about China -- I’m going to be meeting with the President of China on --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Tomorrow.

THE PRESIDENT:  -- tomorrow, on Friday.  Tomorrow, right.  (Laughter.)  And the transformation that’s taking place in China is extraordinary.  And never in the history of humanity have we seen so many people move out of poverty so rapidly, in part because of what’s happening in China and what’s happening in India.  And yet, when you look at the challenges they face and you look at the challenges we face, I'll take our challenges any day of the week.

In order for us to meet those challenges, though, we’ve got to have a functioning government.  This is not an argument that government can do it all.  It’s an argument that government has a critical role to play in funding science and research, in creating the infrastructure -- not only the old infrastructure of roads and bridges and ports, but the new infrastructure of smartgrids and broadband.  Government has a role in educating our kids, to make sure that they’ve got the skills they need to compete.  Government has a role in creating a regulatory structure that ensures that we’re encouraging the development of clean energy, and that we’re protecting intellectual property.

Government has a role in all these things.  And if we’re able to get that part of it right, nobody can stop us.  Because the innovation that’s taking place in places like Silicon Valley, they’ll move it, but we’ve got to make sure that what happens here is happening in a small town in Ohio, and in rural parts of North Carolina; that we’re not creating two societies -- one that’s hyper-competitive and innovative and extraordinarily prosperous, and then another half in which folks are struggling just barely to get by and are having a tough time competing -- but rather a situation in which all of us have a chance of success.

That’s what we’re fighting for.  And from my perspective that’s what it means to be a Democrat.  And I think that I speak for Maria and Amy and Mike as well -- that’s what leads us to believe in this democratic ideal. 

So in order for us to accomplish that we're going to need to have a Democratic Senate.  In order for us to accomplish that I'd also like a Democratic House.  Not because Democrats have a monopoly on wisdom, and not because I'm more interested in politics than governance -- because I've run my last election.  I just want to get stuff done.  And I'm going to be spending the next three and a half years, every day, reaching out to Republicans and seeing where we can agree. 

Michael Bennet is doing some great work on immigration reform.  I think we have a great chance of getting that done this year.  We recently announced the need to pull together a bipartisan effort around dealing with patent trolls -- something that everybody here is deeply interested in.  We have a chance of getting that done.

But on too much of the big stuff, what we see coming out of the other party is an interest in winning elections or in obstruction, not enough interest in solving problems.  And too often what we see is the notion that compromise is a dirty word. And sometimes we see just the denial of science around climate change, for example.  And in that environment, it's going to be hard for us to make progress on things that all of us here care so deeply about. 

So I'll just leave you with this thought.  For all the frustrations of Washington, though, I've never been more optimistic about this country -- because of those kids I saw in Mooresville, because of the businesses that I see popping up every single day here in Silicon Valley.  We've got what it takes to make sure the 21st century is the American Century just like the 20th, and that impact ripples around the world. 

But I'm going to need your help to make it happen.  Michael, Amy, Maria -- we're all going to need your help to make that happen.  And if you're willing to engage and be involved and stay committed as deeply as you were in 2008 and 2012, then I think we'll be successful. 

Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

END
8:07 P.M. PDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a Fundraising Event

Sheraton Premiere Hotel
Tyson's Corner, Virginia

5:31 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  (Applause.)  Well, hello!  (Applause.)  Yes!  I love it.  You all are already fired up and ready to go.  My work here is done.  (Laughter.) 
 
I want to start by thanking Terry for that very kind introduction and for his passionate commitment to families here in this state.  I think it’s safe to say that if folks in this state are looking for a fighter, they’ve found one in our friend, Terry.  Absolutely.  (Applause.) 
 
See, Terry knows what it means to work hard and struggle to get ahead like so many of us.  He started working at 14 years old -- and I’m going to tell Malia that -- (laughter) -- because she needs to get up in the morning and earn a living.  (Laughter.)  But he started working at 14 years of age because he knew that that was the only way he could afford to go to college.  I know a lot of people can relate to that.  And he’s brought that same energy and dedication to everything he’s done, from politics to business, to being a husband, and a father to five beautiful, beautiful children.
 
So whether it’s building a stronger middle class, or investing in education, or ensuring that people have access to quality health care, this man, Terry, our friend, understands what folks are going through.  And no one will fight harder for folks here in Virginia.  And that’s why I am so proud to be here for Terry and I am so thrilled that he is going to be the next Governor of Virginia.  Absolutely, we are going to get this done.  (Applause.)  Yes, we will!  We absolutely will.  Yes, we must!  (Applause.)
 
But as the spouse of these people who do these things -- (laughter) -- I know how important it is to have a phenomenal partner.  And I want to take a moment to recognize Terry’s fabulous, gorgeous, graceful, beautiful wife, Dorothy.  Yes, indeed, let’s give Dorothy a round of applause.  (Applause.)  And she will be a phenomenal first lady.  (Applause.) 
 
I want to take a moment to recognize a few other people.  I want to thank Congressman Moran and Congressman Connolly for their leadership and service, for being here.  (Applause.)  I also want to recognize our Virginia Democratic Party Chair, Charniele Herring, for her wonderful work.  She is amazing.  (Applause.)

I also want to give a special shout-out to the people who always get it done -- all of the neighborhood team leaders who are here today.  (Applause.)  Can all the team leaders raise your hand so we’ll see where you are?  Team leaders!  Yes, indeed!  (Applause.) 
 
Do not underestimate the power of grassroots leaders like these folks.  They were the backbone of both of Barack’s campaigns and we could not have done it without you guys.  And I know that you all are doing an outstanding job organizing communities for Terry across this state.  So we are so proud of you.  We’re so proud that you have continued that work, just like Barack asked.  He said keep building, and you’re doing that.  So I want us all to give our team leaders another round of applause.  (Applause.)
 
And most important of all, I want to thank all of you for being here today to support Terry.  I also want to thank you for being there for Barack.  Yes.  (Applause.)  Not once, but twice.  (Applause.)  I want to thank you for doing that hard work -- the work that -- the same kind of work you’re doing for Terry.  Thank you for making those calls, knocking on doors, getting everyone that you knew out to the polls. 
 
Because of you, we didn’t just win two elections.  We have made real and meaningful change in this country -- because of you.  (Applause.)  Because of you, our economy continues to strengthen with 38 straight months of job growth -- that’s more than three straight years.  (Applause.) 
 
Because of you, we have passed health reform; we’re taking on issues like climate change and comprehensive immigration reform -- because of you.  (Applause.)  Because of all of you, we have a President who stands up for our most fundamental rights, whether that’s equal pay for women or the freedom for all of us to marry the person we love.  (Applause.)
 
See, all of that and so much more has happened because of you.  And that’s what elections are all about.  It’s like Barack said in his 2008 Election Night speech.  He said, “This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance for us to make that change.”  It’s a chance.  And that was true back then and it’s even more true today.  Because while we’ve made a lot of important changes over these past four years, we still have so much more to do.
 
Although our economy is improving, too many middle-class families are still struggling.  And that fundamental American promise that so many of us grew up with -- that no matter where you start out, with hard work, you can build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids -- that promise unfortunately is no longer within reach for too many families in our country.
 
In fact, it probably wouldn’t be in reach for the family I grew up in if we were trying to make it again today.  My family, as many of you know, neither of my parents had a college degree.  But my father’s job at the city water plant, it paid him a decent wage; paid him enough to keep food on our table, and with the help of student loans, my father was able to send both me and my brother to good schools -- Princeton.  I know we’ve got a few Tigers in the crowd.  (Applause.)  That job that my father had, it also gave him health insurance, gave him a pension that my mom still lives on today.
 
Now, we weren’t rich by any stretch of the imagination, but we had stability and we had peace of mind.  See, because when I was growing up, a family of four living on a single blue-collar salary could build a solid life without debt and without relying on any form of public assistance.  That was possible when I was young.  But today, for so many families, that’s no longer possible.  Folks are working harder than ever before and doing everything right, and it’s still not enough.  And while there’s so much noise and talk and back-and-forth going on in Washington, hardly any of it seems to be about the struggles that these families are facing.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you, Michelle!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  So it is easy -- (applause) -- to get frustrated.  (Applause.)  Well, you know what?  We love you.  And people like me and Barack and Terry and Dorothy, we want to do everything we can to get it right for you. 
 
So it is easy, in light of all this, to get frustrated and cynical.  And now that the excitement that comes with a presidential campaign has faded, it’s so tempting to just turn off the TV and wait another four years to re-engage. 
 
But here’s the thing, make no mistake about it, while we’re tuning out, others are tuning in.  Others are doing everything they can to make their voices heard.  And we’re seeing the effects of that kind of imbalance every single day in Washington.
 
Just a couple months ago, we saw the failure of common-sense legislation to protect our kids from gun violence -- legislation, by the way, that 90 percent of the American people supported.  We are seeing a budget stalemate and sequester, resulting in tens of thousands of our children being turned away from Head Start, and seniors across this country losing their Meals on Wheels.  And now there’s even talk about cutting food stamps, which could mean hundreds of thousands of kids going to bed hungry each night -- here in the wealthiest nation on Earth.
 
And that’s not who we are.  That’s not what this country is about.  We are so much better than that.  We are so much more compassionate and fair, so much more decent than that.  And we know this because we see it every day in communities across this country, where folks are working hard at their jobs and sacrificing for their kids and doing everything they can to help their neighbors.
 
We especially see it in times of tragedy and crisis -- in teachers who rushed children to safety in Newtown, teachers who risked their lives to save students in Oklahoma.  (Applause.)  We saw it in all those folks in Boston who ran toward the explosions and spent hours tending to perfect strangers.  We saw that decency.  (Applause.)
 
And let me tell you, none of these folks asked the people they were helping whether they were Democrats or Republicans.  They didn’t ask whether they were Christians or Muslims or Jews.  They didn’t care whether they were gay or straight.  It was simply enough that they were fellow Americans who were suffering and needed aid.  And shouldn’t that be enough for all of us?  Yes.  (Applause.)
 
And that was the question that I was asking myself during a recent visit to my hometown of Chicago -- South Side -- (applause) -- when I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with a wonderful group of students at a school called Harper High in Englewood.  And by the way, those kids spent the entire day at the White House yesterday.  Now, Harper is located in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the city -- a community that has been torn apart by poverty and hopelessness, by gangs, drugs and guns.
 
And that afternoon, during my visit, I sat down with these 25 students, and these kids were the best and brightest at the school -- the valedictorian, the football star, kids in ROTC.  But what they shared with me was that every day, these kids were facing impossible odds -- jobless parents addicted to drugs, friends and loved ones shot dead before their very eyes.
 
In fact, when the school counselor asked these young men and women whether they knew someone who had been shot, every single one of those kids raised their hands.  She then asked them a simple question.  She said, “What do you think when the weather forecast says ‘85 and sunny’?”  Now, you’d assume that nice weather like that would be a good thing.  But not for these kids.  They replied that a weather report like that puts fear in their hearts because in their neighborhood, when the weather is nice, that’s when the gangs come out and the shootings start.
 
So just think about it.  For these kids, instead of reveling in the joys of their youth -- simple pleasures like applying to college, getting ready for prom, getting that driver’s license -- these young people are consumed with staying alive.  And see, there are so many kids in this country just like these kids at Harper -- kids with so much promise, but so few opportunities; good kids who are doing everything they can to break the cycle and beat the odds.
 
And they are the reason we’re here today.  And today, we need to be better for them.  We need to be better for all of our children in this country.  (Applause.)  Because our children are counting on us.  They are counting on us to give them the chances they need for the futures they all deserve.  So we can’t wait for the next presidential election to get fired up and ready to go.  We can’t wait four years.  Right now, today, in this election, we have an obligation to stand up for those kids.
 
So we must recapture that same passion, that same energy and urgency that we felt in 2008 and 2012.  We must keep on working together to build a country worthy of all of our children’s promise. 
 
So let’s start by ensuring that every child has access to quality pre-K, to excellent schools, affordable college.  (Applause.)  Because we want all our kids to fulfill their boundless potential.  And when our kids grow up, let’s make sure they have jobs that pay a decent wage, because we know that it’s wrong for anyone in this country to work 40, 50 hours a week and still be stuck in poverty.  It is wrong.  (Applause.)  And let’s make sure they have health care, because no one in this country should get their primary care in an emergency room.  We know better than that.
 
When it comes to women’s health, let’s keep fighting for our most fundamental, personal rights, because we as women know that we’re more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies.  (Applause.) 
 
There is so much to do, and I know we can do this.  I know we can.  We are doing so much of it already.  But make no mistake about it -- and this is the key point I want to make here today -- Barack Obama cannot do it alone.  He absolutely needs folks like Terry McAuliffe here in Virginia to make it happen.  (Applause.) 
 
So we need all of you -- all of you -- to do everything you can between now and November to get Terry elected.  (Applause.)  And I can do this.  I can be here.  But the truth is, it’s all on you, Virginia.  No one else can make this particular truth happen.  So we need you to keep writing those checks.  (Laughter.)  And if you haven’t maxed out yet, max out!  (Laughter.)  Get your friends to max out, too.  Find them!  (Laughter.)
 
And as many of you know, while raising money is important, it is not nearly enough.  We also need you out there every single day between now and November the 5th, knocking on doors and making calls and getting everyone you know out to the polls.  (Applause.)  And if you’re not already engaged, I need you to go to terrymcauliffe.com to find out more about how you can help. 
 
We need you to summon the same passion and energy that got my husband elected.  Because whether it’s creating jobs or rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure or building world-class schools our kids deserve, Barack needs leaders like Terry to keep on making that change we all believe in. 
 
So I want you to remember all those times that I have asked you to have my husband’s back.  Remember that?  (Applause.)  Well, this is one of those back-having times.  (Applause.)  This is it.  It’s one of those times.  (Applause.) 
 
And like any election, I know it won’t be easy.  I know that plenty of special interests are pouring all kinds of resources into elections like this one.  But remember that as we saw last year, that person who spends $1 million or even $10 million, that person still just has one vote just like the rest of us.  So you need to get everyone you know to cast their votes and make their voices heard on November the 5th.  We all have a big voice in the voting booth.  (Applause.)
 
And if anyone tells you that they’re too busy, if anyone tells you it’s too much of a hassle or that this election just doesn’t matter, here’s what I want you to do.  I want you to share a story with them that Barack shares often. 
 
Tell them about a woman named Desiline Victor, who Barack talked about in his State of the Union Address.  Desiline lives down in Florida, and she waited for hours in line to cast her vote last November.  Now, you might think that’s not so unusual given that a lot of people had to wait in long lines this past election.  But here’s the thing:  Desiline is 102 years old.  Yes.  (Applause.)  Desiline Victor was born before women had the right to vote, and she’s been a citizen of this country for less than 10 years.  And even though she must have been tired -- even though I’m sure her feet were aching -- she was determined to cast her vote and make her voice heard in the country that she loves.
 
So here’s what I tell myself, and I hope you tell yourself -- that if Desiline Victor can summon that kind of passion and energy, then we don’t have any excuse, right?  If she can summon that kind of patriotism and determination, then so can we.  (Applause.)  And if you all do that, you summon that passion and energy and patriotism here in Virginia, then I know that we will elect Terry McAuliffe as governor of this state of Virginia.  We’re going to do it!  (Applause.)  And I know that we can continue our work to build a future worthy of all of our children.
 
Thank you all.  God bless.  Work hard.  (Applause.)

END  
5:52 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the President in Personnel Announcement

Rose Garden

2:17 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Please, everybody have a seat.  Well, good afternoon.  It is a beautiful day, and it's good to see so many friends here. 

Of all the jobs in government, leading my national security team is certainly one of the most demanding, if not the most demanding.  And since the moment I took office, I've counted on the exceptional experience and insights of Tom Donilon.  Nearly every day for the past several years I've started each morning with Tom leading the presidential daily brief, hundreds of times, a sweeping assessment of global developments and the most pressing challenges.  As my National Security Advisor his portfolio is literally the entire world. 

He has definitely advanced our strategic foreign policy initiatives while at the same time having to respond to unexpected crises, and that happens just about every day.  He's overseen and coordinated our entire national security team across the government, a Herculean task.  And it's non-stop -- 24/7, 365 days a year.

Today, I am wistful to announce that after more than four years of extraordinary service, Tom has decided to step aside at the beginning of July.  And I am extraordinarily proud to announce my new National Security Advisor, our outstanding Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice -- (applause) -- as well as my nominee to replace Susan in New York, Samantha Power.  (Applause.) 

When I first asked Tom to join my team, I knew I was getting one of our nation's premier foreign policy leaders, somebody with a deep sense of history and a keen understanding of our nation's place in the world.  He shared my view that in order to renew American leadership for the 21st century, we had to fundamentally rebalance our foreign policy.  And more than that, he knew how we could do it.

See, Tom is that rare combination of the strategic and the tactical.  He has a strategic sense of where we need to go, and he has a tactical sense of how to get there.

Moreover, Tom’s work ethic is legendary.  He began his public service in the Carter White House when he was just 22 years old -- and, somehow, he has been able to maintain the same drive, and the same stamina, and the same enthusiasm and reverence for serving in government.  He has helped shape every single national security policy of my presidency -- from forging a new national security strategy rooted in our economic strength here at home to ending the war in Iraq.  Here at the White House, Tom oversaw the operation that led us to bin Laden.  He’s helped keep our transition on track as we wind down the war in Afghanistan.

At the same time, Tom has played a critical role as we’ve bolstered the enduring pillars of American power -- strengthening our alliances, from Europe to Asia; enhancing our relationship with key powers; and moving ahead with new trade agreements and energy partnerships.  And from our tough sanctions on Iran to our unprecedented military and intelligence cooperation with Israel -- (baby cries) -- it’s true --  (laughter) -- from New START with Russia to deeper partnerships with emerging powers like India, to stronger ties with the Gulf states, Tom has been instrumental every step of the way.

I’m especially appreciative to Tom for helping us renew American leadership in the Asia Pacific, where so much of our future security and prosperity will be shaped.  He has worked tirelessly to forge a constructive relationship with China that advances our interests and our values.  And I’m grateful that Tom will be joining me as I meet with President Xi of China this week.

And finally, Tom, I am personally grateful for your advice, for your counsel, and most of all for your friendship.  Whenever we sit down together -- whether it’s in the Oval Office or the Situation Room -- I do so knowing that you have led a rigorous process:  that you’ve challenged assumptions, that you’ve asked the tough questions, that you’ve led an incredibly hard-working national security staff, and presented me with a range of options to advance our national interests.  A President can’t ask for anything more than that, and this is a testament to your incredible professionalism, but also your deep love of country.

I know that this relentless pace has meant sacrifices for your family -- for Cathy, who is here, Dr. Biden’s former Chief of Staff, who I was proud to nominate as our new Global Ambassador for Women; and for Tom and Cathy’s wonderful children, Sarah and Teddy.  So today, I want to publicly thank all the Donilons for their abiding commitment to public service that runs through the family.  (Applause.)

You’ve been with me every step of the way these past four years, and the American people owe you an enormous debt of gratitude for everything that you’ve done.  You’ve helped to restore our nation’s prestige and standing in the world.  You’ve positioned us well to continue to lead in the years ahead.  I think that Tom Donilon has been one of the most effective national security advisors our country has ever had, and he’s done so without a lot of fanfare and a lot of fuss.  So, Tom, on behalf of us all, thank you for your extraordinary service.  (Applause.)

Now, I am proud that this work will be carried on by another exemplary public servant -- Ambassador Susan Rice.  (Applause.)  Susan was a trusted advisor during my first campaign for President.  She helped to build my foreign policy team and lead our diplomacy at the United Nations in my first term.  I’m absolutely thrilled that she’ll be back at my side, leading my national security team in my second term.

With her background as a scholar, Susan understands that there is no substitute for American leadership.  She is at once passionate and pragmatic.  I think everybody understands Susan is a fierce champion for justice and human dignity, but she’s also mindful that we have to exercise our power wisely and deliberately.

Having served on the National Security Council staff herself, she knows how to bring people together around a common policy and then push it through to completion -- so that we’re making a difference where it matters most, here in the country that we have pledged to defend, and in the daily lives of the people we’re trying to help around the world.

Having served as an Assistant Secretary of State, she knows our policies are stronger when we harness the views and talents of people across government.  So Susan is the consummate public servant -- a patriot who puts her country first.  She is fearless; she is tough.  She has a great tennis game and a pretty good basketball game.  (Laughter.)  Her brother is here, who I play with occasionally, and it runs in the family -- throwing the occasional elbow -- (laughter) -- but hitting the big shot. 

As our Ambassador to the U.N., Susan has been a tireless advocate in advancing our interests.  She has reinvigorated American diplomacy, in New York.  She has helped to put in place tough sanctions on Iran and North Korea.  She has defended Israel.  She has stood up for innocent civilians, from Libya to Cote d’Ivoire.  She has supported an independent South Sudan.  She has raised her voice for human rights, including women’s rights. 

Put simply, Susan exemplifies the finest tradition of American diplomacy and leadership.  So thank you, Susan, for being willing to take on this next assignment.  I'm absolutely confident that you're going to hit the ground running.  And I know that after years of commuting to New York while Ian, Jake and Maris stayed here in Washington, you will be the first person ever in this job who will see their family more by taking the National Security Advisor's job.  (Applause.) 

Now, normally I'd be worried about losing such an extraordinary person up at the United Nations and be trying to figure out how are we ever going to replace her.  But fortunately, I'm confident we've got an experienced, effective and energetic U.N. ambassador-in-waiting in Samantha Power.

Samantha first came to work for me in 2005, shortly after I became a United States senator, as one of our country's leading journalists; I think she won the Pulitzer Prize at the age of 15 or 16.  One of our foremost thinkers on foreign policy, she showed us that the international community has a moral responsibility and a profound interest in resolving conflicts and defending human dignity.

As a senior member of my national security team, she has been a relentless advocate for American interests and values, building partnerships on behalf of democracy and human rights, fighting the scourge of anti-Semitism and combatting human trafficking.  To those who care deeply about America’s engagement and indispensable leadership in the world, you will find no stronger advocate for that cause than Samantha.

And over the last four years, Samantha has worked hand-in-glove with Susan in her role because Samantha has been the lead White House staffer on issues related to the United Nations.  And I'm fully confident she will be ready on day one to lead our mission in New York while continuing to be an indispensable member of my national security team. 

She knows the U.N.'s strengths.  She knows its weaknesses.  She knows that American interests are advanced when we can rally the world to our side.  And she knows that we have to stand up for the things that we believe in.  And to ensure that we have the principled leadership we need at the United Nations, I would strongly urge the Senate to confirm her without delay.

So, Samantha, thank you.  To Cass, and you, and Declan and Rian for continuing to serve our country. 

This team of people has been extraordinarily dedicated to America.  They have made America safer.  They have made America's values live in corners of the world that are crying out for our support and our leadership.  I could not be prouder of these three individuals -- not only their intelligence, not only their savvy, but their integrity and their heart. 

And I'm very, very proud to have had the privilege of working with Tom.  I'm very proud that I'll continue to have the privilege of working with Samantha and with Susan. 

So with that, I'd invite Tom to say a few words.  Tom.  (Applause.) 

MR. DONILON:  Thank you, Mr. President.  You mentioned the many hours that we’ve worked together in the Situation Room, put together here by John Kennedy and without windows.

THE PRESIDENT:  No windows.

MR. DONILON:  No windows.  So I would first like to thank you for this rare opportunity to be outside and experience the natural light.  (Laughter.) 

You also mentioned how I began my public service here under President Carter in 1977 when I was 22 years old.  And I still remember leaving at the end of the day, walking up West Executive Drive, past the office of then-National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, and looking up at the windows of the White House -- the light is always on in Zbig’s office, no matter how late.  And I’d think to myself, don’t those guys ever go home?  And now, these many years later, I finally have the answer -- no, they don’t go home very much, at least not as often or as early as their spouses and families would like.

Mr. President, to serve in this capacity where we’ve had the opportunity to protect and defend the United States, to improve the position of the United States in the world, has been the privilege of a lifetime.  To serve during your presidency, however, is to serve during one of the defining moments in our nation’s history.  This is because of your vision, your principled leadership, your commitment to defending our interests and upholding our ideals.

Those many hours of meetings and briefings have given me the opportunity to see you as few people do:  behind closed doors, away from the cameras, when a leader’s character is revealed.  And with your permission, I’d like to take this opportunity to share a little bit of what I’ve seen.

First, I’ve seen you make the most difficult decisions a Commander-in-Chief can make -- the decision to send our men and women in uniform into harm’s way.  I’ve seen the great care with which you have weighed these grave decisions and I’ve seen your devotion to the families of our men and women in uniform.

I have seen your fierce patriotism, your love of our country.  When confronted with competing agendas and interests, you always bring the discussion back to one question:  What’s in the national interest, what’s best for America?  I’ve seen your abiding commitment to the core values that define us as Americans, our Constitution, civil liberties, the rule of law.  Time and time again, you have reminded us that our decisions must stand up to the judgment of history.

Finally, Mr. President, I’ve seen you represent the United States around the world and what you mean to the people around the world when you represent our country.  When you step off that plane with the words, “United States of America”, when you reach out to foreign audiences and speak to the basic aspirations we share as human beings, you send a clear message that America wants to be their partner.  And that ability to connect, to forge new bonds, is a form of American power and influence that advocates our interests and ideals as well.

To Vice President Biden and Jill, Cathy and I have considered you dear friends for more than 30 years, and it has been an honor to make this journey with you.

To my colleagues and friends here at the White House and across the government, the American people will never truly know how hard you work in their defense.

To my long-time partners in the senior leadership of the National Security Council -- Denis McDonough, John Brennan, Tony Blinken, Lisa Monaco, Mike Froman, Ben Rhodes, and Brian McKeon.  I could not have asked for better brothers or sisters in this effort. 

To you and all our remarkable national security staff, you're a national treasure.  And every day you get up, you come here -- you devote your days to keeping our country secure.  You are the best our nation has to offer, and it's been an honor and a privilege to serve with each and every one of you.  And I'm glad so many of you are here today.  (Applause.)

And to my friends and colleagues -- Susan and Sam -- congratulations, the nation is fortunate to have leaders of your intellect, compassion, character, and determination.  Susan, you'll be an outstanding National Security Advisor.  Sam, you'll be an outstanding Ambassador to the United Nations.  And we really appreciate your willingness to do this.  (Applause.)

Finally, and most importantly, to Cathy, Sarah and Teddy -- as the President said, this job has meant great sacrifices for you.  And each of you in your way has made a contribution to the country.  And I could not be more grateful.

So again, Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity -- the extraordinary opportunity to serve you and to serve our nation.  I stand here -- 36 years ago, almost to the day when I first came on the 18 acres of the White House to come to work, and I must tell you I leave this position much less cynical and never more optimistic about our country and its future.  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  (Applause.)

Susan.

AMBASSADOR RICE:  Mr. President, thank you so much.  I'm deeply honored and humbled to serve our country as your National Security Advisor.  I'm proud to have worked so closely with you for more than six years.  And I'm deeply grateful for your enduring confidence in me.

As you've outlined, we have vital opportunities to seize and ongoing challenges to confront.  We have much still to accomplish on behalf of the American people.  And I look forward to continuing to serve on your national security team to keep our nation strong and safe. 

Tom, it's been a real honor to work with you again.  You have led with great dedication, smarts, and skill, and you leave a legacy of enormous accomplishment.  All of us around the principals’ table will miss you.  And I wish you and Cathy, and your family, all the very best. 

Above all, I want to thank my own wonderful family for their unfailing support -- my mother, Lois; my wonderful husband, Ian; our children Jake and Maris; and my brother, John, have all been my strength and my greatest source of humor.  I'm also thinking today about my late father, who would have loved to be here.  I'm forever grateful to my family for their love and sacrifice. 

I want to thank my remarkable colleagues at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.  I am so proud of the work we've done together under your leadership, Mr. President, to advance America's interests at the United Nations. 

And, Samantha, my friend -- warmest congratulations.  You're a tremendous colleague, and the United States will be extremely well served by your leadership at the United Nations.  And I'm so glad we get to continue to work together.

Mr. President, having participated in the national security decision-making process over the last four years, I admire the exemplary work done every day by our colleagues at State, Defense, the intelligence community, and across the government to make our nation more secure.  I look forward to working closely with you, your extraordinary national security team, our country's most experienced leaders from both parties, and your superb national security staff to protect the United States, advance our global leadership, and promote the values Americans hold dear.

Thank you very much. 

Sam.  (Applause.) 

MS. POWER:  Thank you, Mr. President.  From the day I met you and you told me that you had spent a chunk of your vacation reading a long, dark book on genocide -- (laughter) -- I knew you were a different kind of leader, and I knew I wanted to work for you.

It has been my privilege here at the White House to serve you, and it would be the honor of a lifetime to fight for American values and interests at the United Nations.  Now that I have two small children, Declan and Rian -- somewhere -- the stakes feel even higher. 

Thank you, Tom and Susan.  I consider myself immensely fortunate these last four years to have collaborated with both of you.  There are two no more dedicated professionals on this Earth, no more strategic stewards of our foreign policy than these two individuals.  And I'm honored and immensely humbled to share the stage with you. 

I moved to the United States from Ireland when I -- with my parents, who are here -- when I was 9 years old.  I remember very little about landing in Pittsburgh, except that I was sure I was at the largest airport in the history of the world.  I do remember what I was wearing -- a red, white and blue stars and stripes t-shirt.  It was the t-shirt I always wore in Ireland on special occasions. 

Even as a little girl with a thick Dublin accent who had never been to America, I knew that the American flag was the symbol of fortune and of freedom.  But I quickly came to learn that to find opportunity in this country, one didn’t actually need to wear the flag, one just needed to try to live up to it.

For the next three months, I came home from school every day, as my mother can attest, my dad can attest, and I sat in front of the mirrors for hours, straining to drop my brogue so that I, too, could quickly speak and be American. 

Not long ago, my husband, Cass Sunstein, came across a letter written toward the end of World War II by his father, Dick Sunstein, who was a Navy lieutenant.  Dick had happened to stop briefly in San Francisco after his two years fighting for this country in the Pacific, and he wrote to his family on April 25th, 1945, the very day that the nations of the world were coming together in San Francisco to establish the new United Nations. 

And in this letter to my mother-in-law, who I never had the chance to meet, he wrote, excitedly, “Conference starts today.  The town is going wild with excitement.  It is a pleasure to be here for the opening few days.  Let’s pray that they accomplish something.” 

Let’s pray that they accomplish something.  The question of what the United Nations can accomplish for the world and for the United States remains a pressing one.  I have seen U.N. aid workers enduring shellfire to deliver food to the people of Sudan.  Yet I’ve also see U.N. peacekeepers fail to protect the people of Bosnia.  As the most powerful and inspiring country on this Earth, we have a critical role to play in insisting that the institution meet the necessities of our time.  It can do so only with American leadership.

It would be an incomparable privilege to earn the support of the Senate and to play a role in this essential effort, one on which our common security and common humanity depend.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)

END
2:41 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the Vice President to the American Turkish Council

Ritz Carlton
Washington, D.C.

7:25 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  You all should know better than to listen to the Ambassador.  Thank you all very, very much.

Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, it’s great to be with you.  Quite frankly, we’ve become friends, and it’s great to join you tonight and be here to speak to this organization.

And, Ambassador Holmes, and, President and CEO of the Turkish Council Tom Kennedy, thank you for the kind words as well.

Look, it’s most of all a pleasure to be back here with Rich Armitage, Ambassador Armitage.  We’ve been good friends -- I mean this sincerely -- we’ve been good friends for a long, long time.  And the thing that I like about him -- and we went through some pretty interesting times in eight years in another administration and long before that.  And the thing about Rich Armitage and I’m sure it’s the reason why you look to him is he is absolutely straight as an arrow.  He’s the only witness I can say who testified before my committees multiple times that I never, never -- and I mean this sincerely -- once ever wondered whether I was being misled or I was being misled by omission -- never one single time.  And that is a rare commodity in this town, and almost any other town.  And so I realize, Mr. Ambassador, I’m probably ruining your reputation by acknowledging this, but I -- if I were a little freer to tell you, I still seek his counsel, and he’s still an incredible asset to the United States government.

I’m delighted to be here with all the Turks and Americans who through business, family, friendship help carry this relationship forward every single day.

As we meet here today, as you all know, there’s violent protests in the streets of Turkey, which raises concerns around the world, including in my own country.  To state the obvious, only Turks are going to be able to solve their problem, but the United States stands for certain clear principles in these circumstances:  nonviolence from both government and demonstrators; respect for the freedom of assembly and a free and independent press.

Turkey’s future belongs to the people of Turkey and no one else.  But the United States does not pretend to be indifferent to the outcome because we firmly believe that countries with open societies, political systems and economies, democratic institutions and a firm commitment to universal human rights, these are the countries that will thrive and be the most powerful countries in the 21st century.

Today -- today’s Turkey has a chance to demonstrate that there’s no need to choose between economic advancement and democracy, between the system that empowers the winners of elections and yet protects those who are in the opposition. 

One reason Turkey’s economy in my view, Mr. Prime Minister, has thrived so much over the past decade is because it’s realized the benefits of the steps it has taken toward greater political openness.  Its economy has tripled.  It’s gone from the world’s 26th largest to the 17th largest today.  And Prime Minister Erdogan has a goal that it be one of the 10 largest economies.

Turkey has brought inflation from 100 percent to 6 percent and made its last IMF payment in May.  Turkey has set a goal for it being in the top 10 economies by 2023.  And I'm confident with the right choices, Turkey will accomplish that goal. 

Toward that end, the U.S. and Turkey launched a framework for strategic and economic commercial cooperation in 2009.  We've already seen a 75 percent increase.  I'm preaching to the choir here, I know -- but a 75 percent increase in trade, reaching $20 billion -- still much too small, but growing with overwhelming potential as I discussed with Prime Minister Erdogan when he was here -- $5 billion dollars of U.S. direct investment in Turkey, $1 billion of Turkey investment -- direct investment into the United States with a hope for more. 

Still as the Prime Minister and I discussed when we spoke together in front of the U.S.-Turkey Chamber of Commerce during his very successful visit here, the potential to do more is so vast; more to improve the business climate and attract investment, more to realize the immense opportunities in the areas of light tech, pharmaceuticals and energy; and more to help bright Turkish students access American universities.  Today there are already more students from Turkey at our universities than any other country in the European Union, and we welcome that.  And we want to see more.  That deepens the roots of relationships.

And we've recently set up a new high-level committee that will allow us to move forward on issues that will unlock greater trade, investment and innovation.  We'll keep Turkey informed of the progress of the U.S. trade talks with the EU, so that when the time is right we'll be able to take our trade relationship with Turkey to the next step.

There are also encouraging signs that Turkey is willing to take important steps forward in resolving outstanding issues with the Kurds, the Greek Orthodox Church and others.  And we hope to see a similar vision in progress when it comes to Turkey's longstanding problems with Armenia and Cyprus.  But these are courageous leaders that exist now.  The past is not the anchor that it's been in the past. 

We also want to keep working closely with Turkey on many strategic challenges -- the many that we both share.  We're both members of the most powerful military alliance in history.  Since 1952, Turkey has been a member of NATO.  Our commitment to the collective defense is critical, manifest in the Patriot missile batteries in Turkey's border, but also the world has change.  Its change, in many respects, and our relationship today is about more than just defense.  We’ve been military allies for a long time.  But it’s beyond that today.

It includes our work together on issues and organizations as diverse as the G20, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the challenges that are of a changing Middle East.  But just as we have in the past, we’re going to continue to have some disagreements, we always do, as NATO allies -- and all NATO allies do.  We’ve disagreed in the past with Turkey about Israel.  But Turkey understands and no one doubts that our commitment to Israel’s security and survival is absolute.  That’s why we’re so pleased that Prime Minister Erdogan and Prime Minister Netanyahu began to reestablish the strategic cooperation between the two countries that they had in the past.  We encourage them to keep working constructively to repair those ties.

We will, as allies, sometimes disagree on tactics but we are all working toward the same thing -- a two-state solution, an independent Palestinian state and a secure Israeli state; a successful Egyptian transition; a democratic multi-ethnic nonsectarian Syria with institutions intact; a non-nuclear Iran.  On all the major issues, we are in agreement whether or not occasionally tactically we disagree.  That is consequential.

And it falls to each of us to shore up the foundations of our strength at home, because in the 21st century, greatness among nations is defined not simply by the size of the country, by the dynamism of its economy, by the openness of its -- it’s more by the dynamism of its economy, the openness of its markets and society; its ability to build and draw on new talents of its citizens and help them deliver their dreams.  That’s the new definition as a practical matter.

Your success, Deputy Prime Minister, as an ally and as a strategic economic and democratic partner, is profoundly -- profoundly -- in the naked self-interest of the United States of America.

The Turkish people will be authors of their own future, but they should know that the United States, Mr. Prime Minister, stands ready -- stands ready as an ally and a friend to help make that future more secure, prosperous, and democratic as Turkey celebrates its 100th anniversary as a republic. 

That’s our goal in this relationship.  Turkey is a vital ally.  And the promise that Turkey holds for the entire region as an emerging major power, if it works, is all for the good for everybody. 

So, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, it’s always a pleasure to be with you.  We’ve had a lot of private conversations and I have no doubt about the trajectory of your country.  We’re happy to come along for the ride.  We wish you all the success in the world.  And thank you all for keeping this relationship so vibrant.

Thank you all very much.  (Applause.)

                                                END                          7:34 P.M. EDT