Effective immediately, I have accepted the resignation of Rahm Emanuel, my chief of staff. Rahm has been a trusted adviser and an honorable man. But he gave me advice that led me to fail to live up to my standards. Nonetheless, I take full responsibility for those failures.
In place of Rahm Emanuel, I have asked Howard Dean to be my chief of staff, and I am glad to announce that Mr. Dean has accepted my request for his service.
Secondly, Tim Geithner, the Secretary of the Treasury, will be leaving office after the November elections.
Thirdly, I am replacing Larry Summers, Director of the White House National Economic Council, with Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman.
Fourthly, I am ordering a shakeup of the Justice Department. Holdovers from the previous administration will be dismissed, and I am asking Attorney General Holder to open investigations into wrongdoing by officials within and outside of government with respect to corruption, torture, and the conduct of the war in Iraq.
Fifthly, I appoint Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Protection Agency.
I will announce further changes over the next several weeks.
Finally, there is one other matter I wish to explain.
My earlier decision not to investigate and prosecute Bush administration officials for crimes related to the war in Iraq and torture was based on one additional factor. Namely, fear. Before I was inaugurated as President, I was told, in no uncertain terms, that there were certain issues that I should not investigate, at the risk of severe reprisals by powerful elements within the military establishment. In short, I was warned: do not prosecute CIA and military personnel for torture. Furthermore, I was warned not to be too aggressive at decreasing military spending.
In his farewell speech to the nation in 1961, President Eisenhower said, "We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." I want the Americans to realize: President Eisenhower's words were prescient and accurate. The military and its contractors have far too much power on the conduct of the government, and in the coming months I plan to reveal to the American people some of the unpleasant truths about their power.
I am quite aware that the lives of my family and of myself are now at risk. But I am willing to take that risk, because I love our country and want it to live up to the ideals set out by our founding fathers.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
In place of Rahm Emanuel, I have asked Howard Dean to be my chief of staff, and I am glad to announce that Mr. Dean has accepted my request for his service.
Secondly, Tim Geithner, the Secretary of the Treasury, will be leaving office after the November elections.
Thirdly, I am replacing Larry Summers, Director of the White House National Economic Council, with Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman.
Fifthly, I appoint Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Protection Agency.
I will announce further changes over the next several weeks.
Finally, there is one other matter I wish to explain.
My earlier decision not to investigate and prosecute Bush administration officials for crimes related to the war in Iraq and torture was based on one additional factor. Namely, fear. Before I was inaugurated as President, I was told, in no uncertain terms, that there were certain issues that I should not investigate, at the risk of severe reprisals by powerful elements within the military establishment. In short, I was warned: do not prosecute CIA and military personnel for torture. Furthermore, I was warned not to be too aggressive at decreasing military spending.
In his farewell speech to the nation in 1961, President Eisenhower said, "We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." I want the Americans to realize: President Eisenhower's words were prescient and accurate. The military and its contractors have far too much power on the conduct of the government, and in the coming months I plan to reveal to the American people some of the unpleasant truths about their power.
I am quite aware that the lives of my family and of myself are now at risk. But I am willing to take that risk, because I love our country and want it to live up to the ideals set out by our founding fathers.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
4
3
3
