Secretary Thompson Announces His Resignation

Good afternoon. As always, I thank you for coming here today.

This morning, I submitted to President Bush my resignation as Secretary of Health and Human Services. I also met with the senior leadership and dedicated professionals of this Department.

As I told them, I do not tender my resignation easily. While these years have been challenging, they have been greatly rewarding. It has been an honor to serve President Bush as a member of his Cabinet. I thank him for the opportunity. And it has been a privilege to serve the American people as Secretary of this wonderful department.

But after nearly 40 years in public service - as a state lawmaker, Governor of the greatest state in America, Wisconsin; and HHS Secretary - it's time for me and my family to move on to the next chapter in our life.

I'm proud of the people and the work of America's Department of Compassion. President Bush set for an ambitious agenda for our Department when I arrived in 2001. And I love a big challenge. Since the day I walked through the doors of this building, we have worked tirelessly to put this ambitious agenda into place.

Together, we accomplished many great feats and overcame many difficult challenges. Most of you know of our accomplishments the past four years, but in case you may have forgotten, we've provided a small document of progress.

With the President's leadership, we accomplished so much because we took on the tough problems. And in doing so - by reaching out, working together and bridging differences - we often made the seemingly impossible, possible.

• We touched a third rail of politics and delivered on our promise to modernize Medicare with prescription drug coverage - the most historic improvement to Medicare since it was created in 1965. Now seniors and the disabled will get substantial help paying for the modern medicines and preventive services that extend and enhance their lives.
• We're spending more in medical research than any time in our history. And the President opened the door to federal funding of groundbreaking stem cell research.
• We're investing in our long-neglected public health system…making our nation better prepared to fight disease or biological attacks. We're improving the safety of the food we eat and import.
• We're developing the new medicines and vaccines to protect our citizens from disease or bioterrorism.
• Our children are healthier than ever, with health coverage and immunization rates at record highs and childhood drug usage going down.
• We are helping more people gain the Gift of Life through a record number of organ donations and transplants.
• We turned America's attention to disease prevention, motivating Americans to eat better and exercise more in order to improve their health and quality of life.
• And we're waging a bold new global fight against HIV/AIDS, committing an unprecedented $15 billion toward eradicating this scourge. This will be a jewel in the President's legacy.

Together, we've also faced challenges that were unpredictable and even unimaginable.

• HHS was among the first on the ground to care for New York City residents and assist in the aftermath of 9/11.
• From the day I arrived, we spoke of the need to better prepare for bioterrorism…and together we helped this nation weather the first biological attack on its people with the anthrax letters.
• We expanded our cache of smallpox vaccine, so we can now protect every man, woman in child if this vicious disease were to return.
• We protected America from SARS and we helped the world understand this mysterious disease so we could contain its spread.
• We're leading the world to prepare for a world flu pandemic and Avian flu.
• And, together with our public health partners, we have helped this nation manage an unexpected influenza vaccine shortage.

Together, we helped lead America through each of these crises, and we helped our nation emerge from them stronger and healthier.

I have had remarkable opportunities the last four years, ones I never would have dreamt were possible.

I held young children at AIDS orphanages in Russia, China and Africa who only wanted to be loved after their parents had died or given them up because they could not care for them.

I stood with an African man over the grave of his wife, who asked me to thank President Bush and you - the taxpayers and employees at HHS - for providing lifesaving medicines to him and his children.

I gave polio vaccine to a child in Pakistan, and burst with pride knowing we were one step closer to eradicating that deadly disease.

I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of women and children who helped us open Rabia Balkhi Women's Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, after decades of brutal rule had denied them the health care they deserved.

Here at home, seniors from Alaska to Florida demanded we provide them a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. And I am happy to say we delivered for them.

I wept and thanked the families who lost loved ones who in turn gave the Gift of Life to complete strangers by donating their organs.

I thanked the doctors, nurses and workers at community health centers who provide high quality care to American families, regardless of their ability to pay.

And I saw the best of America on the streets, hospitals and in the hearts of New York City and the Pentagon in the days following the 9/11 attacks. The best of America also was on display here at HHS that horrible day. We could see the smoke from the Pentagon from our office windows. We couldn't get through to our loved ones. It was a frightening day, one that none of us will ever forget.

But on 9/11, we rose to the challenge when our families, friends and neighbors needed us most. HHS was open for business, and we delivered the medical supplies and emergency responders to New York, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania in a matter of hours.

And on September 12, it warmed my heart to see employees returning to work - perhaps a bit shaken but determined to serve the American people. It was my pleasure to meet them in the lobby, shake their hands and thank them for their dedication and service to America.

That day, and every day since, HHS employees have lived up to their hard-earned reputation as the finest employees in the federal government.

The people in this Department have much to be proud of. You've heard me say often that the best scientists and health experts in the world work in this department - and this is evidenced by the remarkable work they do every day in service to the American people. And the American people clearly appreciate their work as evidenced by the high regard and confidence they place in this department and its agencies.

So I thank the wonderful, dedicated employees of HHS. It has been a privilege to work by your side for the betterment of our society. I will miss this place.

But there is still much to do to better the well being of Americans. I will be working as aggressively as ever until the minute I walk out these doors. And I know my friends at this Department will continue leading this country forward.

In closing, I want to again thank President Bush for the opportunity he afforded me to serve as Secretary of this dynamic department. I thank his staff for their professionalism and friendship. And I thank my friends, the people of Wisconsin, for allowing me to leave my job as Governor and serve them as a member of the President's Cabinet.

And if you can bear with me for a few more public thank yous, I want to extend my appreciation to members of Congress for their support of this Department; as well as the Governors and public health and social service leaders in our states and communities.

I even want to thank the media. We didn't always see eye-to-eye; but then again we're not necessarily supposed to under our democracy. But I do appreciate the passion and care you brought to covering the issues of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Though, I do want to apologize to Al Kamen. I know he's going to take my resignation hard and will really miss me. I'll miss Al, too.

And, finally, I want to thank my family….my wife Sue Ann…my daughters Kelli and Tommi, my son Jason and their terrific spouses. They have always been there for me, even when I couldn't always be there for them because of this profession.

All that I have accomplished would not be possible without their love and support; and without a doubt, my greatest accomplishments in life remain our three children and our ever-growing family. I look very much forward to being there for them more often.

With that, I will be happy to take your questions.

Last Revised: December 3, 2004

HHS Home | Questions? | Contact HHS | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | FOIA | Disclaimers

The White House | USA.gov | Helping America's Youth

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services · 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. · Washington, D.C. 20201