George W. Bush: “I want to thank you for your candor and your friendship.”

It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as your President.

The American economy has consistently proven its strength and resilience in the face of shocks such as natural disasters, high energy prices, and the terrorist attacks of September 11.

Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you.

America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil. This is a tribute to those who toil night and day to keep us safe.