Full Text: Clinton Farewell Address

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2001 -- -- Following is the full text of President Bill Clinton’s farewell address to the nation on Jan. 18, 2001.

"My fellow citizens, tonight is my last opportunity tospeak to you from the Oval Office as your president.

I am profoundly grateful to you for twice giving me the honor toserve, to work for you and with you to prepare our nation for the 21stcentury. And I'm grateful to Vice President Gore, to my Cabinetsecretaries, and to all those who have served with me for the lasteight years.

This has been a time of dramatic transformation, and you haverisen to every new challenge. You have made our social fabricstronger, our families healthier and safer, our people moreprosperous.

You, the American people, have made our passage into the globalinformation age an era of great American renewal.

In all the work I have done as president, every decision I havemade, every executive action I have taken, every bill I have proposedand signed, I've tried to give all Americans the tools and conditionsto build the future of our dreams, in a good society, with a strongeconomy, a cleaner environment, and a freer, safer, more prosperousworld.

I have steered my course by our enduring values. Opportunity forall. Responsibility from all. A community of all Americans. I havesought to give America a new kind of government, smaller, more modern,more effective, full of ideas and policies appropriate to this newtime, always putting people first, always focusing on the future.

Working together, America has done well. Our economy is breakingrecords, with more than 22 million new jobs, the lowest unemploymentin 30 years, the highest home ownership ever, the longest expansion inhistory.

Our families and communities are stronger. Thirty-fivemillion Americans have used the family leave law. Eight million havemoved off welfare. Crime is at a 25-year low. Over 10 millionAmericans receive more college aid, and more people than ever aregoing to college. Our schools are better --