Mr. President of the Commission, and to the other Commissioners:
This is a very wonderful welcome home that you have given me on this rather rainy morning, a welcome home that I shall always remember. And when I say a welcome home, I hope that some of the scribes in the papers won't intimate that I expect to make Washington my permanent residence for the rest of my life.
In all these years -- eight years in the Navy Department, and twelve years now, and four to come -- it has had a great effect on Washington. Today it is very different from the Washington that I first came to in the first administration of President Cleveland. I go back -- Russ Young and I go back, I think, to Cleveland's first administration, because we are the same age.
So I want to tell you how glad I am to be here and say one word to you -- especially the Government workers -- for all that you are doing to win this war. And when I say especially the Government workers, I don't overlook all the other people in the city who make it possible for them to come here and live and work here.
So, thanks very much.