CABINET DINNER, 1912 F Street Club, Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, January 5, 1977

Mr. President, Honorable Members of the
Cabinet, my friends.

Tonight marks a great moment in the life
of the Republic:

This is the last Cabinet dinner for the
next four years in which peanut butter will not be
the main course.

* * *

[v]

While we good Republicans gather here,
Tongsun Park is hosting all of the Democratic
leaders of the House and Senate at the Korean
Embassy.

I understand there is even an "express
lane" for those taking $10,000 or less.

***

- 3 -

[Y]

I am aware of all the excitement in the air these days over the fact that the pitter-patter of little feet will soon be heard once again in the White House.

It seems that Mr. Carter has invited Carl Albert to sleep over.

* * *

- 4 -

As for Mr. Carter, knowing how meaningful
Presidential archives are to future historians,
I suggested to the President-elect that he arrange
to keep the rostrum that will be used during the
inauguration.

But Jimmy Carter probably won't do that;
he never takes a stand.

* * *

I must say I was amused by all the
visibility our friends in the media gave to the
President-elect's first post-election visit here.

He made a point of going to all of the
Democratic leaders of the Congress and giving
each of them his private unlisted home phone
number.

Personally I didn't see what's so
remarkable about that:

Elizabeth Ray did the same thing two
years ago.

***

And now, Mr. Carter is looking forward to
a long honeymoon with his Democratic Congress.

I don't see why he shouldn't have a long
honeymoon with a Democratic Congress. God knows,
he's qualified:

He can't type, he can't take dictation,
and he can't answer the telephone either.

So much for the affairs of Congress.

***

[Y]

As for the President-elect's incoming
cabinet, my own feeling is that Griffin Bell's
appointment will have some difficulty clearing
the Senate.

On the other hand, I would say Bert Lance
will remain in the cabinet as long as he chooses.

After all, if things get hot for Bert,
all he has to do is call in the loan.

***

- 8 -

[Y]

As a citizen of this great country,
I was pleased to see there were no political
payoffs in Mr. Carter's cabinet appointments.

-- But enough about George Bush's
successor.

As tough as Ted Sorensen is to swallow as
CIA Director, it's not as odd as the one I am told
Mr. Carter still may make.

I'm told he's thinking of appointing
Ronnie Reagan as Ambassador to Panama.

* * *

- 9 -

[4]

I don't agree with everything Governor
Reagan stands for or everything he says -- but I
confess that I envy the way he manages to look as
young as he does.

I keep seeing those pictures of him on
horseback at his ranch out in California and he
always looks so young.

Well, I've found out why:

He keeps buying older horses.

***

- 10 -

[Y]

Now that Mr. Carter has filled his cabinet,
he must turn to the economy, particularly the
unemployment rate.

In all fairness, I hope he can do as much
to reduce the Nation's unemployment rate as he has
so far to reduce Georgia's unemployment rate.

* * *

[Y]

- 11 -

But I think we're getting out of Washington
just in time.

I understand no hard liquor will be
served in the White House during the Carter
Administration and that's fine with me.

I've heard some of the ideas they've come
up with sober.

* * *

In conclusion, Mr. President, I would
like my final remarks to reflect the honor you
bestowed on me by selecting me as your Vice President.

You only let me down once -- when you
came out last weekend for making Puerto Rico our
51st State.

Frankly, I was hoping for Foxhall Road.

But I wouldn't change a day of it and
I can tell you, Mr. President, from the bottom of
my heart:

There is no other man I would rather
have served.

My only regret, Mr. President, is that
your country has not served you as well as you have
served your country.

Your cabinet is a credit to your administration, and your administration is a credit to the history of the United States.

You personally, Mr. President, will be eternally remembered as the single man who restored dignity to the Executive Mansion.

[Y]

And if it means anything, Mr. President,
all of us in this room would rather serve a kind and
just man who shows compassion than to serve "just
another politician":

-- A man who does what he knows is right
for the country.

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