 I think there will have to be time later, and I'd like to, for me to say hello and have some individual greetings with you. Well, right now, good morning and welcome to all of you level with me. I've already made up my mind, so I'm really going to ask if you agree with me. I want you all to know that I believe that your efforts have merit, and I want to help get the job done. And I will, in a couple of minutes, announce publicly that I am supporting your efforts. Before my staff opens the doors to the press, however, I want to commend you all for your continuing work on behalf of the nation's 27 and a half million veterans that have depended some survivors, almost 80 million people in all. Let me also take this moment to tell you how much I personally appreciate your support from my foreign policy and national security initiatives over the years. And now I'm going to have them open the door, and we'll all just small talk or smile at each other, right? Be happy. Okay. There'll be two waves. The second wave is when we'll make the announcement. All right. This first wave brings up the old sacrilegious saying all about the story of the past sufferer. They said everyone who wants to get on this side of the table or get in the picture, get on this side. Well, you've got all indoors on a rainy day, Mr. President. Yes, sir. I guess we had to have a ceremony for this, Mr. President, that's all. Did you go all morning? Yes, very well. Very interesting. President of Israel. With an Irish brook. He was born in Maryland. I just have one observation, Mr. President. I'm a little concerned that there's enough room around this table for one more chair. That's all right. Always room for one more. Yeah. When it's just a cabinet meeting, why, there's some space. All right. Mr. President, are you going to have a Supreme Court nominee today? You sort of hinted at it earlier. No, not that far, but right now I have an announcement to make. I'll have you that tomorrow our nation will pause and remember those veterans who served in the armed forces, both at home and abroad. And we'll remember those who gave their last measure fighting for what our country represents, freedom. It's not a better time or better way to salute those valued men and women than to announce today my decision to support the creation of a cabinet-level department of Veterans Affairs. This is a personal decision that I've thought about for some time. There are six times as many veterans alive today as there were in 1930 when the agency was first created. And veterans have always had a strong voice in our government, but it's time to give them the recognition that they so rightly deserve. So I'm joining with those here today in support of this effort. Thank you. Mr. President, the Washington Post conference says today that Ed Meese is an embarrassment to the administration and should resign. What are your feelings? I don't know where they get that idea. He's no embarrassment to me. I've known him for 20 years and I've found him a sound mind and great loyalty and capability in all that time. Please. Mr. President, I'm going to tell you this is the first time you've ever tricked me. We came here to have to sell you a bill of goods, and you were already selling them. Thank you very much. Mr. President, since joint watch. You're looking better every minute. Mr. President, on behalf of the Veterans Administration, I would like to thank you for your decision. And Mr. President, as one of the authors, as the author to be on the Senate, we have eight or nine co-sponsors. I want to thank you, too. There you go. Mr. President, American Legion wishes to thank you. Well, I'm very pleased to do that. I guess the American Veterans would like to thank you very much. The FBI has been behind you all the way, Mr. President. We've been behind you on this, too. And the Colonel, thank you. You've been most supportive of many things that I've tried to do. And I appreciate it. Now, I think, well, anyone else have any comments they want to make? I think every veteran organization has approved this. Yes, sir. I think we'll have any problems in the house, Mr. President. We're bringing the bill up. Nice to see you. And this is Matthew. Can you shake hands with Matthew? Yes, you can. Go ahead. I'm right here. You got to learn that. Karen may be my son, Derek. You're nice to do this, Mr. President. Why don't we get one in front of the desk? All right, sir. And if you don't mind, I'm going to take one of my cameras and I got close to negative to my truck. Thank you, June. You're very welcome. Okay. You're just so shy today. I have a dance now. Well, let's do this. But Papa's waiting for us to take a picture. Just like at all my hands. Just like at all my hands. Come on over here. You'll be in the middle, right? Okay. I'm in the middle. You're on the right. We might as well. Derek, are you on the phone, man? Sure. I'll hold on to you. We'll do this. Daniel, that one's still in the middle. Why don't you have a room? Daniel's hands. Look at Papa. There. Where's Papa? That's Daniel. Daniel, why don't you look right here for a picture, Daniel? Okay? There we go. That's great. Now, big smile, guys. Now, put his camera away. Maybe he should come in the picture, too. I'll put it in the picture. All right. Good. There we go. Matthew won't sit on Santa's lap either. He won't sit on Santa's lap either. Mr. President, Derek says Matthew won't sit on Santa's lap either. Okay, guys, everybody's right here. Great. Great. Thank you. I guess, here, oh, wow. Look what the person is. Matthew. You got a free hand. Oh, thank you. Thank you, Lee. Oh, thank you. Oh, man. Oh, man. He says we have a good time. Pretty soon, we're going to need a new book bag. Book a nice school on the school. Thank you. It's a book bag for you. You're welcome. And if you get around to it, down in the book bag, here are some jammies. Oh, my. Yeah, would you go for that? Thank you. Yeah, it's great. All right. Thank you. I appreciate it. Appreciate it. I'll take them back down to the office, then. Where are you? Where are you? Oh, here's that. Let's go find them. Here they are. Here they are. How about that? Daniel, Matthews, Mom and Daddy are going to the state dinner tonight. Oh, hey. I'll see you tonight. All right. Okay. There we go. You ready? Thanks again. Mr. President, you remember Dr. I certainly do. I'm sorry about the post-pone, but I'm sure if you're willing to come back again. We're concerned about Mrs. Reagan. How is she? She's just fine. Is she doing all right? Mr. President, I have a brand new office, and we're just decorating it. And I wondered if I might be privileged to have a picture when you just went south. You know what that means for me? Thank you. Well, congratulations on the Mary and Pfister. I want to thank you again for the video that you did. Please do it. It's a special evening. And it's a chance also to thank you for all the things you've been doing. God bless you, Mr. President. We're praying for you as you make this next appointment in the Supreme Court. And we're with you. Super. Thank you. That's special. Thank you very much. Again, thank you, sir. Thank you. Thanks also for this pornography bill today. I can't tell you what that means to me and to all of us. I know that will be a struggle on the hill, and we will help. I'm very pleased to be sending it up there. You look great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for seeing you. You want to be the other one? No. Nice to see you. Why don't you come right over there and take that chair over there. Everyone come over here. Thanks to see you. I sat down, sir. I'm the last president. Nice to see you. Thanks to see you. Thank you very much, sir. Let me get out of your way. I want to know the direction. I just want to welcome you and Chairman Khalif and the things you've made in the United Nations and the General Assembly up there and the show of support. You're part of the Afghan Resistance Alliance. It shows that you are strengthening the political cooperation within the resistance. Before I go on with things, I think you must have some things you would like to do.