Friedman Named Director of National Economic Council
Remarks by the President in Announcing Stephen Friedman as Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council
The Roosevelt Room
4:05 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. I'm pleased to introduce the
newest member of my economic team, Mr. Steve Friedman. Welcome,
Steve. I also want to welcome Barbara and Susie and Caroline and David
and Sam. We're glad you all are here, and thank you for your
sacrifice.
Steve Friedman has spent a career at the Center of American
Enterprise and Finance and Job Creation. He's an innovative, economic
thinker; he's a proven manager; and he's a business leader of national
standing. He has served the country as a member of the President's
Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, and as chairman of a task force on
modernizing financial management at the Pentagon.
Steve is a graduate of Cornell University, and he holds a law
degree from Columbia University, and serves as Chairman Emeritus of
that university's board.
I'm delighted that Steve will be joining the White House staff as
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the
National Economic Council.
He replaces a dear friend, Larry Lindsey. I appreciate so very
much Larry's service to our country. He has a distinguished career
here in the White House. He's earned the respect of the President and
everybody who has worked with him.
I selected Steve for his wide experience, and steady and sound
judgment. He understands the free enterprise system. He knows how the
economy works. And he shares my objectives for stronger economic
growth, high standards of corporate integrity, more small businesses
across our nation, and greater trade across the world.
I will work with Steve and others on a growth and jobs package that
we will present to the new Congress. In order to continue our economic
recovery, we will propose further steps to add new jobs, reduce the
burden on our taxpayers and to strengthen investor confidence. Our
economy is strong, and we're going to make it even stronger. It's
important work, and Steve Friedman will be a key member of our team.
And I'm pleased to welcome him to full-time public service.
Thank you very much, Steve. Appreciate it.
MR. FRIEDMAN: Thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you. Mr.
President, I have been deeply impressed by our leadership of our
nation, and I am honored to join your economic team. I know the other
members of your team personally, or by the great respect they've earned
in their distinguished careers. I look forward to working with them to
achieve the goals of greater growth for the American economy and more
jobs for the American people.
As you've said, growth has returned to the American economy. We
must increase the momentum of the recovery. Your administration
entered office facing a recession. Your economic policies helped make
it one of the shortest on record. Still, we must address pressure on
family budgets and savings, the need to create more jobs, slow growth
in our overseas export markets and disappointing business investment.
Faced with these challenges, I strongly share your conviction, sir,
that now is the time for a robust growth and jobs policy. I also share
your great confidence in the energy, the resilience and the creativity
of American workers and businesses. Now is the time to help them
achieve their full potential.
I thank you, sir, for having me serve.
THE PRESIDENT: You're welcome. I'm glad you're here. Thank you
all for coming.