He has been very kind and generous to my family, and I thank him for that.
Today, we're all red, white and blue.
 
Friday's Question:
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I thank former President Bush and Mrs. Bush for coming and for their service to our nation.
President Bush, I loved all that stuff you said, but I want to thank you for something seriously.
In 1989, after I had been governor for a long time, you were the president who finally called us together and asked us to develop national education goals for America so that all our children could get a good education. It was the beginning of a serious reform effort which I tried to carry through and which I know President Bush has tried to push.
So thank you for doing that and for giving me the opportunity to work with you.
Thank you, President and Mrs. Carter, for all you did in the White House and all you've done in the years since to make the world more just and peaceful.
John Quincy Adams once said, "There is nothing in life so pathetic as a former president." Well, he turned out to be wrong because of his own service, and President Carter has proved that nothing could be further from the truth.
He just told you we met 30 years ago when he was trying to help me. He didn't tell you that less than a year later and less than a mile from here Jimmy Carter asked Hillary and me to join in his campaign for the presidency. We did and, as you can see from this day, it was the beginning of quite a ride.
I recently spoke with President Ford who, at 91, is unable to come, and with his extraordinary wife Betty. But they still are strong.
Yesterday I received a wonderful letter from Nancy Reagan, who remains in our thoughts and prayers.
I thank the Fords and Nancy and the late President Reagan for their service to our country.
I want to thank all the vast numbers of Congress and former members who are here who served with me. I couldn't have done most of the good things we did without them, and they're not responsible for any of the mistakes I made.
CLINTON: I can't see through all the umbrellas and all the ponchos, or whatever you call those classy things that make you all look so beautiful...
(LAUGHTER)
... but I'm pretty sure Senator Kerry is out there. If he is, I want to thank him. I'm glad he's back on the job.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to thank the people of my beloved home state for your support, for your love, your friendship, the trust, the sacrifices you so willingly made when we worked together here and when you carried me to the White House.
I thank the friends of a lifetime who also made indispensable contributions. I've said a lot of times I may be the only guy who got elected president because of his personal friends.
