Gates Ends Historic Term as Defense Secretary

摘要

WASHINGTON - Robert M. Gates is the only man to thank two presidents for the privilege of serving as secretary of defense. At the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute on the Pentagon's parade field, Gates thanked President George W. Bush tor nominating him for the job in 2006 and President Barack Obama for retaining him in it during the change in administrations in 2009. At the ceremony, Obama praised Gates' bipartisanship, and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom the highest award a president can confer to a civilian. Gates also spoke to those who would have the United States withdraw from world affairs and retreat to isolationism. He took the thought from former Defense Secretary and Army Chief of Stafl during World War Ⅱ General of the Army George C. Marshall. Gates said that once while addressing university graduates, Marshall extolled what he considered the great "musts' of that generation. "Now, as when Marshall first uttered those words, a sense of America's exceptional global responsibilities and the importance of what we do or do not do remain the great 'musts' of this dangerous new century," Gates said.