President George W. Bush waves from Air Force One before departing to New York from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
President George W. Bush walks down the stairs from Air Force One upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
President George W. Bush waves as he walks down the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday, Dec.. 9, 2008.
President George W. Bush waves after exiting Air Force One en route to speak at West Point Military Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at Stewart Air National Guard Base, in Newburgh, N.Y.
President George W. Bush walks from Air Force One en route to speak at West Point Military Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at Stewart Air National Guard Base, in Newburgh, N.Y.
U.S. President George W. Bush walks onto stage to make remarks on defense transformation during his visit to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, December 9, 2008.
President George W. Bush addresses cadets in Eisenhower Hall at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008
THE PRESIDENT:Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you, General, for your warm welcome. Thank you for inviting me here to West Point. I now know why you're so happy I'm here -- (laughter -- all classes were cancelled. (Applause.)
I had the honor of sitting next to the General and Judy during the game over the weekend. I am disappointed I could not bring the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy with me. However, you just get the Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.)
This is my last visit to a military academy as President, so I thought I would exercise a certain prerogative of office one last time: I hereby absolve all cadets who are on restriction for minor conduct offenses. As always, I always -- I leave it to General Hagenbeck to determine what "minor" means. (Laughter.)