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Obama's note to Robert Gibbs on last day: 'You helped me get started'

Friday was the final press briefing for Robert Gibbs, White House press secretary. President Obama dropped by to give back a famous tie and Gibbs revealed his least favorite topic.

On his last day as White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs was preceded to the podium by President Obama, whose friendship and confidence were Mr. Gibbs鈥檚 most important assets in one of the hardest jobs in Washington.

Mr. Obama, just back from making a statement in the Grand Foyer of the White House about Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak leaving office, quipped, 鈥�Obviously Gibbs鈥檚 departure is not the biggest one today.鈥�

The president鈥檚 remarks began with the presentation of a pale-blue tie that Gibbs had loaned Obama when he addressed the 2004 Democratic National Convention. It was a speech that gave Obama, then a candidate for the US Senate, a major political boost. A framed, handwritten note from the president said, 鈥淚t and you helped me get started.鈥�

The president then went on to commend Gibbs. 鈥淩obert has not only been an extraordinary press secretary, but he has been a great friend. And you could not ask for somebody better in the foxhole with you,鈥� Obama said.

After five minutes of being lauded by his boss before a standing-room-only crowd, Gibbs launched into what he said was the Obama administration鈥檚 250th briefing. Most of them have been done by Gibbs. Friday鈥檚 session 鈥� lasting some 69 minutes 鈥� was surely one of the longest.

After paying tribute to his staff, Gibbs said, 鈥淚 will miss boring days like today at the White House.鈥� During the 18-day Egyptian crisis, he noted, historic transformations had played out 鈥渆ach and every day.鈥�

Being a witness to history 鈥� and helping shape policy 鈥� are among the biggest attractions of a post that Gibbs earlier in the week called 鈥渙ne of the most challenging jobs鈥� in all of government. 鈥淲e鈥檙e up here talking about a subject that can influence what happens 10 miles and 10,000 miles away,鈥� he said.

That pressure to handle sensitive diplomatic issues was on display again Friday. Gibbs tweaked the government of Iran for blocking Internet access and 鈥渂eing scared of the will of the people.鈥� And he sought to allay fears that the changes in Egypt would damage the United States or its allies. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we have to fear democracy,鈥� Gibbs said.

The press secretary鈥檚 job comes with the built-in tension of serving two masters 鈥� the president and the press. One wants to manage the flow and subject of the news; the other has an insatiable appetite for information, and the less packaged the better.

The tension in the relationship was on display at Gibbs鈥檚 final briefing: A New York Times correspondent wanted to know if, now that he had a more leisurely schedule, he would be better about returning phone calls and e-mails.

Reporters have complained that Gibbs was not always easy to reach.

When asked to comment on relations between the president and press, Gibbs ducked, saying he will soon be paid lots of money to answer that in the future. Politico reported Friday morning that Gibbs has signed with the Harry Walker Agency for paid speeches.

Several times during his last week as press secretary, reporters tried to get Gibbs to talk about his feelings and philosophy. At a briefing on Tuesday, he knocked down one such attempt, saying, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to turn this into my fond farewell.... It鈥檚 the least favorite topic I have, which is me.鈥�

One appeal of his new life, giving paid speeches and working on Obama鈥檚 reelection campaign, will be more time with his wife and son. As the final briefing drew to a close, Gibbs presented a mock 鈥渨eek ahead鈥� 鈥� a ritual of Friday briefings in which the press secretary gives reporters an outline of what the president will be doing. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to give you my week ahead,鈥� Gibbs said.

鈥淥n Monday, the former press secretary will travel with Ethan Gibbs to school. In the morning, he will catch some 鈥�SportsCenter鈥� [on ESPN].... In the afternoon, he is hoping for a nap before walking several hundred feet to the bus stop to greet Ethan.... Fortunately for me, I do not anticipate any further travel events for the remainder of the week.鈥�

Gibbs鈥檚 spacious office in the West Wing of the White House was decorated with pictures drawn by his elementary-school-age son, whom he clearly adores.

Before leaving, Gibbs said the role of press secretary had been a 鈥渢remendous honor and a privilege.鈥� Earlier in the week he said, 鈥淚f you didn鈥檛 enjoy some element of this, you鈥檇 do it for about three days and you would turn in your [White House] pass and hope no one ever found you again.鈥�