Lockhart gives final White House press briefing

By Mike Ferullo/CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Although relieved that the relentless questions and late-night phone calls will finally stop, Joe Lockhart was also a bit wistful Friday when he gave his farewell briefing as President Clinton's press secretary.

"I have never stopped enjoying coming down here. I've lost some of my desire for all the preparation it takes to come down here and talk to you all, but I've never not enjoyed coming down and facing this back-and-forth," he told White House reporters.

President Clinton hugs his press secretary Joe Lockhart, left, during Lockhart's last press briefing

Lockhart took over the White House press secretary's duties in 1998, at the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He announced earlier this year that he would leave the administration near the end of the congressional session to pursue private sector ventures and spend more time with his wife and six-year-old daughter.

Before taking the post, Lockhart served as deputy to then-Press Secretary Mike McCurry and as a spokesman for Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign. Lockhart's own second-in-command, Jake Siewart, will assume command of the White House press office for Clinton's remaining four months in office.

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Clinton jokes with Lockhart at the White House Press Secretary's last briefing Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Clinton and senior staff members came out midway through Lockhart's final briefing to say their official goodbyes and introduce Siewart.

"Most people think Joe's leaving for purely selfish monetary reasons. But the truth is, he told me I was no longer in enough trouble to make it interesting for him," Clinton joked.

Clinton presented Lockhart with a photo of their "one and only day playing golf together," which included a written caption from the president: "Joe, typical day as presidential press secretary, lost in the woods. Unlike the press corps, I'll give you a mulligan."

President Clinton laughs, after giving his new press secretary Jake Siewart, left, a military helmet to wear when he deals with the press. Siewert is replacing Joe Lockhart, right, who is stepping down as Clinton's press secretary.

On a more serious note, Clinton expressed gratitude to Lockhart for his two years on the job, a tenure in which the press secretary -- according both to White House aides and Republican rivals -- earned a reputations as a "fiercely partisan" loyalist to the president.

Clearly having fun during his final White House briefing, Lockhart fielded light-hearted questions about whether he had secured a recurring guest role on the NBC television drama "The West Wing," or planned to immediately begin work on the human genome project.

Before joining the political world, Lockhart held journalism positions at SKY Television, CNN and ABC News. He also worked for numerous presidential campaigns: Michael Dukakis in 1988, Walter Mondale's 1984 bid and the 1980 Jimmy Carter campaign.

Siewart, another veteran of the Dukasis campaign, was presented with an army helmet during his official introduction to the White House press corps. "I thought you ought to have this," Clinton told his new press secretary. "I hope you'll wear it to your first briefing.

"I worked enough on the Dukakis campaign not to put this on," Siewart replied.