Asked how he wants history to remember him, he said simply, "Better than the local press."

With a couple of dozen troops from each military service and a few civilian Pentagon employees seated behind him on stage in the Pentagon's main auditorium, Rumsfeld spoke to an audience of several hundred people. With a broad grin, he strode into the room to a cascade of applause and a few approving yelps.

"I suspect this will be among my last public remarks as secretary of defense," he said. His last full day will be Dec. 17.

It was one of the few public appearances Rumsfeld has made since President Bush announced on Nov. 8 at the White House that he was replacing Rumsfeld with Robert Gates to get a "fresh perspective" on the Iraq war. Gates won confirmation by the Senate this week and is due to be sworn in on Dec. 18.

Rumsfeld applauded the work and dedication of Pentagon employees and said he was proud to have been associated with them.

"Each of you and future generations of Americans, as well as future generations of Iraqis and Afghans, will be able to look on these past years as a time of enormous challenge and historic consequence," he said.

"As I leave at the end of my second - and, good Lord willing, my last - (term) I do leave believing as I did 30 years ago that America is a truly great nation, that the American people are wise and decent," he said.

He was introduced on the stage by Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who lauded Rumsfeld as a man of courage, integrity and vision.

"This man's work ethic is incredible," Pace said. "Is he demanding? You bet." Rumsfeld then interrupted, saying with a laugh, "No! I've been on my best behavior."

Rumsfeld, 74, is one of the longest-serving defense secretaries in U.S. history and is the only person to have held the position twice. His first stint was from November 1975 to January 1977, when he held the distinction of being the youngest defense secretary in history.