Clinton's long goodbye

One last show: Bill Clinton clings onto the limelight

Former United States President Bill Clinton left Washington and the White House for his new home in Chappaqua outside New York City on Saturday.

Thank you for coming... You know how it is. When you leave the White House, you wonder if you'll ever draw a crowd again

Bill Clinton

But he made the most of his last few hours in office, issuing a series of pardons and then taking one last opportunity to deliver a farewell speech at Andrews Air Force base - unprecedented for an outgoing president.

Amid emotional scenes before supporters, Mr Clinton said he would continue in public service.

"I've left the White House but I'm still here", Mr Clinton said.

Among those who benefited from Mr Clinton's clemency was Pattie Hearst, the heiress to a newspaper fortune who gained notoriety in the 1970s by joining a revolutionary group that kidnapped her, and

'Still here'

Analysts say that outgoing US presidents are meant to slip away discreetly. Mr Clinton though, seemed reluctant to relinquish the spotlight.

Clinton leaves the Oval Office for the last time as president

"You gave me the ride of my life, and I've tried to give as good as I got," Mr Clinton told about 2,000 members of his administration and supporters in a departure ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington.

"We did a lot of good," Mr Clinton told the crowd, which gave him a standing ovation.

"You see that sign there that says "Please don't go"? I left the White House, but I'm still here. We're not any of us going anywhere."

He also appeared to hand the torch on to his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"We've got a senator here who will be a voice for you."

The ex-president lingered on after his speech to press the flesh once more.

Pardons

In his last hours, as president Mr Clinton announced pardons and sentence commutations for 176 people, declared a national monument on Governors Island in New York, and announced funding for an additional 10,000 police officers.

Clintons biggest fans: Hillary and Chelsea

Among those pardoned was Susan McDougal, who was jailed for refusing to give evidence against the Clintons in the Whitewater real estate scandal.

He also pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton, a musician who served a year in jail on a drug offense.

After what are reported to have been lengthy discussions with his advisers, Mr Clinton was discouraged from pardoning financier Michael Milken, native American Leonard Peltier and former Justice Department official Webster Hubbell.

He also declined a pardon for convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard.

Despite a presidency beset by sandals, Mr Clinton leaves office with poll ratings higher than any other modern president.