focused, if we act on our mutual interests, that progress is possible. wars can end. peace can be forged. so tonight we're all praying for richard's recovery. to the family, our thoughts are with you. and i know that everyone here joins me when i say that america is more secure and the world is a safer place because of the work of ambassador richard holbrooke. so michelle and i, the entire family, just know we are thinking and praying for you. for you and for richard every single day. and he is a tough son of a gun, so we are confident that as hard as this is, that he is going to be putting up a tremendous fight. >> ambassador richard holbrooke on friday fell ill while he was at the state department. what was initially reported as a suspected blood clot, turned out to be a torn aorta.