During his farewell address to the Justice Department Friday, Attorney General Eric Holder referred to his tenure at the Department of Justice as its “golden age” and in the same mold as Robert Kennedy’s storied tenure..

Loretta Lynch will take over the department following the Senate’s 56-43 confirmation vote Thursday.

HOLDER: I said earlier that when we celebrated Robert Kennedy’s 50th anniversary of his swearing in 2011, people said that was the golden age for the United States Department of Justice. Well, I think 50 years from now, maybe even sooner than that, people will look at the work you all did and say this was another golden age. That’s how good you all are. That’s how good you all are. That’s how dedicated and committed and wonderful you all have been. With a focus on justice. With a focus on helping those who cannot help themselves. You have distinguished yourselves. 

There’s a long line of excellence in the United States Department of Justice, but every now and again, at an appropriate time, a group comes along that is worthy of special recognition. And you all are in fact one of those groups. I am proud of you. I am proud of you. I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss this building. I’m going to miss this institution. More than anything, I’m going to miss you all. This building is always going to be home. You all are always going to be my family. And wherever I am, whatever I am doing, I will be rooting for you from the sidelines.