With just hours left in office, President Bill Clinton looks set to grant dozens of last-minute pardons and use his final weekly radio address to wish his successor, Mr George W. Bush, well.
Keeping his promise to work until the last hour of the last day, Mr Clinton also planned to announce funding to put more police officers on the streets throughout the nation, White House aides said.
Two Whitewater scandal figures are among the possible candidates for pardons.
The White House has declined to discuss specific pardon requests, but campaigns on behalf of candidates have been waged with increasing publicity during Mr Clinton's lame-duck period, traditionally a time for the politically sensitive action.
A presidential pardon - providing official forgiveness for criminal wrongdoing - gives back to convicted criminals benefits enjoyed by a full citizen, including the right to vote.
Mr Clinton relinquishes the presidency to Bush at noon (17.00 GMT) today.
AFP