DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) – It may be his last week on the job, but embattled United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said he wasn't about to cancel a scheduled trip to Iowa. He met Thursday with local partners of a group that combats sexual abuse and exploitation of children, because he said it's an issue he and his wife view as "very important."

But at a news conference after the meeting, a reporter prefaced a question by mentioning that Gonzales has been harshly criticized in the weeks leading up to his resignation. Gonzales let out a subtle laugh. The reporter asked him how he'll look back on his tenure.

"With a great deal of pride, quite frankly," Gonzales said. "It's a great privilege to serve in this position, and when you serve in these positions obviously sometimes there are tough decisions and tough times that occur, but I think we did a lot of good things."

Gonzales cited an infrastructure that's been put in place to "protect our kids" as one of those positive things. He also said he thinks that under his watch a "lot of good things" have been done to protect the United States from another terrorism attack.

When asked if there was anything he regrets Gonzales said, "Well of course, we're all human and all of us make mistakes, and the thing that's important is to identify when those mistakes are made, acknowledge the mistakes, correct the mistakes and then you move on… So that's what I've endeavored to do as attorney general."

Gonzales' resignation takes effect Monday.

Click here for video coverage from CNN affiliate KCCI in Des Moines.

Related: Bush: Gonzales' 'good name dragged through the mud'

-CNN Iowa Producer Chris Welch