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Memorandum on Designation of NOTE: This memorandum was released by the Of- Officers of the Department of fice of the Press Secretary on October 4. An origi- nal was not available for verification of the content Commerce To Act as Secretary of of this memorandum. Commerce October 3, 2002 Remarks at a Reception for Memorandum for the Secretary of Commerce Gubernatorial Candidate Mitt Subject: Designation of Officers of the Romney in Boston, Massachusetts Department of Commerce to Act as Secretary of Commerce October 4, 2002 By the authority vested in me as President The President. Thank you all very much. under the Constitution and laws of the Thank you all. Glad I came. United States of America and pursuant to the Audience member. We are, too. Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 The President. Thanks for coming. ‘‘Gov- U.S.C. 3345 et seq., I hereby order that: ernor,’’ thanks for those kind, kind remarks. Section 1. Order of Succession. I’m proud to be—[applause]. I strongly stand During any period when the Secretary of with Mitt Romney because I believe he is Commerce (Secretary), the Deputy Sec- the best person for the job of Governor of retary of Commerce (Deputy Secretary), and Massachusetts. the officers designated by Executive Order I say that I know that because I know his 13242 of December 18, 2001, to perform the values. He’s got his priorities straight: his functions and duties of the office of Secretary faith, his family, and his State. And he’s not have died, resigned, or otherwise become un- going to waver from those priorities. They’re able to perform the functions and duties of etched in his heart. the office of Secretary, the Director, Tropical He’s got a record. He’s done things in life. Storm Prediction Center, an officer of the He started his own businesses. He’s an entre- Department of Commerce, shall perform the preneur. He knows how to create jobs at a functions and duties of the office of Sec- time when you need somebody in Massachu- retary, if he is eligible to act as Secretary setts who knows job creation. under the provisions of the Federal Vacan- He knows how to take a struggling organi- cies Reform Act of 1998, until such time as zation and turn it around. He’s done that re- at least one of the officers mentioned above cently. He’s not one of these talkers that you is able to perform the functions and duties find in the political arena. He’s a doer. Just of the office of Secretary. ask the folks—just ask the folks who were Sec. 2. Exceptions. wondering whether or not the Olympics were (a) No individual who is serving as Direc- going to go bankrupt. Ask them what hap- tor, Tropical Storm Prediction Center pened when Mitt Romney showed up and in an acting capacity shall, by virtue brought some managerial skills and some vi- of so serving, act as Secretary pursu- sion and the ability to set priorities and the ant to this memorandum. know-how how to set budgets and turned (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this that organization around and made sure the memorandum, the President retains Olympics in Salt Lake City were not only suc- discretion, to the extent permitted by cessful but profitable. It’s the same kind of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of attitude you need here in your State budget 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345–3349d, to depart in Massachusetts. from this order in designating an act- No, you’ve got the right man for the job ing Secretary. here. You’ve got the right person for the job. Sec. 3. Publication. And I want to thank you for backing him. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized And I’m real proud of his wife, Ann. She’ll and directed to publish this memorandum in be a great first lady for Massachusetts. She’s the Federal Register. a dedicated mom. She’s looking forward to George W. Bush working hard with Mitt to do everything they 1688 Oct. 4 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 can to help everybody in the State of Massa- See, you need somebody who knows what chusetts, to help people get ahead in this they’re talking about when it comes to mak- State. ing sure the people of this important State Mitt and I married above ourselves— can find work. And there’s no question in [laughter]—in my case, by a long shot. my mind Mitt Romney knows what he’s talk- [Laughter] Yes, I know. Laura sends her best ing about. He knows—he knows capital. He to the Romneys, sends her love to our friends knows entrepreneurship. He understands here. She is—I can’t tell you how proud I small-business creation. am of her. You know, when I married her, The role of Government is not to create she was a public school librarian in Texas. wealth. That’s what other people might think. The truth of the matter is, she didn’t like The role of Government is to create an envi- politics—[laughter]—nor did she like politi- ronment in which the entrepreneur can cians. [Laughter] Now she’s stuck with me. flourish, in which the small business can grow [Laughter] to be big business. But the American people have gotten to That’s why he also is focusing on infra- see why I asked her to marry me. She is structure, to make sure your transportation steady. She’s calm. She’s—in my judgment, system is efficient, cost-effective, works well. and I must confess it’s not very objective— [Laughter] It’s an important part of making she’s a class act. A lot of her buddies in Texas sure the environment for attracting jobs is competitive, and Mitt understands that. are wondering why she said yes to my pro- But what I like best about him is, they posal. [Laughter] But she sends her best. understand—Mitt and Kerry understand— I’m also honored to be here with the next the number one priority of any State is the Lieutenant Governor, Kerry Healey. I’m im- education of the children of the State. See, pressed by Kerry’s know-how, her knowl- I used to say—I used to put it this way: Edu- edge. She’s a smart, smart lady, and she’s cation is to a State what national defense is going to make a great Lieutenant Governor. to the Federal Government. It’s the most im- You all have got a great team here, a great portant priority. And this team has got edu- team to represent you. And so I want to cation as a priority. thank you for coming. I want to thank those We share a philosophy. It’s a philosophy of you who are involved with grassroots poli- incorporated in the No Child Left Behind tics here in Massachusetts for what you have bill that I had the honor of signing. It starts done and, more importantly, what you’re with the belief that every child can learn, a going to do. See, you can’t win a race unless belief that there ought to be high standards you’ve got citizens willing to go to the coffee and high expectations in our society. You’ve shops and the community centers, the got to have a Governor who is willing to chal- churches and synagogues and mosques, and lenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. If talk up good people when you find them. you lower the bar, see, if you believe certain You’ve got two good ones here. And you owe children can’t learn—inner-city kids, kids it to them, in my judgment, for the sake of whose parents may not speak English as a the future of your State, to do everything you first language—if you believe that, the sys- can between now and election day to turn tems will reflect that. They’ll just shuffle the out the vote. The votes are there. They need kids through. That’s unacceptable anywhere your help in turning them out. in the United States of America. I appreciate the agenda of the next Gov- Part of what this next team, the Governor ernor and Lieutenant Governor. It starts with and Lieutenant Governor, believe is, you’ve jobs. You’ve got to have you somebody in got to decentralize power; you’ve got to trust the Governor’s office who can recruit, who local people to manage the path to excel- knows the language of the entrepreneur, who lence. If you have high standards and local understands how small businesses are cre- control of schools, you’re more likely to ated and function, in order to make sure that achieve educational excellence. But finally, not only is the landscape here good for at- the cornerstone of the new bill and a corner- tracting jobs but he can recruit jobs. stone of any good education policy is this: Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 / Oct. 4 1689

If you take money, taxpayers’ money, you the problem we face in America: Over $15 need to show society whether or not the chil- billion worth of construction projects have dren are learning to read and write and add been put on hold or canceled because of the and subtract. lack of terrorism insurance. See, after the You see, if you believe every child can enemy hit us on September the 11th, it dis- learn, if you believe every child can learn, torted market. You can’t find insurance; you then you want to know if every child is learn- can’t go forward with a project. ing, and therefore you measure. If you have And therefore, I think it’s a useful tool of no accountability, how do you know? If you the Federal Government to provide—to have no accountability, you’re more likely mitigate some of that risk. Congress has been just to shuffle the kids through and, at the talking about this, now, for a long time. The end of the process, you say, ‘‘Oops, they for- House of Representatives passed a bill. The got to learn to read,’’ and that’s unacceptable. Senate passed a bill. They’re still talking You need to have a Governor and a Lieuten- about it. I’m convinced when they pass a ant Governor who are willing to hold people good terrorism insurance bill that rewards accountable and are willing to praise success hardhats and not trial lawyers, 300,000 addi- but willing to blow the whistle on failure tional Americans will find work. No, they get when you find kids trapped in schools which a bill to my desk—they get a bill to my desk will not teach and will not change. before they go home and help this economy. Now, they’ve got a good, positive agenda. There’s a lot of plumbers and bricklayers, They’ve got a good, positive agenda. When ironworkers, good solid Americans who are they get in there, they’re going to represent going to more likely find work, 300,000 of everybody, not just those who voted for them, if they can get these projects back. If them, not just the 50-percent-plus that voted Congress is worried about the economy like for them. [Laughter] They’re going to rep- I am, they need to join us. resent all the people. They believe in uniting They also need to make sure the tax cuts people, not dividing people. They believe in are permanent. Let me tell you my thoughts rejecting old-style politics. This team is going about tax relief. When your economy is kind to be a breath of fresh air for the citizens of ooching along, it’s important to let people of Massachusetts. have more of their own money. Here’s the I’m confident they’ll make this State a page out of the textbook—here’s the page safer, stronger, and better place. And that’s out of the textbook that I believe is impor- what I want to do for our country. A stronger tant. I know Romney feels the same way. If country—a stronger country is one in which you let somebody keep more of their own our citizens can find work—that’s a stronger money, they’re likely to demand a good or country—a country in which the job base is a service. And when they demand a good or expanding, a country in which somebody who a service in this system, somebody is likely wants to put food on the table is able to do to produce that good or a service. And when so. Too many of our citizens can’t find somebody produces that good or a service, work—although we got some good news somebody is more likely to be able to find today, an indication that the economy has got work. For the sake of job creation, for the the foundation for growth. The unemploy- sake of helping people put food on the table, ment rate dropped, which is good news. the tax relief plan we passed came at the But that’s not good enough. It’s not good exact right time. enough. There are still too many people who And in that tax relief plan, we cut rates, wonder whether or not they’re going to be which is good for small-business creation. able to find employment. My job is to con- Most small businesses are sole proprietor- tinue to insist upon growth, urge Congress ships or limited partnerships. They pay their to pass the necessary legislation to create the taxes at the income tax rate—the personal environment for growth. income tax level. And so when you cut taxes, And we’ve got a good chance to do that really what you’re doing is, you’re stimulating before they go home to campaign, and that small-business growth. Seventy percent of is to pass a terrorism insurance bill. Here’s new jobs in America are created by small 1690 Oct. 4 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 businesses. The tax cut was good for the to know that I will spend a lot of time work- small-business owners. ing to strengthen this economy in any way We slashed the marriage penalty. We want I can. the Tax Code to encourage marriage and Having said that, my number one priority families, not discourage marriage. is to make America a safer place, because We did something really important for the I understand there’s still an enemy out there entrepreneurs and new startups and farmers which hates America. And I want to tell you and ranchers. We put the death tax on its why they hate us, at least my opinion about way to extinction. The death tax is bad. It’s why they hate us. They hate us for what we a bad tax. It’s an unfair tax. love. They hate us because we love freedom. But the reason I’m still having to talk about They hate us because we love the idea that this issue is, because of a quirk in the law, people can worship an Almighty God any way how the rules in the Senate, that tax cut really he or she sees fit. They hate us because we doesn’t go—it doesn’t stay permanent. It’s love political discourse in a free society. They like the Senate giveth with one hand and hate us because of our free press. They hate taketh away with the other. [Laughter] See, everything about us because of our freedom. in 10 years’ time, we revert back to where And there’s another—there are a lot of dis- we were when the tax relief plan was passed. tinguishing features, but one of the most I know it doesn’t make any sense, but that’s clear ones to me is this: We value life in just the way they operate over there. [Laugh- America. We say everybody is precious. Ev- ter] For the sake of job creation, for the sake erybody counts. Every life has worth. Every of encouraging the entrepreneur to be able life has dignity. They don’t value life. They’re to plan, for the sake of making sure that our willing to hijack a great religion and take in- economy is strong and the foundation of nocent life in the name of that religion. growth is solid, the United States Congress And they’re still out there. And so long needs to make the tax cuts permanent. as they’re out there, the number one job of And they’ve got to do one other thing be- your Government is to protect innocent life, fore they go out of town. They’ve got to re- is to protect the enemy from hitting us again. member whose money they’re spending. Yes, You need to know there are a lot of good it’s not the Government’s money. It’s the people working long hours to do everything people’s money. And I’m sad to report—and in their power to disrupt, to find, to hunt I’m sad to report that the United States Sen- down, to—anything we can do, within the ate could not pass a budget. That’s a pretty United States Constitution, to protect the scary thought. See, if you don’t have a budg- American people. et, if you don’t have constraints in Wash- We’re doing a better job of talking to each ington, you’re liable to get a little over- other. We’re doing a better job of sharing spending, because, see, every idea sounds information. We are on alert. We understand like a great idea there. [Laughter] Every idea they’re out there. There’s a lot of fine folks is just fantastic. [Laughter] The problem is, at the Federal level, a lot of great police offi- they all come with billions of dollars worth cers at the State and local level, a lot of peo- of price tags. ple in the sheriff’s department, a lot of emer- If we overspend, it’ll serve as a drag on gency responders—a lot of people working economic growth and vitality. I submitted a hard. budget that leads us toward getting back into But in order to make sure we do the job balance. It sets priorities. For the sake of eco- better, I have asked Congress to create what nomic growth and jobs, the United States they call the Department of Homeland Secu- Congress must be fiscally responsible, must rity. And let me tell you why I asked them not overspend, must spend only on priorities to do that. I asked them to do it because and not that which they think will get them there’s over a hundred agencies in Wash- easily reelected. For the sake of job creation, ington involved with homeland security. And we need fiscal sanity in Washington, DC. they’re scattered everywhere, and it seemed I am optimistic about our economy, but like to me, in order to make sure that we we’ve got more work to do. And I want you align authority and responsibility, they ought Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 / Oct. 4 1691 to be under one boss—at least the functions the name of national security, has the capac- for the homeland ought to be coordinated. ity to put people at the right place at the If the number one priority of the Govern- right time to protect America. ment is to protect you, we ought to have the They need to get it done. They need to ability to make sure that culture changes get something done up there. They need to within agencies so it becomes the number get it to my desk before they go home. one priority. But the best way to protect our homeland, And I asked Congress to join me. And the in the short run and in the long run, is to House passed a bill, and they still can’t get hunt the killers down, one person at a time, it out of the Senate. They’re fixing to go and bring them to justice. home, and they’re still arguing over home- This is a different kind of war. I spent a land security. And I’ll tell you why: There lot of time talking to our fellow citizens about are some up there who believe that they this, and it’s important for America to under- ought to micromanage the process. stand. I think they do. This is a different kind And I’ll give you an example. They want of war. You don’t measure progress in this these work rules to make it difficult for the war based upon the number of ships sunk Secretary and the President and future Sec- or the numbers of tanks dismantled or the retaries and Presidents to be able to move number of aircraft grounded. You measure people to the right place at the right time progress in this war by the number of killers in order to respond to an enemy. For exam- brought to justice, and that’s why I say ‘‘hunt- ple, if you’re working for Customs, we ing them down one person at a time,’’ which thought it was a wise idea to have people is precisely the strategy we’re employing. wear radiation detection devices in order to It starts with upholding doctrine. The doc- be able to determine whether somebody is trine which says, ‘‘Either you’re with us, or trying to smuggle weapons of mass destruc- you’re with the enemy,’’ still stands. We still tion into America. The union wanted to take got this coalition of freedom-loving nations that to collective bargaining. It would have we’re working together with. And we’re taken over a year to determine whether or hunting them down. not people could carry detection devices. The other day, one of them popped up— That doesn’t make any sense for me. popped his head up—named bin al-Shibh. We’ve got a border. We need to know He’s no longer a problem. He would have who’s coming in our country, what they’re been a problem—he would have been a bringing in the country, why they’re bringing problem. This is the fellow that was bragging what they’re bringing into their country. about the fact that, had he gotten a visa, he We’ve got three different agencies on the would have been one of the 20th—he would border, fine people, really good people work- have been the 20th killer that would have ing hard. I’m proud that I’m a Federal—Fed- come to America and killed innocent lives. eral employee with them. But we’ve got the That’s what he bragged about. Border Patrol and the INS and the Customs. Thanks to hard-working—the hard work of They wear different uniforms. In some sec- our intelligence folks and our United States tors, they may have different strategies. They military and our friends and allies, this guy need to be able to be knitted up. They need is not a problem anymore, and neither are to be able to work in concert. They need a couple of thousand of them just like him to be able to do everything they can to make who have been detained. And about that sure that we understand our borders are many weren’t as lucky. Slowly but surely, functioning properly. slowly but surely, we’re dismantling the Al See, and I need the flexibility. We cannot Qaida network. Sometimes you’ll see it on leave a legacy behind of micromanagement your TV screens; sometimes you won’t. and unnecessary work rules and inflexible— Sometimes—I sent a significant increase inflexible rules on managers. I’m all for pub- in our defense spending, the largest since lic employees being able to bargain collec- Ronald Reagan was the President, to the tively if that’s what they choose to do. But Congress for two reasons—two reasons: One, I’m also for making sure the President, in anytime we put our troops into harm’s way, 1692 Oct. 4 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 they deserve the best pay, the best training, battlefield, because of what we believe in and and the best possible equipment; and sec- what we hold dear. And since we’re never ondly, I sent a message to friend and foe alike going to relinquish those freedoms or love that, when it comes to the defense of our for freedom, since we’re never going to back freedom, it comes to our desire to make the down from the things we hold dear, we’ll world more peaceful, there’s no artificial continue to be a battlefield until the world deadline for America. There’s no time when, is more secure. all of a sudden, it says, well, we—the cal- We’ve got a true threat facing us, a threat endar shows up, and it’s time to quit. There’s that faces our very homeland. And that is no quit in this country because we love free- Saddam Hussein. And I want to explain to dom; we love our peace. We owe it to our you about Saddam Hussein, just quickly, if children and our children’s children. I might. I asked Congress to get the defense bill This is a man who has used weapons of to my desk. The House passed it. The Senate mass destruction. He used them on his own passed it. But they haven’t come to conclu- people. He used them on his neighbors. sion yet. They need to get it to my desk be- This is a man who said he wouldn’t have fore they go home. I hope they will. I know weapons of mass destruction, yet he does. there’s a lot of good people from both parties This is a man who, 11 years ago, said he working hard to get the bill done. But we’re wouldn’t harbor terrorists; he wouldn’t de- at war, and at the very minimum, they ought velop chemical or biological weapons. This to get the defense bill passed in time of war is a man who said he would free prisoners. and get it to my desk before they go home. He has lied and deceived and denied for 11 I want to remind you all about what I said long years. earlier. We value each life. Everybody counts. That is not just for American life; This is a man who continues to torture that’s every life, by the way. That’s what people in his own country who disagree with America thinks. him. He’s a coldblooded killer. This is a man I want to remind you as well that when who I believe strongly thinks he can use ter- we upheld the doctrine that says, ‘‘If you har- rorist networks to foster his own ambitions. bor a terrorist and feed one of them, you’re This is a man who, when they went into Iraq just as guilty as the terrorist’’—and when we the first time, it was discovered that he was upheld that doctrine in Afghanistan, we went a short period away from developing a nu- in not to conquer anybody; we went in to clear weapon. liberate people from the clutches of a bar- This is a man who has invaded two coun- baric regime. You need to tell your children, tries. This is a man who is a threat—he’s a you need to tell children who wonder about threat to the United States; he’s a threat to this war, about the nature of your country, Israel; he’s a threat to neighbors of his. He that we love peace, that we’re going to secure is a threat. our homeland. And that, thanks to the My job is to protect the American people. United States of America in the first theater My job is to anticipate. And so I went to of the first war of the 21st century, many the United Nations. I went to the United Na- young girls now go to school for the first tions because I want the United Nations to time. That this country loves freedom, and be effective. I went to the United Nations we value each and every life. and—to remind them that for 11 years, this We also must recognize threats when we man has defied 16 resolutions. Time and see them, and deal with them. See, Sep- time and time again, he has ignored the tember 11th taught us a new lesson about United Nations. I basically said, ‘‘You can be our vulnerabilities. Prior to that, it used to an effective body to help us keep the peace, be that we could be protected by two oceans. or you can be the League of Nations.’’ And unrest or what was going on in a dif- It’s up to them. It’s up to them. We will ferent part of the world—it might have been continue to work with our friends in the okay sometimes, because we were protected. United Nations for peace, to deal with No longer is that the case. We’re now the threats, to not ignore reality. I want the Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 / Oct. 4 1693

United Nations to be effective. I want them tember the 11th, 2001, somebody might file to do their job of disarming Saddam Hussein. a lawsuit or two. [Laughter] They didn’t The choice is theirs, and the choice is also know. They didn’t know who they’re dealing Mr. Saddam Hussein’s choice. There are no with. They’re dealing with a great country, negotiations. There’s nothing to negotiate. a country which can be tough but a country He said he wouldn’t have weapons of mass which also can be compassionate. destruction, and that’s what those of us who See, in our midst of plenty, there are peo- love peace expect. We expect him not to have ple who hurt in America, people who are ad- weapons of mass destruction. dicted, people who are lost. When you say But I want to tell you all, for the sake of ‘‘American Dream,’’ they go, ‘‘What the heck our freedom, for the sake of peace, if the are you talking about, American Dream?’’ United Nations won’t make the decision, if They don’t know. Saddam Hussein continues to lie and de- ceive, the United States will lead a coalition And when one of us hurts, we all got to to disarm this man before he harms America realize all of us hurt in this country. We must and our friends. do everything we can to eradicate those pock- The military’s not my first choice, but ets of despair. And the best way to do so, peace is. Peace is my first choice. And we’re in my judgment, is to unleash the character not—what I just told you is a sentiment that’s of our country. See, Government can hand becoming more and more shared in Wash- out money, and sometimes we do a pretty ington. I was honored this week to stand on darn good job of it. [Laughter] But what the steps of the Rose Garden with Speaker Government cannot do is put hope in peo- Hastert, Minority Leader Gephardt, Leader ple’s hearts or sense of purpose in people’s Lott, Senator Lieberman, Senator McCain, lives. That’s done when a fellow American Senator Bayh, just to name a few of both hears the universal call to love a neighbor Republicans and Democrats who are coming just like you’d like to be loved yourself. together to speak with one voice, a voice out If you want to fight evil here in America, of concern for the future of our country and do some good. You see, it’s the millions of for the future of our friends. acts of kindness and compassion that really This country next week will be having a define the true character of our country and big debate on a really important, historic res- will enable us to defy the killers by making olution. I welcome the debate. This is not this country a more compassionate and de- a political debate. It’s a debate about peace cent place. Mentor a child. Help a shut-in. and security. I also think it’s about—a debate Start a Boys’ Club or a Girls’ Club. Tell about responsibility for those of us who’ve somebody you love them. These acts of kind- been given high office. I believe we have a ness don’t have to be huge; they’ve just got responsibility to speak clearly, to defend that to be significant enough to change America which we hold dear, to be determined. And one person at a time. No, they hit us—they by doing so, we can achieve peace. We can hit us—they didn’t know what they were get- achieve peace for America by speaking strongly against terror, by holding our line ting into. They had no idea what they were the values we hold free—of freedom. getting into. We can achieve peace in the Middle East. I truly believe that this country is going We can achieve peace in South Asia. I know to be a stronger and better place, because the enemy hit us, but out of the evil done I understand the nature of America. See, a to America that day has a chance to come lot of us took a step back after what hap- a more peaceful world. They also hit us, and pened to us that day and realized there’s out of the evil done to America that day can something more important in life than self, come a better world for America, too. something more important in life than mate- You know, I don’t know what was on their rialism, that being a patriot is somebody mind. They probably thought that, after Sep- more than just puts their hand over their 1694 Oct. 4 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2002 heart; being a patriot is somebody who does Digest of Other love a neighbor. White House Announcements And that’s going across all across this land. You know, I first got into politics because I believed that I could make a difference in The following list includes the President’s public helping change a culture, from one which schedule and other items of general interest an- said, ‘‘If it feels good, do it, and if you’ve nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and got a problem, blame somebody else.’’ See, not included elsewhere in this issue. I was hoping to help usher in a period of personal responsibility, when each of us un- derstands we’re responsible for the decisions September 30 we make in life. In the afternoon, the President returned If you’re responsible—if you’re a mother from the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX, to or dad, your most important responsibility is Washington, DC. to love your child with all your heart and The President announced his intention to all your soul. If you’re living—if you’re living nominate Philip Merrill to be President of in Boston, Massachusetts, you’re responsible the Export-Import Bank of the United for helping people in need, not some faraway States. government. If you’re running a corporation, The President announced his intention to you’re responsible for telling the truth to appoint Fidel Alfonso Vargas as a member your employees and your shareholders and of the Commission on Presidential Scholars. the public. It’s happening. It’s happening. Perhaps the October 1 most vivid example was Flight 93, people fly- ing across the country. They heard from their In the morning, the President had intel- loved ones that the plane was going to be ligence and FBI briefings. used as a weapon. They said goodbye. They In the afternoon, in the Cabinet Room, used the word ‘‘love’’ a lot. They said a pray- the President met with a bipartisan group of er. A guy said, ‘‘Let’s roll.’’ They took the House Members to discuss the proposed plane into the ground to serve something joint resolution to authorize the use of force greater than themselves in life. against Iraq. No, the enemy hit us. But see, they didn’t The President declared a major disaster in know—they didn’t know the character of this Mississippi and ordered Federal aid to sup- great country. They didn’t realize that this plement State and local recovery efforts in country is a country which will fight for the area struck by Tropical Storm Isidore on peace, lead the world for peace. And this is September 23 and continuing. a country which will make sure that every- body who lives here understands that the October 2 great American experience, the great hope In the morning, the President had a tele- of this country, is available for everybody. phone conversation with President There’s no doubt in my mind we can accom- Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal to express his plish these objectives, because America is the condolences to families of the victims of the greatest country, full of the finest people, on ferryboat sinking near Senegal on September the face of the Earth. 26, and to discuss the situation in the Ivory God bless. Coast. Later in the morning, the President and NOTE: The President spoke at 12:48 p.m. in the Mrs. Bush went to the Ronald Reagan Build- Plaza Ballroom at the Seaport Hotel. In his re- ing and International Trade Center, where marks, he referred to Ann Romney, wife of can- didate Mitt Romney; Ramzi bin al-Shibh, an Al they participated in a roundtable discussion Qaida operative suspected of helping to plan the as part of the White House Conference on September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, who was Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children. captured in Karachi, Pakistan; and President Sad- In the afternoon, they returned to the White dam Hussein of Iraq. House.