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budget is the last one—or the defense ap- like I know we’re going to be, out of this propriation is the last one to the President’s evil will come a more peaceful world for desk. It ought to be the first one this year. generations to come. I want you to know that history has As you can tell, I hope, I’m optimistic. called us into action. History has placed And you’d be optimistic, too, if you got a great responsibility at our doorstep, and to see what I see. See, I get to travel the I will not miss this opportunity. It is a greatest land on the face of the Earth. I chance to defend freedom. It is a chance am optimistic because of the values that to make sure that our children and grand- make America strong, and I am optimistic children grow up in a peaceful world. Out because of the people who make her great. of this evil will come some good. America God bless you all. will be stronger at home. We’ll be more compassionate and more decent. Out of NOTE: The President spoke at 2:48 p.m. in this evil will come, I believe, a period of the factory at Albers Manufacturing Co. In personal responsibility, a new culture as re- his remarks, he referred to Senator Chris- flected in Flight 93, when people drove topher S. ‘‘Kit’’ Bond of ; Rolf an airplane into the ground to sacrifice for Albers, chairman and chief executive officer, something greater than themselves. And if Albers Manufacturing Co.; and Derek Rapp, we’re tough and resolved and determined, chief executive officer, Divergence.

Remarks at a Fundraising Dinner for Senatorial Candidate James M. Talent in St. Louis, Missouri March 18, 2002

Thank you very much. Be seated, please. and I’m so proud of her. She’s made a Gosh, thanks for such a warm welcome. great First Lady for the country. It’s always good to have a good introducer. I want to thank the members of the Mis- [Laughter] Bucky is my favorite uncle when souri delegation who are here, starting with I’m in St. Louis. [Laughter] He’s my favor- the senior Senator, . Thank you ite uncle all the time; he’s a fabulous man. for coming, Kit. I appreciate his leadership Thanks, Buck. And I like to call on a lot of important issues. Take election ‘‘Foxy.’’ Foxy, I didn’t realize you were so reform—he’s making sure that we encour- eloquent. [Laughter] But I thank you for age people to vote, but he’s working hard the leadership, and I want to thank you to make it tougher to cheat. Half of the all for coming tonight. This is a magnificent Senators understand what he’s trying to do. crowd here to support the next United It seems like one out of the two Senators States Senator from Missouri, . from Missouri understand that. I appreciate Jim, and I appreciate the I want to thank the members from the congressional delegation here as well, Todd fact that he’s a family man. Like me, he Akin, , , Sam married above himself—[laughter]—so I Graves, . These are fine, appreciate Brenda. It’s an honor to meet fine Members of the United States Con- the three children today, and it’s an honor gress, and I’m proud to serve with them. to meet your mother, Brenda. I got a re- I want to thank all the members of the port from my homefront as well—I married Republican Party who are here. I particu- really well. [Laughter] Laura is doing great, larly want to thank the grassroots activists

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who man the phones and sign all the letters We share a philosophy about the role and get out the vote. I want to thank you of Government. The role of Government for your hard work in 2000. I want to thank is not to create wealth but an environment you for your hard work that you’re fixing in which the entrepreneur can flourish, an to do in 2002. environment in which the small-business I’m here to support as strongly as I pos- person can dream big and take risks and sibly can this good man to become the realize his or her dreams of owning your Senator—the next Senator from Missouri. own company in America. Jim understands And I do so for a reason, and it starts small business. with the quality of the individual. He is Today I was on the outskirts of the great a quality person who’s got the right values. city of St. Louis, where we had a chance He is a steady man, and he is an experi- to meet some small-business entrepreneurs, enced person who will bring good judg- where I laid out a way to make the tax ment to the . And let structure more conducive to entrepre- me cite some of his qualifications. neurial development. Jim Talent under- First, he has been in Washington before. stands that, and it’s important for Missouri He was there for 8 years in the House to have a voice for the small-business per- of Representatives, where he made a mark son in the Halls of the United States Sen- ate. of accomplishment. You know, in that town, He also understands good tax policy. If we’ve got some good talkers, and then you give people their own money to spend, we’ve got the doers. We’ve got some people that increases demand. And when there’s up there who like to hear themselves talk more demand, somebody meets that de- and others who actually get something mand through more production, and pro- done. And that’s the way Jim Talent is; duction means jobs. We cut the taxes on he knows how to get things done—things the American people at the exact right done not only for the good of Missouri, time, and Jim Talent understands that. to get things done for—the things of Mis- Some in Washington seem to forget whose souri, but to get things done positively in money we’re spending. They think it’s the a positive way for the country. Government’s money. What Talent under- I want the people of Missouri to remem- stands, like I understand, it’s the people’s ber he served on the Armed Services Com- money. mittee, and he stood up for a strong na- And one of the things we can’t afford tional defense when he was there. And ob- to do is to have people in Washington who viously, that was before we entered this don’t like the tax cut because it diminishes war. And thank goodness he did stand up the role of the Federal Government. I’ve for a strong national defense when he was heard some rumblings—and you might there, because it enabled us to have a mili- have heard them, too—that people say, tary capable of accomplishing the first mis- ‘‘Well, gosh, we’re in a recession; we prob- sion we sent them out to do, which was ably ought to not go through with the tax to destroy the Taliban. cuts,’’ which in effect is a tax raise. They’re He worked on historic welfare reform. reading the wrong economics textbook. You He worked to change a culture of depend- don’t raise taxes when the economy is slow; ency to one that recognized if you get a you trust the people with their own money job, if you find work, you can be inde- when the economy is slow. And that’s ex- pendent from Government. This welfare re- actly what we did in Washington, DC. And form law is an unqualified success, and I that’s exactly the attitude Jim Talent will want to thank you for your work on that, take when you send him up to represent Jim. Missouri in the United States Senate.

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And we need to do more when it comes we hold dear in America. And that is ex- to tax relief, starting with making sure that actly what we’re going to do. the death tax is permanent, that we say The enemy must have thought they were to the American people, you have the right hitting a society that was so soft, so self- to pass on your farm or your small business absorbed, so materialistic that we would sue to whoever you want to pass them on to, them. [Laughter] They didn’t understand without getting taxed twice by the Federal America. They didn’t understand our fiber. Government. Talent understands that, and They don’t understand our core. They don’t we need that kind of thinking in the United know what we’re made out of. At least, States Senate. they didn’t. Now they do. He also understands that this Nation I made it absolutely clear when we first needs an energy policy—an energy policy got going that if a country harbored a ter- on the one hand that encourages conserva- rorist or fed a terrorist or hid a terrorist, tion, that uses our technologies to make they were just as guilty as the murderers sure we remain productive but consume who hit us on September the 11th. And less, but on the other hand, that we better now the Taliban knows exactly what I find sources of energy at home in order meant. Thanks to a magnificent United to make us less dependent on foreign States military and a vast coalition, we have sources of crude oil. It is in our national routed the Taliban in Afghanistan. I’m security interests that we have a balanced proud of our military, and I’m proud of energy policy. And my, do we need his our country. We went into Afghanistan not vote in the United States right now when to seek revenge but justice, and we went it comes to making sure we have a bal- into that country not as conquerors but as anced energy policy. liberators. We have freed Afghan people And so these are some of the reasons from the clutches of one of the most bar- why you need to send him to the United baric, backward regimes history has ever States Senate: He’s accomplished; he’s a known. serious man; he’s a can-do fellow who’s got Later on this week, schools will reopen the experience to back it up; and I can’t in Afghanistan, and incredibly enough, for wait to work with him when he gets elected the first time, young girls get to go to this fall. school, thanks to the United States and our And not only do we have a big job at coalition. And so the other day, in Wash- home, we’ve obviously got a big job abroad ington, I declared that the first phase in as well. We’re fighting a war, and I want our war against terror had ended. We to share with you all some of my thoughts upheld the doctrine of a nation harboring about this war that we fight. a terrorist and the consequences we made First of all, you’ve got to know that we’re clear. fighting against a determined group of kill- But I want to tell you all, there is more ers. These are people who would rather to do. You see, there are still thousands die than surrender. These are people who of Al-Qaida-trained killers on the loose, and hate America. They hate our freedom. They we will treat them the way they are, which hate our freedom to worship. They hate is like international fugitives. We will deny our freedom to vote. They hate our free- them sanctuary. We will keep them on the dom of the press. They hate our freedom run. We’ll disrupt their finances. No matter to say what you want to say. They can’t how long it takes, we’re going to get them stand what we stand for. And therefore, and bring them to justice. There is no cave we have no choice but to hunt them down deep enough for the justice of the United one by one to defend the very freedom States of America.

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And therefore, I have submitted to the make no mistake, we’re doing everything a budget which we can to secure the homeland—but the makes our national security the number best way to secure the homeland is to bring one priority. I’ve asked for the largest de- the killers to justice, no matter where they fense increase—spending on defense since hide. We not only owe it to people who 20 years ago. And I expect Congress to live in America today; we owe it to future pass this budget, because they’ve got to generations of Americans. We owe it to understand, if we’re putting our young sol- children and our children’s children, so diers in harm’s way, they deserve the best they can grow up in a society that knows equipment, the best training, the best pay the freedom that we have loved, the free- possible. The price of freedom is high, but dom so dear to our heart. The world is as far as I’m concerned, it is never too looking at the United States of America high. to see whether or not we will blink. I want And so not only do I expect Congress to assure you all that we won’t blink, that to support our military and pass this budg- we’re going to remain diligent and firm in et; I expect them to do it early, rather our love, in our quest and our drive to than late. The history of the United States rid the world of terror. Congress is such that they hold back the And I believe—and I firmly believe that defense appropriations bill to the last when the United States leads, we have a minute. That’s bad policy. It’s bad policy chance to achieve long-lasting peace. I be- in times of peace, and it’s terrible policy lieve out of this evil will come some incred- in times of war. I expect and hope the ible good. I believe that by leading this first appropriation bill to my desk is to fund coalition in a firm way, that we will be the United States military. able to achieve peace in parts of the world There’s more to the war on terror than that never dreamt they would ever see one single individual or one single network. peace. I believe that. The nightmare scenario is for our Nation And not only that, I believe that out of to tire and weary and allow an Al Qaida this evil will come some incredible good organization or an Al-Qaida-type organiza- at home. I believe that the evil ones have tion to mate up with a nation which has unleashed the great compassion of America developed weapons of mass destruction, a at home. I’m oftentimes asked, ‘‘How do nation which has got a history of treating I help in the war against terror?’’ People her people poorly, a dictatorial nation. We all the time are asking here in America, cannot—we cannot—allow the world’s ‘‘What can I do?’’ And my answer is this: worst regimes to develop the world’s worst If you want to fight terror, love a neighbor weapons and therefore hold the United just like you’d like to be loved yourself. States and our allies hostage. We owe it If you want to stand up to terror and evil, to our children and our children’s children be a part of the great compassion of Amer- to be firm and to be tough and to say ica. Reach out to a fellow citizen in need; to those bullies and dictators, ‘‘We will not mentor a child; walk across the street and let you stand and get away with black- say to a shut-in, ‘‘I love you. What can mailing the world.’’ I do to help?’’ You see, it is the momen- Here’s the way I view it: History has tum, the gathering momentum of millions called us into action. History demands that of acts of kindness and decency which will this Nation honor our commitment to free- allow this great Nation to stand squarely dom and our love for freedom. We not in the face of evil, and there’s no doubt only owe it to the citizens who live in the in my mind that we can achieve that. United States today to make sure that our The great strength of America is not in homeland is as secure as possible—and our military—although that’s pretty good,

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pretty strong these days. [Laughter] It is its citizens and a responsibility to make sure not in the Government. It is in the hearts all the assets and liabilities are completely and souls of the American people. disclosed on one’s balance sheet. And so I call upon you all here in St. Now, we have a chance—we have a Louis, in the great State of Missouri, to chance, through the acts of kindness in our make an extra effort to help somebody in country, through the deep compassion that need. I’m passionate about the under- exists in our hearts, to change the culture standing that we must unleash faith in our of America. society, not a particular faith but faith to For me, probably the most defining help change hearts. And so one of the ini- event since September the 11th was on tiatives that I’m looking forward to working September the 11th, Flight 93. When with Jim on, and others here, is a faith- United States citizens on this flight talked based initiative that understands out of our to their loved ones on the ground and real- churches and synagogues and mosques ized what was taking place in the Nation’s come that compassionate help that will de- Capital, they said a prayer, they told their fine the face of America. And our Govern- wives they loved them, they said, ‘‘Let’s ment—we must not fear faith; we must roll,’’ and they sacrificed for something welcome faith as we deal with the intan- greater than themselves. Americans from all gible problems that confront every neigh- walks of life got to see the noble cause borhood in the country of America, the of serving something greater than yourself problems of hopelessness—the problems of in life. To me, the spirit on that airplane addiction and hopelessness. defined the possibilities of our country, and When we fight abroad, we must also man, what a great country it is. fight at home to make sure the American Not only will we win the war on terror promise extends its reach throughout every to secure the peace in the world; we will neighborhood in our society. And in this show the world that a diverse nation from country, we can achieve that. We’ve got all walks of life and all religions can be to understand, it’s not vast programs that compassionate and kind and hopeful for ev- save people’s lives; it is saving people’s lives eryone who’s lucky enough to be an Amer- one soul at a time that makes a difference ican citizen. in each of us. Each of us in America can I want to thank you all for coming and make that difference. for supporting Jim Talent. I’m confident I also believe, out of this incredible evil, he can win with your help. And I want that our culture is beginning to change to thank you all for coming tonight. It gives from one that has said, ‘‘If it feels good, me a chance to tell you how honored I just go ahead and do it,’’ and ‘‘If you’ve am to be the President of the greatest na- got a problem, blame somebody else,’’ to tion on the face of the Earth. a culture which says, ‘‘Each of us are re- May God bless you all. sponsible for the decisions we make in life.’’ That culture begins with moms and dads loving their children with all their heart NOTE: The President spoke at 6:28 p.m. in and all their soul. That culture begins by the America’s Ballroom at America’s Center. understanding that materialism is shallow In his remarks, he referred to William H.T. and empty and that to have a full life, ‘‘Bucky’’ Bush and Sam Fox, cochairs of the you’ve got to love your neighbor like you’d event, ‘‘A Missouri Salute to President like to be loved yourself. That’s a culture George W. Bush’’; Jim Talent’s wife, Brenda; that extends to corporate America as well. their children Michael, Kate, and Chrissy; Corporate America has a responsibility to and Brenda Talent’s mother, Katie Lyons.

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Remarks at the Summit on Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century March 19, 2002

Thank you all very much. Thank you for Not only do I want to thank you all for coming. Thank you very much. Gosh, being here, but I know we’ve got some thanks for the warm welcome. Elaine, folks who are watching via satellite from thanks for your kind words. I’m proud of Orlando. You might say hello to your the job you’re doing in my Cabinet. I ap- Governor down there for me. [Laughter] preciate your advice and counsel, I and ap- Tell him to keep listening to Mother. preciate the leadership you’ve shown at the [Laughter] U.S. Department of Labor. St. Louis, Missouri—we’ve got some I want to thank those who organized this folks tuned in in St. Louis. I just was there summit. I think it’s a very important sum- last night and had a great trip to St. Louis. mit. I think it’s important to advance the We’ve got some people from Little Rock, spirit of entrepreneurship and equality and Tim, who are watching, and from Bangor, opportunity for everybody who is fortunate Maine, as well. So welcome via satellite enough to be an American. I’m honored to this important conference, and thank you to be with you, and I’m glad you invited all for listening. me, because I believe small businesses are One of the things this summit recognizes really important to the future of our coun- is that there’s been a fundamental change try. in our economy. When it comes to entre- I know small businesses are the path to preneurship and job creation, ours is an success for many Americans, especially increasingly woman’s world. The truth of women, the newly arrived, minority Ameri- the matter is—and the reason why I say cans. Small businesses create jobs, and this that is, women-owned businesses are grow- is incredibly important for our economy at ing at twice the rate—2 times the rate of this time. Small businesses embody the all other United States firms. That’s a re- American values of hard work, risktaking, markable accomplishment for the United and independence. And so, today I want States of America. And the interesting to discuss with you a series of new policies other fact that I want to point out to people to encourage and reward the work of listening is that women firms now employ America’s small-business women and men. 7 million Americans. Before I do so, I want to thank some Small-business ownership is a great of the members of my team who are here. equalizer in America. The only connections Hector Barreto, who is the head of the you need are happy customers, a good busi- SBA, is with us today. And Hector, I want ness plan. The only credentials you need to thank you very much for coming. I un- are good products. The only values you derstand the Secretary of Treasury was need is to be willing to take risk and to here, Paul O’Neill. He probably went back work hard. For millions of minorities and to work. That’s a good sign. [Laughter] He women and new Americans, small busi- heard the boss was coming, so he headed nesses provide a great chance to succeed out of here—[laughter]—but I appreciate in America, a chance to realize your his leadership. Rosario Marin, who is the dreams. Treasurer of the United States, is here. For some women, a small business brings Thank you, Rosario. I see my friend from the satisfaction of success without having the State of Arkansas, Tim Hutchinson. to go through the frustrations of corporate Thank you for coming, Senator. I appre- life. I suspect there are a lot of women ciate you being here today. entrepreneurs in this room and around the

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