1








    O'CONNELL CENTER

    7:50 P.M.

    ANDREW CARD

    FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF

  STAFF







  >> GOOD EVENING.  MY NAME IS

  ANDREW BROWN.  IT IS WITH GREAT

  HONOR I INTRODUCE MYSELF AS

  ACCENT CHAIRMAN FOR THE 2006/2007

  ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.  WHILE

  SPARKING DEBATE AND EXPANDING THE

  MIND OF STUDENTS, ACCENT'S

  BROUGHT IN CONTROVERSIAL SPEAKERS

  AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOR

  OVER 40 YEARS, INCLUDING PAST

  PRESIDENTS, PRIME MINISTERS,

  POLITICIANS, MEDIA AND SPORTS

  LEGENDS, ACCENT'S GOAL IS TO

  ENGAGE THE STUDENT BODY OUTSIDE

  THE CLASSROOM TO FURTHER ENRICH

  THEM WITH KNOWLEDGE AND

  INFORMATION.  ACCENT HAS HAD AN









                            2








  EXCITING SEMESTER SO FAR, HOSTING

  CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, REVEREND

  AL SHARPTON AND WENDY AND DICK

  VITAE.  ALL OF THESE EVENTS AND

  MANY MORE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN

  POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE

  ACCENT STAFF.  EVERY VICE CHAIR,

  DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

  HAS WORKED HARD TO SERVE THE

  UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND I WOULD

  LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM ON

  BEHALF OF THE STUDENT BODY,

  GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY AND MYSELF.

  NONE OF THESE SHOWS WOULD BE

  POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU.

    [ APPLAUSE ]

  >> ACCENT'S SUCCESS IS FILLED BY

  STUDENT INTEREST AND SUPPORT AND

  WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR

  THOUGHTS OR ABOUT OUR

  ORGANIZATION IN GENERAL.  PLEASE

  TAKE TIME TO VISIT OUR FEEDBACK

  TABLE UNDER GATE ONE.  THOSE WHO

  DO SO WILL BE ENTERED INTO A

  RAFFLE.









                            3








    ACCENT'S SPEAKER IS DESIGNED

  TO INSPIRE THE PIVOTAL ELECTIONS

  LESS THAN A WEEK AGO AND TO

  INCREASE STUDENT VOTER TURNOUT

  AMONG THE STUDENT BODY AND GAME

  IN COMMUNITY BY INSPIRING AND

  EDUCATING.  MR. ANDREW CARD IS

  THE SECOND LONGEST SERVING WHITE

  HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF.  HE WAS

  APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF FOR

  PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH.  IT IS

  DURING HIS TIME FOR THE BUSH

  ADMINISTRATION HE BECAME

  WELL-KNOWN FOR WHISPERING IN THE

  PRESIDENT'S EAR TO NOTIFY HIM OF

  THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON

  SEPTEMBER 11TH.  HIS SERVICE

  RECORD INCLUDES SERVING IN THE

  ADMINISTRATION OF TWO FORMER

  PRESIDENTS ALONG WITH THE 11TH

  SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR

  GEORGE H. BUSH IN 1992.  LATER

  THAT YEAR, MR. CARD WAS DIRECTED

  TO COORDINATE THE DISASTER RELIEF

  EFFORTS FOR HURRICANE ANDREW AND









                            4








  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND

  BUSH ADMINISTRATION.  HE SERVED

  AS THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR

  PRESIDENT BUSH'S ADMINISTRATION

  AND MANAGED THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF

  DAILY AND PARTICIPATED IN

  ECONOMIC, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC

  POLICY.  IN THE POLITICAL ARENA,

  PRIOR TO BEING NAMED CHIEF OFF

  STAFF FOR MR. BUSH, MR. CARD

  SERVED IN THIS MASSACHUSETTS

  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM

  1975 TO 1983.  HE HAS ALSO BEEN

  NAMED LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR BY

  THE NATIONAL LEGISLATOR'S

  ASSOCIATION AND RECEIVED A

  DISTINGUISHED LEGISLATOR'S AWARD

  AS WELL.  HE ANNOUNCED HIS

  RESIGNATION IN MARCH 2006.  IT

  BECAME EFFECTIVE APRIL 2006, HE

  HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN "THE STATE

  OF DENIAL:  BUSH AT WAR, PART

  III."  HE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT

  THE UPCOMING MID-TERM ELECTION.

  THERE ARE TWO MICROPHONES









                            5








  AVAILABLE, ONE LOCATED ON THE

  FLOOR AND ONE UNDER GATE ONE.  IF

  YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE

  LINE UP AND ASK THEM.  WE ASK YOU

  KEEP ALL YOUR QUESTIONS SHORT AND

  CONCISE, ALLOWING FOR THE MOST

  NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED

  AND ANSWERED.  AS PER REQUEST OF

  MR. CARD, WE ASK NO FLASH

  PHOTOGRAPHY, MOTION VIDEO OR

  RECORDING TAKEN AFTER THE FIRST

  FIVE MINUTES OF THIS SPEECH.

  PLEASE TAKE THIS TIME TO TURN OFF

  ALL CELL PHONE AND ELECTRONIC

  DEVICES.  THANK YOU.  WITHOUT

  FURTHER ADIEU, ACCENT SPEAKERS

  BUREAU AND THE UNIVERSITY OF

  FLORIDA PROUDLY PRESENT

  MR. ANDREW CARD.  [ APPLAUSE ]

    >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  THIS

  IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE

  HERE.  I WILL ADMIT I AM A

  GAMECOCK.  I WENT TO THE

  UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.  I

  KNOW IN OPENING, THEY EAT









                            6








  CHICKENS.  IT'S A GREAT TRADITION

  TO BE AT A SCHOOL ACCENT IS A

  PART OF AND HONORED THEY INVITE

  ME TO PARTICIPATE WITH SOME OF

  YOU AND SHARE SOME OF MY

  THOUGHTS, MOST OF ALL, I HOPE WE

  HAVE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER

  YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOU APPRECIATE

  THE CANDOR OF MY ANSWERS.  ALMOST

  EXACTLY SIX YEARS AGO, TO THE

  DAY, I REALIZED I WAS BEING ASKED

  TO BE THE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF

  STAFF.

    BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT

  REALIZATION CAME IN FLORIDA.  IN

  TAMPA.  LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE

  THE ELECTIONS.  I DIDN'T REALIZE

  THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKING ME

  TO BE HIS CHIEF OF STAFF WHEN IT

  TURNS OUT HE WAS ASKING ME.  BUT

  IT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE

  INVITATION.  AND INTERESTINGLY,

  YOU DON'T APPLY TO BE THE

  PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF.  YOU

  DON'T SEND YOUR RESUME TO









                            7








  MONSTER.COM.

    SOMEONE FROM MASSACHUSETTS,

  WHERE MOST OF YOU WOULD HAVE NO

  CLUE WHAT I SAID, NORMALLY WOULD

  NOT FIT IN THE ORBIT OF A TEXAS

  GOVERNOR.  BUT I WAS INVITED TO

  BE HIS CHIEF OF STAFF.

    THOSE TIMES WERE NOT UNLIKE

  THE TIMES WE'RE EXPERIENCING

  TODAY.  YOU REMEMBER THAT

  ELECTION.  IT WAS A CONTENTIOUS

  ELECTIONS.  IT WAS A DISPUTED

  ELECTION, IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL

  AND IT WAS PARTISAN.

    IN FACT, EVERY ELECTION SINCE

  THAT ELECTION IN 2000 HAS BEEN

  DISPUTED AND CONTROVERSIAL AND,

  YES, PARTISAN.

    WE'RE ON THE EVE OF ANOTHER

  ELECTION.  AND IT WILL BE FILLED

  WITH CONTROVERSY.  IT WILL BE

  PARTISAN, BUT IT WILL ALSO BE A

  GREAT CELEBRATION.  I'D LIKE TO

  EXPERIENCE THE FRUIT OF THE LABOR

  OF OUR FOREFATHERS IN A UNIQUE









                            8








  WAY, FOLLOWING THAT CONTROVERSIAL

  ELECTIONS, IN THE YEAR 2000.

    AND IT DIDN'T HIT ME UNTIL A

  PRETTY EMOTIONAL MOMENT.  IT WAS

  A COLD RAINY, ALMOST SNOWY DAY IN

  WASHINGTON D.C.  AND I WOKE UP

  VERY EARLY, AND I HOPPED IN MY

  CAR, AND I DROVE TO THE BLAIR

  HOUSE, WHICH IS ON PENNSYLVANIA

  AVENUE, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET

  FROM AM THE WHITE HOUSE.  THE

  BLAIR HOUSE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN

  USED AS THE PRESIDENT'S HOME BY

  PRESIDENT TRUMAN.

    WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE BLAIR

  HOUSE, THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS WAS

  THERE, WITH HIS WIFE.

    AND AFTER GREETINGS, WE HOPPED

  INTO A LIMOUSINE, AND WERE DRIVEN

  ACROSS THE STREET TO 1600

  PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.

    AND WE WERE TAKEN IN, PAST THE

  BIG COLUMNS ON THE FRONT OF THE

  BUILDING, TO THE BLUE ROOM.

    AND WE HAD COFFEE AND DANISH









                            9








  AND A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION WITH

  THE PRESIDENT, AND WITH THE

  VICE PRESIDENT, AND SEVERAL

  MEMBERS OF THE CABINET.  AND THEN

  WE PILED INTO LIMOUSINES AND WE

  ALL DROVE TO CAPITOL HILL.

    AND PROMPTLY AT NOONTIME, THE

  CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME

  COURT, CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST,

  CALLED LAURA BUSH TO JOIN HIM,

  AND SHE CARRIED WITH HER A BIBLE.

    AND THEN THE FORMER GOVERNOR

  OF TEXAS WAS INVITED TO JOIN

  THEM.  HE PLACED HIS LEFT HAND ON

  THE BIBLE AND RAISED HIS RIGHT

  HAND, AND HE WAS ADMINISTERED AN

  OATH.  IT IS THE SHORTEST OATH

  TAKEN BY ANYONE WHO SERVES IN

  GOVERNMENT.  IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT

  IN OUR CONSTITUTION, RIGHT IN

  ARTICLE II.

    IT CALLS FOR THE PRESIDENT TO

  PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE

  CONSTITUTION.  THAT'S ALL IT

  SAYS.









                           10








    WHEN GEORGE W. BUSH TOOK THAT

  OATH, I DOUBT THAT HE GAVE MUCH

  THOUGHT TO IT

    I SUSPECT HIS THOUGHTS WERE

  REALLY CENTERED AROUND THAT

  INAUGURAL ADDRESS HE WOULD BE

  DELIVERING, A TRULY HISTORIC

  ADDRESS.  YOU SHOULD GO BACK AND

  READ IT, BECAUSE IT WAS VERY

  INSIGHTFUL.  IT TALKED ABOUT HOPE

  AND RESPONSIBILITY.  IT TALKED

  ABOUT DREAMS AND EXPECTATIONS.

  IT TALKED ABOUT CUTTING TAXES AND

  IT TALKED ABOUT EDUCATING EVERY

  CHILD.  IT TALKED ABOUT HOUSING.

  IT TALKED ABOUT AMERICA.

    AND AFTER THE INAUGURAL

  ADDRESS WAS FINISHED, THE NEW

  PRESIDENT PILED INTO A LIMOUSINE,

  AND WE ALL HEADED DOWN

  PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.  HE WAS

  LEADING A GREAT PARADE.

    IN THE STREETS, MOST EVERYONE

  WAS WAVING WITH ALL DIGITS.

  THERE WERE A FEW SINGLE DIGIT









                           11








  HELLOS.

    THEN THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST

  LADY GOT OUT OF THE LIMOUSINE, AS

  THEY WALKED THE LAST BLOCK AND A

  HALF OF THE PARADE, AND WENT TO A

  REVIEWING STAND OUTSIDE OF 1600

  PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.

    I REMEMBER, AS THE PRESIDENT

  CAME INTO THE REVIEWING STAND, A

  MAN ASKED THE PRESIDENT IF HE

  WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE

  HOLDING AREA AND WARMUP AND HAVE

  A CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE OR CUP OF

  COFFEE.  THE PRESIDENT SAID NO.

  EVERYONE MARCHING IN THIS PARADE

  IS PAYING RESPECT TO THE

  PRESIDENT AND THE PRESIDENT IS

  GOING TO PAY RESPECT TO THEM.

    SO HE STAYED RIGHT THERE AS

  EVERY SINGLE UNIT MARCHED BY IN

  THAT PARADE.  IT WAS A LONG

  PARADE.  BUT AS THE LAST UNIT

  WENT BY, MY CELL PHONE RANG, IT

  WAS ONE OF THOSE UNBELIEVABLE

  PHONE CALLS YOU NEVER EVER









                           12








  FORGET.  BUT THIS ONE CAME FROM A

  JANITOR.  A JANITOR IN THE WHITE

  HOUSE, WHO SAID, MR. CARD, WOULD

  YOU LIKE TO COME OVER TO THE WEST

  WING, TO SEE IF THE OVAL OFFICE

  IS READY FOR THE NEW PRESIDENT?

    WHAT A FABULOUS PHONE CALL TO

  GET.  MY WIFE, KATHY AND I LEFT

  THE REVIEWING STAND.  WE WENT IN

  THROUGH THE LOBBY OF THE WEST

  WING OF THE WHITE HOUSE.  THROUGH

  THE ROOSEVELT ROOM, AND THERE WAS

  THE OVAL OFFICE.  AND IT MIGHT

  HAVE BEEN COLD AND DARK AND

  UNINVITING OUTSIDE, BUT THAT NOOK

  WAS BRIGHT AND WARM AND INVITING.

    AND I WALKED IN.

    YOU COULD SMELL THE PAINT

  BECAUSE THEY PAINTED ALL OVER FOR

  THE NEW PRESIDENT.  THERE WAS A

  WORKMAN HOOKING UP THE

  PRESIDENT'S SECURE TELEPHONE ON

  THE DESK.

    SOMEONE ELSE WAS SETTING UP

  THE PRESIDENT'S PICTURES ON THE









                           13








  TABLE BEHIND ME.  I WENT OVER AND

  STOOD BESIDE THE GRANDFATHER'S

  CLOCK, COMPLETELY AMAZED.  I

  HEARD FOOTSTEPS OUT BY THE ROSE

  GARDEN ON THE COLONNADE.

    AND THE DOOR TO THE OVAL

  OFFICE OPENED UP, AND IN WALKED

  THE NEW PRESIDENT.  THE TRUTH IS,

  IT WAS A PRIVATE MOMENT AND I

  SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE.  I'D

  LIKE TO SAY I WANTED TO HIDE IN A

  CORNER BUT THERE ARE NO CORNERS

  IN THE OVAL OFFICE.  THE

  PRESIDENT TOOK TWO STEPS INTO THE

  OVAL OFFICE AND LOOKED UP AT THE

  SEALING.

    THERE IN THE CEILING WAS THE

  SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE

  UNITED STATES.  HE LOOKED AT THE

  FLOOR AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE

  RUG IS THE SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT

  OF THE UNITED STATES.  HE TURNED

  AROUND AND LOOKED AT THE DESK.

  IT'S A PHENOMENAL DESK, CALLED

  THE RESOLUTE DESK, NAMED AFTER A









                           14








  SHIP CALLED THE HMS RESOLUTE.  A

  BRITISH SHIP THAT HAD BEEN CAST

  ADRIFT IN THE ARCTIC.

    IT WAS FOUND BY SOME U.S.

  SAILORS, BROUGHT BACK TO THE

  UNITED STATES, TO CONNECTICUT,

  THE SHIP WAS COMPLETELY REFITTED,

  IT WAS PRESENTED BACK TO GREAT

  BRITAIN.

    THEN, WHEN THE SHIP WAS

  DECOMMISSIONED, QUEEN VICTORIA

  HAD THAT DESK CARVED WITH THE

  BEAMS AND SHIP AND PRESENTED IT

  TO PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.

  IT'S BEEN USED BY ALMOST EVERY

  PRESIDENT SINCE THEN, NOT EVERY

  PRESIDENT BUT ALMOST EVERY

  PRESIDENT.  IN FACT, THE MOST

  FAMOUS PICTURE TAKEN IN THE OVAL

  OFFICE IS OF JOHN KENNEDY,

  PEERING OUT THE DOOR -- JOHN

  KENNEDY, PEERING OUT THE DOOR AND

  THE FRONT OF THAT DESK.

    THE DESK WAS USED BY PRESIDENT

  KENNEDY.  IT WAS USED BY TEDDY









                           15








  ROOSEVELT.  IT WAS USED BY RONALD

  REAGAN.  IT WAS USED BY BILL

  CLINTON.  AND NOW, IT'S GOING TO

  BE USED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W.

  BUSH.

    AND CARVED ON THE FRONT OF

  THAT DESK, ON THE FRONT OF THAT

  DOOR, IS THE SEAL OF THE

  PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

    NOT A WORD WAS SPOKEN.  THE

  PRESIDENT WENT BEHIND THE DESK

  AND SAT DOWN.

    AND THEN WE HEARD FOOTSTEPS ON

  THE COLONNADE, RIGHT NEXT TO THE

  ROSE GARDEN.  THE DOOR TO THE

  OVAL OFFICE OPENED UP.  AND A

  GENTLEMAN WALKED IN AND SAID,

  MR. PRESIDENT!

    THE PRESIDENT LOOKED UP AND

  SAID, MR. PRESIDENT.

    IT WAS HIS FATHER.  THEY

  WALKED AND STOOD TOGETHER, RIGHT

  UNDER THE SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT,

  RIGHT ON TOP OF THE SEAL OF THE

  PRESIDENT, AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF









                           16








  THE SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT!  AND

  TEARS WERE IN THEIR EYES, I WILL

  ADMIT, TEARS WERE STREAMING DOWN

  MY CHEEKS.  IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT

  THEY HAD TREMENDOUS MUTUAL

  RESPECT.

    NOT JUST THE MUTUAL RESPECT OF

  A FATHER AND A SON, BUT MUTUAL

  RESPECT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE

  PRESIDENT.

    AS THE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF

  STAFF, I WAS IN A TRULY UNIQUE

  POSITION.  AND I GOT TO EXERCISE

  A PHENOMENAL PRIVILEGE ALMOST

  EVERY MORNING.  BECAUSE I WOULD

  BE THERE TO GREET THE PRESIDENT

  WHEN HE CAME TO WORK.  AND HE

  WOULD USUALLY GET THERE AT 6:45

  OR 7:00 IN THE MORNING.

    AND I REMEMBER LOCATING A BOX

  ON MY DESK, WOULD ANNOUNCE THE

  PRESIDENT WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE

  OVAL OFFICE.  I WOULD RUN AWAY

  FROM MY DESK AND BE THERE TO OPEN

  THE DOOR FROM THE ROSE GARDEN AND









                           17








  SAY, GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.

    AND EVERY TIME I DID THAT, I

  FOUND THE PRESIDENT ENTERING THE

  OVAL OFFICE THE SAME WAY HE DID

  THAT VERY FIRST TIME.  WITH

  TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR THE OFFICE

  OF THE PRESIDENT.

    YOU KNOW, IT WAS ANOTHER DAY

  THAT HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON ME,

  AND ON THE PRESIDENT.  AND UNLIKE

  THE COLD RAINY SNOWY DAY IN

  JANUARY OF 2001, THIS WAS A

  SPECTACULAR DAY, ALL ACROSS.  THE

  SUN WAS SHINING IN NEW YORK, THE

  SKY WAS CLEAR, AND THE PRESIDENT

  WOKE IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA.

    I HAD GOTTEN UP VERY EARLY

  THAT MORNING AND I WALKED

  OUTSIDE, AND THE SUN WAS JUST

  STARTING TO COME UP.  AND I

  ACTUALLY SAID TO THE PRESIDENT,

  IT'S GOING TO BE AN EASY DAY

  TODAY.  YOU'RE GOING TO A SCHOOL,

  TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, TO TALK

  ABOUT READING.  AND MENTORING.









                           18








  AND TEACHING.  PARENTAL

  RESPONSIBILITY.

    YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT

  LEAVING NO CHILD BEHIND.

    THEN WE WENT IN, AND WE HAD

  OUR CIA BRIEFING.  WE GOT READY

  FOR THE DAY, WE DROVE OVER TO THE

  SCHOOL.

    IN A CLASSROOM SET UP, AND THE

  STUDENTS WERE GATHERED, THERE WAS

  A HIGH SCHOOL GYM THAT WAS FILLED

  WITH PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

  AND JUST AS THE PRESIDENT WAS

  GETTING READY TO WALK INTO THAT

  CLASSROOM, WE WERE TOLD IT LOOKS

  LIKE A SMALL TWIN ENGINE PROP

  PLANE CRASHED INTO ONE OF THE

  TOWERS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER

  IN NEW YORK CITY.

    THE REACTION WAS, WHAT A

  HORRIBLE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT MUST

  HAVE HAD A HEART ATTACK OR

  SOMETHING.

    THE PRESIDENT OPENED THE DOOR

  AND WENT INTO THE CLASSROOM.









                           19








  WHEN THE DOOR SHUT, I WAS TOLD,

  IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS NOT A SMALL

  TWIN ENGINE PROP PLANE, BUT IN

  FACT A COMMERCIAL JETLINER.

    I ADMIT, THE IMMEDIATE THOUGHT

  THAT I HAD WAS OF THE FEAR THAT

  MUST HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THE

  PASSENGERS ON THAT PLANE.  AND

  THEN I WAS TOLD, OH, MY GOSH,

  ANOTHER PLANE HAS HIT THE OTHER

  TOWER AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

    I STOOD AT THAT DOOR AND

  PERFORMED A TEST THAT A CHIEF OF

  STAFF ALWAYS HAS TO PERFORM.

    DOES THE PRESIDENT NEED TO

  KNOW?

    THE ANSWER WAS OBVIOUS.  HOW

  DO I TELL HIM?  AND WHAT DO I

  SAY?

    I DECIDED THAT I WOULD PASS ON

  TWO FACTS, AND MAKE ONE EDITORIAL

  COMMENT.  AND THAT I WOULD NOT BE

  IN A POSITION TO ENTER INTO A

  DISCUSSION WITH THE PRESIDENT, OR

  TAKE A QUESTION.









                           20








    I OPENED THE DOOR TO THE

  CLASSROOM.  AND I LOOKED UP, AND

  THERE WAS A REPORTER LOOKING AT

  ME, ANN COMPTON, FROM ABC.  AND

  SHE MOUTHED TO ME, WHAT'S UP?

    AND I RESPONDED, INDICATING.

    AND SHE SAID, WHAT?

    AND THEN THERE WAS A BREAK IN

  THE CONVERSATION IN THE

  CLASSROOM.  AND I WALKED UP TO

  THE PRESIDENT AND I BENT OVER,

  AND I WHISPERED INTO HIS RIGHT

  EAR, A SECOND PLANE HIT THE

  SECOND TOWER.  AMERICA IS UNDER

  ATTACK.

    I THEN STOOD BACK FROM THE

  PRESIDENT, SO HE COULDN'T ASK ME

  A QUESTION.  AND I WAS MIGHTILY

  IMPRESSED WITH HOW THE PRESIDENT

  REACTED.

    HE DID NOTHING TO INTRODUCE

  FEAR INTO THOSE VERY YOUNG

  ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.  HE

  DID NOTHING TO DEMONSTRATE FEAR

  TO THE LENS OF THE MEDIA, TO THE









                           21








  SATISFACTION OF THE TERRORISTS

  THAT PERFORMED THE HORRIBLE ACT.

    AND WHEN IT WAS APPROPRIATE,

  THE PRESIDENT EXCUSED HIMSELF

  FROM THE CLASSROOM, AND I WATCHED

  AS THE PRESIDENT MET THE

  RESPONSIBILITIES OF HIS OATH, TO

  PROTECT US.

    IT WAS A MOMENT THAT NOBODY

  WANTED TO HAVE.  THE PRESIDENT

  CERTAINLY DIDN'T RELISH THE

  RESPONSIBILITY.  BUT HE MET IT.

    AND I WATCHED AS THE PRESIDENT

  TOOK NOT ONLY THE ROLE AS

  PRESIDENT, BUT ALSO AS COMMANDER

  IN CHIEF.

    AFTER INFORMING THE PEOPLE WHO

  HAD GATHERED IN THAT HIGH SCHOOL

  GYM, AND THEN BEING WHISKED TO

  AIR FORCE 1, WE LEARNED MORE

  ABOUT A SECOND ATTACK AND OTHER

  PENDING THREATS.

    WE FOUND SAFE HAVEN ON AIR

  FORCE 1.  WE TOOK OFF VERY

  QUICKLY AND CLIMBED VERY HIGH IN









                           22








  THE SKY.  AND BEGAN A SERPENTINE

  ROUTE TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO

  LAND.

    AND THE PRESIDENT WAS ALWAYS

  ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO WASHINGTON

  D.C.  BUT THE SECRET SERVICE DID

  NOT WANT HIM TO GO THERE, WITH

  OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE

  OF THE ATTACKS.

    AND I COUNSELED THE PRESIDENT

  THAT HE COULDN'T GO THERE UNTIL

  WE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

    WE LANDED AT AN AIR FORCE BASE

  IN LOUISIANA.  AND TOOK SOME

  PEOPLE OFF THE PLANE, RECORDED A

  MESSAGE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

    THEN WE PILED ON TO AIR FORCE

  1 WITH A SMALLER NUMBER OF

  PEOPLE.  AND WE FLEW TO THE AIR

  FORCE BASE IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

  AND WENT TO A ROOM THAT I ONLY

  SAW REPLICATED IN MOVIES.  WHERE

  GENERALS AND ADMIRALS GATHERED IN

  STADIUM SEATING, WITH GIANT

  SCREENS, SHOWING FLIGHT PATHS OF









                           23








  EVERY PLANE IN THE SKY.

    AND WE HEARD, AS THEY WERE

  ADDRESSING THE THREAT, THE

  PRESIDENT AND HIS COMMANDER IN

  CHIEF TOLD THEM TO KEEP WORKING.

    AND THEN WE WENT TO ANOTHER

  ROOM AND THE PRESIDENT

  PARTICIPATED IN A SECURE VIDEO

  CONFERENCE WITH HIS NATIONAL

  SECURITY TEAM.

    IT WAS IN A SECURE LOCATION

  BACK IN WASHINGTON D.C.

    AFTER THE MEETING, WITH THE

  PRESIDENT CHOMPING AT THE BIT, TO

  GET BACK TO WASHINGTON, WE PILED

  INTO AIR FORCE 1, AND WENT BACK

  TO THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

    THAT WAS A PRETTY EVENTFUL

  DAY, A DAY WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET

  BUT WE ARE ALL PREDISPOSED TO

  WANT TO FORGET IT.  I SUPPOSE

  IT'S GOOD WE WANT TO FORGET THOSE

  KINDS OF PAINS.

    IF WE DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET

  THOSE KINDS OF PAINS, MOST OF US









                           24








  WOULDN'T HAVE BROTHERS OR SISTERS

  BECAUSE OUR MOTHERS WOULDN'T HAVE

  SECOND CHILDREN.

    BUT WE CAN'T FORGET.  BUT

  DESPITE THAT DAY BEING SO

  IMPORTANT, IT WAS NOT MY MOST

  MEMORABLE DAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

    MY MOST MEMORABLE DAY HAPPENED

  ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2001.

    I WOKE VERY EARLY IN THE

  MORNING, SOMETHING THE CHIEF OF

  STAFF HAS TO DO, WHETHER HE LIKES

  IT OR NOT, AT ABOUT 4:20.

    I WAS AT MY DESK BY 5:30 IN

  THE MORNING, AND I WAS PILING

  THROUGH THE WORK THAT THE CIA HAD

  PROVIDED, THE ECONOMIC ADVISOR,

  DOMESTIC ADVISOR, FOREIGN POLICY

  ADVISOR, TRIED TO SKIM THE

  NEWSPAPERS.  WHEN THAT LOCATOR

  BOX ON MY DESK STARTED TO FLASH,

  BUT IT WAS A LITTLE EARLIER THAN

  NORMAL.  THAT MEANT THE PRESIDENT

  WAS ON HIS WAY.

    SO I RUSHED DOWN TO THE OVAL









                           25








  OFFICE, AND I COULD BARELY GET ON

  IT OF MY MOUTH, GOOD MORNING,

  MR. PRESIDENT, WHEN THE PRESIDENT

  STARTED TO DO WHAT I USED TO DO

  TO HIM.  I USED TO TELL HIM WHAT

  HIS DAY WAS GOING TO BE LIKE.  HE

  TOLD ME WHAT HIS DAY WAS GOING TO

  BE LIKE.

    AND HE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT

  REQUEST.  SOMETHING THAT HAD

  PROBABLY NOT BEEN MADE OF A CHIEF

  OF STAFF SINCE THE ERA OF

  WATERGATE.

    HE TOLD ME HE WANTED TO SEE

  THE FBI DIRECTOR.  AND GET A

  BRIEFING ON WHAT WAS BEING DONE

  TO PROTECT AMERICA.

    THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A VERY

  BIG DEAL, BUT THOSE OF US WHO

  WERE STUDENTS OF WATERGATE

  UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS.  BECAUSE

  THE FBI DIRECTORS DIDN'T COME TO

  THE OVAL OFFICE VERY OFTEN.

    I RUSHED OUT AND CALLED RIGHT

  OVER TO THE FBI DIRECTOR, TO THE









                           26








  JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.  AND ASKED

  THAT THE FBI DIRECTOR COME OVER

  TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND BE THERE

  TO FOLLOW UP WITH A CIA BRIEFING

  THE PRESIDENT WOULD BE GETTING

  THAT MORNING.

    I WENT TO THE SENIOR STAFF

  MEETING AT 7:30, AT TWO MINUTES

  OF 8:00, JUMPED UP, WENT TO THE

  OVAL OFFICE AND SAT THERE AS THE

  PRESIDENT RECEIVED A BRIEFING

  FROM THE CIA BRIEFER.  THE

  VICE PRESIDENT WAS THERE, THE

  NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR.

    THAT WAS NORMAL HAPPENING.

  BUT THEN AT 8:20, THE DOOR TO THE

  OVAL OFFICE OPENED UP AND IN

  WALKED THE FBI DIRECTOR.

    HE SAT DOWN, WITH HIS BRIEFER,

  HE STARTED TO GIVE A BRIEFING AS

  TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER

  11TH.  IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE

  BUILDING A CASE FOR PROSECUTION,

  WHICH WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

    BUT THE PRESIDENT INTERRUPTED









                           27








  THE BRIEFING.  AND SAID, THAT'S

  REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT I WANT TO

  KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO PREVENT

  THE NEXT ATTACK.

    THE FBI DIRECTOR SAID, WE'LL

  HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU.

    THE MEETING ENDED.  AND IT WAS

  A REMARKABLE MEETING, BECAUSE

  BUREAUCRACY WAS CHANGED.  THAT'S

  HARD FOR EVEN THE PRESIDENT TO

  DO.  THE MISSION OF THE FBI HAD A

  NEW TOP PRIORITY, PREVENTING THE

  NEXT ATTACK.  IF THE DAY HAD

  ENDED RIGHT THEN, IT WOULD HAVE

  BEEN A PRETTY REMARKABLE DAY.  IT

  WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY.

    THE PRESIDENT WAS GETTING

  READY TO GO INTO A CABINET

  MEETING.

    JUST AS HE WAS WALKING OUT OF

  THE OVAL OFFICE TO HEAD TO THE

  CABINET ROOM, HE SAID TO ME, I

  WANT TO CONVENE THE WAR COUNCIL

  AT CAMP DAVID ON SATURDAY.

    THE WAR COUNCIL.  WOW!









                           28








    IF THE DAY HAD ENDED RIGHT

  THEN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY

  DIFFERENT.  THE COMMANDER IN

  CHIEF, CONVENING THE WAR COUNCIL.

    HE WENT INTO THE CABINET ROOM.

  THE CABINET WAS ALL GATHERED, WE

  TOOK OUR SEATS.  WE BEGAN THE WAY

  WE BEGIN EVERY CABINET MEETING,

  WITH A PRAYER.

    THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFERED

  THE PRAYER.

    THEN THE PRESIDENT TURNED TO

  THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR REPORT

  AND THEN TO THE SECRETARY OF

  DEFENSE.

    BUT THEN THE PRESIDENT SPOKE.

  HE TOLD US, WE WERE AT WAR.

    HE SAID, WHILE WE'RE AT WAR,

  THE GOVERNMENT HAS A JOB TO DO.

  AND HE ADDRESSED LITERALLY EACH

  MEMBER OF THE CABINET AND

  REMINDED THEM OF THEIR

  RESPONSIBILITY.

    HE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

  HE TALKED ABOUT JOBS.  HE TALKED









                           29








  ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, HE TALKED

  ABOUT HOUSING.  HE TALKED ABOUT

  GETTING RID OF DRUGS.  HE TALKED

  ABOUT TRADE.  HE TALKED ABOUT

  EDUCATION.  HE TALKED ABOUT

  HEALTH CARE.  HE TALKED ABOUT

  SECURITY.  HE TALKED ABOUT HOPES

  AND DREAMS AND RESPONSIBILITY.

    IT WAS A TOUR OF FORCE, WHERE

  HE ADDRESSED LITERALLY EVERY

  MEMBER OF THE CABINET.  HE SAID

  THEY HAD A JOB TO DO BECAUSE WE

  HAVE A JOB TO DO OF GOVERNING.

  WE COULD GOVERN AT THE SAME TIME

  WE HAD TO FIGHT A WAR.

    IF THE DAY ENDED RIGHT THEN,

  IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY

  PHENOMENAL.  BUT IT DIDN'T.

    WE PILED INTO LIMOUSINES.  THE

  CABINET LEFT FIRST.  AND THEN THE

  PRESIDENT'S MOTORCADE WAS THE

  LAST ONE TO LEAVE THE WHITE

  HOUSE.

    WE HEADED TO A MIGHTY

  IMPRESSIVE BUILDING IN WASHINGTON









                           30








  D.C.   IT LOOMS OVER ALL OF THE

  OTHER BUILDINGS.  IT'S CALLED THE

  NATIONAL CONVENE ROOM.  IT'S HUGE

  STRUCTURE.  AND EVERY SINGLE SEAT

  WAS TAKEN.

    THERE WERE GOVERNORS, MEMBERS

  OF CONGRESS AND SENATORS.  THERE

  WERE DIPLOMATS.  THERE WERE

  DOCTORS AND NURSES AND SCHOOL

  TEACHERS.  THERE WERE

  REPRESENTATIVES OF EVERY CLERGY

  IN AMERICA.

    WE SAID PRAYERS.  WE SANG

  HYMNS.  WE HEARD MESSAGES OF

  HOPE.  WE HEARD A GREAT SERMON

  FROM THE REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM.

    THEN THE PRESIDENT SPOKE.  AND

  HE REMINDED US OF A HIGHER

  RESPONSIBILITY.

    AND HE PRAYED FOR OUR NATION,

  AND HE PRAYED FOR THE WORLD.  AND

  WE SAID A PRAYER.  AND THEN WE

  SANG A HYMN.

    THE MESSAGE WAS NOT JUST FOR

  THE PEOPLE IN THE NATIONAL









                           31








  CATHEDRAL, IT WASN'T JUST FOR THE

  PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON D.C., IT

  WASN'T JUST FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE

  UNITED STATES.  IT WAS FOR THE

  PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.

    AND IF THE DAY HAD ENDED RIGHT

  THEN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY

  REMARKABLE.  THAT WASN'T THE END

  OF THE DAY.

    WE DROVE TO ANDREWS AIR FORCE

  BASE.  AND THERE WAS THIS

  BEAUTIFUL 747.  WITH THE WORDS

  "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"

  PAINTED ON THE FUSELAGE.  AND THE

  SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE

  UNITED STATES.

    THE PRESIDENT CLIMBED THE

  STEPS, AND IT BECAME AIR FORCE 1.

    WE RUMBLED DOWN THE RUNWAY,

  AND WE TOOK OFF AND FLEW TO NEW

  JERSEY.

    AND GOT OFF THE PLANE, AND

  WERE MET BY THE GOVERNOR OF

  NEW YORK.  AND THE MAYOR OF NEW

  YORK CITY.









                           32








    THEN WE GOT ON A HELICOPTER.

  AND IT BECAME MARINE 1, AS SOON

  AS THE PRESIDENT GOT ON IT.

    WE TOOK OFF, AND WE FLEW OVER

  THE STATUTE OF LIBERTY.  AND THE

  TORCH WAS GLEAMING.

    BUT THEN WE APPROACHED THE TIP

  OF MANHATTAN.  AND THERE WAS A

  DARK HOLE.  AND SMOKE WAS

  BILLOWING OUT OF THAT HOLE.  AND

  AROUND THE EDGE, YOU COULD SEE

  THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.  WE CIRCLED

  THEM TWICE AND NO ONE SAID A

  WORD.

    THEN THE HELICOPTER LANDED,

  NOT TOO FAR FROM WALL STREET.

    WE GOT INTO LIMOUSINES.  WE

  DROVE THROUGH THE STREETS OF

  NEW YORK.  AND AS WE APPROACHED

  WHAT WE NOW CALL "GROUND ZERO,"

  THE STREETS WERE LINED FIVE OR

  SIX OR TEN DEEP.  THE PRESIDENT

  SAID TO THE SECRET SERVICE HE

  WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE

  LIMOUSINE AND GO TO THE POLICE









                           33








  LINE.

    NO ONE HAD GONE THROUGH A

  MAGNETOMETER, NO ONE HAD HAD

  THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS RAN

  THROUGH THE COMPUTER.  I'M SURE

  THE SECRET SERVICE WASN'T

  COMFORTABLE.  THE PRESIDENT GOT

  OUT.

    AND HE WAS MET WITH CHEERS.

  AND TEARS.  RESOLVE.  THESE WERE

  THE RESCUERS.  AND AS HE WORKED

  HIS WAY TO THE EDGE OF THAT HOLE

  THAT WE CALL "GROUND ZERO," HE

  CLIMBED UP ON WHAT WAS A CRUSHED

  FIRE ENGINE.

    AND HE STOOD NEXT TO

  FIREFIGHTER.  AND THE CROWD WAS

  CHANTING USA, USA!

    I REMEMBER LOOKING TO MY LEFT,

  AND I SAW SOME PEOPLE HANGING OFF

  OF SCAFFOLDING, YELLING USA USA,

  BUT THEY HAD JAPANESE FLAGS ON

  THEIR UNIFORMS.  THERE WERE

  WORKERS WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE

  DOGS AND THOSE WORKERS WERE









                           34








  CHANTING USA, USA!

    THEY HAD CANADIAN FLAGS ON

  THEIR UNIFORMS.

    AND SOMEONE YELLED OUT, "CAN

  YOU HEAR US"?     "CAN YOU HEAR

  US? "

    THE PRESIDENT SAID, "I CAN

  HEAR YOU."

    "THE WHOLE WORLD HEARS YOU."

    IF THE DAY ENDED RIGHT THEN,

  IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PRETTY

  REMARKABLE DAY, BUT IT DIDN'T.

    WE GOT IN THE LIMOUSINE AND

  DROVE TO WHAT IS THE JACOB JAVINE

  CENTER, A HUGE CONVENTION

  FACILITY, PROBABLY 50 TIMES THE

  SIZE OF THIS BUILDING.

    WHEN THE LIMOUSINE DROVE INTO

  THE BUILDING, THERE WERE THESE

  STALLS OF PEOPLE, AND THEY WERE

  ALL VOLUNTEERS AND RESCUE

  WORKERS, FROM EVERY STATE IN THE

  UNION, AND SOME 38 COUNTRIES

  AROUND THE GLOBE.

    AND THEY WERE THE NEXT GROUP









                           35








  TO GO WORK ON THE RESCUE EFFORT

  AND GROUND ZERO.

    THE PRESIDENT WENT TO EVERY

  SINGLE UNIT AND THANKED THEM FOR

  BEING HERE.

    AND IF THE DAY HAD ENDED RIGHT

  THEN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY

  REMARKABLE, BUT IT DIDN'T.

    WE WERE ASKED TO PILE INTO THE

  CARS AND DRIVE TO ANOTHER PART OF

  THE BUILDING.

    WHEN THE DOOR TO THE LIMOUSINE

  OPENED UP, THE PRESIDENT GOT OUT.

  THE ADVANCE MAN SAID,

  MR. PRESIDENT, IN THIS NEXT AREA,

  BEHIND BLUE PIPE AND DRAPE, HE

  SAID THEY HAD A MICROPHONE SET UP

  AND THOUGHT THE PRESIDENT WOULD

  GO IN THERE AND SPEND ABOUT 20 TO

  30 MINUTES AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE

  GATHERED THERE.

    THEY WERE THE FAMILIES OF THE

  POLICEMEN AND FIREMEN THAT WERE

  STILL MISSING DOWN AT GROUND

  ZERO.









                           36








    THE PRESIDENT SAID, I'M NOT

  GOING TO THE MICROPHONE AND HE

  JUST WALKED INTO THE ROOM.

    NORMALLY, WHEN THE PRESIDENT

  WALKS INTO THE ROOM, PEOPLE COME

  TO HIM.  THAT'S NOT WHAT

  HAPPENED.

    THE PRESIDENT WENT TO EACH AND

  EVERY ONE OF THEM.  THERE WERE

  PRAYERS.  AND THERE WAS

  TREMENDOUS HOPE AND OPTIMISM.

  THERE WAS GREAT FAITH.  THERE

  WERE TEARS, THERE WAS FEAR.

    THERE WAS SOME LAUGHTER.

  THERE WERE LOTS OF HUGS.  THERE

  WAS LOTS OF SILENCE.

    I REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT BEING

  HANDED A BADGE, A BADGE FROM 1012

    .  AND HE SAID HE WOULD NEVER

  FORGET IT.  BADGE NUMBER 1012.

    AND THE PLEA WAS NOT TO FORGET

  IT.

    THE PRESIDENT SAID THERE ABOUT

  AN HOUR AND 40 MINUTES.  THERE I

  WANT ONE PERSON THAT HE DIDN'T









                           37








  TOUCH OR SHARE A PRAYER WITH, OR

  A HUG OR A TEAR.

    AND WHEN HE GOT IN THE

  LIMOUSINE, HE DIDN'T SAY

  ANYTHING.

    WE DROVE TO THE HELICOPTER

  LANDING PAD AND WE GOT ON MARINE

  1.

    THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T SAY

  ANYTHING.  WE GOT OFF THE

  HELICOPTER AND WE GOT ON A VERY

  SMALL JET.  IT BECAME AIR FORCE 1

  AS SOON AS THE PRESIDENT GOT ON

  IT.

    WE TOOK OFF AT HABERSTOWN,

  MARYLAND, NOT TOO FAR FROM CAMP

  DAVID.

    ON THE PLANE WAS A PILOT AND

  CO-PILOT, A COMMUNICATIONS

  OFFICER, STEWARD, DOCTOR, NURSE,

  EVER PRESIDENT MILITARY AIDE AND

  COUPLE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS, AND

  ME.

    I SAT RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE

  PRESIDENT.  AND I SAID TO MYSELF,









                           38








  HE'S EXHAUSTED.  HE WAS

  PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED.  HE WAS

  MENTALLY EXHAUSTED.  HE WAS

  EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED.  HE WAS

  SPIRITUALLY EXHAUSTED.

    I SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, THANK

  YOU VERY MUCH.  YOU WERE A GREAT

  PRESIDENT TODAY.  YOU DID

  EVERYTHING A PRESIDENT COULD

  POSSIBLY BE EXPECTED TO DO.  YOU

  CHANGED THE BUREAUCRACY AND GAVE

  THE FBI A NEW MISSION.

    AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, YOU

  CONVENED THE WAR COUNCIL.

    AS THE HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE

  BRANCH, YOU CHALLENGED THE

  GOVERNMENT TO DO ITS JOB IN EVERY

  ASPECT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

    YOU PRAYED FOR PEOPLE AND THE

  NATION.  AND FOR HUMANITY.

    YOU RALLIED THE RESCUE

  WORKERS.  AND YOU COMFORTED THE

  VICTIMS.

    AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND ALL HE

  SAID WAS, THANK YOU.









                           39








    NOW, I KNOW THERE IS GREAT

  CONTROVERSY ABOUT ANY ELECTED

  OFFICIAL.  AND THAT THIS TIME OF

  PARTISANSHIP, IT'S KIND OF GONE

  TO PRACTICE PARTISANSHIP.  THAT

  IS ONE OF THE GREAT GIVES OUR

  FOREFATHERS GAVE US.

  INTERESTINGLY, THEY DIDN'T GIVE

  US A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM.  WE FOUND

  IT ON OUR OWN.

    BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK

  ABOUT THE PRESIDENT AS HI REALLY

  IS.  NOT GEORGE BUSH, AS SOMEONE

  WHO IS PERSONIFIED IN OUR

  CONSTITUTION.  YOU SEE, THAT

  GREAT DOCUMENT WE CALL A

  CONSTITUTION HAS THREE PARTS TO

  IT



    ARTICLE I, THAT'S ALL OF US.

  IT'S OUR GOVERNMENT!  AND ARTICLE

  I TELLS US IT'S OUR GOVERNMENT.

    WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES IN

  THAT GOVERNMENT, AND THEY'RE

  CALLED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, OR









                           40








  UNITED STATES SENATORS.

    AND ARTICLE 3, THAT'S THE FOX

  WHO KEEP US OBJECTIVE, AND DON'T

  GET -- THAT'S THE FOLKS WHO KEEP

  US OBJECTIVE AND DON'T GET LOST

  IN THE EMOTION OF THE MOMENT OR

  THE POLITICS OF OPPORTUNITY.

    THAT'S THE JUDICIARY.

    BUT IT'S ARTICLE II, THAT

  TAKES THE FORM OF ONE PERSON.

  NOT 300 MILLION, NOT 7 OR 9, OR 6

  OR 3, DEPENDING ON WHICH COURT

  YOU LOOK AT, ONE PERSON.  I GOT

  TO WORK FOR THE PERSONIFICATION

  OF OUR CONSTITUTION.  AND THE

  BURDEN THAT THE PRESIDENT

  CARRIES, ANY PRESIDENT, LIBERAL,

  OR CONSERVATIVE, REPUBLICAN OR

  DEMOCRAT, WIG FEDERAL LIST, HAS

  THE SAME OBLIGATION, TO PRESERVE,

  PROTECT AND DEFEND THE

  CONSTITUTION.

    AND IT PROBABLY WAS ABRAHAM

  LINCOLN WHO HAD THE TOUGHEST JOB,

  BUT GEORGE W. BUSH HAS NOT HAD AN









                           41








  EASY ONE.



    I GOT TO WATCH THE PRESIDENT.

  I CAME TO RESPECT THE PRESIDENT,

  BECAUSE I WATCHED HIM IN HIS

  RESPONSIBILITIES.  WHEN I SAY THE

  PRESIDENT DOESN'T MAKE AN EASY

  DECISION, OH, HOW HE WOULD LIKE

  TO.  BUT AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF'S

  JOB TO KEEP EASY DECISIONS AWAY

  FROM HIM.  SO HE HAS THE TIME TO

  BE PREPARED TO MAKE THE TOUGHEST

  DECISIONS.

    THERE IS NO TOUGHER DECISION

  THAN THE ONE THAT CENTERS AROUND

  THAT OBLIGATION.  BUT THE

  PRESIDENT HAD TO ACCEPT, FOR US,

  ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, OF 2001.

    BUT THAT DECISION THAT THE

  PRESIDENT ACCEPTS, CANNOT BE

  ADDRESSED BY THE PRESIDENT ALONE.

  OH, HOW HE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE

  TO KEEP THAT OATH ALL BY HIMSELF.

    OH, HOW HE WOULD LIKE TO

  PROTECT US ALL BY HIMSELF.









                           42








    BUT HE CAN'T.  HE NEEDS HELP.

  THE GREATEST BURDEN COMES FROM

  THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOLUNTEERS.

  AND MOST OF THEM ARE YOUNG.

  THEY'RE YOUR AGE.

    THEY'RE 18, 19, 20, 21 YEARS

  OLD.  AND THEY RAISED THEIR HAND

  AND THEY TAKEN A OATH TO PROTECT

  AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF

  THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL

  ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

    BUT THEN THEY TAKE ANOTHER

  OATH.  IT'S MUCH LONGER OATH.

  IT'S AN OATH THAT CALLS FOR THEM

  TO FOLLOW THE COMMAND OF THE

  COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

    IT'S THAT OATH THAT PUTS THE

  BURNED ON THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

    INTERESTINGLY, THE PRESIDENT'S

  OATH, DOES NOT HAVE A CONDITIONAL

  CLAUSE TO IT.

    THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T HAVE THE

  LUXURY OF KEEPING THE OATH, IF,

  IF THE WIND IS BLOWING IN THE

  RIGHT DIRECTION, IF THE POLITICS









                           43








  IS RIGHT, IF THE U.N. GIVES

  PERMISSION, IF THE FRENCH ARE ON

  YOUR SIDE, IT'S UNCONDITIONAL.

    THE OATH THAT THE YOUNG MEN

  AND WOMEN WHO PUT ON THOSE ARMY

  UNIFORMS OR THE NAVY UNIFORMS OR

  MARINE UNIFORMS OR COAST GUARD

  UNIFORMS OR AIR FORCE UNIFORMS,

  THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ALSO TAKEN A

  UNCONDITIONAL OATH.

    AND THAT'S THE GREAT BURDEN

  THE PRESIDENT CARRIES.

    I'VE BEEN WITH THE PRESIDENT

  IN THE MOST PRIVATE OF SETTINGS.

  AS HE WEIGHS THE COUNSEL AND

  ADVICE HE GETS, BUT KNOWS THAT

  THE DECISION IS HIS.  IT'S NOT A

  COLLECTIVE DECISION, IT'S A

  PERSONAL DECISION.

    I'VE WATCHED THE DISCIPLINE HE

  BRINGS TO THE JOB, THE DISCIPLINE

  OF FAITH, THE DISCIPLINE OF LOVE.

  TO LAURA AND JENNA AND FOR US.

    THE DISCIPLINE OF HAVING DONE

  HIS HOMEWORK.  AND READ THE









                           44








  BRIEFING PAPERS, AND SOUGHT THE

  ADVICE AND COUNSEL, AND WEIGHED

  THE OPTIONS.

    I'VE WATCHED, AS HE'S

  EXERCISED THE DISCIPLINE OF

  MAKING THE TOUGH DECISIONS.

  BECAUSE TIME CANNOT MAKE A

  PRESIDENTIAL DECISION.  A

  PRESIDENT MUST.

    AND THAT'S A TOUGH THING TO

  WATCH.  AND BEING THE PRESIDENT

  IS A VERY, VERY LONELY JOB.  VERY

  LONELY.

    BUT THE TOUGHEST PART ABOUT

  THE JOB IS WHEN THE PRESIDENT

  WALKS INTO A HOSPITAL ROOM AT

  WALTER REED HOSPITAL OR

  SAN ANTONIO BURN CENTER OR

  BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL.  THERE'S

  NO PRESS THERE.  THE STAFF IS

  NEARLY ABSENT.

    A SOLDIER GOES TO STAND FOR

  THE PRESIDENT, BUT HE DOESN'T

  HAVE ANY LEGS











                           45








    A MARINE GOES TO RENDER A

  SALUTE TO THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF,

  BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE AN ARM.

    THE PRESIDENT STANDS AT

  ATTENTION.  A CITATION IS READ.

    AND THEN THE PRESIDENT BENDS

  OVER AND PINS A PURPLE HEART ON A

  HOSPITAL GURNEY.  AND HE SAYS, ON

  BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL NATION,

  THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICE.

    THAT'S HARD.

    WHEN HE GOES TO A HOLDING

  ROOM, AFTER A SPEECH, AND THERE'S

  FAMILY GATHERING, AND THEY'D BE

  CLUTCHING THE PHOTOGRAPH OR AN

  AMERICAN FLAG, THERE WERE TEARS,

  MAYBE SOME ANGER.  RESOLVE.

    THE PRESIDENT SAYS, ON BEHALF

  OF A GRATEFUL NATION, THANK YOU

  FOR YOUR SACRIFICE.

    THAT'S HARD.

    I'VE BEEN TO ARLINGTON

  CEMETERY QUITE A BIT LATELY.

  THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF WORLD

  WAR 2 VETERANS WHO ARE PASSING,









                           46








  ROUGHLY A THOUSAND DAY ARE DYING.

    AND THERE ARE VETERANS OF THE

  KOREAN WAR, AND THE VIETNAM WAR.

  THE FIRST GULF WAR.  AND THERE

  ARE SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES,

  AIRMEN AND COAST GUARDSMEN.  WHO

  ARE BEING BURIED BECAUSE OF THEIR

  SERVICE.

    AND AT EVERY SERVICE TAPS IS

  PLAYED, A FLAG IS FOLDED, WITH

  THE GREATEST OF RESPECT.  A

  SALUTE IS RENDERED.  AND A CHAPEL

  GOES TO A LOVED ONE -- A CHAPLAIN

  GOES A LOVED ONE, AND GIVES THEM

  A FLAG, FOLDED WITH RESPECT, AND

  SAYS, "ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT

  OF THE UNITED STATES, AND A

  GRATEFUL NATION, THANK YOU FOR

  YOUR SACRIFICE. "

    THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU

  TO THINK ABOUT.  NOW, I LOVE

  POLITICS.  AND I GREW UP

  BELIEVING IT IS THE MOST NOBLE OF

  OPPORTUNITIES AND RESPONSIBILITY.

  I'D ASK YOU TO SEE IT THAT WAY,









                           47








  TOO.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE

  LABEL, POLITICIAN, WHICH I AM

  RAISING AS A TITLE, MAKE YOUR

  POLITICIAN SMARTER BY TALKING TO

  HIM, EDUCATE A BUREAUCRAT.  PAY

  ATTENTION TO THE ISSUES.  GET

  INVOLVED.

    BUT THE BEST THING THAT YOU

  CAN DO, TO CELEBRATE THIS

  COUNTRY, IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR

  CONSTITUTION AGAIN.  AND

  PARTICIPATE IN YOUR GOVERNMENT,

  FIRST BY VOTING.

    THE DECISIONS ARE REAL, THE

  PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT YOU HAVE TO

  MAKE.

    THEY DICTATE THE STRENGTH OF

  OUR ECONOMY, THE SAFETY OF OUR

  PEOPLE.

    HOW WE WILL TREAT EACH OTHER,

  HOW WE WILL COMMAND RESPECT.

    I DON'T KNOW, ARE ANY OF YOU

  NATURALIZED CITIZENS?  FLORIDA

  HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE

  NATURALIZED CITIZENS.  ANYBODY A









                           48








  NATURALIZED CITIZEN?

    MOST OF US ARE CITIZENS BY THE

  ACCIDENT OF BIRTH.  MY MOTHER

  DROPPED ME IN AMERICA.

  THEREFORE, I AM A CITIZEN OF THIS

  GREAT COUNTRY.

    AND I VIEWED IT AS KIND OF A

  RIGHT TO BE A CITIZEN.  BUT THERE

  ARE LITERALLY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE

  WHO ARE STANDING IN LINE RIGHT

  NOW TO BECOME CITIZENS OF THIS

  COUNTRY.  AND THEY'VE BEEN

  STANDING IN LINE FOR 10 YEARS, 12

  YEARS.  PRAYING THAT THEIR NAME

  WILL BE CALLED, AND THAT THEY

  WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO

  SCHOOL.  WHERE THEY WILL BE

  TAUGHT ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION,

  THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,

  THEY'LL LEARN THE PLEDGE

  ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE

  NATIONAL ANTHEM.

    IF THEY PASS THE TEST, THEY'LL

  STAND BEFORE A JUDGE OR AN

  IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL, AND THEY'LL









                           49








  BE ASKED TO STAND, AND RAISE

  THEIR RIGHT HAND, AND THEN

  THEY'RE ASKED, WILL YOU GIVE UP

  ALL OF YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO

  EVERYTHING ELSE IN YOUR LIFE?

  WILL YOU GIVE UP YOUR ALLEGIANCE

  TO THE QUEENS OR KINGS OR

  POTENTATES OR PRIME MINISTERS OR

  GOVERNMENTS?  WILL YOU GIVE IT

  UP?  WILL YOU PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

  TO THE UNITED STATES?

    WILL YOU DEFEND THE

  CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

  AGAINST ALL ENEMIES?  FOREIGN AND

  DOMESTIC.

    IF THE GOVERNMENT CALLS AND

  SAYS, JOIN THE MILITARY, WILL YOU

  JOIN THE MILITARY?

    IF THE GOVERNMENT CALLS AND

  SAYS, WE NEED YOU TO BE IN

  CIVILIAN SERVICE TO THE

  GOVERNMENT, WILL YOU SAY YES?

    ARE YOU CRAZY?  DO YOU KNOW

  WHAT YOU'RE AGREEING TO?  DO YOU

  UNDERSTAND IT?









                           50








    IF YOU DO, REALLY, YOU SAY IT

  TO GOD.  AND IF YOU DO ALL OF

  THAT, YOUR HAND GOES DOWN IN THE

  MOST WONDERFUL TITLE IS GIVEN.

  AND THE MOST WONDERFUL TITLE IS

  GIVEN.

    WELCOME FELLOW CITIZEN.

    I SUSPECT THAT MOST PEOPLE,

  WHO ARE CITIZENS BY BIRTH DON'T

  KNOW WHAT THE OBLIGATION OF

  CITIZENSHIP IS.

    WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF WE ALL

  HAD TO READ THAT OATH, TO

  UNDERSTAND IT?

    SO THIS ELECTIONS IS A UNIQUE

  OPPORTUNITY, UNIQUE THAT IT

  DOESN'T COME EVERY YEAR, FOR THE

  FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT COMES

  EVERY OTHER YEAR.

    AND TO PICK A PRESIDENT, IT

  COMES ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS.

    THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

  FOR YOU TO CELEBRATE OUR

  CONSTITUTION.  IT STALE MAY NOT

  BE PERFECT.  BUT IT'S BETTER THAN









                           51








  ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVES.  BUT IT

  GUARANTEES THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS

  YOURS.

    AND THE NUMBERS WILL BE PRETTY

  STAGGERING ON ELECTION DAY,

  BECAUSE SOMEONE WILL SAY, WOW,

  THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD TURNOUT,

  THERE'S A LOT OF CONTROVERSY

  AROUND THIS ELECTION AND PEOPLE

  HAVE SHOWN UP.  THE PERCENTAGE OF

  PEOPLE WHO VOTE WILL STILL BE

  ROUGHLY 40% OF THOSE WHO ARE

  ELIGIBLE.

    THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT

  OBLIGATED TO VOTE.  WE'RE INVITED

  TO VOTE.

    WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO VOTE.

  WE'RE INVITED TO VOTE.

    IN SOME COUNTRIES AROUND THE

  WORLD, EVEN SOME DEMOCRACIES, YOU

  ARE OBLIGATED TO VOTE.  SOME

  COUNTRIES, YOU PAY A TAX IF YOU

  DON'T.

    IN SOME COUNTRIES, YOU HAVE TO

  VOTE, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ONLY









                           52








  ONE NAME ON THE BALLOT.

    BUT IN AMERICA, IT'S AN

  INVITATION.  AND IT IS A GREAT

  PRIVILEGE.  ACCEPT THE

  INVITATION.  BE TURNED ON BY THIS

  COUNTRY.

    WE NEED YOU.

    SO, I'D BE GLAD TO TAKE

  QUESTIONS.  I PURPOSELY DID NOT

  GET INTO THE CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS

  OF THE CAMPAIGN CYCLE, BUT I'M

  NOT AFRAID FOR YOUR QUESTIONS TO

  INCLUDE THOSE CONTROVERSIES.

    WITH THAT, I SAY, CELEBRATE

  AMERICA, IT'S A GREAT COUNTRY,

  AND IT'S MUCH BETTER THAN ANY

  OTHER ALTERNATIVE.  THANK YOU

  VERY MUCH.

    [ APPLAUSE ]



    EVERY YEAR THE AMERICAN

  TAXPAYER SPENDS 500 BILLION

  DOLLARS ON THE MILITARY

  INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.

  >> WHERE ARE YOU?  I CAN'T SEE









                           53








  YOU.

  >> I SAID EVERY YEAR WE SPEND

  ABOUT A HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS

  ON THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY.  AND

  THIS YIELDS US INTELLIGENCE AND

  WEAPONS ET CETERA, TO KEEP US THE

  STRONGEST COUNTRY ON EARTH

  MILITARY SPEAKING.  SINCE WE'RE

  THE STRONGEST COUNTRY ON EARTH

  MILITARILY SPEAKING WE ALSO HAVE

  A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INTELLIGENCE

  AGENCIES.  I WAS WONDERING, SINCE

  ON AUGUST 6TH, 2001, THERE WAS A

  PRESIDENTIAL DAILY BRIEFING,

  TALKING ABOUT BIN LADEN

  DETERMINED TO STRIKE IN THE

  UNITED STATES, HOW COME NORAD,

  WHICH IS THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY IN

  CHARGE OF SHOOTING DOWN HIJACKED

  PLANES, HOW COME NORAD DIDN'T

  SHOOT DOWN THE PLANES, BECAUSE

  THERE WAS OVER AN HOUR TIME

  DURATION FROM THE FIRST TO THE

  LAST PLANE.

    SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, SINCE









                           54








  WE WERE ON HIGH ALERT, BECAUSE OF

  THE CIA INTELLIGENCE, HOW COME

  NORAD DIDN'T SHOOT DOWN THE

  PLANES? I'LL TRY TO -- FIRST OF

  ALL, YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE

  PRACTICE KALT.  IN ORDER TO SHOOT

  DOWN A PLANE, THINK ABOUT IT.

  YOU'RE 21 YEARS OLD, YOU'RE IN

  THE COCKPIT OF A JET, THAT HAS

  JUST TAKEN OFF FROM AN AIR FORCE

  BASE.  YOU HAVE A BILLION AND A

  HALF-DOLLAR PLANE, ON SALE.  IT'S

  GOT WEAPONS ATTACHED TO IT, WHEN

  NORMALLY THE PLANE TAKES OFF AND

  IT DOESN'T HAVE WEAPONS ATTACHED

  TO IT.

    ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU'RE TOLD,

  IT LOOKS LIKE THE ENEMY COULD BE

  A COMMERCIAL JETLINER FILLED WITH

  CIVILIANS, WHO MIGHT BE MY

  NEIGHBOR, OR MY WIFE, OR MY

  DAUGHTER.  NORAD IS NOT GOING TO

  SAY, ON ITS OWN, SHOOT DOWN THE

  COMMERCIAL JETLINER.  JUST A

  REALITY.  SO, THEY NEED COVER.









                           55








    THE COVER IS, WILL THE

  PRESIDENT AUTHORIZE ME TO SHOOT

  DOWN A JETLINER?

    PRETTY CREDIBLE.  HE'S THE

  HEAD.  THE PRESIDENT WAS ACTUALLY

  ASKED ABOUT THAT.  WOULD YOU,

  MR. PRESIDENT, AUTHORIZE A PILOT

  TO SHOOT DOWN A COMMERCIAL

  JETLINER?

    I WAS THERE WHEN HE WAS ASKED.

  TALK ABOUT A TOUGH DECISION.

  NOW, THINK ABOUT GEORGE W. BUSH.

  WHO, AT AGE 21, WAS A JET FIGHTER

  PILOT.  THERE'S NOT A DOUBT IN MY

  MIND THAT HE REFLECTED ON THAT.

    WOULD HE, AS A PILOT, HAVE HAD

  THE COURAGE TO PUSH THE BUTTON,

  IF THE COMMAND HAD COME TO SHOOT

  DOWN A COMMERCIAL JETLINER?

    I HOPE SO, BECAUSE THAT WAS

  HIS JOB.  AGAIN, IT WASN'T

  CONDITIONAL WHEN HE ACCEPTED IT.

    BUT, FIRST OF ALL, NORAD DID

  NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SCRAMBLE

  ALL OF THE JETS, TO GET THEM UP,









                           56








  TO GET THE COMMAND, TO BE ABLE TO

  SHOOT DOWN A COMMERCIAL JETLINER

  IN 2001.

    WOULD THEY HAVE THAT CAPACITY

  TODAY?  I THINK THEY WOULD.

    COMMERCIAL PLANES ARE UNDER

  THE AEGIS OF THE FAA, NOT A

  MILITARY BRANCH, A BRANCH UNDER

  THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,

  ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE GREAT

  SUCCESS STORIES OF SEPTEMBER

  11TH, 2001, IS HOW THE FAA GOT

  ALL OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF

  PEOPLE ON THE GROUND SAFELY THAT

  WERE IN THE AIR.

    IN A PHENOMENALLY SHORT PERIOD

  OF TIME.

    IN AIRPORTS THAT WERE

  OVERCROWDED, WITH PLANES COMING

  IN ON RUNWAYS.  OUR ALLIES AROUND

  THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY THE

  CANADIANS, HELPED AN AWFUL LOT.

    THERE WAS GREAT SUCCESS THERE.

    BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS

  REALISTIC TO EXPECT OUR MILITARY,









                           57








  IN THE CLIMATE OF 2001, TO SAY

  THAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE HAVING A

  LOCKED AND LOADED FIGHTER PILOT,

  READY TO SHOOT DOWN A COMMERCIAL

  PLANE, IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF

  TIME OF NOTICE THAT THEY HAD.  I

  JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT.

    WITH REGARD TO THE MONEY SPENT

  BY THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, I KNOW

  EVERYBODY THINKS THE DEFENSE

  DEPARTMENT SPENDS MORE MONEY

  EXCEPT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.  I

  GUARANTEE YOU HAS AND

  TRANSPORTATION AND OFFICE OF

  MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, ALWAYS

  SAYING CUT CUT CUT.  BUT THE

  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE THE

  OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW THE

  PRESIDENT'S CHARGE TO PROTECT US,

  NOT JUST TODAY, BUT FOR

  UNANTICIPATED FUTURE CHALLENGES.

    AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M

  COMFORTABLE WITH ALL THE MONEY

  THEY SPEND AND HOW THEY SPEND IT,

  BUT I'M GLAD THAT THEY DO,









                           58








  BECAUSE WE NEED THEM.  AND THE

  NATURE OF THE ENEMY SUGGESTS WE

  NEED THEM.

    I APPRECIATE THE NATURE OF THE

  QUESTION, AND I DON'T ARGUE WITH

  THE SO-CALLED MILITARY INDUSTRIAL

  ESTABLISHMENT THAT YOU ALLUDED

  TO, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY

  REASON FOR THE MILITARY, THE REAL

  REASON FOR THE MILITARY IS TO

  HELP THE PRESIDENT KEEP HIS OATH,

  AND THEY MUST DO IT AND STAY

  AHEAD OF THE ENEMY, KNOWN AND

  UNKNOWN, ANTICIPATED AND

  UNANTICIPATED.

    THEY DO A FABULOUS JOB.  I

  DON'T THINK WE HAD THE ABILITY TO

  INTERRUPT THE ATTACK ON SEPTEMBER

  11TH THE WAY ANY ONE OF US WOULD

  HAVE WANTED TO.

    WITH REGARD TO THAT

  INTELLIGENCE REPORT IN AUGUST OF

  2001, I GOT THE SAME INTELLIGENCE

  REPORT.  I MEAN, IT WAS -- TO ME,

  IT WAS NOT A -- YOUR PANTS ARE ON









                           59








  FIRE KIND OF INTELLIGENCE REPORT.

    IF THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION OF

  A HIJACKING THAT WAS MORE THAN

  TRADITIONAL EXPECTATION OF A

  HIJACKING, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD

  WANT TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING,

  RATHER THAN USE A COMMERCIAL

  PLANE AS A WEAPON, A WEAPON OF

  MASS DESTRUCTION.

    REMEMBER, THE TARGET THAT WAS

  HIT, IF EVERY ONE OF THE OFFICES

  HAD BEEN FILLED AT THE WORLD

  TRADE CENTER, THE NUMBER OF

  DEATHS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MULTIPLE

  PROBABLY 10 FROM WHAT THEY WERE.

  AND IF THE PLANE THAT CRASHED OR

  WAS DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND IN

  SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA AND HIT

  THE PRESUMED TARGET AT THE

  NATION'S CAPITOL, WHITE HOUSE,

  THE NUMBER OF DEATHS WOULD HAVE

  BEEN HUGE, THIS WAS TRULY AN

  ATTACK OF A WEAPON OF MASS

  DESTRUCTION AND THE JETLINER WAS

  THE WEAPON.  NEXT QUESTION.  YES.









                           60








  >> THANK YOU, MR. CARD.  I HAVE A

  TAX POLICY QUESTION FOR YOU.

  THERE ARE A LOT OF PROPOSALS TO

  REFORM THE TAX SYSTEM.  I WANTED

  TO ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT

  HOUSE BILL 25, ALSO KNOWN AS THE

  FAIR TAX.

    ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH IT?  HOW

  DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?  AND CAN

  YOU GIVE US ANY INSIGHTS HOW THE

  PRESIDENT FEELS ABOUT IT?  ONE OF

  THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING CHIEF OF

  STAFF IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO

  TALK TO ME, ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF

  CONGRESS WHO HAD LEGISLATION THEY

  LIKED.

    I WAS PRETTY WELL EDUCATED ON

  A LOT OF BILLS AND I KNOW THE

  FAIR TAX PROPOSAL QUITE WELL.

  IT'S VERY INTRIGUING TAX SYSTEM.

    IT WOULD BE MASSIVE REFORM.

  I'M SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY THINKS

  THERE NEEDS TO BE REFORM IN OUR

  TAX SYSTEM.

    BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKELY









                           61








  TO COME IN THE SHORT TERM.

    I HAD DINNER WITH A GROUP OF

  PEOPLE, AND I SAID, IT'S ALMOST

  KIND OF SAD WE THINK OF POLITICS

  IN THE CONTEXT OF POLITICAL

  SCIENCE.  IF IT WERE ALL

  POLITICAL SCIENCE, THERE WOULD BE

  SOME COMPUTER PROGRAM WHO COULD

  RUN OUR GOVERNMENT FOR US AND WE

  COULD JUST TURN IT OVER TO SOME

  GIANT COMPUTER, AND IT WOULD DO

  WHAT WAS RIGHT ALL THE TIME.

    I ACTUALLY BELIEVE, IT SHOULD

  BE CALLED THE ART OF POLITICS.

  RATHER THAN THE SCIENCE OF

  POLITICS.

    AND THE ART OF POLITICS MEANS

  THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE

  REALITY OF DIFFERENT

  PERSONALITIES IN THE DIFFERENT

  BRANCHS OF GOVERNMENT.

    AND AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE

  LOTS OF TYPE A PERSONALITIES WHO

  SERVE IN THE GOVERNMENT AND A FEW

  TYPE F PERSONALITIES THAT SERVE









                           62








  IN THE GOVERNMENT.

    THEY DON'T ALWAYS SHARE THE

  SAME SPACE THE SAME WAY.  I FIND

  IT VERY INTRIGUING.  A PRESIDENT

  AND CHIEF OF STAFF FOR EXAMPLE,

  CABINET MEMBER ALWAYS HAS TO WORK

  TO TRY TO PRODUCE RESULTS THAT

  ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT

  YOU WANT.  THEY AREN'T

  NECESSARILY EXACTLY WHAT YOU

  DREAMED OF.

    AND I THINK THE FAIR TAX IS

  SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE DREAMS

  FOR, BUT IT'S NOT LIKELY TO

  HAPPEN THE WAY THEY ARE DREAMING.

    I THINK THAT IT'S MUCH MORE

  PRACTICAL FOR US TO TALK ABOUT

  THE TAX CUTS THAT WE ARE LIVING

  WITH RIGHT NOW.

    EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN HAD

  THEIR TAXES CUT DURING THIS

  PRESIDENT'S TENURE, EVERY SINGLE

  AMERICAN, WE ALL HAD OUR TAXES

  CUT.  IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL, HE

  CAMPAIGNED ON IT, HE WON ON IT









                           63








  AND HE GOT IT DONE.

    CONGRESS PASSED TAX CUTS IN

  JUNE OF 2001.  THEY PASSED THE

  TAX CUTS IN THE FALL OF 2001, IN

  RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER 11TH, TO

  TRY TO KEEP THE ECONOMY GOING.

  THEY PASSED A FEW OTHER TAX CUTS

  IN 2002 AND 2003.

    MOST OF THOSE TAX CUTS,

  BECAUSE OF THE ARCANE RULES OF

  CONGRESS, EXPIRE.  THEY EXPIRE.

  UNDER THE SO-CALLED BYRD RULES.

    THAT MEANS THAT THE TAXES WILL

  GO UP AUTOMATICALLY.  FOR ALMOST

  EVERY AMERICAN, IF CONGRESS

  DOESN'T EXTEND THE TAX CUTS.  IT

  COULD BE A SHOCKING INCREASE IN

  TAXES.

    WHEN I SAY "SHOCKING," IT MAY

  NOT BE SHOCKING TO YOU

  INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE YOU MAY

  SUPPORT HIGHER TAXES BUT IT WILL

  BE SHOCKING TO OUR ECONOMY

  BECAUSE ONE OF THE WAYS WE KEEP

  OUR ECONOMY MOVING IS









                           64








  PREDICTABILITY.

    WHAT WILL THE TAXES BE?  I

  WANT TO MAKE INVESTMENT DECISIONS

  BASED ON WHAT THE TAXES WILL BE.

  RIGHT NOW, WE'RE APPROACHING THE

  WINDOW PREDICTABILITY STARTS TO

  DISAPPEAR.

    THAT'S ONE REASON I AM PROUDLY

  A REPUBLICAN.  IN THIS ELECTION,

  I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE MORE

  LIKELY TO SUPPORT CONTINUING THE

  TAX CUTS THAT ARE IN PLACE,

  RATHER THAN HAVING THEM EXPIRE,

  CREDIBLE DEBATE.  IT'S NOT A

  DEBATE THAT CAN BE ANSWERED IN

  THE NORMAL WAY I WOULD SAY, IF

  YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR VIEW, THAT

  YOU ALWAYS HAVE A STOCK GAP

  BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT CAN VETO

  LEGISLATION, CONGRESS WANTS TO

  INCREASE TASK FORCE EXAMPLE, I'VE

  BEEN TOLD, THAT'S NO PROBLEM, THE

  PRESIDENT CAN JUST VETO IT, THE

  TAXES WON'T GO UP.

    IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS









                           65








  TIME BECAUSE THE TAXES WILL GO UP

  AUTOMATICALLY UNLESS CONGRESS

  PASSES SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT

  SIGNS.  THAT'S ONE REASON THIS

  ELECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE

  ECONOMY, TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE

  TAX CUTS.

    EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN TAX

  REFORM IS REFORM OF THE SOCIAL

  SECURITY SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE

  BURDEN YOU ARE GOING TO BE

  SADDLED WITH BECAUSE YOU'LL BE

  TAKING CARE OF ME, SO YOU WANT TO

  REFORM THE SOCIAL SECURITY

  SYSTEM, AND I ALSO THINK WE NEED

  TO DO AN AWFUL LOT MORE WORK IN

  THE HEALTHCARE AREA.  I FAVOR

  TRANSPARENCY.

    IF WE ALL KNEW WHAT HEALTHCARE

  COSTS REALLY ARE, AND WHAT THE

  SERVICES WE GET REALLY COST, WE

  WOULD HAVE MORE CHOICES IN THE

  MARKETPLACE.  THAT MIGHT HELP TO

  BRING MORE DISCIPLINE TO THE

  HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.









                           66








    I THINK THOSE TWO REFORMS ARE

  MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN TAX

  REFORM IN THE SHORT TERM.  NEXT

  QUESTION.

  >> I WANT TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR

  SPEAKING TO US TONIGHT.

    SECOND, MY QUESTION INVOLVED

  SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM.

  SPECIFICALLY, WHY YOU THINK IT

  FAILED TO GAIN TRACTION.

  >> IT GAINED NO TRACTION BECAUSE

  THERE WAS NO POLITICAL WILL TO

  TACKLE IT.

    I THINK ANYONE WHO SITS DOWN

  AND TAKES AN OBJECTIVE LOOK AT

  THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM AND

  HOW ITS OBLIGATIONS ARE GROWING

  COMPARED TO ITS ABILITY TO

  PRODUCE REVENUE WOULD SAY, IT'S

  BROKE AND YOU HAVE TO FIX IT.

  SO, I THINK OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS

  WOULD SAY, THE STATUS QUO WAS NOT

  VIABLE, AS YOU WILL BE ENTERING

  THE AGE OF COLLECTING SOCIAL

  SECURITY.









                           67








    SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT WILL

  YOU DO ABOUT IT?  I THINK THE

  POLITICS WAS MUCH MORE EXCITING

  THAN THE POLICY.  IT BECAME AN

  OPPORTUNITY FOR STRIDENCY ON BOTH

  SIDES.  YOU MUST FIX IT, DOESN'T

  TOUCH SOCIAL SECURITY.  THERE WAS

  A GREAT FEVER FACTOR, IF YOU

  CHANGE SOCIAL SECURITY,

  THEREFORE, YOU ARE TAKING AWAY MY

  GRANDMOTHER'S SOCIAL SECURITY

  CHECK, WHEN I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE

  WAY IT IS AT ALL.

    THIS IS A CHANGE OVER TIME FOR

  THE FUTURE.  ANYONE COLLECTING

  SOCIAL SECURITY WILL NOT SEE

  THEIR BENEFITS REDUCED ONE THIN

  DIME.  IN FACT, THEY MAY WELL SEE

  THEIR BENEFITS BE MORE SECURE.

    I THINK THE NATURE OF

  POLITICS, THE PRESIDENT WAS

  HOPING TO -- THE DEBATE AROUND

  SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM WOULD HAVE

  BEEN LED BY THE GRAY BEARDS OF

  BOTH THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT









                           68








  PARTIES.  AND THAT'S WHY FORMER

  SENATOR PATRICK MONOHAN WAS NAMED

  BY THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE A LOOK

  AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS

  AND HE DID A FABULOUS JOB LOOKING

  AT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND

  NONPARTISANS AND SMART PEOPLE.

  THEY SPENT HOURS AND DAYS AND

  WEEKS AND MONTHS WORKING ON IT

  AND DID A FABULOUS JOB.  THEY

  PRESENTED A REPORT TO THE

  PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS AND THE

  PRESIDENT SAID, I LIKE SOME OF IT

  NOT ALL OF IT AND CONGRESS SAID

  WE'RE AFRAID TO TOUCH ANY OF IT.

  AS A RESULT, IT DIDN'T GO

  ANYWHERE.

    THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  I

  HOPE -- YOU'RE THE ONES THAT WILL

  HELP MAKE SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM

  HAPPEN.  IF YOU DON'T GET

  ENGAGED, IT WON'T HAPPEN, THEN

  YOU'RE GOING TO BE CARRYING A

  BURDEN YOU CAN'T CARRY IN ABOUT

  20 YEARS.  WE NEED TO REFORM









                           69








  SOCIAL SECURITY.  BUT IT WAS

  POLITICS, THE SHORT ANSWER WAS

  POLITICS.  YES.

  >> THANK YOU FOR COMING,

  MR. CARD.  MY QUESTION REGARDS

  DONALD RUMSFELD.  IN LIEU OF THE

  RECENT IRAQ WAR.

  >> I SEE YOU'RE CARRYING DON

  RUMSFELD'S BOOK.

  >> WELL, I'M LIKE ON ALMOST EVERY

  PAGE.

  >> WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE

  CONTINUED RETENTION OF DONALD

  RUMSFELD OF HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF

  DEFENSE AND DO YOU THINK THE

  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WOULD BE

  MORE EFFECTIVELY RUN IF MORE

  CHANGE WERE MADE.

  >> DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT

  IS WRITTEN.  I BELIEVE YOU CAN

  BELIEVE ALL THE QUOTES ATTRIBUTED

  TO ME, I THINK THEY'RE ACCURATE.

  I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE

  QUOTES ARE ACCURATE.  THE CONTEXT

  IS DEFINITELY NOT THE REALITY,









                           70








  EVEN THOUGH IT CAN BE PERCEIVED

  THAT WAY, IF YOU READ THE BOOK.

    A CHIEF OF STAFF'S JOB, I WILL

  BE REAL CANDID WITH YOU.  MY JOB

  WAS TO HAVE UNVARNISHED

  CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT.

  THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, WALK IN, SHUT

  THE DOOR, SAY, MR. PRESIDENT,

  WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION OR SAY,

  TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES OR

  YOU SAY, THAT STINKS, OR YOU SAY,

  HE'S HELPING OR HE'S HURTING.

  YOU ALSO SAY, MR. PRESIDENT, IF

  YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES,

  IT'S GOOD TIME TO MAKE SOME

  CHANGES.  YOU MIGHT WANT TO START

  WITH YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF.  DON'T

  YOU THINK YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR

  CHIEF OF STAFF.  YOU TOLD ME YOU

  WANTED TO MAKE LOT OF CHANGES AND

  NOBODY WILL BELIEVE YOU MADE A

  CHANGE UNLESS YOU CHANGE YOUR

  CHIEF OF STAFF.  I WOULD SAY,

  CHANGE ME.  HERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH

  OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD MAKE GREAT









                           71








  REPLACEMENTS.

    I DID THAT WITH LITERALLY

  EVERY MEMBER OF THE CABINET.

    SO, DID I SUGGEST CHANGES TO

  THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

  POSITION?  YES!  WERE THERE ALSO

  TIMES I SAID TO THE PRESIDENT, IF

  YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT MAKING ANY

  CHANGES, DON'T DO IT NOW!  IT'S A

  REALLY BAD TIME.

    FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD NOT

  RECOMMEND THAT THE PRESIDENT

  CHANGE ANY HIGH PROFILE CABINET

  MEMBER IN SEPTEMBER OF AN

  ELECTION YEAR.  I WOULDN'T DO IT.

    WHY?  BECAUSE WHOEVER REPLACES

  THAT CABINET MEMBER HAS TO BE

  CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.  AND

  THERE'LL BE HEARINGS BEFORE THE

  SENATE JUST BEFORE AN ELECTION

  AND THAT POOR PERSON THAT YOU

  NOMINATED TO SERVE IN THAT

  POSITION WILL HAVE TO DEFEND

  EVERYTHING THAT THEY WERE NOT

  PART OF.









                           72








    SO, YEAH, I WOULD GO TO THE

  PRESIDENT AND SAY, DON'T MAKE ANY

  CHANGES.  THERE WERE OTHER TIMES,

  I SAID, MAKE SOME CHANGES, HERE

  ARE SOME GOOD ARGUMENTS FOR

  CHANGE AND HERE ARE SOME GOOD

  ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT.  HERE ARE

  SOME GOOD ARGUMENTS FOR PEOPLE

  THAT MIGHT REPLACE THAT PERSON.

  IT IS A FACT I DID RECOMMEND

  MAKING CHANGES IN THE DEFENSE

  DEPARTMENT AND A FACT I SAID

  ALMOST THE SAME THING ABOUT EVERY

  OTHER CABINET POSITION AND MOST

  SENIOR WHITE HOUSE STAFF

  POSITIONS.

    IT'S WRONG TO IMPLY I MOUNT AD

  CAMPAIGN TO GET RID OF ANYBODY.

  A CHIEF OF STAFF DOESN'T NEED TO

  MOUNT A CAMPAIGN.  THE CHIEF OF

  STAFF HAS TO MOUNT A CAMPAIGN, HE

  SHOULDN'T BE THE CHIEF OF STAFF.

  I COULD TALK TO THE PRESIDENT AND

  I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO AROUND HIS

  BACK OR ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO









                           73








  TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT.  THAT'S

  WHAT I DISAGREE WITH IN THE BOOK

  OF BOB WOODWARD.

    I THINK IT'S THE PRESIDENT'S

  DECISION WHO HE WANTS TO RUN THE

  CABINET.  HE'S THE PRESIDENT, GOT

  ELECTED BY US, ACTUALLY GOT

  ELECTED BY AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE

  GUIDED BY US, BUT THE COLLEGE

  ELECTED HIM, ALL RIGHT, THE

  COURTS PLAYED A ROLE.  BUT

  ULTIMATELY IT WAS THE ELECTORAL

  COLLEGE THAT CAST THEIR VOTES ON

  THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES

  CONGRESS IN THE HOUSE AND THE

  PRESIDENT GOT ELECTED.

    HE HAS THE OBLIGATION, BUT THE

  PEOPLE ON HIS TEAM THAT HE THINK

  WILL DO THE BEST JOB.  IF HE

  WANTS TO HAVE DON RUMSFELD AS

  SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, I APPLAUD

  HIM.

    THE SAME, HE WANTS DON

  RUMSFELD.

    THAT'S LOOK, IF THERE WAS A









                           74








  VOTE FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE

  CABINET, ALMOST EVERY MEMBER OF

  THE CABINET WOULD LOSE.  BECAUSE

  YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW MOST OF THEM.

  HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THE NAMES OF

  MEMBERS OF THE CABINET?  OKAY.

  YOU MAY KNOW, ALBERTO GONZALEZ,

  ATTORNEY GENERAL, JOHN ASHCROFT

  USED TO BE.  A LOT OF YOU STILL

  THINK HE IS.  NEXT QUESTION.

  >> I WAS WONDERING WHAT IS YOUR

  OPINION ON THE MILITARY

  COMMISSION ACT AND DO YOU THINK

  IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND DO YOU

  THINK WHETHER OR NOT IT GIVES TOO

  MUCH POWER TO THE EXECUTIVE

  BRANCH, SPECIFICALLY THE

  QUESTIONS DEALING WITH HABEAS

  CORPUS AND THE INABILITY OF A

  JUDGE TO HEAR DETAILS ON ENEMY

  COMBATANT'S DETAINMENT?  I FEEL

  SO STRONGLY THAT THE PRESIDENCY

  HAS BEEN WEAKENED, NOT

  STRENGTHENED OVER THE COURSE OF

  THE LAST THREE PRESIDENCIES.  SO









                           75








  I DON'T BUY THIS ARGUMENT THAT

  THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS TOO

  STRONG OR BECOMING TOO STRONG.

    I ACTUALLY THINK THEY'VE BEEN

  WEAKENED SIGNIFICANTLY, PROBABLY

  EVER SINCE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

  WAS CREATED BECAUSE THERE IS

  ALWAYS NATURAL TENSION BETWEEN

  ARTICLE I AND ARTICLE II AND

  ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE II.

  THERE ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

    I DISAGREE WITH THE SUPREME

  COURT RULING, THAT WAS SPLIT

  RULING THAT CALLED THE

  PRESIDENT'S MILITARY TRIBUNALS

  UNCONSTITUTIONAL.  I ACTUALLY

  DISAGREE WITH THE RULINGS, SO I

  ACTUALLY SUPPORTED THE ARGUMENTS

  THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE, THE

  EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAD MADE BEFORE

  THE SUPREME COURT.

    IT WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL BY

  THE SUPREME COURT, IT WASN'T LIKE

  A SLAM-DUNK.  IT WAS GEORGE TENET

  WHO SAID SLAM-DUNK ABOUT THE









                           76








  WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, BUT

  IT WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL.  I

  ACTUALLY BELIEVE WHAT THE

  PRESIDENT WAS DOING WAS

  CONSTITUTIONAL AND I SUPPORT A

  STRONG ARTICLE II RATHER THAN A

  WEAK ARTICLE II BECAUSE I THINK

  THE PRESIDENT HAS A BURDEN UNLIKE

  ANYBODY ELSE'S.

    ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO BACK

  AND READ ABOUT THE TOUGHEST JOB

  ANY PRESIDENT HAD, WHICH WAS

  ABRAHAM LINCOLN.  READ GOODMAN'S

  BOOK ABOUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.  SEE

  WHAT HE DID TO KEEP HIS OATH THAT

  CAUSED HIM TO STRAIN THE

  DEFINITION OF OUR CONSTITUTION ON

  HABEAS CORPUS IN PARTICULAR.

    I'M GLAD THAT HE DID.  I'M

  GLAD HE KEPT US A UNION, BECAUSE

  HE SAVED US.

    I WOULD PLEAD WITH YOU TO DO

  THAT.  WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT

  BOOKS, CAN I RECOMMEND A BOOK TO

  YOU?  I RECOMMENDED IT TO DEAN









                           77








  HEDGE.

    I WISH THAT I HAD BEEN ABLE TO

  READ WHAT IS IN THIS BOOK IN

  2001, BEFORE THE ATTACK ON

  SEPTEMBER 11TH, AT A MINIMUM, I

  WISH I HAD BEEN ABLE TO READ IT

  IN 2002.  OKAY?

    IT'S CALLED THE LOOMING TOWER,

  LOOMING.  WRITTEN BY LAWRENCE

  WRIGHT, A JOURNALIST.  I DON'T

  KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.

    IT IS THE HISTORY OF THE

  AL QAEDA TERRORIST NETWORK.  IT

  IS EXTREMELY WELL RESEARCHED AND

  VERY WELL WRITTEN.

    AND I COMMEND IT TO YOU

  BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE YOU A

  DEFINITION OF THE ENEMY WE FACE.

    I KNOW, THE WAR IN IRAQ IS NO

  FUN.  NOBODY LIKES IT.

    BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT

  THAT WE MAKE SURE IRAQ DOES NOT

  BECOME A SAFE HAVEN FOR THESE

  KINDS OF PEOPLE.  IT IS VERY

  IMPORTANT AFGHANISTAN NOT BECOME









                           78








  A SAFE HAVEN AGAIN FOR THESE

  KINDS OF PEOPLE.

    READ THE BOOK.  I DOUBT

  LAWRENCE WRIGHT VOTED FOR THE

  PRESIDENT.  I DOUBT HE'S A

  REGISTERED REPUBLICAN.  BUT HE

  HAS A VERY WELL RESEARCHED BOOK.

  TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HE HAD SOME

  PHENOMENAL ACCESS TO BAD GUYS,

  AND SOME GOOD GUYS, AS HE

  RESEARCHED THE BOOK AND WROTE IT.

    I'VE BEEN GETTING THE SIGNAL

  FOR ANDREW.  I THINK I'VE

  OVERSTAYED MY WELCOME.  I AM

  STILL A PROUD GAME COCK.  I KNOW

  YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING SOUTH

  CAROLINA IN A COUPLE WEEKS, I

  THINK.  DON'T BE TOO TOUGH ON

  STEVE SPURRIER.  I KNOW.

    I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AND

  SEE YOU AGAIN AND I APPRECIATE

  WHAT YOU'RE DOING.  IF YOU

  REMEMBER NOTHING FROM TODAY,

  DON'T REMEMBER MY NAME, I WOULD

  JUST LIKE YOU TO REMEMBER WHAT AN









                           79








  HONOR AND PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE A

  CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY, AND THAT

  WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME

  RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE WE ARE

  CITIZENS.  IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT

  YOU CAN JUST SHOW UP AND TAKE IT

  ALL FOR GRANTED.

    THERE ARE LOTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE

  THAT MAKE SACRIFICES FOR YOU.

  BELIEVE ME, THEY'RE DOING IT FOR

  YOU.  THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE

  THE PRESIDENT ASKED THEM TO DO

  IT, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT FOR YOU.

    SO WHEN YOU SEE AN ROTC GUY

  RUNNING AROUND CAMPUS, OR GAL, IN

  THEIR ARMY UNIFORM OR NAVY

  UNIFORM, THANK THEM.  BECAUSE THE

  COUNTRY NEEDS THEM.

    AND IF THE COUNTRY DIDN'T GET

  PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER, THEY WOULD

  DO WHAT THEY DID WHEN I WAS YOUR

  AGE.  THEY HAD A LOTTERY.  MY

  NUMBER CAME UP.  MY DATE OF BIRTH

  CAME UP NUMBER 10.  IN THE DRAFT.

    I WAS ALREADY NAVY ROTC, SO IT









                           80








  DIDN'T IMPACT ME.  BUT I HAVE A

  LOT OF MY FRIENDS WHO AGONIZED

  WHEN THEY GOT THE LETTER, SAYING,

  SHOW UP FOR A PHYSICAL.  AND SOME

  OF THEM SAID, I WON'T DO IT, AND

  THEY ENDED UP BEING CRIMINALS.

    YOU WANT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE

  SERVING IN OUR COUNTRY TO WANT TO

  SERVE OUR COUNTRY.  THANK THEM

  FOR DOING IT, BECAUSE IF THEY

  WEREN'T DOING IT, SOME PRESIDENT

  MIGHT HAVE TO TELL YOU, YOU MUST,

  WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

  THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.

    [ APPLAUSE ]