George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President George W. Bush speaks to a Joint Session of Congress in light of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 on Washington and New York.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
(DO NOT USE THIS SEGMENT) News Hour intro. Jim Lehrer.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
TLSs rostrum in House of Representatives, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and President Pro Tempore Sen. Robert C. Byrd (R-WV) standing in wait for the President. MS First Lady LAURA BUSH standing between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. MSs President GEORGE W. BUSH entering House of Representatives, shaking hands with people as he walks the aisle; Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, and Rep. Dick Gephardt follow Mr. Bush down the aisle. Good MS Mr. Bush shaking hands with Senators CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY) and HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY); Mr. Bush then walks past Sec. of State COLIN POWELL to shake hands with Supreme Court Justices WILLIAM REHNQUIST, ANTONIN SCALIA, CLARENCE THOMAS, STEPHEN BREYER; Mr. Bush the shakes hands with members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (identified here are HENRY H. SHELTON and JAMES L. JONES). Mr. Bush assumes the rostrum, shakes hands with Speaker DENNY HASTERT and Senator ROBERT BYRD. Good wide shots of Congress standing, applauding. MS Laura Bush applauding. MS Mayor of New York City RUDOLPH GIULIANI applauding. MSs President Bush grinning from well. MS Laura Bush and British PM TONY BLAIR applauding.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President GEORGE W. BUSH is introduced, Congress gives standing ovation. President Bush begins speech: "In the normal course of events President come to this chamber to report on the State of the Union. Tonight no such report is needed. It is (sic) already been delivered by the American people. We have seen it in the courage of passengers who rush terrorists to save others on the ground. Passengers like an exceptional man named Todd Beamer. Would you please help me welcome his wife, Lisa Beamer." MSs LISA BEAMER standing, TLSs Congress giving her a standing ovation. President Bush continues: "We have seen the state of our union in the endurance of our rescuers working past exhaustion. We've seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers in English and Hebrew and Arabic. For the last nine days the entire world has seen the state of our union and it is strong." Standing ovation. MS NYC Mayor RUDOLPH GIULIANI and New York Governor GEORGE PATAKI standing, applauding. Mr. Bush continues: "Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or justice to our enemies, justice will be done". MS Senators TRENT LOTT and CHARLES SCHUMER standing, applauding.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President GEORGE W. BUSH continues speaking to Congress: "I thank the Congress for its leadership at such an important time you acted by delivering 40 billion dollars to rebuild our communities and meet the needs of our military." C/As of Senators TRENT LOTT, CHARLES SCHUMER, and TOM DASCHLE, Rep. RICHARD GEPHARDT and House Speaker DENNY HASTERT. C/A of British Prime Minister TONY BLAIR sitting next to First Lady LAURA BUSH. Mr. Bush thanks all the countries that have expressed their sympathy (with the notable exceptions of Cuba & Palestine) and their citizens who perished in the terrorist attacks. "America has no truer friend than Great Britain thank you for coming, friend." MSs TONY BLAIR standing to receive ovations. "On 9/11, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country. America has known wars, but for the past 136 yrs they have been on foreign soil except for one Sunday in 1941." C/A Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General HENRY H. SHELTON. "Americans have many questions tonight. Who attacked our country? The evidence we have gathered points to a collection loosely affiliated terrorist organizations known as al Qaeda." C/A of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Henry Shelton, ERIC SHINSEKI, JAMES JONES, and VERNON CLARK. Mr. Bush says they are responsible for the attacks of US embassies in Africa and on the USS Cole. "Al Qaeda is to terror what the mafia is to crime." C/A of the Supreme Court Justices. "The terrorist perform a fringe form of Islamic extremism a fringe movement that perverts the peaceful teaching of Islam." Mr. Bush says they are commanded to kill Christians and Jews and Americans with no distinction between military and civilians. C/As of Sec. Of State COLIN POWELL and Attorney General JOHN ASHCROFT. Mr. Bush says Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda have connections to Islamic Jihad, that terrorist camps are run in Afghanistan. C/A of Sec. of Defense DONALD RUMSFELD.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President GEORGE W. BUSH says that Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda wield mighty influence upon Afghanistan and the ruling Taliban government. Mr. Bush reveals the horrible ugly truths about the Taliban government (things that the rest of the world have been denouncing for years). "We condemn the Taliban regime." C/A of First Lady LAURA BUSH, British PM TONY BLAIR, NYC Mayor RUDY GIULIANI, Gov. TOM RIDGE listening, then standing & applauding. C/A of Senators CHARLES SCHUMER and HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON standing and applauding, talking to each other while applauding. "It is not only repressing its own people, it is threatening people everywhere by sponsoring and sheltering and supplying terrorists. By aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime is committing murder. And tonight the United States of America makes the following demands upon the Taliban. Deliver to US authorities all leader of al Qaeda who hide in your land." Standing Ovation. C/A of National Security Advisor CONDOLEEZZA RICE (Condi Rice, Condoleeza Rice) nodding, applauding. "Release all foreign nationals including American citizens you have unjustly imprisoned. Protect foreign diplomats, journalists, and aid workers in your country. Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan." C/A Sec. Of State COLIN POWELL applauding. "These demands are not open for negotiation or discussion." Standing ovation. "The Taliban must act and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists or they will share in their fate."
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President GEORGE W. BUSH says that the US respects the Islamic faith, that it is a good and peaceful religion. "Those who commit evil in the name of Allah, blaspheme the name of Allah. The terrorist are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to hijack Islam itself our enemy is a radical network of terrorists and every government that supports them." Standing ovation. Mr. Bush says the war on terrorism begin with al Qaeda but doesn't end there. C/A wide angles of House of Representatives chamber. Mr. Bush says that the terrorists hate democracy and our freedoms, that they want to overthrow existing govts in Arab countries as well as drive Israel out of the Middle East. C/A Senator JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ). C/A Senator ORRIN HATCH (R-UT). "We are deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs to all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical vision, by abandoning every value except the will to power they follow in the path of fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism and they will follow in that path all the way to where it ends, in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies."
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President GEORGE W. BUSH says that the US will use every resource and means of diplomacy and intelligence to win the war. "Now, this war will not be like the war on Iraq a decade ago with the decisive liberation of territory." C/A of Sec. Of State COLIN POWELL. Mr. Bush says that Americans should expect a lengthy campaign to win the war of terrorism. C/A of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) sitting behind them. Mr. Bush says that "we will starve the terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them place to place until there's no refuge and no rest". Mr. Bush says that "every nation and very region now has a decision to make: either you are with us or you are with the terrorists". Standing ovation. "From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime". Mr. Bush announces the creation of a cabinet-level position, the Office of Homeland Security, and glowingly introduces the possessor of that position, Tom Ridge. C/A of Bush Cabinet: DONALD RUMSFELD, Colin Powell, JOHN ASHCROFT, NORMAN MINETA, TOMMY THOMPSON, etc. C/As Gov. TOM RIDGE standing, nodding; standing next to him is British PM TONY BLAIR. Mr. Bush outlines the role and responsibilities of the new office. Mr. Bush says that "the only way to defeat terrorism as a threat to our way of life is to stop it, eliminate it and destroy it where it grows".
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President GEORGE W. BUSH asks that military personnel to "be ready". C/A of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. C/A Secretary of Defense DONALD RUMSFELD. C/A First Lady LAURA BUSH standing, applauding. Mr. Bush says that this is both the world's and civilization's fight. C/A British PM TONY BLAIR. Mr. Bush says that the US needs the cooperation of the world, that if the terrorists go unpunished then their cities and citizens could be next; "Terror unanswered cannot only bring down buildings but it threaten the stability of legitimate governments. And you know what? We're not going to allow it." Standing ovation. C/A Senators CHARLES SCHUMER and HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON standing, applauding. "Americans are asking, what is expected of us? I ask you to live your lives and hug your children. I ask you to be calm and resolute and uphold the values of America." Mr. Bush condemns racial attacks against Arab-Americans. C/A Rep. RICHARD GEPHARDT standing, applauding. Mr. Bush asks people to continue financial contribution to help the victims of the 9/11 attacks, plugging his website, libertyunites.org. C/As NYC Mayor RUDOPLH GIULIANI and NY Gov. GEORGE PATAKI.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President GEORGE W. BUSH asks that the American people continue to participate and have confidence in the American economy. C/A Secretary of Transportation NORMAN MINETA. C/A LISA BEAMER, wife of Todd Beamer, standing and applauding. Mr. Bush asks the American people to pray, then thanks them for all they have done. C/A Congresswoman BARBARA LEE, the lone dissenting vote against Mr. Bush's resolution to use "all necessary and appropriate force" in the war on terrorism. Mr. Bush says that the number of federal air marshals will expand on domestic flights and promote financial assistance to the hurting airlines. Mr. Bush says that law enforcement agencies will be given more freedom to do their job. C/A Attorney General JOHN ASHCROFT. Mr. Bush promises to bolster intelligence gathering agencies, then introduces Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki. MSs RUDY GIULIANI and GEORGE PATAKI standing, receiving standing ovation. Mr. Bush says that "we will rebuild New York City". Mr. Bush says that "this country will define our times, not be defined by them." C/A Senators CHARLES SCHUMER and HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON standing, applauding.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
President GEORGE W. BUSH says freedom and fear are at war, and that we will not fail. C/A unidentified NYPD and FDNY officers in stands, listening and then applauding. Mr. Bush hopes that in time life will return to normal, yet we shouldn't forget what happened that day. Mr. Bush holds up NYPD badge of Officer George Howard, who perished in the WTC attacks, says that it is his reminder that "the task does not end". C/A LISA BEAMER, widow of Todd Beamer, standing and applauding. Mr. Bush says that freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war and that God is not neutral between them. C/A First Lady LAURA BUSH. Mr. Bush says we'll meet violence with-- hesitation b/c he knows the correct answer is violence-- "patient justice." Mr. Bush ends speech.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
(Do not use narration of Jim Lehrer. All imagery is cleared for use.) President GEORGE W. BUSH shakes hands with Speaker of the House DENNIS HASTERT and Senate Pro Tempore ROBERT BYRD, then walks from rostrum. Mr. Bush shakes hands with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hugs Senate Majority Leader TOM DASCHLE, Senate Minority Leader TRENT LOTT, Rep. RICHARD GEPHARDT, Justices ANTONIN SCALIA, CLARENCE THOMAS, STEPHEN BREYER, SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR and WILLIAM REHNQUIST. Mr. Bush hugs Secretary of State COLIN POWELL, shakes hands with Secretary of Treasury PAUL O'NEILL and Secretary of Defense DONALD RUMSFELD. Mr. Bush pats the cheek of Sen. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY), then shakes hands with Sen. JESSE HELMS (R-NC). Mr. Bush presses the flesh, exits the House chamber.
George W. Bush Speech to Joint Session of Congress
(DO NOT USE THIS SEGMENT) Jim Lehrer and guests comment on the speech.