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American Morning

America Under Attack: Former Education Secretary Gives Perspective on American Resolve

Aired September 14, 2001 - 11:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAUN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now we're going to go back to Judy Woodruff, who is standing outside the Cathedral here just about 10 minutes before the service gets underway.

Hi, Judy.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Paula.

As I was saying a minute ago, the weather has completely turned for the worse in Washington, but it is appropriate for the mood in this city, at this moment, when everyone is -- come together, both political parties. You've been watching the pictures as we have. Republicans, Trent Lott, House Speaker Dennis Hastert joining together with Democrats, former President Jimmy Carter. Political party doesn't matter today.

We are waiting for this national prayer service to get underway at the Cathedral in about a half an hour.

And we want to talk right now with Bill Bennett, who has become a leading voice in this country on what it means to be an American and the values that this country cherishes. Of course, Bill Bennett familiar to many as former education secretary, former drug czar.

Bill Bennett, when I talked to you the other day you said this is a moment of clarity, moral clarity. What did you mean by that?

BILL BENNETT, FMR. EDUCATION SECRETARY: Well, I think anybody who's that's been, Judy, just saw it, that farmer that Jeff Flock just interviewed in the fields of Iowa. When Jeff Flock said: What about you? He said, I have no problems. Things that were large before, things that were problems before are not now in many -- the hearts and minds of many Americans, because things have been put in perspective. We now are taking acknowledgement of what's most important, and I think the lives of Americans are being changed and the best of us is coming to the surface.

WOODRUFF: How do you go about -- and I asked Reverend Franklin Graham just a little while ago. How do you go about explaining to Americans how something like this could happen?

BENNETT: Well, I think you do it at a number of levels. First of all, -- I mean, I think throughout this, Judy, on a lot of levels, on a lot of points, we're going to go through what we might call a great relearning. We're going to have to relearn things that perhaps we forget.

First you explain that it is a dangerous world. Second, you explain that there is such thing as good and such a thing as evil, and that we saw them on display on Tuesday. Third, you explain that the United States, although we have had a tremendous 10 years virtually living in a bubble of peace and prosperity, that that bubble has burst, it is over. And it is now a dangerous world in a way that a lot of people, I think, have forgotten.

It also means specific questions, Judy. It means looking at our intelligence capability and whether we did things that perhaps were unwise. It means looking at policy toward governments, our reaction to past actions of terrorism.

So it's both at the general level and at the specific level that your question should be answered. But I guess what I would say in general is we have to relearn a lot of things. And I'd sum it up by saying it's a dangerous place, the United States is a country hated by a lot of people in the world, and we must never lose our vigilance and we must pay much attention to our defenses, to our intelligence and to our capabilities.

This isn't the end of terrorism, this is the beginning. We may see more. And the moment of moral clarity is certainly here. Our task is to make sure that moment extends through minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and maybe years.

WOODRUFF: And just finally, Bill Bennett, as we watch members of Congress pouring into the National Cathedral, others in the Bush administration, what message of comfort can Americans take away from a service like this one?

BENNETT: I think -- Justice Douglas, the great justice of the Supreme Court said, we are a religious people who's institutions presuppose the existence of a supreme being. And I think the comfort is that God is with us and that in these moments, in these trials, in these tribulations, is as said in the Lincoln Memorial, where some of us walked this morning for some comfort, that we can take refuge in the Almighty and in the blessings that he has provided. And with that, then, firm resolve, firm resolve, we pray today, we fight tomorrow.

WOODRUFF: Bill Bennett joining from our Washington studio.

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