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CNN Live Event/Special

America's New War: Bush Speaks from Rose Garden

Aired September 18, 2001 - 11:47   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.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Now you see the president walking up in the Rose Garden here, accompanied by the delegation he has just been meting with inside the Oval Office. The president steps up to the dais. Let's listen in.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Please be seated.

Last week, Americans suffered greatly. Thousands of our citizens lost lives, thousands were hurt. But thousands of our citizens rose to the occasion to help.

Last week was a really horrible week for America. But out of our tears and sadness, we saw the best of America as well. We saw a great country rise up to help.

Tens of millions of dollars and thousands of hours and tons of food and clothing have all been donated to help rebuild shattered lives. Americans love for America was channeled through our nations great charities. And as president of this great land, nothing made me more proud.

In the week since the attack, our compassion and generous citizens have led the first phase in the war on terrorism. They have sustained and strengthened the homefront.

Today, I'm joined by representatives of charities which have brought relief to citizens in New York City and Virginia, Pennsylvania. We've got representatives of firefighters, police officers, entrepreneurs who've helped out all across America.

Got many good citizens here who represent the large national charities like the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the United Way. We've got folks here in the nation's Rose Garden who represent the community-based programs and faith-based programs, firefighter and police associations, local business and nonprofits. Large and small, these important charitable efforts are saving lives and, as importantly, are restoring hope.

I'm also joined by Libby Pataki, the better half of the governor of New York...

(APPLAUSE)

Tony Carbonneti (ph), the chief of staff to Rudy Giuliani...

(APPLAUSE)

... my friends and former fellow governors -- actually they're governors; I was a former governor -- Jim Gilmore and Tom Ridge.

(APPLAUSE)

These governors and their wives and the mayor of New York have shown impressive leadership -- impressive leadership in the face of the challenges that face their cities and their states. They put public agencies on full alert to provide immediate assistance to victims and their families.

And for all those who helped, our nation is most grateful. They've called on the men and women of the National Guard to help maintain calm and order. And we thank those who wear the uniform, as well.

And they've led and supported valiant rescue workers in New York City and Northern Virginia, whose bravery is seared into our national consciousness.

I was honored to be able to stand amidst the rescue workers and looked in their eyes and saw the determination that would make all Americans proud. In spite of their exhaustion, in spite of the fact that they had worked themselves into a state of total fatigue, they still wanted to keep fighting on for their fellow brothers and sisters trapped in the rubble.

Mayor Giuliani and Pataki have led New York City through its most difficult of all days and they have done so with class and bravery and distinction and we owe them a debt of gratitude.

(APPLAUSE)

The mayor, the governors, all New Yorkers have demonstrated the very best American values to a world that has been watching to see how our nation would react. The world watches the great country called America and they say, "What will they do? What will Americans do?" And what they have see the best of America. They've seen leadership, they've seen courage and, as importantly, they've seen compassion.

Last evening marked the start of Rosh Hashana. In Jewish teaching, this holy day is the anniversary of the creation of the world. It is a season of renewal and of hope. And people of every faith, all across America, embraced that spirit of renewal and hope.

Funds in New York and Washington are providing food, clothing and financial help to husbands and wives and sons and daughters who suffer mightily. Citizens near Ground Zero in New York have provided sandwiches, drinks and clean clothes to the tire and hungry rescue workers. And one of America's greatest traditions, a handful of entrepreneurs from Springfield, Virginia, collected $600 by selling lemonade and gave it to the Red Cross. These acts of generosity and kindness are spreading all across America. There are challenges that remain for those who suffer today. Make no mistake about it, we've got a lot of work to do as a nation and these good efforts, these good charitable compassionate efforts, need the full support of Americans everywhere. People all across the country are asking how they can help, what can they do to provide hope? What can they do to help heal the wounds by helping their fellow Americans? Well, there are many ways to contribute: Local stores and businesses on Main Street America are collecting money to send to appropriate relief and help agencies. National media organizations are helping collect.

Internet portals providing an interesting opportunity for people to contribute and provide their help. Many of the charities themselves welcome donations through websites. So I urge my fellow Americans to continue contributing through web sites.

If you're interested in helping, call up one of the great charities of America, and contribute. Thus far, I'm proud to report through the websites of our charities, Americans have donated $55 million in seven short days.

Some of America's, high tech leaders, AOL-Time Warner and Microsoft, Amazon, e-Bay, Cisco Systems, and Yahoo!, have joined together in a private effort to encourage online giving so that we can funnel resources to help our citizens in need. They have formed what is called the American Liberty Partnership. It has a website, called libertyunites.org. And this will help Americans find out how to help. If a concerned American wants to help a neighbor in need, even though the neighborhood might not be right next to each other, they can get on libertyunites.org and find out how to help. And I urge my fellow Americans to do so.

Americans cannot only make online donations, they can figure out where to send food, where to donate blood, where to give clothes.

They can find out how best to donate their time.

Now, it's important to realize that, at this moment, many of our charities are overwhelmed by the public response. That's the kind of problem we like in America. But because the portals may be jammed, because the phones may be busy, is not an excuse for Americans not to continue to help their neighbors. And so I ask my fellow Americans to be patient with those charities that want their help, to keep trying to give, to not lose sight of the mission, and that is, we'll fight terrorism on all fronts.

We will not be terrorized so that our hearts are hardened. Nobody can threaten this country. Oh, they may be able to bomb buildings and obviously disrupt lives, but we're too great a nation to allow the evildoers to affect our soul and our spirit.

Today, I herald the soul and spirit of America with live examples of people who have made a huge difference in those who suffer and those who hurt. This is a great land. It's a great land, because our people are so decent and strong and compassionate.

God bless.

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