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CNN Live At Daybreak
President Bush Delivers Address in Atlanta
Aired November 09, 2001 - 05:02 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Looking at our top story, and that is President Bush, who is appealing to Americans to help out in this critical period of U.S. history. In a nationally televised address last night, the president asked people to add their eyes and their ears to efforts against terrorism, also to volunteer for a variety of services.
More now from John King.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have entered a new era. And this new era requires responsibilities both for the government and for our people. The government has a responsibility to protect our citizens. And that starts with Homeland Security.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A major Bush goal, convince Americans their government is doing all it can to win the war at home -- putting 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide on high alert, tightening security at airports, harbors and nuclear power plants, and creating a new cabinet level agency to coordinate the government's response.
BUSH: The moment the second plane hit the second building, when we knew it was a terrorist attack, many felt that our lives would never be the same. What we couldn't be sure of then and what the terrorists never expected was that America would emerge stronger, with a renewed spirit of pride and patriotism.
KING: But there also are many lingering questions -- no firm leads in the deadly anthrax mailings, security lapses at several airports despite new precautions, and some criticism that vague government warnings about possible new attacks only serve to alarm an already nervous nation.
BUSH: A terrorism alert is not a signal to stop your life. It is a call to be vigilant, to know that your government is on high alert and to add your eyes and ears to our efforts to find and stop those who want to do us harm.
KING: Complicating the president's challenge are suggestions from both parties in Congress that the White House is short-changing the war's domestic front. REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: And in our humble opinion, there are needs here that need to be addressed now, that need to be provided now in order to maximize the safety of the American people.
KING: Before the speech, this stop at the Centers for Disease Control and a thank you for doctors, scientists and others the president said saved lives by quickly dealing with the anthrax scare.
(on camera): There were no major new initiatives in the president's speech, but sources tell CNN Mr. Bush on Friday will announce several new measures designed to enhance airport security, including an expanded role for the National Guard at passenger checkpoints.
John King, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And here is some background on those new airport security measures that John King was just talking about. Mr. Bush's announcement is expected to come at a White House ceremony today honoring employers of National Guard and Reserve personnel. The Associated Press is quoting an official who says there will be a dramatic increase in the number of troops that you'll see at airports. One idea being considered, to station Guardsmen at departure gates, where they would watch passengers who are getting on board planes.
Other news today, a top congressional Democrat is giving President Bush high marks after his speech last night. Senator Bob Graham of Florida appeared on CNN's LARRY KING LIVE.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: I think what I learned the most was about George Bush as a man and as a president. I'm consistently impressed every time I hear him speak as to how he is growing in the office and in his command and with this relationship with the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Well, you saw that speech live here on CNN. But most broadcast networks chose not to take the president's speech live. Instead, they aired entertainment shows like NBC's "Friends" and "Survivor" on CBS. White House officials held a standard conference call with network chiefs in the afternoon and it briefed them on what the president would say. And one senior Bush aide said he hasn't heard anyone in the administration say they're angry at the networks for taking their regular programming.
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