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Tom Ridge Expected to Head New Agency

Aired November 25, 2002 - 13:04   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.


JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's go to the White House. Our John King's standing by with more from there.
Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.

The president, obviously, a political victory here just a few short weeks ago. It seemed unlikely he would get this department, one that he wanted, not one that he initially proposed.

Remember, this idea first came from key members of Congress. The president initially resisted it. It was at the advice of his homeland security director here at the White House, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. Tom Ridge was on the job for several months, when he told the president, yes, he thought it was necessary to bring all these agencies, as Jeanne just explained, under one roof.

And when the president signs that bill today, he will announce that Governor Ridge is his choice to move over and become secretary of what will be the third largest department in the federal government.

Why Tom Ridge? He is 57 years old. He's a native of Erie, Pennsylvania. He served in the Army in Vietnam, then went on to serve 12 years in Congress, from 1982 to 1984. Key friendships and relationships in this town built there. He was the governor of Pennsylvania from January 1995 until the president asked him to resign and take this White House homeland security job back in September of 2002.

Now Governor Ridge has been -- September 2001, excuse me. Governor Ridge on the job in the White House. Why does the president want him in this new department? He is a close friend. He is a pragmatist, like the president. He likes to get things done, and He Has key good relationships with people like Vice President Dick Cheney and key members of Congress.

Tom Ridge will take over this new department, but to echo what Jeanne said, White House officials say the transition is under way, but it will be at least a year from now before they think this department will be up and running in the capacity and in the systems and structure that the president envisions it -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, John, you mentioned Tom Ridge and some specifics about him. This elevates his status within the administration. Could this mean, and I'm looking ahead into the future here, things for 2004? KING: Not in 2004, unless he wants to run for something else. Dick Cheney has made clear he wants to seek a second term as Mr. Bush's vice president. The president has made it clear Dick Cheney will be on the ticket if he wants to be. Some think down the line Governor Ridge is somebody who might have presidential aspirations. He was near the top of the list when Mr. Bush was looking for a running mate in campaign 2000. Dick Cheney had put Tom Ridge at the top of the list.

It was only when the president decided to pick the head of the search committee, if you will, to pick Dick Cheney, that Governor Ridge did not get selected. But many believe Governor Ridge, of course, could have a future in Republican politics. He is pro choice. That's a difficult position to have if you want to run nationally in the Republican Party.

But the president trusts him. Governor Ridge wants this new job heading the new department. He is putting any plans to run for office aside, at least for the several years -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our John King at the White House, we'll see you again soon, John. Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 25, 2002 - 13:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's go to the White House. Our John King's standing by with more from there.
Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.

The president, obviously, a political victory here just a few short weeks ago. It seemed unlikely he would get this department, one that he wanted, not one that he initially proposed.

Remember, this idea first came from key members of Congress. The president initially resisted it. It was at the advice of his homeland security director here at the White House, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. Tom Ridge was on the job for several months, when he told the president, yes, he thought it was necessary to bring all these agencies, as Jeanne just explained, under one roof.

And when the president signs that bill today, he will announce that Governor Ridge is his choice to move over and become secretary of what will be the third largest department in the federal government.

Why Tom Ridge? He is 57 years old. He's a native of Erie, Pennsylvania. He served in the Army in Vietnam, then went on to serve 12 years in Congress, from 1982 to 1984. Key friendships and relationships in this town built there. He was the governor of Pennsylvania from January 1995 until the president asked him to resign and take this White House homeland security job back in September of 2002.

Now Governor Ridge has been -- September 2001, excuse me. Governor Ridge on the job in the White House. Why does the president want him in this new department? He is a close friend. He is a pragmatist, like the president. He likes to get things done, and He Has key good relationships with people like Vice President Dick Cheney and key members of Congress.

Tom Ridge will take over this new department, but to echo what Jeanne said, White House officials say the transition is under way, but it will be at least a year from now before they think this department will be up and running in the capacity and in the systems and structure that the president envisions it -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, John, you mentioned Tom Ridge and some specifics about him. This elevates his status within the administration. Could this mean, and I'm looking ahead into the future here, things for 2004? KING: Not in 2004, unless he wants to run for something else. Dick Cheney has made clear he wants to seek a second term as Mr. Bush's vice president. The president has made it clear Dick Cheney will be on the ticket if he wants to be. Some think down the line Governor Ridge is somebody who might have presidential aspirations. He was near the top of the list when Mr. Bush was looking for a running mate in campaign 2000. Dick Cheney had put Tom Ridge at the top of the list.

It was only when the president decided to pick the head of the search committee, if you will, to pick Dick Cheney, that Governor Ridge did not get selected. But many believe Governor Ridge, of course, could have a future in Republican politics. He is pro choice. That's a difficult position to have if you want to run nationally in the Republican Party.

But the president trusts him. Governor Ridge wants this new job heading the new department. He is putting any plans to run for office aside, at least for the several years -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our John King at the White House, we'll see you again soon, John. Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com