Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Plans to Address Nation Tonight

Aired September 07, 2003 - 09:01   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to our top story, with criticism mounting and his poll numbers falling, President Bush plans to address the nation tonight. In his live televised speech, Mr. Bush will address America about what lies ahead in Iraq.
Let's go ahead and get some more perspective now from CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Good morning to you, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

This is really a critical juncture for the president at this time. He faces a lot of questions and even some criticism about his ability to handle the economy with a 6.1 unemployment rate, as well as 93,000 jobs lost, with his ability to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the road to peace, with the recent resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and of course his ability to turn things around in Iraq. And that is going to be the focus of his address to the nation this evening. And Democrats and, more recently, Republicans have been calling for the president to outline his vision to the American people.

That is exactly what he is going to be doing this evening. But White House aides seeing this as really a more critical time for the president to do so. This is at a time when he is trying to generate more international support for the reconstruction effort inside of Iraq and also at a time when he's going to be asking Congress for more funding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE HAMILTON, FMR. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: This is how long we're going to have to carry this burden. This is how much help we're going to get from our friends and allies. He's got to convey all of those things to the American people or their questions will multiply and their doubts will grow, and eventually support would erode. He's got to turn this around. This is a critical time for the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And, Heidi, we expect to get somewhat of a preview of what the president is going to say this evening. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary Powell are going to hit talk shows highlighting some of those points -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Suzanne, thanks so very much.

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 September 7, 2003 - 09:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to our top story, with criticism mounting and his poll numbers falling, President Bush plans to address the nation tonight. In his live televised speech, Mr. Bush will address America about what lies ahead in Iraq.
Let's go ahead and get some more perspective now from CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Good morning to you, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

This is really a critical juncture for the president at this time. He faces a lot of questions and even some criticism about his ability to handle the economy with a 6.1 unemployment rate, as well as 93,000 jobs lost, with his ability to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the road to peace, with the recent resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and of course his ability to turn things around in Iraq. And that is going to be the focus of his address to the nation this evening. And Democrats and, more recently, Republicans have been calling for the president to outline his vision to the American people.

That is exactly what he is going to be doing this evening. But White House aides seeing this as really a more critical time for the president to do so. This is at a time when he is trying to generate more international support for the reconstruction effort inside of Iraq and also at a time when he's going to be asking Congress for more funding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE HAMILTON, FMR. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: This is how long we're going to have to carry this burden. This is how much help we're going to get from our friends and allies. He's got to convey all of those things to the American people or their questions will multiply and their doubts will grow, and eventually support would erode. He's got to turn this around. This is a critical time for the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And, Heidi, we expect to get somewhat of a preview of what the president is going to say this evening. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary Powell are going to hit talk shows highlighting some of those points -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Suzanne, thanks so very much.

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