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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush Delivers Weekly Radio Address

Aired December 22, 2001 - 10:05   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's go to the White House and check in with our Kelly Wallace who's got a wrap of things that happened there for the day -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. Well, just moments from now, we will hear President Bush's weekly radio address. He will salute those who will be without loved ones this holiday season and also all those helping out in their communities. The president recorded the address yesterday.

Let's listen now to the president's weekly radio address.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good morning.

This week before Christmas was a busy one in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress have returned home with many achievements to show for their work.

Congress passed, and I will soon sign, the most important education reforms in a generation. We have taken strong action to support our military, protect our homeland and make our airways more secure. The year 2001 also saw the largest tax relief in two decades. These achievements bring credit to the Congress, and I'm grateful for their work.

I am disappointed, however, that the Senate was not able to pass legislation to get our economy growing again and to help workers who have lost their jobs. I'm hopeful that the positive spirit of bipartisan accomplishment that guided much of this year's success will prevail when Congress returns early next year.

Our thoughts in these coming days, however, do not center on public policy. Millions of Americans will be celebrating Christmas, marking an ancient birth of an eternal promise of peace on Earth and goodwill to men.

This Christmas comes just months after a great national loss. We find ourselves appreciating more than ever the things that matter most: our families, our friends and our faith. We count our blessings, and we remember all those who feel lost, separation and need. For the families that lost a loved one on September the 11th or in the fighting in Afghanistan, this will be the first Christmas without a husband or a wife or a father or a mother or son or daughter. Our nation shares their grief.

Many thousands of our fighting men and women will spend Christmas far from home, accepting hardship and danger to protect us all. We are grateful to every military family for the sacrifice they are making for America. We owe them much.

Our nation is also thankful for the people of every faith in every community who make a special effort this time of year to help neighbors in need. So many good-hearted Americans are giving time or money to make sure that there is hot meal for homeless people, a Christmas present for disadvantaged children, food for the hungry in foreign lands, or just a visit to bring comfort to someone who is lonely or sick.

The year now ending saw a few acts of terrible evil; it also saw many more acts of courage and kindness and love. And these reflect the great hope of Christmas. A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome it.

Laura and I wish a very joyous holiday to all Americans. May the peace and goodwill of this season fill every heart and warm every home.

Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: That was President Bush and his weekly radio address. He recorded that address yesterday at the White House. And at this time, he and the first lady and their daughters and other members of the Bush family at the presidential retreat at Camp David where they will be spending the holiday weekend.

You heard from the president yourselves there. You heard him talk a little bit about some domestic accomplishments. He and lawmakers achieved this year. Also, expressing some disappointment, the president saying that the Democratically led Senate failed to pass a measure to give a boost to the economy.

But Leon and Kyra, most of this addressed as we approach the holidays, the Christmas and the New Year. The president talking about all those who will be without loved ones, some who lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks, other military families who's loved ones will be working on the military campaign overseas and then also, talking about how every day Americans are helping in their communities.

So no question, the president talking about this year, in his words, saw some -- quote -- "new acts of evil." But Leon, Kyra, you heard him talk about how we also saw courage and kindness and we certainly saw a lot of that on the South Lawn today -- Leon. HARRIS: Yes, we did. We saw that this morning with the ceremony there with the lighting of the torch. What's the latest with that right now, do you know?

WALLACE: Well, the latest is we saw Eric Jones, the college student, take that and run that torch along Pennsylvania Avenue. You see the president there shaking hands with Eric Jones, a local college student who volunteered at the Pentagon and at the World Trade Center.

And then Leon, just before I came out to the North Lawn, I saw some live coverage from a local television station in Baltimore. That torch is now in West Baltimore, in the city of Baltimore. That's where it will be for a little bit of time today before making its way to Salt Lake City.

And Leon and Kyra, yeah, I wanted to let you know we...

HARRIS: That's pretty quick, isn't it? I mean I'm not the best in geography here but I'm thinking we just saw you what, maybe -- I don't know, what was it 25, 30 minutes ago and that thing is already there?

WALLACE: I told you the use of 95; the interstate highway between Washington and Baltimore was going to be used just a little bit. Obviously, using some automobile transportation and...

HARRIS: Yes.

WALLACE: ... then back to the runner's carrying the torch. But I wanted to let you guys know Elizabeth Anderson Howell, as we saw, the woman who lost her husband Brady, she carried the torch. We were fortunate enough, Leon and Kyra, to talk with her afterwards.

She is so lovely and she said she was hopeful that she was making her husband proud, that he would be proud that she was representing him and all that stands for. And I told her I think that he certainly would have proud of what she did today.

HARRIS: Yeah, she shouldn't have any doubt on that. That's for sure. All right, sport.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Looking down, looking down on her.

HARRIS: Yes, we were hoping to get a chance to talk with her. Glad you did, Kelly.

WALLACE: She was a little shy. She didn't want to do anything live.

HARRIS: Yes?

WALLACE: So maybe next time, although she was incredibly articulate. So I wished she would have done it.

HARRIS: Did she get some more time with the president? We saw her stay there on the podium with him for a while? WALLACE: She did. And you know, you saw her smiling. She said the president, you know, gave her a hug and said, "I'm so sorry about your loss." And then a little bit later, he said, "I am so cold." And she laughed. She said, "Well, Mr. President, have you even been to Utah?" And he said, "I'm a Texan."

(LAUGHTER)

WALLACE: So they had a lot to laugh about. And then after the event, she actually met the president and saw the first lady and saw the president's daughters and also some of the first family pets, Spot and Barney. So she was really walking on Cloud Nine, but she thought this was an incredible way to honor her husband, who she said was just incredible and really represented, she said, the best of America.

HARRIS: No doubt, an unforgettable morning for her. That's great.

WALLACE: Absolutely.

HARRIS: Thanks, Kelly. Kelly Wallace at the White House. We'll talk with you later.

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