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CNN Live Sunday
Bush Enters Second Year
Aired January 20, 2002 - 17:10 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: When George W. Bush took the oath of office exactly one year ago today, no one could have imagined the events that were ahead of him, or how those events would transform a nation and a presidency. Here is White House correspondent Major Garrett on what a difference a year makes.
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The president offered this silent but emphatic assessment of his first year in office, an odyssey that began in a drenching rain for a plea for civility after weeks of election recount rancor.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism of community, over chaos. And this commitment, if we keep it, is a way to share an accomplishment.
GARRETT: Changing the tone in Washington became a White House mantra, but the president's biggest early victory was largely partisan. His 10-year, 1.35 trillion-dollar tax cut, by the triumph came with a huge price: Vermont Republican James Jeffords changed parties, giving control of the Senate to the Democrats.
The White House was girding for a fall of confrontation with Senate Democrats, when terror changed everything.
From the Oval Office the president sought to reassure...
BUSH: Terrorist attacks can shake foundations of our biggest buildings but they cannot touch the foundation of America.
GARRETT: Days later Mr. Bush talked to recovery workers and spoke for a nation.
BUSH: I can hear you!
I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!
GARRETT: Less than a month later war began in Afghanistan. Before year's end, the Taliban was destroyed, a new multiethnic government in control and al Qaeda on the run.
But back in the U.S. political unity is receding giving way to election-year calculations. Karl Rove, the president's top political adviser said Friday Republicans should run on Mr. Bush's war record. Democrats cried foul.
TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: I am very saddened by it. I thought it was despicable. We are all united behind this president, we are all together fighting this war.
GARRETT: But the new G.O.P. chairman said it is only natural for voters to judge Mr. Bush and Republicans on the war.
MARC RACICOT, RNC CHAIRMAN: The president, because of these circumstances, has displayed a depth of character and leadership that quite obviously the American people will take into consideration when they are making judgments about what it is we do as Republicans.
GARRETT (on camera): The first year of the Bush presidency was defined by political turbulence and horrific human tragedy. Year two dawns with the president waging a war on terrorism and battling an economics recession. Neither were anticipated when Mr. Bush took his oath of office, but both will define his presidency and decide the fate of his party in this year's elections. Major Garrett, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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