    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [October 2, 2001]
    [Pages 1181-1183]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Reopening of Ronald Reagan Washington National
    Airport in Arlington, Virginia
    October 2, 2001

        The President. Thank you all. Governor, thank you very much. I am here to make an announcement
    that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald
    Reagan Airport. The ticket counters will be open for business. We will
    start a schedule of airplane flights that will reflect the new and tight
    security concerns that all Americans share. Ronald Reagan Airport is
    very important for our local economy, but it's also a national symbol,
    as the Governor mentioned. So Thursday, flights will resume.
        I want to thank all the captains and flight attendants and
    maintenance folks and ticket counter personnel, people who make this
    good airport run, for your patience and understanding.

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        We're doing the right thing. We've taken our time. We can assure the
    American public as best as we can that we're taking the necessary safety
    precautions. Now it's time to start flying again.
        I want to thank the Governor of Virginia for his hard work and concern about the working people in
    this part of the State. I want to thank Secretary Norm Mineta, the Transportation Secretary, for working hard to
    bring people together, to bring sensible policy to airports all across
    America. He's been working overtime. That's what we expect from the
    Secretary of Transportation during this period of time. And I'm proud of
    the work he's done.
        I want to thank the Mayor of Washington, DC, for being here. The Mayor's a good, solid man. I want to
    thank Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton
    from Washington, DC, for being here as well. Two United States Senators
    from the State of Virginia, John Warner and
    George Allen, have been deeply concerned about
    this airport. Members of the congressional delegation, Tom Davis, Jim Moran, and Frank
    Wolf, as well, have been working hard with us
    to come up with reasonable, sound policies to get the Reagan Airport
    started. I'm glad you all are here, as well as Connie Morella from the neighboring State of Maryland.
        There really is no greater symbol that America's back in business
    than the reopening of this airport. After all, this is the airport that
    brings our Nation's leaders to Washington to do the people's business.
    It's the airport that welcomes millions of tourists to our Nation's
    Capital. And of course, the Mayor would
    want me to say, we want the tourists coming back to see our great
    monuments.
        But one of the things those of us who live in the area understand,
    this airport is really important for the local economy as well. There's
    a lot of people, a lot of small-business people, a lot of people who
    service the airport, obviously a lot of people who work here, depend
    upon this airport being open. And I understand that. And I appreciate
    once again your patience and understanding, as our Nation obviously is
    dealing with a tragedy, the likes of which we never envisioned.
        I also know full well that the Nation is asking this question: Are
    we taking the necessary safety precautions as we open not only Ronald
    Reagan Airport but other airports? The answer is, you bet. We sure are.
    We're spending a lot of time consulting with local officials to make
    sure that the security that all of us expect is in place. Not only have
    we worked with Members of the Congress to develop what we hope is a
    security plan that will enhance confidence from the traveling public,
    but we work with local officials as well to make sure this airport has
    got the toughest security measures possible.
        We also, as you well know, are increasing the number of air
    marshals, armed marshals on airplanes. They'll be undercover--let me
    rephrase that--they'll be wearing civilian clothes. [Laughter] They will
    blend in. But we'll have many more air marshals on flights. It should
    send two signals: One to the American public that there will be
    protection; and to somebody who thinks they can disrupt America, we're
    watching for you; we're paying attention to you.
        Every person who gets on an airplane, who goes to work, who takes
    their family to visit relatives, is taking a stand against terrorism.
    You see, the terrorists, they want to intimidate America. The
    terrorists, by conducting their evil deeds, wanted our Nation to stop.
    But they underestimated our spirit, didn't they?
        Audience member. Yes, they did.
        The President. Yes, they made a mistake. And the spirit is strong in
    America. Our confidence is strong.
        We've put together a coalition of nations that says terrorism won't
    stand. We've got our military alert--on alert for a reason: Terrorism
    won't stand. We're cutting off their money, because we're saying
    terrorism won't stand.

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        And we're saying that at home as well. People who travel say
    terrorism is not going to intimidate us. Tonight I've asked the
    Mayor to go out to dinner with me, on a
    Washington--here in the District. He said he's going so long as I pay.
    [Laughter] You've got a deal. [Laughter]
        When people go to ball games, they're sending a signal. I mean, we
    got struck hard on September the 11th. All of us know that. But you
    can't strike the American spirit. It's strong. It's vibrant. It's
    united. And by opening this airport, we're making yet another statement
    to the terrorists: You can't win.
        Thank you all for being here. God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:52 a.m. at Terminal C, north pier of the
    airport. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. James S. Gilmore III of
    Virginia, and Mayor Anthony A. Williams of Washington, DC.