[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
[October 8, 2001]
[Pages 1203-1204]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 1203]]


Remarks at the Swearing-In Ceremony for Tom Ridge 
as Director of the Office of Homeland Security
October 8, 2001

    Please be seated. Thank you all. Welcome to the White House.
    Today I signed an Executive order creating a new Homeland Security 
Office, charged with strengthening America's protections against 
terrorism. And I've picked a really good man to lead that office. In 
case you hadn't figured it out, it's Tom Ridge. [Laughter]
    Together, we will confront the threat of terrorism. We will take 
strong precautions aimed at preventing terrorist attacks and prepare to 
respond effectively if they might come again. We will defend our 
country, and while we do so, we will not sacrifice the freedoms that 
make our land unique.
    The best defense against terror is a global offensive against 
terror, wherever it might be found. Yesterday we opened another front on 
the war on terrorism as we began conventional military operations 
designed to destroy terrorist training camps and military installations 
of the Taliban Government.
    Secretary Don Rumsfeld, who is 
leading a really fine team, will brief the country this afternoon. But 
he informed me this morning that the military mission of yesterday was 
executed as planned, and at the same time, that our good Nation dropped 
over 37,000 kits of food and medicine. This is an important part of a 
war already underway that is being conducted on many fronts.
    The first shot of the war was fired several weeks ago, as we began 
freezing bank accounts and cutting off funding of known terrorist 
organizations and front groups that support them. And I appreciate so 
very much the Secretary of Treasury's work, Paul O'Neill.
    We've worked aggressively on the diplomatic front, developing a 
broad and strong coalition of countries who are united with us and 
involved in our campaign. And Mr. Secretary Powell and his team have done a remarkable job of rallying the 
lovers of freedom to our side. Mr. Secretary, thank you.
    Our intelligence and law enforcement agencies are working around the 
clock and around the world. Attorney General Ashcroft and George Tenet and Bob 
Mueller are all doing a fantastic job 
of making sure we've got the best intelligence and the best information, 
not only to protect ourselves but to bring the evildoers to justice.
    On all efforts and all fronts, we're going to be ongoing and 
relentless as we tighten the net of justice. This will be a long war. It 
requires understanding and patience from the American people. Members of 
my Cabinet understand that, and I appreciate them all being here. These 
are fine Americans who understand the nature of the conflict and are 
prepared to join me in doing whatever it takes to win the war, not only 
for our country today but for generations to come tomorrow.
    It's an honor for me to welcome the Ridge family here to the White 
House: the former first lady of Pennsylvania, Michele Ridge, and of course, Lesley and 
Tommy, thank you all for being here, and thank 
you for your sacrifice.
    I want to thank all of Tom's friends for coming up from 
Pennsylvania. It looks like he's got a few who don't live in 
Pennsylvania, as well. Thank you all for being here. I'm so appreciative 
that Clarence Thomas is here to swear in 
Tom. I appreciate the Mayor of Washington, DC, being here. Mr. Mayor, thank you for your cooperation. 
It's just the beginning of what we need to do together to make sure our 
Nation's Capital is safe and secure.

[[Page 1204]]

    As we've learned, we face new threats, and therefore we need new 
defenses for our country. And I've found the right man to coordinate 
that effort. Tom Ridge has been a chief executive. He is a leader who 
has shown he can draw the best out of people and out of organizations. 
He's a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam war. He's a patriot who 
has heard the sound of battle. He's seen the reach of terror in a field 
in his own State. He's a man of compassion who has seen what evil can 
do.
    I've given Tom and the Office of Homeland Security a mission: to 
design a comprehensive, coordinated national strategy to fight terror 
here at home. We face a united, determined enemy. We must have a united 
and determined response.
    The Homeland Security Office has a series of specific goals and will 
have my authority to meet them: One, take the strongest possible 
precautions against terrorism by bringing together the best information 
and intelligence--in the war on terror, knowledge is power; strengthen 
and help protect our transportation systems, our food and water systems, 
and our critical infrastructure by making them less vulnerable to 
attack; respond effectively to terrorist actions if they come. The 
Office will coordinate Federal assistance with State and local efforts. 
America is going to be prepared.
    The Office will work in conjunction with the new Homeland Security 
Council, chaired by me and made up of my Cabinet and other senior 
officials. The Office mission will have the full attention and complete 
support of the very highest levels of our Government.
    I know that many Americans at this time have fears. We've learned 
that America is not immune from attack. We've seen that evil is real. 
It's hard for us to comprehend the mentality of people that will destroy 
innocent folks the way they have. Yet, America is equal to this 
challenge, make no mistake about it. They've roused a mighty giant. A 
compassionate land will rise united to not only protect ourselves, not 
only make our homeland as secure as possible but to bring the evildoers 
to justice so that our children might live in freedom.
    It's now my honor to call Clarence Thomas up here to swear in Tom 
Ridge.

Note: The President spoke at 10:53 a.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor Anthony A. Williams of 
Washington, DC. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Director Ridge. The Executive 
order is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.