    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [February 6, 2002]
    [Pages 184-187]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Reception for Governor George E. Pataki of New York in New York City
    February 6, 2002

        The President. Thank you very much. Gosh, thanks for the warm
    welcome. It's great to be back in New York City. It's the home of such
    courage and strength and resolve. It's shown the world and the country
    what it means to be a community that refuses--refuses--to back down in
    the face of evil and terror. I'm proud to be the President of a country
    where we've got such a fabulous city called New York City.
        I want to thank the party chairman for
    his hard work. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor for being here. She certainly brightens up the stage.
    [Laughter] She's smarter than all of us, too. [Laughter]
        I want to thank the mayor. I
    appreciate the mayor taking on the awesome responsibility of being the
    mayor of this huge city. He could have easily have just continued to run
    his successful business and said, ``What the heck, I'm not interested in
    serving.'' But he made a personal sacrifice for the good of the people.
    And the city is going through tough times, but you made

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    the right decision to have a man who knows how to lead to be your mayor.
        And I look forward to working with the mayor. George is right; we're going to work hard to make
    sure that New York City gets the help she needs. And it's comforting to
    me to be able to tell the spenders up in Congress that when we send the
    money here, it's going to be well managed by Mayor Bloomberg.
        And I want to thank you all for coming to support my good, close
    friend George Pataki. He has done a--[applause]. If for no other reason
    you ought to send him back, it's because, like me, he married well.
    [Laughter] But he's got a fabulous record. He has been a breath of fresh
    air here in New York State. He's done in office what he said he would
    do. He's a plain speaker and just goes out and does it.
        Audience members. Like you! [Laughter]
        The President. He's one of these candidates who can actually run on
    his record and be proud of it. [Laughter] Some of them run away from
    their record. He's running on it. He's running on a great record.
        But there's another reason to send him back. As you know, we're in
    tough times here in America. As I said in my State of the Union, we're
    at war; we're in recession; but we've never been stronger. And one of
    the reasons we're strong is that this important State has got a leader
    who, in the face of danger, in the face of an emergency, stood strong
    and steady and was reliable. In tough times, what this State needs is
    somebody who you can count on, somebody who won't panic, somebody who
    won't play politics with the situation, somebody who knows how to lead.
    And that somebody is Governor George Pataki.
        He's got a good record. He's proven that he knows how to lead. And
    it also makes sense for New York State to have a Governor whose phone
    calls will be returned from the White House. [Laughter]
        We do have some tough times ahead of us. But you've got to know,
    I've never been more optimistic about the future than I am right now.
    I'm optimistic because I know what we need to do. And what we need to do
    is to make a clear statement and a stand for freedom--never relenting,
    never tiring, and pursuing a grand and noble objective, and that
    objective is to rid the world of terror.
        The enemy, in attacking New York City, made a terrible mistake. They
    must not understand what America's character is like. I like to say they
    must have been watching too much daytime TV. [Laughter] They--they
    miscalculated. They thought we were soft. They thought we were so
    materialistic and selfish that we couldn't think beyond ourselves, that
    we couldn't think in terms of a grand idea, that we wouldn't cherish
    freedom to the point where we would fight for it. And that
    miscalculation has been most notable with the Taliban Government in
    Afghanistan.
        I unleashed the mighty United States military on a clear objective.
    I said that not only would we find the killers and bring them to
    justice, but if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you
    hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist.
        There's been some proud moments for this country, nothing more proud
    for me than to see our military liberate a people--liberate women and
    children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the
    history of mankind. Not only are we fighting for justice, we're
    liberators. We free people so they can realize their potential. This
    great country is not only tough and resolved, but we stand on principle.
    And freedom is our principle. We love freedom at the core. And we will
    not relent--we won't relent in our quest to not only make the world more
    free but to make the world more peaceful.
        I want you to know I'm a patient man. I don't feel any great anxiety
    toward achieving objectives on the moment. And therefore, those who
    think they can hide can't hide long enough. Those who think they

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    can run can't run far enough. We are deliberate. We are patient. But
    make no mistake about it, we will deliver justice.
        The country is united, and for that I am really grateful. I
    appreciate the support of members of both political parties in
    Washington, DC, for this most important cause, this most important
    campaign. History has called us into action, and we'll respond. It's our
    chance to leave a better world.
        And so I want to tell you that the first theater on the war against
    terror is going well. But there will be other theaters. So long as the
    enemy wants to harm us, so long as people believe they can get away with
    terror, this Nation will lead our vast coalition with firm resolve,
    dedicated to a peaceful world.
        The other day I spoke very clearly about some choices countries get
    to make. I talked about an axis of evil because I firmly believe that
    nations need to be put on notice that this Nation will not allow our
    citizens to become threatened, not only by terrorist acts but by nations
    which develop weapons of mass destruction which could easily or
    eventually be used against us. We will not be intimidated. I will not
    allow nations to hold us hostage or our friends and allies hostage.
    Terror is our mission--[applause].
        And so, my fellow citizens, I appreciate our Nation's resolve and
    understanding and adherence to some important principle. I also want you
    to know that every morning I walk into the Oval Office and sit at this
    magnificent desk that had been used by the Roosevelts and by President
    Reagan--by the way, today is his 91st
    birthday--and other leaders and sit down there at the desk and read a
    threat assessment. It's a summary of the intent of the enemy. And you've
    got to know that there are still ambitions against us. But I also want
    to assure you, our great land is doing everything we possibly can to
    protect our American citizens.
        We're on alert. The law enforcement agency at the Federal level, the
    FBI, is now focused on prevention. We're running down every lead; we're
    seeking every opportunity to disrupt potential cells in America; we're
    working overtime. I'm proud of the way our law enforcement officials
    have responded. You need to know that we are doing--my most important
    job and the most important job of your Government is to protect the
    American people, and we will do so with all our vigor and all our might.
        As I said in my State of the Union, I stand in awe of the American
    people and in awe of the citizens of New York City. This great city
    refused, absolutely refused, to be intimidated. This city, it stood in
    defiance of evil. And America watched, and America was impressed, and so
    was your President. I've been impressed--[applause].
        I'm asked all the time by people, ``What can I do to help?'' You
    see, as you probably can tell, I don't see many shades of gray in this
    world. Either you're with us, or you're against us. Either you support
    evil, or you support good. This great Nation stands on the side of good.
    And for those who want to help, you can do so by acts of kindness. You
    can do so by showing compassion to your neighbor.
        And it doesn't require much. Walking across the street to a shut-in
    to say, ``I care for you; I hope you're okay,'' is an act of kindness
    that will stand in the face of evil. Mentoring a child who can't read is
    an act of kindness which stands in the face of evil. Saying to a child
    whose parent is in prison, ``America belongs to you just as much as it
    does to me,'' is an act of kindness in the face of evil. The gathering
    momentum of a million acts of kindness and compassion is how America can
    stand strong in the face of evil. And make no mistake about it, that is
    how America is responding.
        I believe out of this great evil will come great good. I believe the
    world will be more peaceful when we accomplish our

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    mission. And I know our country is beginning to make different kinds of
    choices. The old culture said, ``If it feels good, just go ahead and do
    it.'' Now we've learned a new ethic, and it had to do with Flight 93.
    When people on that airplane said a prayer, told their wives they loved
    them, and drove the plane in the ground to save others' lives, we're
    beginning to get a sense of sacrifice.
        We saw it here in New York City, where firefighters and policemen
    rushed into buildings to save others. This Nation is in the process, I
    believe, of ushering in a period where we said, ``Each of us are
    responsible for the decisions we make in life.'' We're responsible for
    loving a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We're
    responsible for loving our children. We're responsible for the
    communities in which we live.
        No, they hit us, and they're going to pay a terrible price. But as a
    result, our Nation will be stronger and more compassionate and more
    decent. It will hold more promise for people who are lucky enough to
    call themselves Americans.
        I love being the President of a nation whose strength is not its
    Government, whose strength is the American people. I'm proud to be here.
        May God bless you all, and may God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:40 p.m. in the Imperial Ballroom at the
    Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers. In his remarks, he referred to Sandy
    Treadwell, chairman, New York Republican State Committee; Lt. Gov. Mary
    O. Donohue of New York; and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City.