    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [January 11, 2005]
    [Pages 33-34]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Nomination of Michael Chertoff To Be Secretary of Homeland Security
    January 11, 2005

        Good morning. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Judge Michael
    Chertoff to be the Secretary of Homeland Security.
        Mike is a talented and experienced public servant. In his stellar
    career, he has been a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for
    the Third Circuit; he's been an Assistant Attorney General of the United
    States; he's been the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey; a Federal prosecutor
    in New York City; and a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice William
    Brennan. He's been confirmed by the Senate three times.
        In all of his roles, Mike has shown a deep commitment to the cause
    of justice and an unwavering determination to protect the American
    people. Mike has also been a key leader in the war on terror. On
    September the 11th, 2001, he was managing the Criminal Division of the
    Department of Justice, an 800-person operation devoted to enforcing our
    Nation's criminal laws. In the days after September the 11th, Mike
    helped trace the terrorist attacks to the Al Qaida network. He
    understood immediately that the strategy on the war on terror is to
    prevent attacks before they occur. His energy and intellect put him at
    the center of many vital homeland security improvements, especially
    increased information sharing within the FBI and with State and local
    officials.

        He's faced countless challenging decisions and has helped to protect
    his
    fellow Americans while protecting their civil liberties. I'm grateful
    that the judge has agreed to bring his exceptional judgment and
    integrity to an urgent new responsibility. I'm confident that he will be
    a

    [[Page 34]]

    strong, effective leader for the Department of Homeland Security.
        Two years ago, we created this new Department to ensure a
    comprehensive, unified effort to protect the American people against new
    dangers. Since that time, the employees of the Department have carried
    out the largest reorganization of the Government in a half a century.
    Under the direction of Secretary Tom Ridge, the
    Department of Homeland Security has improved airline security, enhanced
    the protection of our borders and ports of entry, and taken vital steps
    to safeguard the Nation's critical infrastructure. Tom Ridge has the
    gratitude of our entire Nation. I thank him for his leadership. I
    appreciate his hard work.
        The Department of Homeland Security will also continue working to
    reduce the Nation's vulnerabilities to weapons of mass destruction and
    cyberterrorism. We are engaged in a daily mission to prepare effective
    responses to any future attack and to closely coordinate homeland
    security efforts with State and local officials. Our Nation is still at
    war. We're focused. We're taking decisive actions on the homefront that
    are critical to winning this war.
        When Mike is confirmed by the Senate, the Department of Homeland
    Security will be led by a practical organizer, a skilled manager, and a
    brilliant thinker. As head of the Criminal Division and as a U.S.
    Attorney in New Jersey, Mike built an impressive record of cutting
    through redtape and moving organizations into action. He's worked
    cooperatively with the Federal and State and local law enforcement
    officials. He will always be a friend to America's first-responders.
        Mike is a strong and decent man. As an attorney, he has prosecuted
    organized crime and corporate fraud. He stood against racial profiling.
    He's worked with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to represent poor inmates
    on death row. He's earned the respect of lawyers of many backgrounds and
    of politicians on both sides of the aisle. This is the third time I've
    asked Mike to serve our Nation, and I'm grateful he's agreed. I'm also
    grateful to Meryl, Mike's wife, and his
    family. I urge the Senate to promptly confirm this outstanding nominee
    as America's second Secretary of Homeland Security.
        Congratulations, Mike.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:03 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Meryl Chertoff, wife of
    Secretary-designate Chertoff. The transcript released by the Office of
    the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary-designate
    Chertoff. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.