    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [October 11, 2005]
    [Pages 1537-1542]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Interview With Matt Lauer of NBC's ``Today'' Show
    in Covington, Louisiana
    October 11, 2005

        Mr. Lauer. Two of the volunteers this morning are the President of
    the United States and the First Lady. President Bush, good to see you
    again; Mrs. Bush, nice to have you here.
        The First Lady. Hi, Matt.

    Recovery From Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

        Mr. Lauer. Eight trips to this region for you since September 2d--
    six, I believe, for you, Mrs. Bush. Give me a sense of the biggest
    change you've seen over the past 6 or 7 weeks in this area.
        The President. I think we've seen the spirits change. I mean, the
    storm hit; it was an overwhelming moment for a lot of people. And then
    they're beginning to realize, people--the local people are beginning to
    realize there's hope; there's a chance to rebuild lives. And a lot of
    people care about them.
        I've seen some infrastructure change. The debris is being cleared,
    and roads are being rebuilt. And it's a remarkable spirit here in this
    part of the world. I mean, people say, ``Look, we're going to rebuild
    our lives,'' and they've realized a lot of people from around the
    country want to help them.

    Schools in Flood Ravaged Areas

        Mr. Lauer. And as you see the progress, you also see how much
    remains to be done.
        The First Lady. Sure.
        Mr. Lauer. Schools still need to be reopened----
        The First Lady. That's true.
        Mr. Lauer. ----health facilities and all that sort of thing.
        The First Lady. Well, I'm worried about the schools. I'm really
    interested in that. But I'm also proud that so many people have gone to
    school, so many parents have put their kids in school wherever they are,
    if they're in Houston or Fort Worth or Baton Rouge or wherever, and I
    think that's really important.

    Responsibility for Response to Hurricanes

        Mr. Lauer. So much more visibility on your part, President Bush,
    following Hurricane Rita and, as I mentioned, the eight trips to this
    region, as compared to what was seen as a slow and inefficient Federal
    response after Hurricane Katrina. Is this one of those situations where
    you're trying to get a second chance to make a first impression?
        The President. I do my job as best I can. One of the things that we
    do is we respond to crises. And as I told the people, if I didn't
    respond well enough, we're going to learn the lessons. If there's any
    mistakes made at the Federal level, I, of course, accept responsibility
    for them.
        On the other hand, there's a lot of good that's taken place, a lot
    of people are working hard. We had chopper drivers pulling people off
    roofs. We had, you know, people working long hours to save lives, and
    the story will unfold. I mean, the facts of the story will come out over
    time, and the important thing is for Federal, State, and local
    governments to adjust and to respond.

    Plans for Rebuilding

        Mr. Lauer. I talked to a prominent Democrat in Louisiana who has
    said that this type of appearance, while it's great to see you guys
    rolling up your sleeves and grabbing a hammer and helping with this
    piece of wall here, that it's a photo op, and they want to see a plan on
    paper, your plan to rebuild this region. Do you have that kind of a
    plan?
        The President. Well, Matt, you see, I don't think Washington ought
    to dictate to

    [[Page 1538]]

    New Orleans how to rebuild. I guess we have a different philosophy than
    whoever the prominent Democrat was you spoke to. Last night Laura and I had dinner with Mayor Nagin and a group of distinguished New Orleans citizens from
    all walks of life. And my message to them was, ``We will support the
    plan that you develop.''
        The point is, is that it comes from the local folks. And I recognize
    there's an attitude in Washington that says, ``We know better than the
    local people.'' That's just not the attitude I have.

    Forgiveness Clause

        Mr. Lauer. There was recently a loan package approved by Congress, a
    billion dollars in emergency loans for the States hardest hit by
    hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That's the good news. Some Democrats
    complain that there was wording taken out of that loan package, a
    forgiveness clause that has traditionally been included in loan packages
    in the past. And they're wondering why these three States were singled
    out. Would you ask Congress to go back into that legislation and
    reinstate the forgiveness clause?
        The President. I think Congress--what Congress said was--is that the
    previous loans were limited to a relatively small amount of money. These
    loans are much greater loans, and that what Congress has said is,
    ``You'll have 5 years to repay, plus an additional 5 years to repay.''
    And so I think it's a kind of package that Congress was comfortable with
    giving, and I was happy to sign it.

    Politics and Voluntarism in Disaster Relief

        Mr. Lauer. Carolyn Maloney, who, as you know, is a Democrat from New
    York, a Congresswoman, said----
        The President. You're quoting a lot of Democrats today, Matt. That's
    interesting. [Laughter]
        Mr. Lauer. She said that we aren't asking the people of Iraq to pay
    back the money we're spending there. Why are we asking the people of the
    gulf coast, requiring them to pay back this money? How would you respond
    to that?
        The President. Well, the people of Iraq are paying a heavy price for
    terrorism. A lot of people are dying, Matt. These people are working
    hard to establish democracy, and they're paying a serious price. Look, I
    understand there are a lot of politics. One of the things that I
    suggested was we keep the politics out of New Orleans and Mississippi as
    we all work together to rebuild these communities. And we've got people
    here who volunteered their time, from all over the country, and they
    didn't say, you know, ``I'm a Democrat, and I'm going to work here,''
    or, ``I'm a Republican, and I'm going to come and work here.'' They
    said, ``I'm an American that wants to contribute.''
        And the reason why Laura and I are here is
    because we want to encourage other Americans to help somebody find
    shelter or help somebody find food or to continue to express the
    incredible compassion that the country saw when displaced persons moved
    from this part of the world and are scattered around the country.
        Mr. Lauer. Which is a good point. So in other words, if someone says
    to you, ``Okay, you're moving a wall today, and it's a photo op,'' but
    if that inspires someone else in another community to move a wall and
    grab a hammer, then that's mission accomplished?
        The First Lady. That's right. And also, this gives us a chance to
    thank the people who do this all the time, not just in a crisis
    situation but who volunteer with Habitat in their towns wherever they
    are across the country or volunteer in a million other ways--working in
    schools or other ways. And this is really, really important, and it's
    very American to step out and help.
        The President. I understand there's a lot of politics, and you keep
    talking about this politician or that politician. I think our job

    [[Page 1539]]

    is to elevate this whole process out of normal politics. Frankly, we're
    supposed to----
        Mr. Lauer. Is that possible, though? I mean, isn't it inevitable it
    will be bogged down in politics?
        The President. It depends on who asks the questions, I guess. I
    think most Americans aren't interested in this kind of politics. I think
    most Americans are interested in contributing. And the amazing thing
    about Katrina and Rita is that there has been a fantastic response by
    people from all walks of life that have welcomed a neighbor and said,
    ``Brother, what can I do to help you?'' Or, ``How can I show you love?''
    And I applaud the ``Today'' show and Habitat for Humanity and your
    partners in being a part of a larger picture of helping people rebuild
    their lives. It's a great contribution.

    Associate Justice-Designate Harriet E. Miers

        Mr. Lauer. While I have you here and while you don't have a hammer
    in your hand, can I ask you--well, you have it in your belt--
    [laughter]--about some things going on in Washington?
        The President. Sure.
        Mr. Lauer. A lot of criticism coming for your nominee to the Supreme
    Court, Harriet Miers, from conservatives, people like Trent Lott and Pat
    Buchanan and George Will and Bill Kristol. Were you taken off-guard a
    little bit, caught by surprise by the amount of criticism you're getting
    for Judge Miers?
        The President. Well, you know, I made a decision to put somebody on
    the Court who hadn't been a part of what they call the judicial
    monastery. In other words--I listened, by the way, to people in the
    Senate who suggested, ``Why don't you get somebody from the outside.''
    And I figured that people are going to kind of question whether or not
    it made sense to bring somebody from outside the court.
        I would remind those, one, that Harriet is an extraordinary,
    accomplished woman who has done a lot. As a matter of fact, she has
    consistently ranked as one of the top 50 women lawyers in the United
    States, that she has broken the glass ceiling. She has served as a great
    example. She is a brilliant person. And that just because she hasn't
    served on the bench doesn't mean that she can't be a great Supreme Court
    Justice.
        Mr. Lauer. But you know, conservatives are worried about what's
    going to happen when she gets on the bench, and they're worried about
    what's going to happen in the future. And I get the feeling--and I'm not
    sure if this is too strong--I get the feeling some conservatives,
    President Bush, are feeling let down by you, and they're thinking
    they've supported you for so long and when an issue that is so important
    to them comes up, that you let them down. How would you answer that?
        The President. My answer is Harriet Miers is going to be confirmed,
    and people will get to see why I put her on the bench. She is an
    extraordinary woman. She is----
        Mr. Lauer. You said she is the most qualified candidate for the
    job----
        The President. As I told you.
        Mr. Lauer. ----would you agree with that?
        The First Lady. Absolutely. Absolutely.
        Mr. Lauer. You had pushed for a woman to be a nominee.
        The First Lady. That's right. And I know Harriet well. I know how
    accomplished she is. I know how many times she's broken the glass
    ceiling, herself. She's a role model for young women around our country.
        Mr. Lauer. Some are suggesting----
        The First Lady. Not only that, she's very deliberate and thoughtful
    and will bring dignity to wherever she goes, but certainly to the
    Supreme Court she'll be really excellent.
        Mr. Lauer. Some are suggesting there's a little possible sexism in
    the criticism of Judge Miers. How do you feel about that?

    [[Page 1540]]

        The First Lady. That's possible. I think that's possible. I think
    she is so accomplished, and I know--I think people are not looking at
    her accomplishments and not realizing that she was the first elected
    woman to be the head of the Texas Bar Association, for instance, and all
    the other things. She was the first woman managing partner of a major
    law firm. She was the first woman hired by a major law firm, her law
    firm.
        The President. My attitude, Matt, is when people get to know her,
    they'll see why I picked her.
        The First Lady. They will. In the confirmation hearings alone,
    they'll see that she--what she's like.
        Mr. Lauer. I think the Washington Times has a story this morning
    that said they had about 27 Republican Senators have serious questions
    about Judge Miers--or about Harriet Miers----
        The President. No, Judge Miers--well spoken.
        Mr. Lauer. I was going to say--kind of getting ahead of myself here.
    So you are convinced that she will be confirmed?
        The President. Absolutely. Not only am I convinced that she'll be
    confirmed; I'm convinced that she'll be a fine, great judge. And I'm
    convinced that she'll be the kind of--she won't change. I mean, the
    person I know is not the kind of person that is going to change her
    philosophy. And her philosophy is, is that she is not going to legislate
    from the bench. So I told the American people when I campaigned for
    President the type of judge I'll pick. I picked that type of person in
    John Roberts, and I picked that type of person in Harriet Miers.

    Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove/CIA
    Employee's Identity Disclosure Investigation

        Mr. Lauer. Your political guru, Karl Rove, is set to--or scheduled
    to testify before a grand jury for the fourth time this coming week, it
    seems, looking into the leak of a CIA agent's name. You've said if
    someone on your staff had anything to do with that leak, you'll take
    care of that person. Has Karl Rove looked you in the eye, Mr. President,
    and said, ``I, in no way, bent or broke the rules or the law when it
    comes to this case''?
        The President. Matt, I've also consistently said I'm not going to
    talk about the case. It's under review, so I'm not going to talk about
    it. Thank you for asking, but--on the other hand, the special
    prosecutor has made it clear--and made
    it clear--that he doesn't want anybody speculating or talking about the
    case, so I'm not going to talk about it.
        Mr. Lauer. But does it worry you that they seem to have such an
    interest in Mr. Rove?
        The President. I'm not going to talk about the case. I've been asked
    this a lot; my answer is consistent. The special prosecutor is
    conducting a very serious investigation. He's doing it in a very
    dignified way, by the way, and we'll see what he says.

    Iraq

        Mr. Lauer. Got a big date coming up in Iraq this coming week, on the
    15th, a vote on the referendum on the constitution there. What do you
    expecting to happen there? And what are you expecting to happen in the
    days leading up to that vote?
        The President. I expect violence, because there's a group of
    terrorists and killers who want to try to stop the advance of democracy
    in Iraq. I also expect people to vote, which is a remarkable
    achievement. We had a remarkable achievement last January when millions
    of people voted. They now have a chance to vote on a constitution that
    will help unify the country. And then they'll have a chance to vote, if
    the constitution passes, on a permanent government.
        And so what you're seeing is the unfolding of a dual-track strategy.
    On the one hand, democracy is advancing, much to the

    [[Page 1541]]

    amazement of a lot of people, particularly people in the region. And on
    the other hand, we're working to train Iraqi troops so they can provide
    the security for a democracy to move forward.

    Avian Flu

        Mr. Lauer. I'm going to let you get back to work in a second. I'm
    just curious about one other subject, and you've spoken about this
    recently, this whole issue of a possible worldwide pandemic, this avian
    flu. You know, 60 people have died in Asia so far. They're worried that
    if this comes here, there are, by some estimates--this could claim
    millions of lives around the world.
        After Hurricane Katrina, there are some people in this country who
    are worried. They're not sure who's in charge, who do I turn to, who's
    going to handle a major catastrophe in this country? Are you confident
    that this administration has a plan in place to handle something like
    that?
        The President. I'm confident that we're working to identify the
    possible outbreak of avian flu, contain it to where the outbreak takes
    place, and strategize how to deal with it if it ever were to come to the
    United States.
        Mr. Lauer. Who would take the lead in that? Would it be a military
    situation? Would it be homeland security?
        The President. It's a really interesting question, and it's one that
    I raised that has created a little bit of consternation among some. I
    have said that there may be a catastrophic event such that the Federal
    Government has got the--it's only the Federal Government that has got
    the capacity to move in quickly with a lot of resources, which would
    require law changes. For example, the military cannot become police
    without a special proclamation.
        And so we're planning all this out. We're in the midst of, one,
    identifying that there may be a problem, and, two, what to do about it.
    When I have a plan that I'm comfortable with, of course I will talk to
    the American people about it.

    Voluntarism

        Mr. Lauer. Your husband has been through an awful lot----
        The First Lady. Our country has been through an awful lot.
        Mr. Lauer. What toll have you seen this take, personally, on him?
    Not only--you know, we had 9/11 in the first term, and now we've got
    Iraq, and we've got Katrina, and we've got Rita. What toll have you seen
    this take?
        The First Lady. Well----
        The President. He can barely stand. He's about to drop on the spot.
    [Laughter]
        The First Lady. He's doing great. He's got big, broad shoulders.
    There's a lot, but there's a lot on the American people too, and their
    response has been so terrific. You know, we can face challenges, and
    they're tough, and this is very tough down here. The number of people,
    the huge number of people that are displaced, that have lost everything,
    but you know, people are rebuilding their lives, and other people want
    to help them, and that's what I see.
        The President. You know, I'm the kind of guy who gets inspired by
    the decency of others, and as I travel the country and see this
    incredible spirit, it's so uplifting. It makes me understand how blessed
    we are to be an American. These folks right here--I never met them
    before, but they're from all over the country. They're here for one
    reason, to love a neighbor. And that's a remarkable expression. And
    Laura and I want to thank them, and we want to
    encourage others around the country to do--to follow their lead and
    follow their example.
        Mr. Lauer. Well, this is going to be the home of the Collins family,
    and we're going to talk to the Collins family in a little while.
        The First Lady. That's great.
        Mr. Lauer. Mrs. Bush, President Bush, thanks so much for your time
    this morning.

    [[Page 1542]]

        The President. Thanks, Matt, appreciate it.
        The First Lady. Thanks, Matt.
        Mr. Lauer. Grab your hammers, and go back to work. [Laughter]

    Note: The interview was taped at 6:07 a.m. at the Habitat for Humanity
    site for later broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to
    Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans, LA; and Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S.
    Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Department of
    Justice CIA leak investigation Special Prosecutor.