    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 9 (Monday, March 4, 2002)]
    [Pages 289-291]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on Being Presented With the World Trade Center Bullhorn and an
    Exchange With Reporters

    February 25, 2002

        President Bush. Listen, I want to--I want to welcome Bob Beckwith to
    the Oval Office, and his wife, Barbara, and his two grandchildren and
    son and daughter who are here, and son-in-law.
        As you may remember, I met Bob on the heap of a burnt-out fire
    engine in New York. And he didn't know, and I didn't know that we were
    going to meet on that day, and I had--I was traveling there with George
    Pataki and Rudy Giuliani. And it was my chance, after the National
    Prayer Service, to go to New York City and tell the good people of that
    town, that city, how the Nation stood with them. I had a chance to go
    and see the firefighters and the police officers who had been giving
    every ounce of their energy to rescue their fellow citizens.
        And I was given a bullhorn, and it turned out to be one of those
    moments where I had a chance to speak to the world on behalf of the
    citizens of New York. And Bob was standing there by my side.
        I told Bob when he came in, ``You made me famous that day.'' But I
    want to thank you, Bob, for coming back, and I want to thank Colonel
    Wiese as well, who rescued the bullhorn and will let me keep the
    bullhorn for the library. There's a father-and-son exhibit that's going
    to go on at the Bush Library, ``Bush 41'' Library, at Texas A&M, and
    this will be one of the key parts of the exhibit. It's an historic--
    really an historic memento. Something we didn't choose, but it's one of
    those days that I'll never forget, and I want to thank you.
        Mr. Beckwith. I'll never forget.
        President Bush. It was an amazing experience. You know, I didn't
    realize at the time that you and I walked up on the heap of a burnt-out
    fire engine. I didn't realize that--and what's interesting, as a result
    of that, some people in Louisiana saw us standing on the fire engine and
    went and raised

    [[Page 290]]

    money for a new fire engine for New York. So that event had a lot of
    interesting ramifications.
        Governor Pataki. Mr. President, since September 11th, you've
    provided incredible leadership and really inspired the country. There
    are many unforgettable moments. But one that Bob and I and his family
    and much of America will never forget was 3 days after that attack when
    you came to Ground Zero. And it was exactly the right time.
        As Bob can say, everybody was exhausted and worn out, and you didn't
    come for a photo op; you spent hours touring the site and shaking hands
    with the firefighters and the construction workers. And I'll never
    forget the moment when you and Bob stood on that wreck, and the
    President was talking, and one of the construction workers yelled out,
    ``We can't hear you.'' And the President said, ``Well, I can hear you.
    The whole world hears you, and pretty soon those evildoers will be
    hearing from us.''
        And Mr. President, they have heard from us, and your leadership has
    been inspiring. And this is what you said those words with, and I'm
    proud to present it to you for the Presidential Library. Americans will
    never forget.

    [At this point, Gov. George E. Pataki of New York presented the
    bullhorn.]

        President Bush. Thank you.

    Daniel Pearl

        Q. Mr. President, are you satisfied with Pakistan's response in the
    Daniel Pearl case? And is the United States interested in pursuing or
    indicting the primary suspect that's now in custody there?
        President Bush. I am satisfied with the response of President
    Musharraf and the Pakistani Government. I got a phone call from him when
    I was flying back from China, and I could tell from the tone of his
    voice how distraught he was, how disturbed he was that this barbaric act
    had taken place in his country. He knew full well that those killers did
    not represent the vast, vast majority of the people in his own country.
    And he vowed to me on the phone that he would do everything in his power
    to chase down the killers and bring them to justice.
        And yes, we're always interested in dealing with people who have
    harmed American citizens.

    Economic Stimulus Package

        Q. Mr. President, what are your thoughts on an economic stimulus
    package now? Do you think there's really an opportunity to work with the
    Democrats in the Senate, particularly given signs that, albeit slowly,
    the economy is beginning to recover?
        President Bush. Well, I've got to tell you something: It's a matter
    of will and desire. If people put their mind to something, we can get
    things done in Washington, DC. I think we need an economic stimulus
    package. I think it's important for our economy. I think any time people
    are not working who need to be working, who want to work, we've got to
    do everything we can to make sure the environment is such that they can
    work.
        Secondly, I'm going to talk to the Governors today and remind them
    that in the economic stimulus package was some emergency Medicaid money,
    as well as the national emergency grants, because it's what--emergency
    grant money to help Medicaid bills as well as grants for emergency
    situations to help people with their health care bills.
        And yes, I think we need that bill. And I hope the Senate will take
    it up and pass it.

    Pentagon Office of Strategic Influence

        Q. Sir, have you told Secretary Rumsfeld to get rid of the office of
    disinformation that he's talking about?
        President Bush. I told Secretary Rumsfeld--I didn't even need to
    tell him this. He knows how I feel; I saw it reflected in his comments
    the other day--that we'll tell the American people the truth. And he was
    just as amazed as I was about reading, you know, some allegation that
    somehow our Government would never tell the American people the truth.
    And I don't--I've got confidence, having heard his statement--I heard
    him this morning talk about it--that he'll handle this in the right way.

    [[Page 291]]

    Superfund

        Q. There was a report over the weekend, Mr. President, that
    questioned the administration's commitment to the EPA Superfund. Are you
    committed to fully funding the Superfund, sir?
        President Bush. I'm committed to cleaning up the environment without
    enriching lawyers.
        Q. I'm sorry?
        President Bush. I think there's too much litigation when it comes to
    environmental cleanup. What I want is action and results. And so we're
    looking at ways to make sure the Superfund fulfills its mission. And you
    cannot sue your way to clean air and clean water and clean land. It's
    got to be a system that focuses on efficient, good ways to make sure we
    accomplish the mission. And I think--so yes, we're looking at ways to
    reform the system to make sure it works, make sure it actually
    accomplishes what the Congress wants it to accomplish.

    Steel Decision/Hybrid Vehicles

        Q. [Inaudible]--and I was wondering if you could tell us if you're
    worried at all that your position on steel would hurt the automakers'
    ability----
        President Bush. I haven't made a decision yet on steel. I haven't
    made a decision on steel yet. I'm in the process of reviewing all--all
    the facts. But I have made a decision on the need for the use of
    technologies to clean up our air and explore for more energy and change
    the automobile fleet.
        One of these days, this little lady right here is going to be
    driving an automobile with a hybrid engine in it and a fuel cell in it.
    And it's going to work. And I hope I'm around to see it, too.

    World Trade Center Bullhorn

        Q. We thought the bullhorn had been lost. How were you able to find
    it?
        President Bush. The colonel found it; it's the actual one, too.
        Q. It never was lost? It's the real one? It's the actual one?
        President Bush. Yes.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to retired New York City firefighter
    Bob Beckwith and his wife, Barbara; former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of
    New York City; Col. Daniel Wiese, Assistant Deputy Superintendent, New
    York State Police and commander, New York State Police Executive
    Services Detail; and President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan. A reporter
    referred to Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl, who was
    kidnaped January 23 in Karachi, Pakistan, and later killed by his
    captors.