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George W. Bush: Vision for 9/11 Address to the Nation

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George W. Bush: Vision for 9/11 Address to the Nation

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President Bush had a clear vision for his speech, which he describes in his memoir, Decision Points: “Above all I wanted to express comfort and resolve—comfort that we would recover from this blow, and resolve that we would bring the terrorists to justice.” [p. 137]

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This post is part of a series on September 11. As the nation's record keeper, the National Archives holds many documents related to the events of September 11. In this series, our staff share some of their memories of the day and their thoughts on the records that are part of their holdings. Elizabeth Lanier, Malisa Lewis, and Jill Zawacki have been archivists at the George W. Bush Presidential Library since January 2010. They are currently processing textual records of the Bush administration.
As children, we recall asking family members questions such as "Where were you when John F. Kennedy was assassinated?" or "What was it like to hear about the bombing of Pearl Harbor?" We never anticipated that one day we would be able to answer a similar question: Where were you on September 11, 2001? Several future George W. Bush Presidential Library staff members were actually in New York City on that day, while others were listening to teachers in high school or college classes. Regardless of our location or age, we all felt a strong emotional response to an attack on our country.

On that Tuesday evening, President George W. Bush addressed the nation on the tragedies of that day and attempted to assuage the fears of citizens who had witnessed the unfolding events unfolding, both in person and on television screens across the country.

After several brief statements throughout the day, the world anxiously awaited word directly from the Oval Office. President Bush had a clear vision for his speech, which he describes in his memoir, Decision Points: "Above all I wanted to express comfort and resolve-comfort that we would recover from this blow, and resolve that we would bring the terrorists to justice." [p. 137]

Former Counselor to the President Karen Hughes recalls the following about this speech in her chronicle Ten Minutes from Normal: "It had been chaotic in my office as we put the statement together; the president had called with his thoughts; the speechwriters sent a draft; Condi Rice and her deputy Steve Hadley had policy points they wanted to include; several other members of the communications team offered ideas." [p. 244]

American citizens look to their President for leadership and comfort during times of national distress. Like his predecessors had done, President George W. Bush used his Address to the Nation on September 11, 2001, to reassure the American people that the United States will always strive to move forward.
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During the month of September, you can view this document, as well as President Obama's speech from May 1, 2011, announcing the death of Osama bin Laden, in the East Rotunda Gallery at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library will be located in Dallas, TX, on the campus of Southern Methodist University. The permanent facility is expected to open in Spring 2013. The library holds over 70 million pages of textual records, 200 million emails, 4 million photographs, 76,000 audio and video records, and 40,000 Presidential gifts.

George W. Bush Presidential Records are not yet available to the public under the requirements of the Presidential Records Act. The records will become available to Freedom of Information Act requests on January 20, 2014. The images contained in this collection were previously released.

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This post is part of a series on September 11. As the nation's record keeper, the National Archives holds many documents related to the events of September 11. In this series, our staff share some of their memories of the day and their thoughts on the records that are part of their holdings.

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Jacinda Arden: Christchurch Memorial Speech

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Jacinda Arden: Christchurch Memorial Speech

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New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern addressed thousands of people in Christchurch's Hagley Park on Friday in a remembrance service for the 50 people killed in a terrorist attack two weeks ago.

Ardern told the crowd the world needed to break out of the current cycle of extremism breeding extremism and said racism existed but was not welcome in in New Zealand.

E rau rangatira mā, e ngā reo, e ngā mana. Tēnā koutou katoa
(I acknowledge amongst us today our distinguished leaders, speakers and those who bear authority)
Ngāi Tahu Whānui, tēnā koutou
(My greetings to the whole of Ngāi Tahu)
E papaki tū ana ngā tai o maumahara ki runga o Ōtautahi
(The tides of remembrance flow over Christchurch today)
Haere mai tātou me te aroha,

(So let us gather with love)

Me te rangimārie, ki te whānau nei,
(In peace, for this family)
E ora mārire ai anō rātau,
(So that they may truly live again)
E ora mārire ai anō, tātou katoa.
(So that we all may truly live again)
We gather here, 14 days on from our darkest of hours.

In the days that have followed the terrorist attack on the 15th of March, we have often found ourselves without words.

What words adequately express the pain and suffering of 50 men, women and children lost, and so many injured?

What words capture the anguish of our Muslim community being the target of hatred and violence?

What words express the grief of a city that has already known so much pain?

I thought there were none. And then I came here and was met with this simple greeting.

Asalamu Aleykum. Peace be upon you.

They were simple words, repeated by community leaders who witnessed the loss of their friends and loved ones.

Simple words, whispered by the injured from their hospital beds.

Simple words, spoken by the bereaved and everyone I met who has been affected by this attack.

Asalamu Aleykum. Peace be upon you.

They were words spoken by a community who, in the face of hate and violence, had every right to express anger but instead opened their doors for all of us to grieve with them.

And so we say to those who have lost the most, we may not have always had the words.

We may have left flowers, performed the haka, sung songs or simply embraced.

But even when we had no words, we still heard yours, and they have left us humbled and they have left us united.

Over the past two weeks we have heard the stories of those impacted by this terrorist attack.

They were stories of bravery.

They were stories of those who were born here, grew up here, or who had made New Zealand their home.

Who had sought refuge, or sought a better life for themselves or their families.

These stories, they now form part of our collective memories.

They will remain with us forever.

They are us.

But with that memory comes a responsibility.

A responsibility to be the place that we wish to be.

A place that is diverse, that is welcoming, that is kind and compassionate. Those values represent the very best of us.

But even the ugliest of viruses can exist in places they are not welcome.

Racism exists, but it is not welcome here.

An assault on the freedom of any one of us who practices their faith or religion, is not welcome here.

Violence, and extremism in all its forms, is not welcome here.

And over the last two weeks we have shown that, you have shown that, in your actions.

From the thousands at vigils to the 95-year-old man who took four buses to attend a rally because he couldn't sleep from the sadness of seeing the hurt and suffering of others.

Our challenge now is to make the very best of us, a daily reality.

Because we are not immune to the viruses of hate, of fear, of other. We never have been.

But we can be the nation that discovers the cure.

And so to each of us as we go from here, we have work to do, but do not leave the job of combatting hate to the Government alone.

We each hold the power, in our words and in our actions, in our daily acts of kindness. Let that be the legacy of the 15th of March.

To be the nation we believe ourselves to be.

To the global community who have joined us today, who reached out to embrace New Zealand, and our Muslim community, to all of those who have gathered here today, we say thank you.

And we also ask that the condemnation of violence and terrorism turns now to a collective response. The world has been stuck in a vicious cycle of extremism breeding extremism and it must end.

We cannot confront these issues alone, none of us can. But the answer to them lies in a simple concept that is not bound by domestic borders, that isn't based on ethnicity, power base or even forms of governance.

The answer lies in our humanity.

But for now, we will remember those who have left this place.

We will remember the first responders who gave so much of themselves to save others.

We will remember the tears of our nation, and the new resolve we have formed.

And we remember, that ours is a home that does not and cannot claim perfection. But we can strive to be true to the words embedded in our national anthem

Men of every creed and race,

Gather here before Thy face,

Asking Thee to bless this place

God defend our free land

From dissension, envy, hate

And corruption, guard our state

Make our country good and great

God Defend New Zealand

Tātou Tātou

Asalamu Aleykum

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Read The Transcript Of Jacinda Ardern's Speech At The Christchurch Memorial

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Ardern told the crowd the world needed to break out of the current cycle of extremism breeding extremism and said racism existed but was not welcome in in New Zealand. E rau rangatira mā, e ngā reo, e ngā mana.

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George W. Bush - Speeches relating to 9/11

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George W. Bush - Speeches relating to 9/11

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Provided by: georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov

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George W. Bush - 9/11 Address to the Nation

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George W. Bush - 9/11 Address to the Nation

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Address to Nation on Terrorist Attacks, 9/11/2001

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Hillary Clinton vs Obama Tweets. Sri Lanka vs Christchurch

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Hillary Clinton vs Obama Tweets. Sri Lanka vs Christchurch

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Canada: Quick reaction. (note operation yellow ribbon)

South Africa: President remained in solitude for remainder of day out of respect.

UK: "Queen personally authorised the U.S. national anthem to be played at the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace".

North Koreas!?: "The very regretful and tragic incident reminds it once again of the gravity of terrorism. As a UN member, the DPRK is opposed to all forms of terrorism and whatever support to it ... and this stance will remain unchanged."

Germany: President at the time "a declaration of war against the entire civilized world."

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Reactions to the September 11 attacks - Wikipedia

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Reactions to the September 11 attacks included condemnation from world leaders, other political and religious representatives and the international media, as well as numerous memorials and services all over the world. The attacks were widely condemned by the governments of the world, including those traditionally considered hostile to the United States, such as Cuba, Iran, Libya, and North Korea.

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World leaders condemn 'sickening' terrorism in New Zealand

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Leaders offer support to victims of mosque attacks and criticise rise of Islamophobia

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Paris terror attacks: world leaders condemn 'the work of the devil'

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From America to Australia, the pope, presidents and prime ministers have declared solidarity with the French people

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As a result of Christchurch shootings.

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Jacinda Ardern's full announcement on changes to firearm laws in New Zealand | Newshub

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Jacinda Ardern's full Christchurch speech: 'Let us be the nation we believe ourselves to be'

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Vice President Biden & Dr. Biden Greet His Holiness Pope Francis

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The President Delivers a Statement on the attacks in Paris

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President Obama delivers a statement on the attacks in Paris. November 13, 2015.