President to Address Nation from Oval Office This Afternoon, Condolences to Israel PM

CBS News ^ | February 1, 2003 | John Roberts at the Whitehouse

[ewing]

President Bush will address the nation from the Oval Office on the Columbia tragedy, after calling the Prime Minister of Israel to give his condolences.

There have already been mid level diplomatic exchanges of sorrow between the two nations.

[Carolinamom]

I've been reading GEORGE AND LAURA, by Christopher Anderson, and it gives more details of the early life and subsequest years than I have read anywhere else. This info gives new insights into the life's journey that Bush has travelled to become the man he is today. I highly recommend it. (There are also new pictures not found in other publications IMO.)

[Cicero]

It was a great and sincere speech. The quotation from Isaiah fit in beautifully, like a jewel in a well-made ring.

[JennysCool]

Here is the text of President Reagan's remarks on the Challenger disaster. I do not recall an adverse reaction anywhere to his mention of God, though perhaps there was.

In any event, for an anchor to cut someone off who was expressing sympathy for President Bush's heartfelt words ... Well, that goes beyond disgraceful. Especially on a day like today.

President Reagan's Speech on The Challenger Disaster

Oval Office of the White House

January 28, 1986

Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.

Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But, we've never lost an astronaut in flight; we've never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle; but they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together.

For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, 'Give me a challenge and I'll meet it with joy.' They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us.

We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.

And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them...

I've always had great faith in and respect for our space program, and what happened today does nothing to diminish it. We don't hide our space program. We don't keep secrets and cover things up. We do it all up front and in public. That's the way freedom is, and we wouldn't change it for a minute. We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue. I want to add that I wish I could talk to every man and woman who works for NASA or who worked on this mission and tell them: "Your dedication and professionalism have moved and impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it."

There's a coincidence today. On this day 390 years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and a historian later said, 'He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it.' Well, today we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete.

The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honoured us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'

[sweetliberty]

"Darin Kagen CUT HIM OFF very, very rudely...They are anti-Bush and anti-Christian"

That is sickening. We certainly need a reawakening in this country to the presence and power of God and our need for Him. It is all I can do not to be consumed by hate for these Godless shells of humanity and their agents of the airwaves. I guess I just have to keep telling myself that they are deceived and they are serving Satan and many do not yet see. It is as gracious as I am able to be at this point.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6: 12)

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

You know of course, that there are no atheists in fox holes?

I've heard that. But in this case it is not for myself that I would hope for something after this life, but for the Columbia astronauts, or for anybody who dies trying to further the progress of the human race.

[Wait4Truth]

I would love to see CNN tank completely! This President is a comforter in the real sense and the media should show his words every hour today so everyone gets to hear him. I doubt that that will happen...he is not Bubba so they don't care. May God deal with these people in His own way in His own time.

[baseballmom]

The media can't handle the fact that he is a Christian...well, that's just tough!

That's interesting, because shortly after, they were showing an interview with shuttle pilot Rick Husband, who was talking about his Christian faith, and his interaction and sharing of the faiths between him, and Ramon(sp?) the Israeli astronaut.

[cyncooper]

I found Bush's last comment so moving and appropriate: "HE who names the stars also knows the names of those we mourn."

I gasped aloud as tears filled my eyes at the perfection of selecting that verse, then the president added that God knew the astronauts by name, too, and they are Home.

[Wait4Truth]

President Reagan's words were also beautiful and comforting. I remember the day very well. We must remember that the media were not clintonized back in 1986. Their adversion to God had not appeared at that time. Things are different now. They hate both the President and Christians.

[sweetliberty]

I don't know who she is, but I agree that she isn't doing very well.

[Rockitz]

Yes, I gathered that when I finally did trace back your reply. I have found a more recent briefing which indicates the loss rate is now calculated to be 1 in 250 as of 2002 which is an amazing number as far as space launch is concerned. Their aim at the time of the briefing was 1 in 500 by 2012. Here's the link.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codeq/safetydir/Wednesday/stamatelatos.pdf

[jde1953]

I had CNN on, and was listening while I was doing computer work. I heard the entire speech; it was not cut off. I checked what I heard against the transcript in post 177, and I definitely heard it to the last sentence. The next time I looked up at the TV, the "color bars" were on the screen, and the anchor said something to the effect of, "We seem to have lost the feed" and went on to other things. As they say, your mileage may vary.

[cyncooper]

I wish he would have saved this till this evening, gosh darn it.

I thought it was timed just right.

[Catspaw]

From the same place that says there were TWO jewish astronauts from Israel on board.

(I'm injecting a bit of levity)--TWO Israeli astronauts? Isn't Israel where the Clonaid baby is? You never know...

But really, where do they get this stuff? Are they making it up on the fly?

[Wait4Truth]

The media has been clintonized. President Bush is evil, Christians are evil, the Bible is evil. Watch how little coverage the media give the President's remarks today...and if they do cover it at all, will they cover the part where he quotes scripture? We need to watch for this. I am so angry I have not been able to calm down. Will try now.

[FoxGirl]

**Fox needs to get someone else on air.....this woman can't handle this...**

The guy isn't doing too great of a job, either! He's made some strange comments.

[JennysCool]

I believe Wait said that someone reacting favorably to the speech was cut off. FReegards.

[Otta B Sleepin]

Rick Husband and one of the other astronauts were both members of the same church; FOX had their pastor on a little while ago.

[Wait4Truth]

Perhaps it's just their pure hatred for the President. You had to see it to understand what her attitude was.

[sweetliberty]

"Some people think they have to have instant gratification."

I'm as sick as I can be of these whining pantywastes that live to find fault with the president. What we are seeing is the fruit of having spoiled adolescents in charge of the country for 8 years catering to other spoiled adolescents. These people need to be slapped down and disciplined and sent to their rooms and not allowed to come out until they learn how to behave in polite company!