President Outlines State of the Union Speech
Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity After Meeting with Cabinet
The Cabinet Room
10:54 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for coming. I'm going to make a quick
statement, and then I will ask you all to leave without any questions.
Q With questions?
THE PRESIDENT: Without questions. I appreciate your
understanding.
First, I want to welcome Tom Ridge, newly confirmed member of my
Cabinet. I appreciate the Senate moving quickly. I asked the Senate
to move quickly on the nomination of John Snow, as well. He's having
his hearing today. They'll find that John is a very capable, smart
person who will do a fine job as the Secretary of Treasury. I look
forward to having him join us here at this table.
Tonight, I'm going in front of our nation to talk about the great
challenges that face our country, but no doubt that we'll be able to
handle those challenges because we are a great country. I'll talk
about our deep desire for peace -- peace not only here at home, but
peace in troubled regions of the world. I'll talk about our plan to
spread prosperity throughout America. I'll talk about the need to have
a health care system that is modern and sensitive to the needs of our
senior.
I'll talk about a lot of issues, but as I do so, I'm going to
remind the American people that solutions to some of the seemingly
intractable problems lay in the hearts and souls of our fellow
citizens; that not only are we a strong nation, I will say, but that
we're a compassionate nation and when we find hurt and people who need
healing, that our fellow citizens can provide the love necessary to
help a citizen realize the full potential of this country.
I look forward to giving this speech. It is a moment where I will
rally the American people to some great causes, and remind them that
we'll accomplish those causes together.