President Bush Tours Ground Zero
The president arrived in New York City in mid-afternoon after attending and speaking at a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral and immediately went to lower Manhattan to get a first-hand look at the carnage caused by Tuesday's aerial attacks on the twin towers.
Accompanied by New York Senator Chuck Schumer, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and a slew of public officials, Bush walked around the ruins while receiving updates on the rescue and cleanup operations.
He could be seen shaking hands with firefighters and volunteers, pausing from time to time to whisper in the ear of uniformed workmen on the ground.
At one point during the visit, Bush hopped atop a pile of mangled steel and, with bullhorn in hand, addressed the gathering:
"I want you all to know that America today is on bended knee in prayer for the lives that were lost here, for the workers who work here, and for the families who mourn, to make a stand for the good people of New York City and New Jersey, and Connecticut."
Someone in the crowd yelled that it was hard to hear the President, to which he responded: "I hear you, the rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."
The workers broke into spontaneous chants of "USA, USA" as Bush took a small American flag and waved it.
Earlier, Bush declared a national emergency to clear the way for the call-up
of National Guard and reserve units.
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