"The vote is unanimous. Chief Justice Rehnquist, would you please administer the oath of office?" John moved away from the podium and went back to his seat.
I stood up and moved towards the podium, as did Chief Justice Rehnquist. There was a muted gasp from the room as President Bush also stood. He moved woodenly and slowly, and his face was a blank mask of pain, but he came down to the podium with us. I pulled my Bible from my jacket pocket. It was the same King James Version copy I had been sworn in with after all my previous elections, an inexpensive small travel edition Bible, with lightweight paper and a zipper cover. It had been given to me by my parents at my confirmation, back in the days before Hamilton went crazy and I still had a family. When President Bush stood next to me, I handed him the Bible. He stared at it for a second, and then nodded to himself and stood up straighter. His right hand was rock steady as he held it in his palm.
I placed my left hand on the Bible and raised my right hand. Rehnquist discreetly read off a crib note in his hand. "I, Carling Parker Buckman the Second, do solemnly swear ... that I will faithfully execute ... the Office of President of the United States ... and will to the best of my ability ... preserve, protect and defend ... the Constitution of the United States ... so help me God."
That was it. I was President of the United States. When I had recycled, I had spent years working to meet Marilyn and win her again. This ... this was different. I had never gone into politics in a desire to become President, simply a desire to make things better. I had never considered becoming President. Now what?
When I finished, President Bush seemed to stumble a touch and slump, and Justice Rehnquist took his elbow. At the touch, he straightened and looked me in the eye. "Good luck, Mister President."
"Thank you, Mister President."
President Bush turned and went back to his seat, and the Chief Justice went to his seat. I moved to the podium and pulled my speech from my coat pocket and flattened it out. It was typed in large print, double spaced. There hadn't been time to get it to a teleprompter. I took a deep breath and began.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union ... That is how our Constitution starts. Over two hundred years ago our Founding Fathers created one of the most amazing documents in human history, a robust yet flexible system of governing that has become one of the strongest in the entire history of mankind. Over the last few days we have seen that wisdom in action.
During that time the strength and flexibility of our system has been on display for the world to see. At the first meeting of the Cabinet after the attack we discussed the 25th Amendment, and we all came to realize that while the intent of the Amendment was clear, nobody could have foreseen the events which occurred. More than one of us commented that we were in uncharted territory. Yet the meaning and spirit of the Amendment was always understood. I would like to particularly thank Attorney General Ashcroft and Chief Justice Rehnquist for their assistance in determining the procedures we would follow. I would also like to thank Congressman Boehner and Senator Reid for their part in this, both earlier in New York and here today. Most of all I would like to thank former President Bush for offering his services this evening, despite the immense personal cost to himself and his family.
I can begin to tell you what is happening and what will happen in the future. Beginning tomorrow, airports will reopen and flights will begin flying again. The FAA is implementing new security measures, and flight operations will be ramped up slowly, to allow the airlines and passengers to get used to the changes. Initial operations will focus on getting stranded travelers home as quickly as possible. I would expect full scale operations to commence by early next week. Also, we will begin a month of national mourning next week, in remembrance of all who died on Tuesday. While we do not yet have any schedule, memorial ceremonies will be held.
Earlier today my son asked me a very simple question. 'Who could do such a thing?' I answered him the only way I knew how. 'Monsters!' Even as we speak, a team of FBI, CIA, and Secret Service agents are working to determine exactly who committed this atrocity. I have met with this team several times already and expect to continue to do so in the coming weeks. We will determine who was involved and who aided and abetted them. At that time we will make the appropriate response. Congress has already promised an investigation of this tragedy. It is my intention to cooperate fully with them. Following our response, all information we develop will be reported to them.
Two days ago, while I was touring the destruction at the Pentagon, I talked to a Special Forces sergeant. He told me that 'They can run as far as they want and dig a hole as deep as they want, but they will just die tired and dirty.' When the time comes, and we know who was involved, I promise the nation that our response will do that sergeant proud.
I issue a word of warning, however, to anybody who misguidedly decides to take up vengeance in their own hands. I have learned that there have been incidents of religious and racial bigotry and intolerance. Our nation was built on principles of religious tolerance. It was the first and most important amendment to the Constitution. We are not a vengeful people, but a just people, and tolerance is our strength, not our weakness. These actions will not be allowed.
So let me close by repeating what I said three nights ago, when I first spoke to you to tell you what had happened. America is more than its buildings and America is more than its people. America is an idea, a symbol, a belief. We are a beacon of freedom and opportunity to the world, and the evil of madmen will not shutter that beacon. The price of freedom is never cheap, but it is a price that we must bear, and a price that we will gladly pay. Our nation will emerge from this dark day even stronger and more committed to the ideals we believe in. I believed those words when I spoke them, and I believe them even more firmly now.
Thank you, good night, and God bless America."
Chapter 141: Funerals
After that, I left the podium and exited out a side door. There wasn't going to be any schmoozing in the aisles tonight. Once outside the chamber, I sent somebody in to find the Commandant of the Marine Corps and ask him to see me for a minute or two. I smiled as I considered that. Once upon a time if a senior officer 'asked' me to do something, it was really an order. Now I was the one doing the asking. My, how Second Lieutenant Buckman had grown up.
Marilyn and the kids showed up about a minute before the Commandant did. I knew when that happened because suddenly Charlie's eyes got wide and he came to attention, making his sisters stare at him briefly. I twisted to look to my right and found the Commandant also coming to attention. I chuckled and said, "As you were, the both of you."
"You asked to see me, sir?"
"Yes, thank you for coming over, General. I appreciate it. This really concerns my son, Charlie."
Charlie's eyes bugged out again and he coughed out a squeaky, "Me!"
The Commandant chuckled and said, "Settle down, Lance Corporal." He turned to me and asked, "What can I do for you, sir?"
"Two things, really. First, we need to get the Lance Corporal back to Camp Lejeune tomorrow."