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After the horror and grief of the 9/11 attacks came a distinctively Canadian after-shock: The jolt of a seeming direct insult to Canada by the president of the United States.
Nine days after the attacks, president George W. Bush addressed both houses of Congress. The president opened with thanks to nations around the world:
“America will never forget the sounds of our national anthem playing at Buckingham Palace, on the streets of Paris and at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.” The president singled out South Korea, Egypt, Australia, Africa, Latin America, Pakistan, Israel, India, El Salvador, Iran, Mexico, Japan, and Britain for thanks, commendation or remembrance.
As Canadians watched, many wondered: El Salvador? Egypt? Iran? What about us?
More than 30,000 stranded American travelers found welcome in Canada after the terror attacks, 7,000 of them in one small city, Gander, N.L. As it was later observed by author Teri A. McIntyre:
Schools and halls quickly became emergency shelters. Residents invited people into their homes for showers, beds and meals. People stripped their houses bare of sheets and towels, and offered the use of their vehicles. Pharmacists filled prescriptions from all over the word at no cost. Local businesses emptied their shelves of food, clothing, toys and toiletries.
These acts of spontaneous individual kindness went unmentioned in the president’s speech. Canadians who had opened their homes and hearts reacted with anger to the apparent slight. And many Canadians believed they knew precisely who to blame: me.
I was working on 9/11 as a speechwriter and special assistant in the Bush White House. A rumor spread that I personally had been responsible for the omission of Canada, in some kind of outburst of Canadian self-loathing.
Over the next weeks, I was inundated by requests — challenges really — from Canadian media to explain the speech and defend myself.
I declined. When I emerged from the administration, I wrote a book about my experiences, but dealt only glancingly with Canada and the 9/20 speech. A decade later, and with the Bush administration receding into history, there seems no reason not to tell the story in full.
My speechwriting portfolio was economics. In those first days after the attacks, the president confronted a dizzying array of economic problems. The New York stock exchange was closed. The airline industry faced bankruptcy. The economy of the New York-New Jersey area had suffered a devastating blow. The already weak national economy teetered on the verge of severe recession. A new war had to be paid for, and terrorist finances had to be hunted around the globe.
Statements had to be prepared on all these issues for the president and other senior officials. Little of this work is remembered now, but it seemed very important at the time.
At the same time, all the White House speechwriters were called upon to write remarks to mourn the dead, name the guilty, and protect the innocent against wrongful accusations. On September 14, the president delivered a beautiful memorial address at the National Cathedral. The president visited a Washington mosque and repeatedly spoke against blaming all Muslims for the terrorist attacks.
The joint session speech was written by the same troika that had produced George W. Bush’s powerful convention speech in 2000: Michael Gerson, Matthew Scully and John McConnell, with a lot of input from communications director Karen Hughes.
Gerson, Scully and McConnell were and are supremely talented writers, although their partnership was already shadowed by animosities that would in time erupt into public view. But the Bush White House, even more than most White Houses, was focused inward, isolated from the rest of the world, even the rest of the U.S. government.
Scully and I shared an office, a once grand room in the Executive Office Building now bisected by a paper-thin partition wall, and we became and remained good friends. In the commotion and turmoil of those 18-hour days — with all of us expecting at any moment to be killed by a car bomb on Pennsylvania Avenue — even close friends found precious few seconds to talk.
I reconnected with the joint-session speech on the morning it was to be delivered. My eyes bulged as I read the opening acknowledgments. I raced to see Gerson to warn that the reaction in Canada would be large and angry.
What the hell happened, anyway? I wanted to know. Was this some kind of payback to Jean Chretien? (The Bush-Chretien relationship was notoriously poor.) If so, please remember that 60% of Canadians did not vote for Jean Chretien. Why insult them?
No, no, no came the answer. It wasn’t that at all, it wasn’t personal.
Well what was it then?
Gerson shuffled in embarrassment. “We just … forgot.”
We have to fix this, I pleaded.
It’s too late, he answered. The president has signed off on the text. Evidently the president had forgotten too.
Let’s reopen the text, I urged. Futile. Bush was adamant in his demand for an orderly and conclusive speech process, unlike the endless rewrites of the Clinton White House. Once a speech was deemed closed — it was closed.
I returned home that night depressed and demoralized. As my wife and I prepared to watch the speech, I gloomily predicted to her that the Canadian reaction would be savage — and that I’d get the blame.
She countered: “If that happens, why not just tell them truth?”
To this day, she quotes the reply I gave her all those years ago: “Is the truth really better?”
Originally published in the National Post.
LauraNo // Sep 10, 2011 at 12:10 pm
You are right Oldskool. The sins, crimes and just plain mistakes that were made during that administration lie at many pairs of feet, not just the obvious ones. This story illustrates another failing of the Bush administration, those surrounding him seem to have been too meek or too afraid to speak up. People here were truly hurt by the omission, I have seldom been more ashamed of my country than at that time.
Primrose // Sep 10, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Had Mr Bush simply accepted Mr. Rumsfeld’s resignation when Abu Graib happened, so much bad PR would have been stopped. But that would be admitting a mistake, and apparently the Bush administration doesn’t do that on principle, not even honest mistakes.
Oldskool // Sep 10, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Ditto. An adult-like apology would have helped too.
Oldskool // Sep 10, 2011 at 5:16 pm
The only people I can think of who may have resigned over policy were Richard Clarke and Christie Whitman but, I don’t remember if they made their objections public at the time. Colin Powell could have made a huge difference but apparently it wasn’t in his DNA.
Smargalicious // Sep 10, 2011 at 9:07 pm
The “sins and crimes” lie squarely at the feet of the previous President, who was attacked by Al Qaida twice in a spectacular fashion and did basically nothing.
He was too distracted while commiting adultery and the subsequent media/legal circus to take he proper steps.
SpartacusIsNotDead // Sep 10, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Bush didn’t mention Canada because he had never heard of it.
Smargalicious // Sep 10, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Like in most world affairs and events, Canada was irrelevant.
icarusr // Sep 10, 2011 at 12:30 pm
1. You are just confirming what we have always known: the Bush White House was staffed, from the very top, by a cackle of buffoons and baboons.
2. Your responsibility was economics? Was it? “Axis of hatred” – that was your phrase, wasn’t it? – was an economics speech? Whodda thunk it.
There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and conservative writing. And, you know, your reply, “Is the truth really better?”, tells the whole story of Republican governance since January 20, 1981.
Balsack // Sep 10, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Or.
A GAGGLE of geese.
But I think you meant, actually, a TROOP of baboons.
Balsack // Sep 10, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Hate to say it. But this is not exactly a Bay of Pigs type of issue, about which anyone should still be seeking to put the record straight. And any faux pas committed 10 years ago will not be so severely recalled by us or the Canadians as much as you recall it in your own mind, Mr. Frum.
The Canadians are basically Americans. And the Americans basically Canadians, too. The Americans are more insular than Canadians in their thinking about foreigners. But then, Americans treat Canadians like foreigners, too.
Canadians think they are a separate country apart from the USA. And the USA believes that it is also a separate country apart from Canada. But the truth is that both Canada and the USA are just both one single nation. And this is a good thing.
Now please just open up the USA/Canadian border like it was not even a line in the sand, and let the good times roll. This is the way it was 50 years ago. Sure those guys up there in Quebec might get a bit tetchy and start walling themselves off in Quebec City. But we can do a goodwill body exchange between the Big Easy French Speakers and all those tetchy guys up there in Quebec City, just to put them at ease.
Americans truly need the Canadians. If only to show the guys from USA a more tolerant way to live. I love the Canadians. And I love most Americans, too. But, if the guys and gals from the USA were to admit truth, then they would be the first ones to state that the lower 48 are just basically provinces of Canada, or wish they were.
And as far as I know, I think there is at least ONE ON FRUM who grew up in Canada. Yes. We love those Canadians!!!
And their beautiful doggies, just as much.
paul_gs // Sep 10, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Our beautifull doggies??
Balsack // Sep 10, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Hi! Paul_gs,
Yes, there is just one extremely lovely doggie on FrumForum. But I think there must be more, actually. Some guys/gals think that only Dems love dogs. But this is not true.
Now pls just check out that lovely white Lab on the porch. This photo has continued to stick in my mind for the past few days. Because I am, unabashedly, a FrumForum Lab lover. And a stick in the mud dog lover.
You can find a photo of this lovely FrumForum Lab here http://www.frumforum.com/home-news-3#more-102906
And you will not find a better doggie anywhere.
GOT IT?
GET ONE!
But pls just make sure you pick out a rescue dog.
Otherwise, you will be in BIG TROUBLE with me!
paul_gs // Sep 10, 2011 at 5:36 pm
There are a lot of rescue dogs out there. We have a 6-lb Maltese (our cat is bigger) and I meet owners who have rescue dogs from across Canada and the US.
Balsack // Sep 10, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Exactly! This is why we like FrumForum Republicans.
And not, so much, Michael Vick Republicans.
chephren // Sep 11, 2011 at 12:05 pm
“But the truth is that both Canada and the USA are just both one single nation. And this is a good thing.”
Wrong.
We are two separate, distinct, sovereign countries. Americans and Canadians have very different governing institutions, founding principles and financial structures. Canadians are not, do not want to be, and (God willing) never will be Americans – except in the generic, geographic sense of being in North America.
I admire Americans and the US Constitution. I like most Americans I meet, except the occasional rude, arrogant tourist who shows up here and proves once again the stereotype of the fat, dumb, entitled ‘Merican.
nuser // Sep 10, 2011 at 1:22 pm
“I was inundated by requests -challenges really – from Canadian media…”
Please provide links, names and quotes.
At no time did I ,or any persons I know, connect Bush’s ignorance to Frum or attach any
blame on any speechwriter.
Balsack // Sep 10, 2011 at 1:54 pm
nuser.
But then, IF NOT, then, WHY NOT?
nuser // Sep 10, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Point taken!
If Frum was an economics speechwriter, then why would anyone blame him for neglecting
to mention Canada? When researching Frum’s role as a speechwriter in Bush’s administration,
all that comes up is “Axis of Evil” and an astounding “Hawkish” attitude toward wars. How many trillions did Bush manage to spend? Yes, that is economics , is it not?
japhi // Sep 10, 2011 at 2:39 pm
I don’t remember this particular incident. I do remember thinking Frum must be an idiot to be able to write those silly Bush’s speeches. Frum was associated with Bush in Canada, so it isn’t a stretch that as his speechwriter he would take a lot of the blame for the ommision.
God bless Chretien for sticking it to Bush and staying out of Iraq, that was his greatest achievement as PM , and will be a big part of his legacy. As will this type of stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX6XMIldkRU (“a proof is a proof, cause it proven as a proof”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvjfJ6bAi0U (bitch slaps protester)
I miss that guy!
nuser // Sep 10, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Truly funny.
nwahs // Sep 10, 2011 at 4:06 pm
You always overlook those you can count on most.
Frumplestiltskin // Sep 10, 2011 at 6:01 pm
great story.
And Paul-gs, you don’t speak for all Canadians, if you were not offended, fine for you but when a US President reads a laundry list of names of countries and does not mention our neighbor to the north, staunch ally, and worlds second biggest country I could see people wondering WTF.
And Nwahs, no way in hell do you have a wife or children. I tell you what, you go to a party and not introduce your wife and see how well that gets you. The fact is you should NEVER overlook those you can count on the most. The first thing that every married politician does is to thank their spouse. Yeesh, you just proved the exact opposite point than the one you intended.
Balsack // Sep 10, 2011 at 6:54 pm
And can we just agree to use, Sheesh instead of Yeesh? When we really mean ‘Jesus’? Because Yeesh just sounds too much like you are getting ready to learn Yiddish. Oy vey!
Oy vey! You must be from the Bronx or New Jersey or Philly.
But, not from Iowa or Nebraska.
Yeesh! Probably also not from any place without a great pizza pie just around the corner.
Lucky you!
nuser // Sep 10, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Quit putzing around, will yah?
Snapshot In Time Day Before 10th Anniversary #911 Twitter: // Sep 10, 2011 at 7:18 pm
[...] JoeV21 Joe V RT @HowardKurtz David Frum: Why Bush didn’t mention Canada after 9/11 frumforum.com/why-bush-didnt… 2 minutes ago AndrewBrown96 ☢Andrew Brown☢ Watching united 93, can’t [...]
rwexler649 // Sep 10, 2011 at 8:10 pm
In the days after 9/11 C-SPAN simulcast “The National,” CBC’s superb nightly news program. (For whatever reason, one thing Canadians do supremely well is broadcast journalism). “The National” devoted an entire segment to this slight and the mystery behind it.
So my guess is Canada does remember. And “As It Happens” probably will have a call in to Mr. Frum first thing Monday morning.
paul_gs // Sep 10, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Thin-skinned Canadian progressives take offense at the US no matter what it does so pay little attention to them.
As for the rest of us kinder and more considerate Canadians, we took no offense at not being mentioned. The dead had not even been counted, there were more important matters to attend to.
Russnet // Sep 10, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I recall being out late one night a few days after 9/11, and I ran into a funnily dressed fellow at a bar in San Diego. I asked him where he was from. “Canada” came the reply. Why the funny dress? “I’m in the navy, and we are anchored off your shore.” Cheers to that. Should have taken that one straight to Dubya, David.
rbottoms // Sep 10, 2011 at 10:21 pm
“They’re not even a real county anyway.”
~ South Park, Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Balsack // Sep 10, 2011 at 11:04 pm
I just hope that you are speaking of the Hamiltonian “H”, as in quantum mechanics. Because to speak otherwise is quite useless for you and me. As Republicans know, we need to continue to push the boundary beyond what we think we might be able to accomplish.
Actually, the god damned Reds would just love to eat our lunch. But they will not be able to eat our lunch. If we continue to put most of our resources into R&D.
All you guys out there may not know sht from Shinola about China. But I do. These Red Commies are now at war to eat our lunch. And this aint no Sht, Baby!
We need to take the god damned bull by the horns. And we need to get worked up about it. Because it just takes just too fcking long to get a democracy in line, unless it is attacked.
Well I know sht.
But, Do You?
The threat to the USA is NOT from so-called terrorists. The true threat to the USA is from Red Commie China. And this is true.
I am not a fcking McCarthy nut.
But I have been watching this threat grow since 1985. And FCK KiissMyAss Kissinger, while you are at it. That god damned senile Krout. He just wrote a senile useless book.
You guys at FrumForum. You might think that all is well with the world. But then you would be mistaken. Please tell your friends. Please tell your Lab dog. We are now at the first stage of true war with the god damned Red ChiComs. The war with Red China will only continue to intensify, just below the radar screen. Both an economic war that our corporate world is already losing, Big Time. And also a war which we are losing from a strategic point of view.
And this aint no sht, Baby.
But the very nice thing that we do not need to worry about.
Those assholes over there at the Army War College.
They know plenty of sht.
And so then we do not need to worry.
Right?
So next time you wonder.
What is the biggest threat to America.
The so called terrorist threat.
Or the threat from Red China.
Then you will know.
It is those god damned Red ChiComs over there in East Asia.
Exploding underpants? My fcking ass.
And next time you are thinking about President Alex “Jack” Hamilton, then you should better be thinking about Quantum Fcking Mechanics for America.
And where, Mr. Frum, is our China Desk?
Balsack // Sep 11, 2011 at 3:17 am
There are some who might mistakenly believe that the above is just poorly written jingoistic diatribe. But then they would be wrong.
Emma // Sep 11, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Mr. Frum: I don’t believe a word of it. I suppose we may have to wait another decade before you find the courage to come clean or proffer another cock and bull story.
Upshot: Once a Bushie, always a Bushie. Pity. I sense there is a decent, honest, human being inside that political shell who may never see the light of day.
Banty // Sep 11, 2011 at 2:30 pm
On what possible basis would you not believe the article??
japhi // Sep 11, 2011 at 7:47 pm
I listened to Cross Country Check up on CBC Radio today – Rex Murphy had a panel in Gander, NFLD. After listening to that panel, and how the Maritimes stepped up to the plate and took thousands of Americans into their homes, it is very hard to believe that it was a mistaken omission.
Frum claims these writers were brilliant ” Gerson, Scully and McConnell were and are supremely talented writers”.
If it was a mistake, than I can’t accept these writers as being supremely talented. How do these three guys miss Canada in this speech? It doesn’t pass the sniff test.
I’m not big on conspiracy theories but I think it’s more likely the omission was an intentional snub.
nuser // Sep 11, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Bottom line. Why Bush didn’t mention Canada after 9/11? Gerson forgot! Frum, however
did not and perhaps tried to make hay out of it?Not to mention names , but some people have swelled heads , without trying.
sdspringy // Sep 12, 2011 at 8:50 am
Everyone enjoy the pettiness of Frum, even 10 years later he wants to create the impression that the speech was nothing more than a Thank you given by a Diva on MTV awards night. Miss someone and watch the claws come out, well in this case Mr. Catty is David Frum or should we start referring to you as the Political Perez Hilton.
The mantra of the Libs is the squandered good will after 9/11, well look around folks where is the good will created by Obama in 08. Doesn’t exist, it’s gone for exactly the same reasons; you will never be able to please everyone all the time. And that shouldn’t be the focus of our foreign policy.
So our local Political Perez pens a nostalgic piece so all the Libs with BDS, “Bush Derangement Syndrome” can vent and feel good about themselves, same as our own little David Perez. Everyone feel better, good.
John Frodo // Sep 12, 2011 at 9:04 am
I am not buy it, just like I dont buy Conrad buying cameras to record his removal of evidence.
What happened, maybe Bush had already asked Chretien for troops for Iraq?
Southern Populist // Sep 12, 2011 at 9:51 am
An interesting anecdote from Frum.
I have always wondered how the speech writing process works. Who writes the first pass? Who writes the second pass? Who does the editing, and who signs off the final copy that gets loaded into the teleprompter?
I find it perfectly plausible that they simply forgot to mention Canada.
First, everyone was likely preoccupied with other concerns.
Second, a major priority of Gerson et al was no doubt show-horning a large number of politically correct bromides and cliches into every speech from that era.
They started serving up the “Islam is Religion of Peace” gruel before the incinerated corpses had even had a chance to cool down, as if people are stupid and didn’t already realize that most Muslims are harmless.
Remembering to mention Iran (?!) but not Canada?
It makes perfect sense.
- DSP
Headlines | The Daily Slog // Sep 12, 2011 at 3:50 pm
[...] Bush Didn’t Mention Canada After 9/11″–headline, FrumForum.com, [...]
mannie // Sep 12, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Very interesting. Bush protocal was to never go off script.