US President Bush pledged Tuesday night to combat terrorism and recession with equal vigor, declaring in his State of the Union address, "Our war against terror is only beginning."
Bush is scheduled to deliver his first State of the Union Address before a joint session of Congress at 9 pm ET (10:00 am Beijing time).
"The United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons," Bush will say, according to the White House.
In speech excerpts released late Tuesday afternoon, Bush says the United States will be "steadfast, patient and persistent" as it seeks to prevent "terrorists and regimes" who seek chemical, biological or nuclear weapons from threatening the world.
"What we have found in Afghanistan confirms that - far from ending there - our war against terror is only beginning," Bush says.
To help prevent terror at home, Bush will call for federal funding for homeland security to double. Four areas will be emphasized: bioterrorism, emergency response, airport and border security, and improved intelligence.
One Word: Jobs
Beyond military operations and domestic security, Bush will highlight his plans to revitalize America's economy and end the recession.
"When America works, American prospers, so my economic security plan can be summed up in one word: jobs," Bush says.
According to the White House, Bush will explain that good jobs depend on good schools, reliable and affordable energy, expanded trade and sound tax policy. Also, health and retirement security are important parts of economic security for every American, Bush says in the speech.
Bush will call on Congress to approach domestic issues in "the same spirit of cooperation we have applied to our war on terrorism."
Bush is not expected to present a detailed plan on how to accomplish his goals. And while he will shy away from phrases that irritate Democrats, he won't delve into the debate about how to reconcile a shrinking budget with expanded plans to spend.
Karzai, Hoffa in Audience
The White House said the address would last approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Officials expect numerous breaks for applause and ovations. House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., will deliver the Democratic response.
Among the honored guests attending the speech will be Afghan interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, who met with Bush on Monday, and Teamsters President James P. Hoffa. Bush is expected to single out Hoffa for his union's support for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a component of the Bush's energy plan.
Framed by the events of Sept. 11, expectations are high for a strong performance by the president. This is his third speech to Congress - and his first State of the Union address.
According to a senior White House official, the president was expected to do two practice runs for his speech. The same White House official said that during a Saturday practice at Camp David parts of the speech were not reading well and had to be worked on.
The day after the speech, Bush will depart Washington to spend the next several weeks pounding the campaign trail, announcing program after program while negotiations begin at home on his budget.
But with polls showing Americans ability to separate the president's sky-high approval of his handling of the war from judgments on how the economy is being managed he clearly will have his work cut out for him.
Smart Facts About the State of the Union
* Thomas Jefferson, who was a much better writer than he was a speaker, sent printed speeches to Congress and had them entered into the record. He didn't like to speak in public. And he famously called the State of the Union "a speech from the throne."
* For a 110 years, presidents followed his example. No State of the Union speeches were given.
* Since Woodrow Wilson revived the practice in 1913, the only president to not give a State of the Union address in person was Herbert Hoover.
* Not every president gave every State of the Union in person In 1944, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sick with the flu. And so he delivered the address from the White House. He had sent a draft earlier in the day to Congress.
* In 1945, the name "State of the Union" began to be formally applied to the speech.
* Before television, presidents gave the speech during normal business hours, usually after lunch.
* Since 1976, the opposing party has given a rebuttal speech.
* In 1986, the Challenger explosion postponed the State of the Union for the first time.
(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2002)
