Here's a transcript of Dave's remarks on Sept. 17.
David Yoder
touching and inspiring. I tried to think about what I could say to compliment
him on his heartfelt eight-minute opening to the Sept. 17 show.
One could sense tremendous apprehension in Dave's voice as he spoke, knowing
that he feared his words were inadequate to address the gravity of the
situation. Pure Dave. As always, he completely underestimated himself.
I finally concluded that the best way to compliment Dave for his remarks (and to
pay tribute to the heroic citizens of New York) would be to post them verbatim.
I wrote them in html and will archive them on the fan page later today, but I'm
pasting them in here for the moment, as I see there has already been one
request.
To all the fine people in the Big Apple, my best wishes and respect from the
Little Apple.
DDY
---------------------------------------------
David Letterman's remarks on September 17, 2001...
cold opening and applause
Thank you very much.
Welcome to the Late Show. This is our first show on the air since New York and
Washington were attacked, and I need to ask your patience and indulgence here
because I want to say a few things, and believe me, sadly, I'm not going to be
saying anything new, and in the past week others have said what I will be saying
here tonight far more eloquently than I'm equipped to do.
But, if we are going to continue to do shows, I just need to hear myself talk
for a couple of minutes, and so that's what I'm going to do here.
It's terribly sad here in New York City. We've lost five thousand fellow New
Yorkers, and you can feel it. You can feel it. You can see it. It's terribly
sad. Terribly, terribly sad. And watching all of this, I wasn't sure that I
should be doing a television show, because for twenty years we've been in the
city, making fun of everything, making fun of the city, making fun of my hair,
making fun of Paul... well...
So, to come to this circumstance that is so desperately sad, I don't trust my
judgment in matters like this, but I'll tell you the reason that I am doing a
show and the reason I am back to work is because of Mayor Giuliani.
Very early on, after the attack, and how strange does it sound to invoke that
phrase, "after the attack?", Mayor Giuliani encouraged us -- and here lately
implored us -- to go back to our lives, go on living, continue trying to make
New York City the place that it should be. And because of him, I'm here tonight.
And I just want to say one other thing about Mayor Giuliani: As this began, and
if you were like me, and in many respects, God, I hope you're not. But in this
one small measure, if you're like me, and you're watching and you're confused
and depressed and irritated and angry and full of grief, and you don't know how
to behave and you're not sure what to do and you don't really... because we've
never been through this before... all you had to do at any moment was watch the
Mayor. Watch how this guy behaved. Watch how this guy conducted himself. Watch
what this guy did. Listen to what this guy said. Rudolph Giuliani is the
personification of courage.
applause
And it's very simple... there is only one requirement for any of us, and that is
to be courageous, because courage, as you might know, defines all other human
behavior. And I believe, because I've done a little of this myself, pretending
to be courageous is just as good as the real thing. He's an amazing man, and
far, far better than we could have hoped for. To run the city in the midst of
this obscene chaos and attack, and also demonstrate human dignity... my God...
who can do that? That's a pretty short list.
The twenty years we've been here in New York City, we've worked closely with
police officers and the fire fighters and...
applause
...and fortunately, most of us don't really have to think too much about what
these men and women do on a daily basis, and the phrase New York's finest and
New York's bravest, you know, did it mean anything to us personally, firsthand?
Well, maybe, hopefully, but probably not. But boy, it means something now,
doesn't it? They put themselves in harm's way to protect people like us, and the
men and women, the fire fighters and the police department who are lost are
going to be missed by this city for a very, very long time. And I, and my hope
for myself and everybody else, not only in New York but everywhere, is that we
never, ever take these people for granted... absolutely never take them for
granted.
applause
I just want to go through this, and again, forgive me if this is more for me
than it is for people watching, I'm sorry, but uh, I just, I have to go through
this, I'm...
The reason we were attacked, the reason these people are dead, these people are
missing and dead, and they weren't doing anything wrong, they were living their
lives, they were going to work, they were traveling, they were doing what they
normally do. As I understand it (and my understanding of this is vague at best),
another smaller group of people stole some airplanes and crashed them into
buildings. And we're told that they were zealots, fueled by religious fervor...
religious fervor. And if you live to be a thousand years old, will that make any
sense to you? Will that make any Goddamned sense? Whew.
I'll tell you about a thing that happened last night. There's a town in Montana
by the name of Choteau. It's about a hundred miles south of the Canadian border.
And I know a little something about this town. It's 1,600 people. 1,600 people.
And it's an ag-business community, which means farming and ranching. And
Montana's been in the middle of a drought for... I don't know... three years?
And if you've got no rain, you can't grow anything. And if you can't grow
anything, you can't farm, and if you can't grow anything, you can't ranch,
because the cattle don't have anything to eat, and that's the way life is in a
small town. 1,600 people.
Last night at the high school auditorium in Choteau, Montana, they had a rally
(home of the Bulldogs, by the way)... they had a rally for New York City. And
not just a rally for New York City, but a rally to raise money... to raise money
for New York City. And if that doesn't tell you everything you need to know
about the... the spirit of the United States, then I can't help you. I'm sorry.
applause
And I have one more thing to say, and then, thank God, Regis is here, so we have
something to make fun of.
If you didn't believe it before (and it's easy to understand how you might have
been skeptical on this point), if you didn't believe it before, you can
absolutely believe it now...
New York City is the greatest city in the world.
lengthy applause
We're going to try and feel our way through this, and we'll just see how it
goes... take it a day at a time. We're lucky enough tonight to have two
fantastic representatives of this town, Dan Rather and Regis Philbin, and we'll
be right back.
to commercial
******************************************
Visit DDY's Late Show Fan Page: http://www.ddy.com/dl3.html
This Week in Late Show History: http://www.ddy.com/dl5.html
AFL Pie Guessing Championship Miss Congeniality 2000
Libby
<Remarks snipped>
Thank you for posting this. I needed to read the words, because I get caught up
in the visual and don't always process everything that is said. And Dave said
a lot last night. My heart breaks for him and for every person who is trying to
deal with this tragedy. We will get through this.
Blessings to you all
Libby
Zeke162
even better in some respects. I've watched Dave through a variety of family
transitions and as a child psychiatrist I have even recommended his show to
people. And this proves I was right.
Pepsi 46
Ken McMonigal
>
>
> I found Dave's remarks about the attack on New York City to be tremendously
> touching and inspiring. I tried to think about what I could say to compliment
> him on his heartfelt eight-minute opening to the Sept. 17 show.
>
> One could sense tremendous apprehension in Dave's voice as he spoke, knowing
> that he feared his words were inadequate to address the gravity of the
> situation. Pure Dave. As always, he completely underestimated himself.
>
> I finally concluded that the best way to compliment Dave for his remarks (and to
> pay tribute to the heroic citizens of New York) would be to post them verbatim.
> I wrote them in html and will archive them on the fan page later today, but I'm
> pasting them in here for the moment, as I see there has already been one
> request.
>
> To all the fine people in the Big Apple, my best wishes and respect from the
> Little Apple.
>
> DDY
>
>
> ******************************************
> Visit DDY's Late Show Fan Page: http://www.ddy.com/dl3.html
> This Week in Late Show History: http://www.ddy.com/dl5.html
> AFL Pie Guessing Championship Miss Congeniality 2000
To amplify on Mr. Yoder's post, here is the complete transcript
of last night's show:
(note: IIRC, caption people usually put names of speakers
in more often, but I think one can figure it out tonight.
And not all commercial text edited out, sorry.)
[captioning sponsored by worldwide pants and cbs]
( applause )
>> dave: Thank you very much.
Welcome to the "late show."
This is our first show on the
air since new york and
washington were attacked, and i
need to ask your patience and
indulgence here because I want
to say a few things and, believe
me, sadly, i'm not going to be
saying anything new.
And in the past week, others
have said what i will be saying
here tonight far more eloquently
than i'm equipped to do.
But if we are going to continue
to do shows, i just need to hear
myself talk for a couple of
minutes, and so that's what I'm
going to do here.
It's terribly sad here in new
york city.
We've lost 5,000 fellow new
yorkers, and you can feel it.
You can feel it, you can see it;
it's terribly sad.
Terribly, terribly sad.
And watching all of this, i
wasn't sure that i should be
doing a television show, because
for 20 years we've been in the
city, making fun of everything,
making fun of the city, making
fun of my hair, making fun of
paul.
Well...
( Light laughter )
so, to come to this circumstance
that is so desperately sad, I...
And I don't trust my judgment in
matters like this, but i'll tell
you the reason that I am doing a
show, and the reason i am back
to work is because of mayor
giuliani.
Very early on, after the
attack-- and how strange does it
sound to invoke that phrase,
"after the attack"?-- Mayor
giuliani encouraged us and here,
lately, implored us to go back
to our lives, go on living,
continue trying to make new york
city the place that it should
be.
And because of him, I'm here
tonight, and i just want to say
one other thing about mayor
giuliani: As this began, and if
you were like me-- and in many
respects, god, i hope you're
not...
( Light laughter )
but in this one small measure,
if you're like me, and you're
watching and you're confused and
depressed and irritated and
angry and full of grief, and you
don't know how to behave and
you're not sure what to do, and
you don't really... Because
we've never been through this
before, all you had to do at any
moment was watch the mayor.
Watch how this guy behaved.
Watch how this guy conducted
himself.
Watch what this guy did.
Listen to what this guy said.
Rudolph giuliani is the
personification of courage,
and...
( Applause )
and it's very simple.
There is only one requirement
for any of us, and that is to be
courageous, because courage, as
you might know, defines all
other human behavior.
And I believe, because i've done
a little of this myself,
pretending to be courageous is
just as good as the real thing.
He's an amazing man and far, far
better than we could have hoped
for.
To run the city in the midst of
this obscene chaos and attack,
and also demonstrate human
dignity... My god, who can do
that?
That's a pretty short list.
The 20 years that we've been
here in new york city, we've
worked closely with police
officers and firefighters and...
( Applause )
and fortunately, most of us
don't really have to think too
much about what these men and
women do on a daily basis, and
the phrase, "new york's finest,"
and "new york's bravest," you
know, did it mean anything to
us, personally, firsthand?
Well, maybe, hopefully, but
probably not.
But, boy, it means something
now, doesn't it?
They put themselves in harm's
way to protect people like us.
And the men and women from the
firefighters and the police
department who are lost are
going to be missed by this city
for a very, very long time.
And my hope for myself and
everybody else, not only in new
york but everywhere, is that we
never ever take these people for
granted.
Absolutely never take them for
granted.
( Applause )
I just want to go through this,
and again, forgive me if this is
more for me than it is for
people watching.
I'm sorry, but i just... I have
to go through this.
The reason we were attacked, the
reason these people are dead,
these people are missing and
dead and... They weren't doing
anything wrong.
They were living their lives.
They were going to work.
They were traveling.
They were doing what they
normally do.
As i understand it-- and my
understanding of this is vague
at best-- another smaller group
of people stole some airplanes
and crashed them into buildings.
And we're told that they were
zealots, fueled by religious
fervor.
Religious fervor.
And if you live to be 1,000
years old, will that make any
sense to you?
Will that make any [no audio]
damn sense?
( Sighs )
I'll tell you about a thing that
happened last night.
There's a town in montana by the
name of choteau.
It's about 100 miles south of
the canadian border.
And I know a little something
about this town and its 1,600
people, 1,600 people.
And it's an "ag" business
community, which means farming
and ranching.
And montana's been in the middle
of a drought for, I don't know,
three years, and if you got no
rain, you can't grow anything,
and if you can't grow anything,
you can't farm.
And if you can't grow anything,
you can't ranch because the
cattle don't have anything to
eat.
And that's the way life is in
this small town, 1,600 people.
Last night at the high school
auditorium in choteau, montana,
they had a rally-- home of the
bulldogs, by the way-- they had
a rally for new york city, and
not just a rally for new york
city, but a rally to raise
money, to raise money for new
york city.
And if that doesn't tell you
everything you need to know
about the... The spirit of the
united states, then I can't help
you, i'm sorry.
( Applause )
and I have one... One more thing
to say, and then, thank god,
regis is here, so we have
something to make fun of.
( Laughter )
if you didn'T... If you didn't
believe it before-- and it's
easy to understand how you might
have been skeptical on this
point-- if you didn't believe it
before, you can absolutely
believe it now: New york city is
the greatest city in the world.
( Cheers and applause )
we're going to...
We're going to try and feel our
way through this and we'll just
see how it goes, take it a day
at a time.
We're lucky enough tonight to
have two fantastic
representatives of this town:
Dan rather and regis philbin.
And we'll be right back.
( Applause )
s you just needto brush, big time.
That's why there's trident gum.
Chewing trident after eating
helps fight cavities.
Can't brush.
Ch on this.
( Band playing )
( cheers and applause )
thank you, paul.
Paul shaffer, ladies and
gentlemen.
( Applause )
>> paul: Thank you, david.
>> Dave: Everybody all right?
>> Paul: Everybody's okay.
>> Dave: All right, good.
Our first guest, of course, is
the anchor of the "cbs evening
news."
Here he is, dan rather.
Dan, come on out.
( Rs and applause )
( band playing )
how are you, dan?
>> Well, it's not our best time,
david.
>> Dave: No.
What... Do we know anything new?
Anything that I'm not aware of?
Anything that you have heard in
the last eight, ten, 12 hours
that we should discuss?
>> Well, some very interesting
things happened this afternoon.
President bush made what i think
is his strongest statement yet
when he went to the pentagon
this afternoon.
He was giuliani-esque.
I don't think he would mind my
saying that.
>> Dave: No.
( Applause )
>> no, he looked the camera
straight in the eye, unblinking,
and said, "osama, dead or
alive."
( Applause )
and he also underscored,
david... Which i think is very
important to understand two
things, and the president made
this extremely clear.
One, this is for the long haul.
Wars are won by, in no
particular order, firepower,
willpower, and staying power.
And what president bush was
talking about today-- I don't
think he could have made it any
clearer-- if we have the
firepower, we've mustered the
willpower, and unlike the gulf
war, we will have the staying
power.
That's the message you got out
of that.
( Applause )
>> dave: How do you answer the
question of why didn't it happen
already?
Why hasn't there been some kind
of a kind of a strike now?
Everybody was hoping... Maybe
not everybody, maybe i'm
speaking for myself, thinking
perhaps, you know, saturday,
let's do it saturday.
Why not saturday?
We've got a weekend.
Let's go.
Let's do it saturday.
Are we... Is that a mistake to
be too e
can you make a mistake by being
too eager?
>> Well, david, I think we've
talked about this before.
As a one-time private in the
u.S. Marine corps, with perhaps
the least distinguished record
in the whole history of the
corps, i never know what to say
about strategy.
I don't mean to make light of
it.
I don't know the answer to that.
I think the answer is, one, when
we strike the president wants to
make sure it's an effective
strike, and with what we're
dealing with here, which is not
one man, it's a hydra-headed
operation that's in 55 countries
around the world.
Now, granted, the focus is on,
and we should understand, not
just afghanistan-- afghanistan,
sudan, iran, iraq, syria, and
libya.
Now, the first strike eds to
be a very effective strike, and
i think the answer to your
question is, one, we want to
make sure that the first strike
actually accomplishes something.
And then secondly, colin
powell... Who is not to be
underestimated in this, because
colin powell is from that school
of military thought that says
you don't move until you first
have your defensive order of
battle in place.
That is, let's get our stuff in
this country all squared away,
and then you don't move until
you've got your offensive order
of battle into a position where
you can move with overwhelming
force.
There are other schools of
thought: Guerrilla warfare,
flanking operations.
That's not colin powell.
Colin powell is, let's don't
make the mistake we made in
vietnam.
If we're going to go, let's
really go with force.
So i think that's the answer why
we haven't struck.
Now, it's certainly true that
even in afghanistan, which is a
terribly impoverished nation,
and it's... You know, it's
people, they most of them are as
fearful of the taliban as you
are.
But in afghanistan...
>> Dave: How long were you in
afghanistan?
>> Well, i was there in e
1980s a couple of times, and we
walked in and walked out-- once
for, i think, 18 days.
I'm not an expert on
afghanistan, but no one should
be mistaken, to put even a small
number of ground troops in
afghanistan is extremely,
extremely dangerous.
But they could have... Yeah,
they could have tuesday night.
They could have knocked out...
They could have turned out the
lights all over afghanistan.
They could have turned off all
communication.
Why they didn't do that, we'll
have to see later.
But I couldn't feel stronger,
david, that this is a time for
us... And I'm not preaching
about it.
George bush is the president, he
makes the decisions, and, you
know, as just one american,
wherever he wants me to line up,
just tell me where.
>> Dave: Yeah.
>> And he'll make the call.
I do think we'll see something
reasonably strong soon, and
strong because president bush
and those around him know that
america seethes, and there are a
an awful lot of people asking
the question you did.
What are we waiting on?
Let's get them.
>> Dave: You mention the multi-
headed, multi-armed whatever in
55 countries, you said.
How many people does that
reesent?
How many people make up our
enemy now?
What are we talking about?
Thousands?
>> No one knows.
No one knows.
They specialize in so-called
"sleeper agents." Come into a country, or
are perhaps reared in a country,
and the whole idea is just to
seem like everybody else, maybe
be there for a year or two or
longer until you get the call,
or until you move on your own.
This is, as president bush has
described it, the first war of
the 21st century.
It's a twilight war.
It's a war to be fought in the
shadows.
And secretary of defense don
rumsfeld has been underscoring
that we americans raised on, you
know, movies of world war ii and
the television of the vietnam
era, and the great triumph that
was the gulf war-- although we
didn't have the staying power to
finish and get rid of saddam
hussein-- this is different.
This is not kind of war we've
ever fought before, and we need
to think of it that way, because
this is in the shadows.
>> Dave: But what does that
mean?
And I'll tell you, i think i
speak for other people when i
say the gulf war, you describe
it as a great triumph, but then
you qualify it, and I think
that's why people are skeptical.
Can we expect another gulf war,
where, you know, a day or two
later, everything over there is
fine and back to formal?
>> No.
>> Dave: Or will this produce
lasting and satisfying results?
>> I don't know the answer to
the last question, but it will
be different in this regard.
This will be long.
The casualties will be greater.
Let's face it, we've already had
more casualties-- I mean, 5,000
of our fellow americans have
been killed already.
When we talk about casualties,
we've suffered casualties, but
there will be more when we send
our sons and daughters into this
kind of war, into this twilight
zone that they're going.
There will be great casualties.
Now, it remains to be seen
whether we have the staying
power.
That's basically up to you and
me and everybody in the audience
and every american, whether we
have the staying power.
Whether we have the will to stay
with it is the big question.
But you say, you know, will it
do anything?
I certainly think it can, but
what will we think of ourselves
if we didn't try?
>> Dave: Well, that's the point.
Will it do anything, and do we
have the determination to make
sure it does something?
I guess that's what you're
talking about.
>> I think the people of the
united states do.
>> Dave: You're saying the
commitment, because everybody
second-guessed the commitment in
the gulf war, and then we went
back again and had another
little mop-up operation, but
nothing really substantively has
changed there, has it?
>> No.
But look, no.
There's no question we made a
big mistake, as a people, as a
nation, as a society.
We now know it.
>> Dave: Right.
>> Another few hours, and saddam
hussein might very well have
gone to yemen or the sudan.
But the decision was made to
stop it.
We all know now it was made to
stop it too soon.
But that's in the past.
This is going to be much longer.
This will take years.
This may very well take another
four, eight, ten years.
And americans are noted the
world around for having great
courage, having a great
military, but the world's view
of us in many places, with many
people, is we just don't have
the stomach to stick anything
out.
And they say, well, it was great
during world war ii, yeah, but
this is a new generation, and
they're all spoiled.
>> Dave: It better change, it
better change.
>> So we're now going to...
We're now being put to the test.
But I'll tell you this, if they
could go down to ground zero
here in lower manhattan-- and
you referred to it earlier-- and
see the following, see those
fireman...
( Gets choked up )
>> dave: Okay, i'll tell you
what...
>> Well, i can finish it.
>> Dave: No, no, no, dan.
Take care of yourself.
We'll be right back here with
dan rather.
( Applause )
it's the raid "deathcathlon."
First, a spray of hot shot
for one team...
And fast kill raid
for the other.
[ Gunshot ]
and they're off !
Those hot shot bugs
still showing some spunk,
while the raid team
is looking kind of... Dead.
Fast kill...
( Band playing )
( applause )
>> dave: Dan rather is here.
I was talking earlier.
These are questions from a dumb
guy, so help me out.
Zealots motivated by religious
fervor-- am I accurate to think
that, and is it impossible to
reconcile, but is that what
we're dealing with?
And if so, what are the events,
really, that have pissed this
guy off?
What did we do here?
>> Well, first of all, david, i
want to apologize.
You know, I'm a pro, and i get
paid not to let it show, and i'm
sorry about that.
Now, in answer to your question,
again, this is so important to
understand.
No, I don't think it's about
religious fervor, because this
has nothing to do with islam.
This is not islam.
Osama bin laden...
>> Dave: Well, what the hell are
they up to, then?
>> Well, they hate america.
They hate us.
It isn't... This is one thing
that makes this war different.
They don't want territory.
They don't want what we got.
They want to kill us and destroy
us.
You know, it's a heavy
statement, but it's true.
They seek to accomplish our
death-- death as a people, as a
society, and a culture.
>> Dave: But why?
Why?
Why?
>> Well...
>> Dave: They don't get cable?
What's the problem?
( Laughter )
>> they don't get cable.
Who can explain madmen, and who
can explain evil?
They... They see themselves as
the world's losers.
They would never admit that.
They see us, and we have
everything, we win everything;
this is their view of things.
They see themselves as we should
be a great people, but we're
not, and it drives them batty.
That's the only explanation...
>> Dave: And that really is it?
That's why we have 5,000 people
dead in this city?
>> We have 5,000...
>> Dave: Envy.
It's just envy, jealousy,
bitterness?
>> Deep, abiding hate, which
it's very difficult for anyone
in western civilization, much
less our united states of
america, to understand this kind
of hate.
You have to see it firsthand.
You have to have been among it
to understand.
There's no rationality to it, by
our standards.
There's no trying to explain it.
But I keep coming back to the
point, david, it's a mistake to
believe this has anything to do
with the islamic religion.
These are crazy people.
They are haters.
They hate us for who and what we
are.
They don't want anything except
to see us dead and see us
destroyed.
>> Dave: Yeah.
I mean, I'm listening to what
you're saying, but do you know
anybody alive today who is
capable of that?
I mean, it's so aberrant and so
far afield of what we regard as
a human experience, how can it
exist at a level large enough to
be of any consequence, for god's
sake?
>> I don't have the answer to
that question.
I come back to, some evil is
just... It can't be explained.
>> Dave: Are these people happy?
Are they joyous now?
>> No.
>> Dave: Are they celebrating?
>> Oh, absolutely.
They're celebrating.
There's one report... This has
not been confirmed, but there
are several reports that there
was a cell, one of these cells,
across the hudson river, and
they got on the... This is the
report-- and i emphasize i don't
know this for a fact, but
there's several witnesses who
say this happened-- they got on
the roof of the building to look
across.
They knew what was going to
happen.
They were waiting for it to
happen.
And when it happened, they
celebrated, they jumped for joy
to see this happen.
It was a great triumph.
It's inconceivable to me and to
you, but, david, this is what we
have to understand as a country.
We're not dealing with the kind
of thing we dealt with any war
we've ever fought before,
because we've never dealt with
these kinds of hateful-to-the-
core, evil people.
>> Dave: Have... Did this
country, years ago or currently,
make some kind of mistake that
made us more vulnerable than we
knew?
Has there been any kind of... I
think about the fbi, it's run
like a high school volleyball
team.
( Laughter )
I think about the cia, you know,
they can't even find the
drinking fountain.
I mean, have we made mistakes
that we should not have made?
>> Absolutely.
And you've touched on some.
Look, we spend in excess of $25
billion a year for alleged,
supposed intelligence.
There's been virtually no
accountability for one
intelligence failure after
another.
Sure, everybody has excuses why
we weren't allowed to do this or
that.
It's a total, abject failure in
this case, and one-- you mention
mayor giuliani-- one of the
things that made the giuliani
administration go is
accountability.
The mayor's attitude was "I'm
going to give you
responsibility, but you've got
accountability."
Now, the fbi and the cia--
nobody wants to talk about this,
but law enforcement people know
it-- they barely talk to one
another.
The cia keeps things from the
fbi; the fbi keeps things from
the cia.
No doubt they'll deny this after
this is over, but everybody in
law enforcement knows this, and
there's kind of a "keystone
kops" aspect to this which has
to... Mistakes we've made.
I've mentioned before, look, we
ended the gulf war probably 24
hours too soon.
>> Dave: Right.
>> We now know that saddam
hussein, we mentioned, you know,
if he isn't connected to this,
he's connected to any other
things.
He's part of this "hate america"
thing.
You have to understand that
saddam hussein is somebody i
have sat this close, eye to eye.
When his feet hit the floor
every morning, he dreams of
leading a victorious arab army
into jerusalem, and he sees
himself as the new saladin.
And his hate is deep for us.
I don't even like to use the
word "hate," but, you know, this
is what we're dealing with, and
we have to wake up.
It's a new... It's a new place
now, and we're headed to a new
place, david.
"Time" magazine had a wonderful
essay this week, and said, you
know, "we're going now to a new
place where, you know, even the
songs we sing will have a
completely different meaning."
For example, you know, "america
the beautiful": Who can sing
now, with the same meaning we
had before, one stanza of that
that goes "o beautiful, for
patriots' dream, that sees
beyond the years, thine
alabaster cities gleam, undimmed
by human tears."
We can never sing that song...
( Sobs )
...Again that way.
David, you've been terrific to
have me tonight.
I'm so sorry for this.
>> Dave: It's fine.
>> The hour grows late.
>> Dave: Yeah, yeah.
You're fine.
You're a professional, but good
christ, you're a human being,
and my god, to not see this...
( Cheers and applause )
>> thank you.
( Applause )
thanks.
Thank you very much.
>> Dave: I don't...
( Applause )
now, the other day, dick
cheney-- who to me seemed like
the real deal-- dick cheney was
talking about how
counterintelligence and
espionage is dirty business, and
maybe now we were going to have
to get down in the mud with
these people.
And I thought, "well, holy god,
wasn't that the way it was
supposed to be?"
Why aren't we down there with
the bad guys, you know?
Why don't we?
And he said, "okay, all that,
the rules are different; now we
are."
Well, you only know what the bad
guys are up to if you're
pretending to be a bad guy
yourself.
>> Well, two points.
>> Dave: Did that make any sense
to you, dan?
>> It does.
( Laughter )
two things: Number one, when did
we get our first clue that
dealing with these people is a
dirty business?
But if we behave the way they
do, then we've lost.
We've lost completely.
But, look, if you're in a street
fight, you know it's different
than if you're in the golden
gloves.
In the golden gloves, you've got
a referee, you've got bells
sounding, things and rules.
This is an alley fight.
This is a street fight.
It doesn't mean we have to fight
completely dirty all the time,
but it also means that we can't
behave as choirboys.
And when you mentioned vice
president cheney, and, you know,
president bush has around him
some very experienced people:
Donald rumsfeld, defense; dick
cheney, vice president; colin
powell, the secretary of state.
In "time" magazine, he had a
cover a few weeks ago, you know,
"where are you, colin powell?"
Well, we now see him front and
center, and he's rising in
influence because he has
battlefield experience in
vietnam.
He helped carry us to the
victory we had-- which was
incomplete, but nonetheless had
in the gulf war.
And you talked earlier about
"well, let's do something," and
when i talk to people, this is
the strain that runs through
everybody, is "let's do
something."
But there's a saying in the far
east: "Revenge is best served
cold," which is to say, wait
your time.
>> Dave: Mm-hmm.
>> Take your time.
It's also... Rudyard kipling
wrote that the law of the jungle
is, you never lose your temper.
Well, we're past that.
We've lost our temper, and you
know what, i'm sorry it's
showing so clearly here tonight,
but there's a rage within all of
us that has to be sort of
tempered while we take care of
business.
>> Dave: I asked you earlier if
any of these people who were
responsible or connected to the
responsible parties might be
celebrating.
Are any of them nervous?
Is bin laden, if this is the
guy, is he nervous now, or are
these guys just oblivious to
that?
>> I have no way of...
>> Dave: Did they invite that?
Do they want it?
Do they want to be killed in
this cause?
>> Some of them do, as was
evident aboard these aircraft.
But their basic attitude seems
to be, "okay, big guy, come and
get us."
>> Dave: Yeah.
>> "Come and get us."
And they're looking to entrap us
in some ways.
That's a reason this business of
waiting a bit, patience, get our
stuff in order, may turn out to
be very prudent.
>> Dave: And with that in mind,
can you give us an estimate...
An estimation of when we might
see something?
I mean, I know there are signs
of fuel being moved, reserves
being called up and so forth.
Is there a best guess when it
might happen, something might
happen?
>> I wouldn't give you a best
guess if i had one, to tell you
the truth, because i feel so
strongly about this.
Let them do their work.
But I'm a little nervous being
here, because I think a strike
could come at any second.
>> Dave: Is that right?
>> I think we will see something
soon, but again, it isn't going
to be one strike and that's it,
well okay.
But I'd be surprised if we don't
see something very soon.
And if the osama bin ladens of
the world aren't nervous, they
soon will be, because we do
have-- with not just our
military; we have other
resources-- we do have a
terrible, swift sword, and it'll
be striking fairly soon.
>> Dave: All right.
Listen, dan, thank you very
much.
>> Thank you, david.
>> Dave: I know you have to get
back to running cbs news.
( Applause )
it's been a pleasure to have you
here.
God bless you.
Keep up the good work.
Dan rather.
We'll be right back with regis
philbin, everybody.
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( Cheers and applause )
>> dave: All right.
Now comes the hard part.
( Laughter )
our next guest is a good friend
of ours.
Ladies and gentlemen, here he
is, regis philbin.
( Cheers and applause )
>> wow, what a show you got
tonight.
It's a tough seat here.
>> Dave: What do you want?
( Laughter )
>> you know, i was booked six
weeks ago, but every time I come
here lately, there's another
crisis.
>> Dave: I know, and i want
to...
>> Big man's going to the
hospital, big man's getting out
of the hospital, and now this.
Every time i sit here, there's,
you know, some catastrophe.
>> Dave: But god bless you for
sticking in here and showing up
tonight, because a lot of people
would have thought, well, maybe
it's not appropriate.
And I know you rise to any
occasion, and I was very happy
and very proud of you for being
here.
>> What do you mean, not
appropriate?
>> Dave: A lot of people would
have just thought well, maybe
i'll just stay at home.
I wasn't certain that it was
appropriate to be back on the
air, either.
>> No, but we talked about that
just briefly today.
And I think it is time for you
to come back.
I think the american people want
to see you again.
>> Dave: Oh, sure.
>> We're not going to do the
same kind of a show, but they
got to see you, dave.
( Applause )
>> dave: Do you think kathie lee
will come back?
( Laughter )
( applause )
>> there is somebody who could
end this in a hurry.
>> Dave: I know, i know.
( Laughter and applause )
>> you think i'm kidding?
>> Dave: Oh, regis.
>> You want a quick end to this?
Send kathie lee over there.
>> Dave: You were on the air, i
guess, a week ago tuesday,
right?
>> Yeah, i was going to ask you
what you were...
You were dark last week?
>> Dave: That's right.
I was out of town.
>> You were out of town.
Did you see it on tv?
>> Dave: That's all you did see
on tv, for god's sakes.
>> Well, i was there, sitting in
the make-up chair, waiting to go
on our 9:00 show...
>> Dave: You wear make-up?
( Laughter )
>> yeah, not tonight, but...
But anyway, there was that
horrible sight, and I knew right
away it was foul play.
I mean, what else could it be?
And then, on the show, we had,
you know, we were playing it and
watching the twin towers and the
second plane went in.
And then eventually the network
took over, and...
>> Dave: Did you watch peter
jennings on abc?
Did you get a chance to see tom
on nbc, and dan on cbs?
Did you get a chance to see
these guys?
>> Absolutely.
I thought they were fabulous.
>> Dave: Unbelievable.
How can they do that?
>> I don't know.
They just sit there and
unruffled, and go and go and go.
It was something to see dan
rather well up with tears twice.
>> Dave: Well, but, I mean, you
know, it would be surprising if
sooner or later it didn't happen
to somebody... How can anything
else happen?
How can it not happen?
You know what I mean?
It's just...
>> You know, i was down on the
lines just two hours ago, I went
down to see for myself what was
going on.
>> Dave: Right.
>> It is really some scene.
You know, we're seeing it on
television, we're seeing it in
the papers, but until you go
down there, and we can only stay
a few blocks away, but there's
an enormous cloud of smoke still
there almost a week later.
And all that... That wreckage is
still there, and men are going
in, 1,500 guys are digging away,
and then the next batch go in.
It's really unbelievable.
>> Dave: It's amazing because
could there be something bigger
to live through than this?
I don't think so.
I don't think so.
But yet, the human spirit is so
resilient, god bless us, we will
live through it.
>> Oh, absolutely.
Oh, sure.
>> Dave: But, it's just...
How, what?
Does it seem real at all?
You look at these pictures...
I was looking in the "times"
today, and it's no.
But yet you've seen it and seen
it and seen it, and still don't
believe.
>> Yeah.
Well, you're absolutely right.
And to go down there and talk to
those men and to spend just a
few minutes with them, you
realize the guts and the
character and the courage that
they have, and that's what's
going to get us through this.
>> Dave: Yeah, yeah.
>> Yeah, the spirit is great.
I was happy to hear what you
said about mayor giuliani.
He comes out of this thing...
>> Dave: I'm not wrong about
that, am i?
>> He's a giant, he's a giant,
in fact, i think...
( Applause )
I read in the paper today that
the president was so impressed
with him on friday that he'd
like him to join the
administration in some capacity
when he has to leave.
And incidentally, dave, he was
down at the stock market today,
down at the commodity exchange,
and there was a chant that went
up, "four more years, four more
years."
>> Dave: Yeah.
>> I hate to see him go.
( Applause )
>> dave: One of the guys who--
this perhaps has been pointed
out before, it's the first i'd
heard-- one of the guys who
works here, bill sheft, was
saying, obviously, that if he
had been able to run for senate,
he might have won, and we'd a
had a different guy as the mayor
and we wouldn't have had this
greatness for us now.
>> That's right.
That's right.
He's really stepped up to the
plate and he had such authority,
such command, and seems to make
the right decisions.
>> Dave: What great dignity.
I mean, you learn so much from
just watching how this guy
carries himself.
>> And there he was best man at
somebody's wedding yesterday.
>> Dave: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
>> How are you holding up?
>> Dave: Well, i'm, you know,
it's just, it's crazy, because i
just didn't know if we should be
on the air.
And I'm repeating myself, but it
was because of the mayor, and i
just felt like, well, to do
anything but come back and do
the show would not be in the
spirit of rebuilding this city.
And I know i'm fooling myself,
because it's a meager effort we
have here.
You know, the people who are
really rebuilding the spirit of
this city are right now digging
through the rubble of this city,
and those are the people who are
rebuilding the city.
( Applause )
>> and the way the rest of the
nation has rallied around new
york.
They've asked people no more
donations, they just can't
handle it anymore, and rather
than go to waste, send it to a
charity.
But they're stacked up all along
west side drive, little tents
with provisions under it there.
So it was quite a scene.
>> Dave: How did you first meet
joey bishop?
( Laughter )
>> you know...
You know, don't you people
understand?
Dan rather just cried in this
seat a few minutes ago.
He broke down.
>> Dave: No, no.
( Laughter )
>> i'll tell you what happened.
It was a long time ago.
>> Dave: Now, you-- and I don't
mean to be silly about this--
but you experienced pearl
harbor, I think, right?
( Laughter )
>> well, i wasn't there.
I wasn't there.
>> Dave: You were on the air
then, too, weren't you?
>> No, i wasn't on the air.
( Laughter and
scattered applause )
>> dave: I'm sorry, I thought
maybe you were.
>> You know, but that is another
thing that you'll always
remember.
Where you were when it happened.
I was a little boy growing up in
the bronx.
It was, I think, early sunday
afternoon, a crisp day in
december, and I was sitting in a
chair in the living room in my
house, my house on krugel
avenue.
And my father was laying down on
the couch, and i believe the
giants were playing the brooklyn
dodgers who had a pro-football
team at that time.
Half time, bang, in comes this
bulletin, pearl harbor has been
attacked.
And my father, who was an ex-
marine, leaped off the couch,
and he was ready to go right
then.
I had never heard of pearl
harbor.
And that's... Well, I'll always
remember that, and i'll always
sitting at the make-up chair
watching the plane...
>> Dave: Do you remember
anything about f.D.R., His
presence, what he had to say,
how that was handled?
>> Well, i remember his voice,
you know, it was all radio in
those days.
>> Dave: Yeah.
>> And he had quite... A
somewhat theatrical voice, you
know, but it was a voice that
you paid attention to and gained
confidence in.
And it was the right voice at
the right time.
>> Dave: Right, yeah.
>> And he was terribly strong.
And yeah, you listen to that
voice, and you say, "we can't
lose.
We're not going to lose this."
>> Dave: Yeah, absolutely.
We'll be right back here with
mr. Philbin.
( Applause )
(commercial edited out)
( Band playing )
( cheers and applause )
>> dave: Thank you very much,
guys, felicia.
Now, i didn't realize this, tell
me... Tell the folks what you
were about to tell me during the
break.
>> Well, it's interesting that
my son works at the pentagon.
>> Dave: I had no idea.
>> Yeah.
And so, he was there, and after
these planes collided, after my
show, he called me up, and we
were talking about what had
happened.
And he said, "you know, there's
some noise in the building here.
People are beginning to run.
There's some shouting."
And of course, he didn't know it
at the time, because he was on
the other side of where that
plane hit the pentagon.
And so he said, "i have to leave
now."
And he left.
He's in a wheelchair.
So i worried about him, because,
you know... But fortunately, his
office is on the other side of
where the plane hit, and he
managed to get out.
But it still was a harrowing
experience.
>> Dave: Are they... Is he back
at work?
I mean, what is life like down
there for him?
>> Yeah, he came back to work.
He is out right now, though.
He had a little kidney
infection, so he's out for a day
or two, but he can't wait to get
back.
Spirit is very high.
They're very determined that
this is going to end the way
they want it to end.
>> Dave: Now, you were not on
the air this morning.
You were planning on coming ba
on the air this morning?
>> I'm coming back tomorrow.
Could you do my show tomorrow?
( Laughter and applause )
all the times, all the times
i've been here to save the big
man.
( Laughter )
when the big man calls, who was
on the front line with him,
standing right here?
( Applause )
no, I'm kidding.
No, he's got a different show.
>> Dave: I was kind of hoping to
sleep in.
( Laughter )
>> but i want to tell you one
thing that i have learned from
this: That life is very
unpredictable, and can be
extremely short and cut short
cruelly.
So i implore you again, can't we
have dinner together?
( Laughter )
>> dave: I'll have to call you.
( Laughter )
>> and i'll tell you what, we'll
take dan rather out, you know?
>> Dave: But you know, you
bring...
( Laughter )
>> and cheer him up.
( Laughter )
>> dave: Anyway...
>> Come on, big man, let's have
dinner together.
>> Dave: All right, I'll have
dinner with you.
Now...
( Applause )
>> because one day, I may not be
here to save you.
>> Dave: Yeah, i know.
And by the way, you've just been
great and selfless, and again,
thank you.
>> No, but i love you, big man,
you know that.
And I admire the show you have.
And the other night...
>> Dave: You like the camera
angles on the show.
( Laughter )
>> you know, i said that once
about ten years ago.
>> Dave: Yeah, he calls me up,
and he says, "you've got the
best show on television."
And I thought, wow, coming from
regis philbin, this is going to
be... And I said, "really?"
And he says, "yeah, some of
those camera angles."
( Laughter )
>> i want you to know something.
( Laughter )
that i said this.
You're right.
I said it ten years ago, but i
happen to appreciate camera
angles.
No, I happen to appreciate a job
well done, and part of the magic
of this whole business are the
the camera work and the guys who
run them and the director who
calls the shots.
The other night... May i just
say this?
>> Dave: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
( Laughter )
>> you had the marines were
running down broadway.
>> Dave: Oh, that was fantastic.
>> It was fantastic.
>> Dave: It was great.
>> And i called up your
director...
>> Dave: It was great.
They did a great job.
>> I called up your director
jerry foley, and i commended
him.
>> Dave: I want to mention
something right here of the
crew, the camera crew, our
technical crew, recently, like a
week ago, won emmys for their
work on the show.
>> Is that right?
>> Dave: Yes.
>> Oh, i'll applaud that.
( Applause )
well, you see, i'm glad to hear
that.
That's good.
You see, i may not know much,
but do i know camera angles.
>> Dave: Yes, you certainly do.
And they did a fantastic job
when we had the marines here.
>> Oh, it was great, dave, it
was great.
>> Dave: Yeah, it was nice.
>> You don't see that anymore.
What i'm happy about in all of
this, if there's anything to be
happy about, is the reemergence
of the american spirit.
You know, in this city, with so
many nationalities, you see
everybody else's flag flying,
and I've always said to myself,
I'm happy to see those people
are so spirited.
But for a change here's our flag
flying.
>> Dave: But you want to see it
make a difference that lasts.
>> Of course, of course.
>> Dave: You don't want it to be
a week or a month.
>> No, got to go all the way.
And I think bush knows that this
time, and I think he's going to
do it.
>> Dave: Are you done with
your... I know during the summer
you travel with your little
nightclub show.
Do you still do that?
( Laughter )
>> you know, you've never seen
my nightclub act.
>> Dave: No, i have not, no.
>> I'm going to be up at
foxwoods in november.
>> Dave: But it's just like
"danny boy" like for an hour or
so?
( Laughter )
>> no, don rickles pitches...
>> Dave: You don't do "danny
boy" anymore?
>> No, no.
Dan rickles says, did your
mother come from ireland, danny
boy?
No, I don't do that.
>> Dave: Well, that's a pretty
good show right there.
>> You bet it is.
Wouldn't be bad at all.
>> Dave: Regis, thank you very
much, and god bless you.
>> Dave, thanks.
Good to have you back on the
air, dave.
>> Dave: Regis philbin.
We'll be back.
>> Big man is back!
Bye-bye.
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( Applause )
>> dave: Thank you again, regis.
>> You bet, dave.
>> Dave: We'll see you tomorrow
night, and i can tell you this
so far: We have no one booked
for tomorrow night.
( Laughter )
thanks for watching.
>> I can't do it every night.
I can't be here every night.
[Captioning sponsored by
worldwide pants and cbs]
[captioned by
the caption center
wgbh educational foundation]
And here's part of Craig:
[captioning made possible by
worldwide pants, inc., And the
cbs television network]
[applause]
craig: Hello.
Welcome to "late late show."
My name is craig kilborn and we
have decided to come back to
work today and do a show,
although it's going to be a --
[applause]
craig: Although it's going to be
a different show, and what we
feel is an appropriate show.
I just want to walk you through
what i have been thinking for
the last week and tell you what
the producers on the show have
been thinking.
Last tuesday, i woke up early
and turned on the television and
saw what was happening in new
york city to the world trade
center.
And i woke up early where they
were still up, and i was
fortunate in my life to actually
live in new york city for three
years, and i had heard prior
that it was the greatest city in
the world.
And i left a few years ago to
come out here to los angeles,
and i realize why new york city
is the greatest city in the
world.
And last week, i watched the
city's reaction to the tragedy.
And once again, i realize why
it's the greatest city in the
world.
[Applause]
craig: And it -- and it starts
with giuliani and moves down,
but the firefighters, and the
volunteers, it's kind of a --
it's just a can-do attitude.
And it was inspirational.
And the thing is, as i watched
the world trade center -- the
twin towers go down, i was
sitting by myself at home, and i
was -- i got sad, and then, as
president bush aptly puts it,
"there is a quiet anger."
And we're all upset now.
And the thing that's bizarre for
me and a lot of people my age
is, we weren't around for world
war ii or pearl harbor, i was
too young to remember the
kennedy assassination, and I was
talking to a friend of mine, and
he said we have had it easy.
Our generation has had it easy.
I used to listen to my dad
growing up.
He talked about wars.
He talked about one of his
heroes was winston churchill,
what a great leader he was, but
this was new to me and it's new
to a lot of peopl
(end of transcription - more available
if requested - news analyst, Ms. Heaton
from ELRaymond, psychologist, musical group)
Pat Fleet
> I finally concluded that the best way to compliment Dave for his remarks (and
> to pay tribute to the heroic citizens of New York) would be to post them
> verbatim.
Thank you. They were *perfect.*
Sharon Best
Thank you.
SLB
*************
"David Yoder" <David_...@newsguy.com> wrote in message news:9o76n...@drn.newsguy.com...
TJ
Chad M. Riden
> I found Dave's remarks about the attack on New York City to be tremendously
> touching and inspiring. I tried to think about what I could say to compliment
> him on his heartfelt eight-minute opening to the Sept. 17 show.
Thank you very much for doing that.. I was just telling a guy about
last night's show, and just couldn't do Dave's words justice by
paraphrasing them. I appreciate your effort.
Chad M. Riden
http://www.MangyK9.com/
http://go.to/skeletoncrew/
Donz5
around a minute (or less) into the show, and your transcript will be of
tremendous help to anyone who missed it as well as to those who appreciate the
words spoken.
Enjoynlife
last night and I'm crying reading this again. Words can not express how I
feel.
What a wonderful heartbreaking show! I've been a Dave fan for many years
and this just made me love the man even more.
Respectfully...Glyn
GarysBGirl
foward
thank you
GarysBGirl
Bfitz
I'm in the Big Apple. What's the Little Apple? I know that Minneapolis is
the "Mini Apple."
David Yoder <David_...@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:9o76n...@drn.newsguy.com...
Cheryl Levenbrown
--
cheers,
cheryl
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."
-- Douglas Adams
Purplemadt
thecongressional archives as far as i am concerned. Letterman outdid himself.
thanks for his words. vejohnson
EZMAMA1D
>thank you david yoder for the transcript. It should be treasued and put into
>thecongressional archives as far as i am concerned. Letterman outdid himself.
>thanks for his words.
yes thank you
renee
our rats wanted to print this out
john
>David Yoder wrote:
>> I found Dave's remarks about the attack on New York City to be tremendously
>> touching and inspiring. I tried to think about what I could say to compliment
>> him on his heartfelt eight-minute opening to the Sept. 17 show.
>To amplify on Mr. Yoder's post, here is the complete transcript
>of last night's show:
Thank you David *and* Ken!
John
Rick Diamant
<9o7f0s$rig$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net>:
>Thank you, David.
>
>I'm in the Big Apple. What's the Little Apple? I know that Minneapolis is
>the "Mini Apple."
>
>David Yoder <David_...@newsguy.com> wrote in message
>news:9o76n...@drn.newsguy.com...
(snip)
Isn't the Little Apple Manhattan, Kansas?
Rick
David Yoder
>>I know that Minneapolis is the Mini Apple.
>Isn't the Little Apple Manhattan, Kansas?
Rick is right. Manhattan, Kansas is named for New York City, and is home of the
Kansas State Wildcats, the fiercest bobcat-sized feline in all the world.
(64 - 0 today vs. New Mexico State)
DDY
my misspelling submissions: convenience and maintenance