Kid's-Eye View
October 8, 2001
Meeting the Nation's New Security Chief
TFK News Team Reporter Amanda Lanzillo Talks With America's New Director of Homeland Security
 Amanda steps in front of the TV cameras to speak with Ridge. |
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When I left my house on the morning of October 4, 2001, I knew it would be a day I would always remember. My dad was driving me to see Tom Ridge, the Governor of Pennsylvania, and the man chosen by President Bush to lead the country's new Office of Homeland Security. Governor Ridge and I share at least one thing in common. Erie, Pennsylvania is our hometown.
|  Amanda interviews the nation's new Secretary of Homeland Security. |
From Erie, Pennsylvania to the White House
I am a sixth grade student at Westlake Middle School in Millcreek Township, and have lived in Erie my entire life. Tom Ridge also grew up here. Everyone in Erie is very proud of Tom Ridge. He rose from a modest working class background to the Governor's Office. Along the way, he attended Harvard University, went on to law school, and served his country as a soldier in Vietnam. After returning to Erie, he successfully ran for Congress, where he served for 12 years before becoming Governor.
And now, I was on my way to see him speak and maybe even meet him in person. Governor Ridge was returning to Erie to announce that the state is planning to fund a new visitors' center at Presque Isle State Park. Presque Isle is a peninsula on the shore of Lake Erie. It is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year and is one of my favorite places to spend time during the summer. The new visitors' center is going to be built on the site of an old drive-in theater, and that was the location chosen for his speech.
A Front-Row Seat at Tom Ridge's Press Briefing
When my dad and I arrived, security guards directed us to a parking area and we then made our way down to a couple of large tents where a stage and chairs had been set up. There were many important people walking around, and they were all very nice to me. Everyone shook my hand. I got to meet our State Senator, Jane Earll. She invited me to visit her office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I introduced myself to Governor Ridge's Press Secretary and told him I was a kid reporter for Time for Kids. He told me that I could sit in the front row of chairs because I was "a member of the press." That was very cool.
After a few minutes, Governor Ridge and a number of other men and women came on stage. When Governor Ridge started speaking, I was impressed with how friendly he was. He told stories about when he was a teenager working as a maintenance person at the beaches of Presque Isle. As I listened, I realized that Tom Ridge had grown up like a regular kid. Now, as an adult, he was getting ready to begin his work as the head of the Office of Homeland Security, one of the most important jobs in the country.
|  Tom Ridge was applauded during President Bush's recent speech before both houses of Congress. |
The First Question
After Governor Ridge finished his speech someone tapped my dad on the shoulder and said that the Governor would be answering questions from the press at the back of the tent and that I could ask him the first question! I was both excited and a little bit scared. We walked back to the special area set up for reporters. There were many TV cameras, microphones and reporters, but the Governor's Press Secretary took me to the front of the crowd. It took awhile for Governor Ridge to make his way back to where we were standing because everyone wanted to shake his hand along the way. When he arrived, he already knew my name and was very nice. He is a lot taller in person than on TV.
I had a tape recorder with me and Governor Ridge told me I could turn it on for my question. I asked Governor Ridge whether he had any words of encouragement for kids who might feel less safe after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. Here is what he said:
Tom Ridge Speaks
"I would tell young Pennsylvanians and all young Americans that we live in a wonderful country that is very open, very democratic, and very safe and secure. Those who would seem to challenge us and try to take away our freedoms will not succeed. Be assured that everyone will be working very, very hard to make this country even more secure, but at the same time making sure that all the liberties that we have will be protected as well. The best thing young people can do is to go back to enjoying their youth, studying harder, and maybe volunteering in their communities to help others. I understand that there is a lot of anxiety over these attacks. These are evil people. Unfortunately, the world has evil people in it who prey on innocent victims. It will happen from time to time. It will happen around the world.
It may even happen again in America. But everyone is working very, very hard to prevent it from happening again, and if it does, we will respond quickly and be as helpful as we can."
|  Amanda ends her interview with a handshake. |
After Governor Ridge had finished his answer, I stared at him for a moment. "Wow," I thought, "this man is really impressive and knows what he's doing." It's clear that he has a tough job ahead of him, but hearing him speak made me more confident in him and in the country.
A Memorable Day
I thought of asking Governor Ridge for his autograph, but decided that would not be "professional." Instead, I merely asked if I could shake his hand. He smiled and said, "Of course, you may." Then we grasped hands and I thanked Governor Ridge for taking the time to speak with me. At that moment, I knew my first thought when I arrived that morning was right -- I will remember this day for my entire life.
