Two days before he leaves office, Ridge offered his most detailed description to date of how he intends to shape his new, cabinet-level role, one he described as part communicator, part coordinator. He said he would not hesitate to get tough, if necessary, as "change agent" who may have to "break some china."
"The President and vice president have assured me I will get all the resources I need to do the job they want me to do," he said, dismissing critics, including some in Congress, who said he would not get the power or money necessary to make the office effective.
He conceded that his most difficult challenge probably would be trying to balance freedom and security.
"We have been, we are, and we will be the most open and democratic country in the world," he said. "But it's those very qualities that we cherish as Americans that to a certain extent allowed the terrorists to get into our midst."
Ridge, who will occupy an office in the White House, said he already had a jump on the task at hand, having met last week with Attorney General John Ashcroft, CIA Director George Tenet, Vice President Cheney, Joe Allbaugh of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Coast Guard and customs representatives. He said he also had received briefings from terrorism experts.
"The first thing I have to do is understand completely and as quickly as I can the tremendous resources that the country already has in place to deal with homeland security," Ridge said. "I won't begin by trying to build anew. We've got a good infrastructure there, and my sense is that the President wants me to strengthen it."
