WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Tom Cole spoke on the floor today in support of a resolution recognizing a National Week of Hope in commemoration of the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City (H.Res. 184). Congressman Cole was Secretary of State in Oklahoma under Governor Frank Keating at the time of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

     Following are exerts from the speech he gave on the floor:    

     "There was a great deal of speculation on the television about what had occurred, people attributing this to a natural gas explosion. Governor Keating, who was a former FBI agent and had investigated incidents of terrorism in the 1960's on the West Coast, knew immediately what it was. He said that is no natural gas explosion. That is a car bomb. That is some sort of explosive device that has been set off deliberately. From that moment forward, I watched an extraordinary response from one of the great public leaders that I have ever been privileged to associate with, Governor Frank Keating, as he marshaled the State and moved it forward to deal with the tragedy in front of him."

     "I remember many other people. There were so many heroes in those days, so many people. Ron Norick, the mayor of Oklahoma City, again I think one of the great public leaders in history, certainly in my State, the fire chiefs, the police officers, the responders, but most important, just average people, we could not ask for something and not get it. Frankly, we had more help pouring in than we could easily coordinate on the first few days."

     "The day went on and it was a remarkable day, it was an intense day, but I suppose my most enduring memory of the day is leaving the capitol at 3:00 in the morning and driving down Lincoln Boulevard to get home and looking out the window and seeing this incredible line of people standing outside of a blood center at 3:00 in the morning, still wanting to do something to help. Amazing."

     "In closing, I would like to say, in reflecting on Oklahoma City, and I think it is clearly the lessons of 9/11 as well, that out of evil, grace comes; and I saw enormous grace on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City. And out of terror, courage comes; and I saw great courage from the first responders to the average person that went in. . . And out of despair, hope, because there is a great deal of hope that comes when you see how your country and your fellow human beings respond in crisis. And finally, out of adversity, as my good friend, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook) mentioned, triumph. Because if you went to Oklahoma City today and you went to that exact spot, you would find a magnificent memorial. You would find, more importantly, a museum that not only tells the story, but puts the awful nature of terrorism in a broader context; and you would find a city that believes in itself and its future, probably more profoundly today than it did on April 18 of 1995. "

     "That is a lesson I think all of us as Americans ought to remember. We all believe in our country, but when you have a particular crisis, that is when America is at its very best. Certainly, on this particular day that is when Oklahoma was at its very best. And I will always be grateful to Governor Keating, the First Lady Cathy Keating, to my good friend Frank Lucas, who was there when we needed him, the other members of our delegation, Senator Nickles, Senator Inhofe, who were also magnificent, but first and foremost to the people of Oklahoma City, who showed when you are challenged what you can do; and then to our fellow Americans, who at every level, at every moment, responded in the most helpful, the most thoughtful, and in the most supportive of ways."

     "It is a day to remember not only in terms of what is worst in humanity but what is best about America."

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