Bush
to visit Oregon, not Crater Lake
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
August 06, 2002
By LEE JUILLERAT
Officials: Security fears sink plans to see park
President Bush plans to visit Oregon this month, but the White
House has ruled out a proposed visit to Crater Lake National
Park for its 100th birthday.
Security concerns canceled the visit, Park Superintendent Chuck
Lundy said today.
"We were looking forward to his visit," Lundy said. "It would
have been a great honor for the park to have the president here
to kick off our centennial activities. We're disappointed, but
we understand those security concerns are the primary factor."
Presidential travel plans are kept vague, especially since the
attack on Sept. 11. So, Bush's itinerary in Oregon has not been
made public.
The last time he visited the state, he was in Portland for a
speech in which he announced a Cabinet-level task force to deal
with Klamath Basin water questions.
There continue to be hints that Bush will make an appearance in
the Klamath region, where the water issue has attracted a great
deal of administration attention.
In Klamath Falls on Monday, a top official of the Commerce
Department told civic and business leaders that Bush would be
"out here."
"The president — he'll be out here, hopefully within a few
weeks," said David Sampson, assistant commerce secretary.
Sampson was in Klamath Falls to deliver a $950,000 check to the
city to subsidize roads and utilities for the new Home Depot
store.
At the park, officials had been planning centennial activities
on the possibility that Bush would be at the park, probably on
Aug. 22. Lundy said he learned Sunday, and confirmed Monday,
that officials from the Secret Service scuttled the Crater Lake
visit for security reasons.
"We had been in conversation with the White House about
President Bush's possible visit for several months, and it
appeared he very much wanted to come here," Lundy said.
Park officials will meet this week and may reschedule centennial
activities. The celebration, which will be capped by a park
rededication on Sunday, Aug. 25, had been extended to begin on
Thursday, Aug. 22 because of a possible visit by Bush.
Spokesmen at the White House press office said Monday that Bush
is tentatively scheduled to travel to Oregon, California and New
Mexico the week of Aug. 19.
Details of the trip, including places that he will visit, have
not been finalized and will not be announced until Aug. 16 or,
possibly, until 48 hours in advance. They stressed that all
information on his schedule is subject to change.
Regional Editor Lee Juillerat covers Lake, Siskiyou, Modoc and
northern Klamath counties. He can be reached at 885-4421, (800)
275-0982
