Bush Disremembers Pearl Harbor

“I’ll never forget that day,” George Bush declared.

Well, maybe once.

On the stage in front of thousands of members of the American Legion on Wednesday, Bush indeed forgot the solemn anniversary of what America knows as a Day of Infamy.

“Today, you remember. (But) I wonder how many Americans remember. Today is Pearl Harbor Day--47 years ago to this very day we were hit and hit hard at Pearl Harbor. We were not ready.

“In a Bush Administration, that lesson would not be forgotten.”

Murmurs and gasps swept the huge auditorium, filled with graying veterans of World War II. They remember the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as occurring on Dec. 7.

“Did I say Sept. 7?” a startled Bush said a half minute later when he was signaled about his flub. “No, it was Dec. 7, 1941--47 years ago. I’m glad I corrected that.”

The gaffe was a reminder that Bush, despite smooth public performances since his convention acceptance speech, can easily wander off track and talk himself into embarrassing corners.

“I just got messed up,” he told reporters later aboard Air Force Two. “I wanted to work Pearl Harbor in and just got carried away.”