WRAP Ex-presidents announce relief efforts, meet survivors

(6 Sep 2005) APTN 1. Former US Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton walk on stage, zoom in of bush 2. Wide of stage 3. Bush at lectern and Clinton seated on stage 4. SOUNDBITE (English) George Herbert Walker Bush, 41st President of the US: "We're announcing today a fund that will take this outpouring of generosity on to the next level. Recovery's going to take years. We need to help these Gulf Coast communities and, of course, the great city of New Orleans, help them get back on their feet and we need to help their citizens get their lives back. It's going to take all of us working together, the public, the non-profits, the private sector, to accomplish our goal. The job is too big and too overwhelming for any one group." 5. Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund poster 6. Reporters in audience 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the US: "I think there should be analysis of what happened and I have some strong feelings about how I think FEMA ought to be organised and operated. But the time to do that, in my opinion, is after some time passes. Right now, you still have people, we're still finding bodies there. And, there still may be some people alive there. And, you know, we had a 9/11 commission, we had, we may have a Katrina commission, but I think the first thing we have to remember now is what they're people are going through. And now it seems we're all in harness and we're all working on it. I think it's an appropriate thing to look into, but not at this time. What I do think should be focused on now is what is the Congress going to do when they get back? How are we going to find jobs for these people? Where are they really going to live? Do they need some cash right away? Those are the things that I think should be done." 8. Red Cross volunteer in audience 9. End of news conference POOL 10. Pan from hurricane victims to photo-op of Bush with African-American children 11. Bush and wife Barbara pose with kids 12. Clinton shaking hands with hurricane survivors 13. Close up hands 14. Clinton hugs survivor, then shakes mans hand STORYLINE: Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton said on Monday they are ready to help Hurricane Katrina victims through a new fund similar to the one they spearheaded after the Asian tsunami. Bush and Clinton later visited hurricane victims who are staying in the stadium complex that includes the Astrodome. Among the various corporations and other organisations that have so far pledged donations to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund are retailer Wal-Mart and the Walton Family Foundation, which has given $23 (m) million (�18 million). Other major sponsors include Microsoft, Dillard's Inc., Nike and the Trump Group. The presidents also said their presidential library funds would donate to the cause - and that other presidential library funds had also promised support. Clinton said he and Bush decided to head this new fund not because there was a fear the federal government has not been doing its part to help victims, but to fill in the gaps in government assistance and help people who would otherwise be overlooked. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...