Bush Asks His Father and Bill Clinton To Head Relief Effort

President Bush has announced that he has asked his two predecessors in the Oval Office, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, to lead a private relief effort for the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Bush also announced that he would visit some of the areas damaged by Katrina earlier this week. The president will start in Mobile, Alabama, then survey the Alabama and Mississippi coast by helicopter before stopping to see some parts of Mississippi. He then plans to take an aerial tour of New Orleans which is in the process of evacuating all of its residents in the wake of Katrina.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters at an afternoon press conference that 'Tomorrow's visit is another way for the president to show the nation's support and compassion for the victims and our appreciation for those who are helping with the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts. It is an opportunity for the president to get a firsthand, up close look at the response and recovery efforts and to hear from those on the ground.'

Appearing live on ABC's 'Good Morning America' on Thursday, the president tried to address the victims of the hurricane.

'I understand the anxiety of people on the ground. ... So there is frustration. But I want people to know there's a lot of help coming.'

Democrats are pushing Congress to focus on relief efforts. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said the Senate should delay holding hearings to debate the repeal of the estate tax and concentrate of sending aid to areas hit hard by Katrina.

'Given the tragic and devastating events along the Gulf Coast, members of the Senate would have great difficulty explaining why we were debating the estate tax during our first days back when we know hundreds of thousands of families are suffering,' Reid wrote to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

The two former presidents, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, were very successful in raising funds for tsunami relief after last December's deadly and devastating tsunamis in Asia. Mr. Clinton and Mr. Bush will meet with the president in the Oval Office at 3:00 PM EDT Thursday to further discuss their role in this latest situation.

The two former presidents, who were political adversaries in the 90s, have developed a good working relationship when working together to aid the victims of natural disasters.

President Bush was angered by some critics who questioned why he didn't end his five-week long vacation at his Crawford, Texas ranch to visit areas devastated by Katrina sooner.

'I hope people don't ... play politics during this period of time,' he said.