Elected on a promise to champion education reform and more recently focused on the economy, Bush said his priorities have changed. The fight against terrorism, Bush said, ''is now the focus of my administration.''

The president made an emotional telephone call to New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Gov. George Pataki that was televised live from the Oval Office. ''I can't tell you how sad I am - and America is - for the people of New York City,'' Bush said.

He will travel to New York on Friday, which he declared a national day of prayer, to see for himself the people and places that bore the worst of this week's terrorist attacks.

Advisers said Bush was attempting to strike a balance of emotion and toughness in the aftermath of Tuesday's attacks against the Pentagon and World Trade Center. Some administration officials and outside advisers said Bush looked uncertain in the early moments of the crisis, taking six hours to return from Florida to Washington.

Administration and Secret Service officials countered that Bush had no choice because the White House and Air Force One were under direct threat.

Bush was on the brink of tears during the Oval Office session. ''I don't think about myself right now,'' he said. ''I think about the families, the children. I'm a loving guy.'' He shook with emotion. ''And I am also someone, however, who's got a job to do, and I intend to do it. And this is a terrible moment. But this country will not relent until we have saved ourselves and others from the terrible tragedy that came upon America.''

Bush called the strike against New York and Washington ''the first war of the 21st century'' and vowed revenge. ''There's a quiet anger in America.''

The president joined first lady Laura Bush for a trip to Washington Hospital Center, where he visited 11 military and civilian workers from the Pentagon. Nine were in critical condition. Most had burns. Some were on ventilators.

''It was a sobering moment for Laura and me,'' Bush said.

Earlier, Mrs. Bush wrote an open letter to the nation's schoolchildren, urging students to be kind to each other ''when sad or frightening things happen.''

Bush's father, former President Bush, told a crowd in Boston that Americans need to be patient with his son while he considers a response to terrorist attacks. ''It's going to take time against this faceless enemy, just as it took plenty of time to stand down Saddam Hussein in the Gulf many years ago,'' the former president said.

The president also:

- Spoke by telephone with several world leaders, including Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi of Japan and Silvio Berlusconi of Italy.

- Denounced acts of violence and harassment against Muslim-Americans and Arab-Americans. ''We must be mindful that, as we seek to win the war, that we treat Arab-Americans and Muslims with the respect they deserve.''

- Declared Friday a national day of prayer and remembrance, asking Americans to spend their lunch breaks at houses of worship. He will attend services at the National Cathedral.

- Said America's skies, open to full traffic for the first time since Tuesday, were so safe he would allow a family member to fly.