Quite frankly, we were caught flatfooted on September 11, 2001. The much-discussed "everything" had to change, and as he felt his way in the dark, starting from zero, President Bush turned to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.

First as a special advisor and later as a Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Ridge impinged on almost everyone's turf to rennovate the government so it could guard the "homeland" (a term that still sounds like it was translated from German). The result is messy and incomplete -- but it's worlds better than what we had.

President Bush picked the right man for an impossible job that got done anyway. Now after two years of what must be incomprehensible pressure, Mr. Ridge is moving on. The Gnomon believes his star will only increase in luster with the perspective of history.

Thank you, Tom Ridge.