Tribune editorial staff

For three-plus hours Thursday, President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were questioned the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

When Bush emerged from the meeting, which was held at the Oval Office, he declined to give details about the session. "It's probably best that I not go into the details of the conversation," Bush told reporters in the Rose Garden after the meeting.

We partially understand why Bush did not want the meeting to be open. After all, several Democratic members of the commission could have used the session as an opportunity to give the Bush administration a black eye during an election year. Some are out to blame the president and his administration for failing to prevent the terrorist attacks.

However, not commenting on what was discussed during the meeting - at least minor details - paints the picture to many that the president has something to hide. The White House did not permit the commission to make a recording or transcript of the historic meeting and Bush and Cheney were accompanied by three White House lawyers. The commission was allowed to bring one staff member to take notes of the session.

Considering this issue affects each and every American, details of the conversation should be made public. At the very least, families of the victims of the attack should have access to transcripts.

After the meeting, Bush told reporters he thought the session was productive.

"We answered all their questions. I think I came away good about the session because I wanted them to know, you know, how I set strategy, how we run the White House, how we deal with threats. The vice president answered a lot of their questions - answered all their questions.&uot;

If nobody is willing to talk about the meeting, how will anybody but those who were involved really know Bush's strategy?

Sept. 11, 2001, is a date that none of us will soon forget. The American public has the right to know what was discussed during the session, even if indulging such information has the potential to be politically damaging.