President Barack Obama said he plans to invite Antoinette Tuff to visit the White House.
Tuff is the hero bookkeeper who talked a suspect into surrendering during a Georgia school shooting Tuesday.
During an exclusive interview with CNN "New Day" anchor Chris Cuomo that airs Friday, Obama said what Tuff did was "remarkable" and something that "probably saved a lot of lives, including the life of the potential perpetrator."
"Here is somebody who is not just courage, not just cool under pressure, but also had enough heart that somehow she could convince somebody that was really troubled that she cared about him," Obama said.
The president continued: "I think we might have to have her maybe make a visit to the White House."
Earlier the President had also called Tuff to praise her quick thinking:
On Thursday, Obama called Tuff to tell her that her actions made him and first lady Michelle Obama proud. The president said he learned about her heroic actions by listening to her 911 call and reading the sequence of events.
"She was pretty cool, too," Obama said about her telephone exchange with Tuff. "She was happy about it."
If you are like me you have probably heard that incredible 911 call several times, as it was played in an almost continuous loop on every news channel imaginable yesterday (With the possible exception of Fox News. I didn't check.) Personally I found that every time I heard the call the more impressed I was by this brave woman's ability to remain calm and to use compassion to connect with a man who was clearly suffering.
The White House honors many people, from athletes, to war heroes, to music legends, but I cannot think of anybody more deserving right now to meet the President than this amazing woman.
Hopefully he will also present her with the Presidential Citizens Medal, because I cannot imagine a more deserving recipient.
