Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer Gives Incredible Insight From His Perspective On 9/11
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer has been giving some incredible insight on the actions President Bush and his staff took 13 years ago today, during and after the worst terrorist attacks on American soil. In a live-tweet format, Fleisher, who was with Bush through the entirety of the day, has shared photos, notes, perspective, and even new details, including a report on a sniper at the end of the runway from where Air Force One took off. The account is long, but it’s most certainly a worthwhile, interesting read.
8:40am, 9-11, 2001: I was in the motorcade 4 the drive from the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort in Sarasota, FL 2the Emma Booker Elem. School.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
8:46 Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower. The motorcade was a few minutes away from arriving at the school. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Approx 8:50: I got a page on my pager (we didn’t have blackberries then and the iPhone hadn’t been invented) telling me a plane hit the WTC.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
As soon as I got the page, I hussled out of my car 2tell the Pres. He was shaking hands with school officials – none of whom knew the news. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
After the President finished shaking hands, Karl Rove informed him of what we thought had to be an “accident.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
9:00 POTUS goes into a holding room and calls Condi. He instructs her 2make resources avail to help NY, still thinking it was an accident. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
After the call, POTUS goes into the classroom and starts reading a book to the kids. The press is in the back of the room.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
I suspect by now most people are watching TV, watching events unfold. I was in the classroom with the President watching the reading event. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
9:03 United Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
9:05 WH Chief of Staff Andy Card interrupts the Pres to whisper in his hear – the second tower has been hit. “America is under attack.” — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Just before Andy walked in, I got a 2nd page saying the 2nd tower had been hit. I knew instantly it had to be terrorism.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
The Pres. was going to address the press re the “accident”. Given the news re the 2nd tower, I didn’t think he should address the press yet. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
I wrote on back of a legal pad “DON’T SAY ANYTHING YET”. I wanted him 2b briefed b4 talking. I put my back to the press & held up the sign.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
The President continued the reading event for several more minutes. Years later, Michael Moore criticized Bush for not leaving immediately. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Bush said later he stayed 2collect his thoughts and send a signal of calm. He said he didn’t want 2bolt from his chair and alarm the nation.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
POTUS left the event and went into the holding room 2get briefed/ work the phones. Here is a picture of the scene. pic.twitter.com/ZztLy2plSl — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
I started 2take notes of what Bush was saying and doing. I have some 6 pages of notes on a legal pad. The originals are in a bank vault now.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Someone wheeled a TV into the holding room. Here’s the scene: pic.twitter.com/x9A3RTQykd — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
9:30 Bush addressed a group in the gym that expected 2hear remarks on education. Few people there knew of the attack. No twitter back then.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Here’s what Bush said: Today, we’ve had a national tragedy. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country. I have spoken to the vice president,
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
to the governor of New York, to the director of the FBI, and I’ve ordered that the full resources of the federal government go to help… — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
…the victims and their families and to conduct a full-scale investigation to hunt down and to find those folks who committed this act.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Terrorism against our nation will not stand. And now, if you’d join me in a moment of silence. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Many commentators and TV anchors criticized him for referring to the terrorists as “folks.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
We boarded the motorcade and drove [fast] to Air Force One, planning for a return to Washington, D.C. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
9:37 American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
POTUS is told of attack on the Pentagon by either the Secret Service in the front of the limo, or by Condi on the phone. I don’t remember. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
9:45 We boarded Air Force One. I was in my seat for the takeoff and then spent most of the rest of the day in the President’s cabin.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
FOne Capt. Mark Tillman told me 10 yrs later that we took off at unusually steep ascent bcause he had a report of a sniper at end of runway. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Colonel Tillman also told the media years later that the control tower told him that an unidentified plane was descending toward AFOne.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
in the President’s cabin, I was busy taking notes. He was mostly on the phone with the VP, SecDef Rumsfeld, Gov Pataki and Mayor Giuliani. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Maddeningly, the phone connecting the Pres. to the bunker under the WH (PEOC – Presidential Emergency Operations Center) kept cutting out.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
9:59 The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
The TVs aboard AFOne could only pick up signals as we flew over land areas with good signals. The transmissions kept coming in and out.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
After 9/11, we recognized that the technology needed a major upgrade. In terms of communications, AFOne today is unlike how it was on 9/11. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
(1/2) Bush to VP: “We’re at war…We’re going to take care of this. When we find out who did this, they’re not going 2like me as President.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
10:07 United Flight 93 crashes in a field in Pennsylvania.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
The first report we got on AFOne was that Flight 93 crashed "near Camp David." The locations are some 100 miles apart. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
After the 3rd plane hit the Pentagon, we were told there were 3 aircraft "missing". After Flight 93, we thought 2 more attacks coming.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
The military drills 4 everything. They kicked in old Cold War training for how 2 protect POTUS. We flew at 45,000 feet in a random pattern. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
The Secret Service did not want us to return to DC. They thought Andrew Air Force Base and the White House could be targets.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Around 10:20: Bush authorized military to go to Def Con 3, the highest level of military alert since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
At 10:32, the Pres. reported an amazing phone call. POTUS was talking to the military aide while he (Bush) was on the phone with the VP.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
"A call came into the switchboard saying 'Angel is next,'" Bush said. 'Angel' was the codeword for Air Force One. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Col. Tillman, upon hearing the news, posted an armed Air Force Security Officer at the base of the steps leading up to the cockpit of AFOne.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Think about that. Aboard one of the most secure spots on earth, with nothing but trusted aides/Secret Service, the fear was an inside attack — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Bush also told VP - and I quote - "We're at war Dick and we're going to find out who did this and we're going to kick their ass."
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Here is a copy of one page from my notes while all this was going on: pic.twitter.com/xpqWXWLMAQ — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
Ari stopped at this point:
***Sorry to do this - I need to pause my tweets until roughly noon. I'll resume then. All you'll miss is the flight to Barksdale AFB.***
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014
He has since started tweeting again, and the live feed can be found here.
Image via Twitter
This is chilling, especially when Bush is in the classroom and gets told about the second attack. You know at that moment Bush is thinking “fuck these motherfuckers.” God bless America.
10 years ago at 12:33 pmChilling yes, but absolutely amazing read. Reminds me of the Reagan Diaries. Puts you right there next to Dubya.
Also, telling your VP you’re going to kick the ass of whoever did this. TFM.
10 years ago at 3:34 pmFUCK terrorists….then and now. Never Forget, God Bless America
10 years ago at 1:08 pmGod bless! Going to re-read the 911 part from decision points
10 years ago at 1:12 pmI remember watching this happen as a kid and not really understanding what was going on. This perspective is eye opening. I’m proud to call the United States my home
10 years ago at 1:18 pmW was a true American and I’m damn proud he was our president.
10 years ago at 1:22 pmAmazing insight to that horrendous day. God Bless America and the men and women who defend it
10 years ago at 1:23 pm“When we find out who did this, they’re not going to like me as President.”
10 years ago at 1:42 pmTFM.
10 years ago at 1:53 pmEvery 9/11 anniversary I feel such overwhelming pride for our nation and for the national unity that accompanies it. These notes and recollections just reaffirm that feeling of pride; even as we were under attack our president was thinking about how we would come out of this tragedy as a stronger nation and track down the sons of bitches who had the audacity to attack the greatest nation on earth. God bless America.
10 years ago at 1:43 pmSo many great articles are being posted today good job TFM.
10 years ago at 2:01 pmI enjoyed Fleischer’s perspective but I don’t see why he couldn’t have just written a traditional article and published it online? It would have been MUCH easier for me to read on a phone rather than having to load a bunch of tweets and he wouldn’t have had to condense it at all. Nonetheless, great post!
10 years ago at 2:37 pmQuit being a whining little bitch
10 years ago at 9:45 pm