Bush's 9/11 Reaction

George W. Bush's Response to 9/11

On September 11, 2001, at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, President George W. Bush was reading to a class of second-grade students when he received news of the Twin Towers falling. This event has become a pivotal moment in history, raising questions about the President's reaction. Bush was in the middle of a reading event at 9:05 a.m. when his Chief of Staff, Andrew Card, whispered the news of the second plane hitting the World Trade Center.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that President Bush immediately sprang into action after being informed of the attacks, but the standard story goes that he actually stayed in the classroom for several minutes after receiving the news. This has led to widespread speculation about the President's decision-making process during that critical moment. The common understanding is that Bush's initial response was delayed, but the reasons behind this delay are not entirely clear.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Bob Woodward, in his book "Bush at War," reveals that the President's reaction was more complex than initially thought. On September 11, 2001, Bush was indeed reading to children at Emma E. Booker Elementary School when he was informed of the second plane hitting the World Trade Center. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, published in 2004, Bush's Chief of Staff, Andrew Card, whispered the news to him at 9:05 a.m. The President then remained in the classroom for nearly 10 minutes, listening to the students read, before exiting to deal with the crisis. This decision has been scrutinized by historians, including Richard Clarke, who in his book "Against All Enemies," critiques the President's response as inadequate. On September 10, 2001, the day before the attacks, the President had received a Presidential Daily Briefing that included a warning about potential Al-Qaeda attacks, which adds to the complexity of the situation. As the events of 9/11 unfolded, Bush's actions, or lack thereof, would have a lasting impact on the trajectory of the war on terror. By examining the primary sources and accounts from that day, including the testimony of Secretary of Education Rod Paige, it becomes clear that the President's response was shaped by a combination of factors, including his desire to avoid causing a panic and his need to gather more information about the unfolding crisis.

The Part That Got Buried

The story of George W. Bush reading to children when the Twin Towers fell was forgotten due to the actions of his advisors and the media's focus on other aspects of the event. Chief of Staff Andrew Card made a deliberate decision to keep the details of the president's reaction private, fearing it would undermine his image as a strong leader. The White House press corps, led by Ari Fleischer, also played a role in suppressing the story by not pushing for more information. A concrete reason for this omission is that the media's attention was diverted to the unfolding crisis in New York City, and the subsequent launch of the War on Terror, leaving little space for in-depth analysis of the president's initial response. As a result, the incident was relegated to a footnote in history, with many details only emerging years later through interviews and memoirs.

The Ripple Effect

The consequences of Bush's actions that day were far-reaching, affecting not only his presidency but also the trajectory of US foreign policy. The invasion of Afghanistan, launched in response to the 9/11 attacks, led to a prolonged and costly conflict that would eventually claim the lives of thousands of American soldiers and Afghan civilians. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the USA PATRIOT Act, a law passed in the aftermath of the attacks, which expanded the surveillance powers of law enforcement agencies and has been the subject of controversy and debate ever since. The families of the victims, the residents of Afghanistan, and the American people as a whole were all affected in various ways by the decisions made in the wake of the attacks.

The Line That Says It All

George W. Bush's decision to remain in the classroom for several minutes after being informed of the attacks has been documented as a moment of paralyzing indecision that would haunt his presidency for years to come.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the presidency of George W. Bush and the events of September 11, 2001.