Where were you on September 11th, 2001?
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Four years ago today, started tweeting a couple things about what I was doing – and once I started, I couldn't stop.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
For four years, Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary under President Bush, has tweeted his memories of the morning of 9/11 … he continued on this the 15th anniversary.
Editor’s note: This is lengthy but absolutely worth the read. If you want to see his entire recollection visit him on Twitter @AriFleischer.
Every year since, I share my story on Twitter. More important than my notes&recollections is that 3000 innocent people were killed.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
May God bless their families and may their memories be a blessing.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
His timeline tells the whole story, featured are highlights from his feed.
I woke up in my hotel room facing the Gulf of Mexico at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort in Sarasota, FL. It was a beautiful day.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
The President had a routine education event scheduled at 9:00am at the Emma E. booker Elementary School.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
He was going 2read 2kids in a classroom & give a speech about his education initiatives. His day began with a run and an intell briefing.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
8:30 "All calls, all stations,Trailblazer departs." Trailblazer was the Secret Service code name for Bush43. We left the hotel 4the school.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
As we pulled into the school, I got a page from Brian Bravo, a member of my staff back at the WH. Back then, no IPhones, no Blackberries.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
8:47 Brian paged me that an airplane hit the World Trade Center. He had no other info.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
That turned out to be American Airlines flight 11, which hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
I moved ahead and tried to let the President know. He didn't know yet. He got out of his limo and was shaking hands with school leaders.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Wherever POTUS goes around the world, a military unit sets up a room with secure, classified phones so he and staff can make and take calls.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
The phones are set up in a "holding" room. POTUS went into the hold and his national security adviser, Condi Rice, was on the line.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
She told him the same info. A plane hit the North Tower, but we didn't know much more than that.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
He told her 2help NYC with what was needed and to keep in touch. He then entered the room to hear the kids read and to read to them.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
9:03 United Airlines Flight 175 is flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Brian Bravo once again pages me that another plane hit the World Trade Center. Here's a photo of me getting the page pic.twitter.com/ZeU7QQcwFz
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Moments later, Andy Card entered the classroom from the hold. He interrupted the President, something that never happens.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
"A second plane hit the second Tower. America is under attack," he whispered in the President's right ear.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
A few minutes later, the President left the classroom. Michael Moore made a movie in which he criticized Bush for not leaving immediately.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Michael Moore is still trashing Bush about this, even 15 year later.
The President said later said he didn't want to alarm the nation, or the kids in the room, by leaving immediately after Andy told him.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
POTUS went into the hold and worked the phones, getting briefed about what was happening in NYC. Here's the scene: pic.twitter.com/r6iochSbLg
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
The hold… pic.twitter.com/GA10kms4Ej
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Anyone taken aback by the backdrop of this photo? All of this happening inside a grade school …
Dan Bartlett, the Communications Director, and I worked with the President on the remarks he wanted to give before he left the school
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Bush knew he needed to address the nation. Years later I was able to watch coverage of 9/11. It was horrific & the world was glued to TV.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
9:31 Bush made brief remarks to the nation from the school. Watch it here:https://t.co/dCF27Q2Ik4
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Watching this timeline and reading Ari’s tweets is a little like reliving that day, especially watching this footage of President Bush addressing the nation.
The President said it was "an apparent terrorist attack on our country." Many in the media thought he looked shaken.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Of course he was.
We were hussled into the motorcade &took off fast to get aboard AFOne. USSS wanted to get us in the air. They thought it was safer there.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Terrifying.
9:37 Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Bush was told about the Pentagon by either Eddie Marinzel, the lead USSS agent or on the phone by Condi. I'm not sure. He was in his limo.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
The Air Force crew was on high alert. Reporters who were already swept by USSS to make sure they had no bombs were swept again b4 boarding.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Instead of going 2my seat in the staff cabin, I went into the President's cabin and for much of the day I took notes on what he said and did
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
As the plane was getting ready to take off, the President told the USSS to be sure to get the First Lady and his daughters protected.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
"Sounds like we have a minor war going on here. I heard about the Pentagon," Bush told Cheney.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
He knew three planes were down, but he was told that an additional three aircraft were still missing.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
He told VP to call congressional leadership to give them a briefing and added "We're at war."
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
It sent a chill down my spine to hear the Commander in Chief say "We're at war."
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Around 9:55 Air Force One took off.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Years later, the Air Force pilot, Colonel Mark Tillman, told me that he got a report that there was a sniper at the end of the runway.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Wow.
I'm not sure who else was in POTUS cabin, but he turned 2us and said, "That's what we're paid for boys. We're going to take care of this."
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
""When we find out who did this, they're not going to like me as President. Somebody's going to pay."
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
The South Tower collapsed at 9:59. I don't recall if I watched it live or on replay, but we knew it came down.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
We were heading 2 DC. USSS didn't want us 2go back there. Security people on board talked about options 4 where 2go pic.twitter.com/QfBs3u5yqf
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
10:07 Flight 93 crashes into a field in Pennsylvania.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
At 10:20, my notes show that I recounted events:
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
"Fighters scrambled. Escorted down one plane near Washington. The comm equipment is good but not great. Authorized shoot down if necessary."
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Press reported that Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine took responsibility for the attack in NY. Bush called 4his CIA briefer.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
"What do you know about it?" Bush asked Mike Morell, his briefer. "Have you been in touch with [CIA Director George] Tenet?" Bush asked Mike
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
"Even though we're in the air, I want George to get in touch if he knows anything," Bush said and Mike went back to try to work the phones.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Chief of Staff Andy Card said, "We're heading up to 45,000 feet," an extraordinary height 4 an aircraft. "They claim we can outrun anybody."
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
10:28 The World Trade Center North Tower collapses.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
The President called Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and he twice called Cheney. He told Rumsfeld to put troops on "special status".
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Here's the President in his cabin, watching TV coverage. pic.twitter.com/vAEtpiJk81
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
At 10:32, the President turned to the military aide who carries the nuclear football, Lt. Col. Tom Gould, as Bush was on the phone with VP:
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
"A call came into the [WH] switchboard saying 'Angel is next'" Bush said. 'Angel' was the Secret Service code word for Air Force One.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Bush continued, "They think there were 6 hijacked aircraft. Rumsfeld still needs to get his forces on alert."
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Speaking to Cheney, Bush said, "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, 2016
Love. This.
The call saying 'Angel is next' alarmed the Air Force One pilot & crew. How could anyone on the outside know the code word for AirForce One?
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Meanwhile, so much of what was reported on TV was wrong. I don't blame the press – they were reporting what they were told.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
There was a car bomb at the State Department. The mall was on fire. The White House had been hit. Congress was attacked. It was astounding.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Meanwhile, all over America, buildings are evacuated. Everywhere in NYC and DC. In Chicago. Minneapolis. Seattle. LA. Many places.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Given the day's uncertainty, and fear of an organized attack on the government, WH physician Col. Richard Tubb, worried about a bio attack.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
He gave everyone on board Cipro, to protect us from an anthrax attack. Here's the envelope it came in: pic.twitter.com/HV1vbuwns1
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
I learned a new word on 9/11. "Decapitation attack." It goes back 2the Cold War when we feared a Soviet strike that would take out the gvt.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
A decapitation attack was intended to kill the Pres, VP, the cabinet and all of Congress.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
I wish today people, especially young people, could go back in time to feel the gravity of the day. It was astounding.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
