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
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
- Discussion
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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
The motorcade was scheduled to leave the hotel around 8:30am. I had breakfast in my room and got ready.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Whenever the President leaves the WH, the staff is issued a "mini". It's a detailed, minute by minute schedule for the POTUS.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Here's the cover page of the mini for September 11, 2001: pic.twitter.com/5qZyCZ1hCj
— 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
I was in a vehicle called "Support". It was several cars behind the President's in the motorcade.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
This is the page from the mini listing the staff w POTUS and the vehicles we were riding in. pic.twitter.com/dmLoojab28
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
USSS means United States Secret Service. To the public, it means Secret Service agents. To me, it meant Eddie, Dave, & many good people.
— 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
Karl Rove reached the President first and told him about what little news we had at that moment. A plane of some kind hit the WTC.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Read more on his Twitter time line.
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
Looking back, the setting looked wrong and Bush wasn't at his best. Watch for yourself: https://t.co/mrQbzNgOLF
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
When we finished taxiing, we stopped along side a Doomsday plane. Hollywood wouldn't even have thought to do that. pic.twitter.com/Tbd1Pa2OKI
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
Here's where we entered the bunker. One day I'd like to return to Offut to see what the main, front door looks like. pic.twitter.com/3CwM4dGKL3
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
I took detailed notes. Here's a copy of one page. There were six pages in all. I gave them to the 9/11 Commission. pic.twitter.com/nUsXRmDoFZ
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
As we flew home, cameraman George Christian asked if he could film the F-16s. I said yes. Here's a clip: https://t.co/LQCIGdf16J
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
As Marine One banked to land, the smoldering Pentagon came into sight on the left side, in plain view of POTUS.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
"The mightiest building in the world is on fire. That's the 21st century was you just witnessed," he said out loud, to no one in particular.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
6:58 Marine One lands on the South Lawn. Here's the video: https://t.co/BUAyxTPwoB
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
The President walked into the Oval Office and went straight to the private study next to it, and met with staff. pic.twitter.com/lJRwWE1zyh
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2016
8:30pm Bush addressed the nation from the Oval. His message was one of comfort and reassurance. 4 1/2 mins. Watch: https://t.co/D6Lf8OeqtS
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 12, 2016
After the speech was over, I walked w POTUS to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) where he convened another NSC meeting.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 12, 2016
I left and went back to my office. I don't remember what time I went home that night.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 12, 2016
That's what I did September 11, 2001. May God Bless America.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 12, 2016
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