scorecardA Former White House Official Is Livetweeting What It Was Like To Be With George W. Bush On 9/11, And It's Absolutely Gripping
BUSINESS
TECH
REVIEWS
  1. Home
  2. Politics
  3. A Former White House Official Is Livetweeting What It Was Like To Be With George W. Bush On 9/11, And It's Absolutely Gripping

A Former White House Official Is Livetweeting What It Was Like To Be With George W. Bush On 9/11, And It's Absolutely Gripping

A Former White House Official Is Livetweeting What It Was Like To Be With George W. Bush On 9/11, And It's Absolutely Gripping
PoliticsPolitics3 min read

Ari Fleischer with President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001.

Twitter

Ari Fleischer with President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer spent Thursday, the 13th anniversary of 9/11, livetweeting about where he was during the terror attacks. His postings provide incredible insight into what the day was like for President George W. Bush and his inner circle including the shock and anger they felt upon learning of the attacks.

Fleischer said he took detailed notes that day and many of his postings include him directly quoting the president.

"We're at war, Dick, and we're going to find out who did this and we're going to kick their ass," Bush, who was in Florida, told Vice President Dick Cheney in one of their first phone calls after the attack.

Along with specific conversations, Fleischer revealed other details about the day including that officials were apparently afraid high-level members of the U.S. government could have been involved in the attacks.

Bush began the day at an elementary school in Florida where he was holding an event where he planned to discuss education. Fleischer said the Secret Service was reluctant to have Bush return to Washington because they believed "Andrew(s) Air Force Base and the White House could be targets."

According to Fleischer, an anonyous caller to the White House switchboard warned "Angel is next." Angel was the codeword for Air Force One, which Fleischer said made those on board worry there was "an inside attack." Fleischer said the plane's pilot received warnings the president's plane may have been targeted by snipers or another plane as it left Florida.

According to Fleischer officials

Fleischer's tweets included a photo of notes he took that day. Based on the notes, about ten minutes after the second World Trade Center tower collapsed, Bush was told his daughters were removed to a "safe house." Bush responded by asking about his dog, Barney. Fleischer quoted former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card responding by saying the dog was, "nipping at the heels of Osama bin Laden."

Fleischer also tweeted photos of the president that day and other unique shots including a picture of a "Doomsday plane" that could have been used to launch nuclear strikes, and the outside of "a small non-nondescript building that led all the way down to a command bunker" where the president met with advisors.

One of the more interesting things about Fleischer's tweets is they show how much harder it was for the president to remain in touch and informed in the pre-smartphone era.

Fleischer, who did not respond to an email from Business Insider asking about his livetweeting, is still going. You can read all his tweets here.

READ MORE ARTICLES ON

Advertisement