by Kevin Caruso
President Bush received the news about the 911 attack when he was at a grammar school in Sarasota, Florida.
Bush was preparing to meet with some grammar school children and give a speech afterwards.
He was informed about the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center shortly before he entered a classroom to visit with students. And shortly after he started his meeting with a second-grade class, he was informed about the second plane crash.
Bush looked deeply distressed, but continued to meet with the second graders for a few minutes.
He then left the classroom, met with his advisors, and prepared to respond to the attacks.
Below is a complete timeline of George Bush’s day on September 11, 2001. This timeline was released by White House Press Secretary Ari Fleisher:
9 a.m. – Bush arrives at Sarasota, Fla., school for speech. White House chief of staff Andrew Card tells him a
plane has crashed into the World Trade Center.
9:05 a.m. – Bush is visiting a second-grade class when Card whispers to him that a second plane has struck the
towers. President delays plans to address the tragedy, deciding to get more information first.
9:30 a.m. – Bush meets privately with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, who briefs him. He delivers
first remarks on the tragedy.
10 a.m. – Aboard Air Force One en route to Louisiana, Bush calls Vice President Dick Cheney and puts America's
military on a high alert status. Sifts through reports from staff, including erroneous report that a car bomb had
struck the State Department. Gets news that plane has crashed near Pittsburgh.
11:40 a.m. – Bush arrives at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., where he makes series of telephone calls from a
general's conference room. Tells Cheney in telephone call, "It's the faceless coward that attacks." He also talks
to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and New York Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
1:15 p.m. – Bush departs conference room for Air Force One in a camouflaged Humvee. Talks to Cheney again
en route to Nebraska air force base and schedules a 4 p.m. meeting of his national security staff. Also talks to
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Gov. George Pataki. "I know your heart is broken and your city is strained
and anything we can do, let me know," Bush says.
3:07 p.m. – Bush arrives at U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
4:36 p.m. – Bush departs for Washington. En route, he calls first lady Laura Bush and says, "I'm coming home,
see you at the White House." Works with aides on his prime-time speech.
7 p.m. – Bush arrives at White House to prepare for address.
8:30 p.m. – Bush speaks to nation.
8:35 p.m. – Bush attends national security meeting.
10:21 p.m. – Meeting has ended. Secret Service radio squawks with news that Bush has gone home to bed:
"Trailblazer. Second floor of the residence."
