Former White House press aide 'live-tweets' riveting 9/11 account through Bush's eyes

This article is more than 12 months old

Sep 12, 2014 12:11 pm

As the world commemorates the 13th anniversary of the terror attack that changed the world, George W. Bush's former press secretary tweeted a riveting blow-by-blow account of the Sept 11 attacks in the US.

In 2001, Ari Fleischer was beside Bush for almost every moment on the day two hijacked planes crashed into both towers of the World Trade Center. Another plane crashed into the Pentagon and the fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennysylvania.

At the time of the attacks, Bush was on his way to an elementary school in Florida for a reading event.

Here are some of Fleischer's tweets.

Approx 8:50: I got a page on my pager (we didn't have blackberries then and the iPhone hadn't been invented) telling me a plane hit the WTC.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

SMILE: Lee Kwang Soo posing for photos with fans at yesterday's meet-and-greet session at Changi Airport.

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As soon as I got the page, I hussled out of my car 2tell the Pres. He was shaking hands with school officials - none of whom knew the news.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

After the President finished shaking hands, Karl Rove informed him of what we thought had to be an "accident."

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

9:03 United Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

9:05 WH Chief of Staff Andy Card interrupts the Pres to whisper in his hear - the second tower has been hit. "America is under attack."

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

Just before Andy walked in, I got a 2nd page saying the 2nd tower had been hit. I knew instantly it had to be terrorism.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

I wrote on back of a legal pad "DON'T SAY ANYTHING YET". I wanted him 2b briefed b4 talking. I put my back to the press & held up the sign.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

The President continued the reading event for several more minutes. Years later, Michael Moore criticized Bush for not leaving immediately.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

POTUS left the event and went into the holding room 2get briefed/ work the phones. Here is a picture of the scene. pic.twitter.com/ZztLy2plSl

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

Someone wheeled a TV into the holding room. Here's the scene: pic.twitter.com/x9A3RTQykd

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

9:30 Bush addressed a group in the gym that expected 2hear remarks on education. Few people there knew of the attack. No twitter back then.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

(1/2) Bush to VP: "We're at war...We're going to take care of this. When we find out who did this, they're not going 2like me as President."

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

Bush also told VP - and I quote - "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, 2014

Bush closed his call with Cheney saying, "It's the new war. It's the faceless coward that attacks."

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

He also told the First Lady, "If I'm in the WH and there's a plane coming my way, all I can say is I hope I read my Bible that day."

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2014

Source: Twitter

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Uncategorised terrorism 9/11 New York City