• Aug 11, 2011

    John Jester on September 11, 2001

    John Jester talked about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon. He was in his Pentagon office that morning as he heard a low rumble as a commercial plane tore through the building. As chief of the Defense Protective Service, he was at the center of the emergency response and described the efforts of the rescuers. He reported what his officers saw when the ...plane approached the Pentagon and at the point of impact. He detailed the number of dead and stated that because of an ongoing renovation project the plane happened to hit the part of the building with the least number of employees. Show SummaryShow Full Text

  • Aug 10, 2011

    Rear Admiral David Thomas on September 11, 2001

    Rear Admiral David Thomas described his actions on September 11, 2001. Then a captain, he was at a meeting at the Pentagon when terrorists attacks began. He described the inside of the burning Pentagon as he searched for his best friend.

  • Aug 8, 2011

    Major Heather Penney on September 11, 2001

    Major Heather Penney talked about her actions on September 11, 2001. Then a lieutenant, she was one of the first District of Columbia Air National Guard F-16 pilots scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base after the terrorist attacks. She described how she would have downed a civilian plane if necessary and why that would have been a suicide mission.

  • Jul 27, 2011

    Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle on September 11, 2001

    Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle was among the congressional leaders evacuated by helicopter to a secure undisclosed location on September 11, 2001. He recounted his experiences that day - from his aerial view of the Pentagon to his description of the secret location where congressional leaders re-grouped and determined how to respond to the terrorist attacks against ...the United States. Show SummaryShow Full Text

  • Jul 26, 2011

    Mary Matalin on September 11, 2001

    Mary Matalin was a top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and was with him on September 11, 2001, when the Secret Service physically removed him from the White House offices to a secure bunker. Speaking by remote link from New York City, she recalled the evacuation of the White House and the scene inside the bunker as the vice president and other White House officials worked ...to respond to the terrorist attack and its aftermath. Show SummaryShow Full Text

  • Jul 14, 2011

    Mary Beth Cahill on September 11, 2001

    Mary Beth Cahill talked about the events of September 11, 2001, when she was Senator Edward Kennedy's chief of staff. She recalled that first lady Laura Bush arrived on Capitol Hill early the morning of the terrorist attacks to testify before Congress. The first lady was with Senator Kennedy in his office when Ms. Cahill informed them that a second plane had hit the World ...Trade Center. Show SummaryShow Full Text

  • Jul 12, 2011

    Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert on September 11, 2001

    Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert reflected on how the terrorist attacks transformed him into a wartime speaker. He described flying over the Pentagon in a helicopter as he was taken to an undisclosed location with other congressional leaders on September 11, 2001.

  • Jul 11, 2011

    Gary Walters on September 11, 2001

    Former White House Chief Usher Gary Walters talked about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He stayed at his post in the evacuated White House, seeing to the needs of the president and his staff. He described the change in President Bush's demeanor when he returned to the White House after the terrorist attacks.