"WE HAVE SOME PLANES"
39
while the children continued reading. He then returned to a holding room
shortly before 9:15, where he was briefed by staff and saw television coverage.
He next spoke toVice President Cheney, Dr. Rice, NewYork Governor George
Pataki, and FBI Director Robert Mueller. He decided to make a brief state
ment from the school before leaving for the airport.The Secret Service told us
they were anxious to move the President to a safer location, but did not think
it imperative for him to run out the door.
204
Between 9:15 and 9:30, the staff was busy arranging a return to Washington,
while the President consulted his senior advisers about his remarks. No one in
the traveling party had any information during this time that other aircraft were
hijacked or missing. Staff was in contact with theWhite House Situation Room,
but as far as we could determine, no one with the President was in contact with
the Pentagon.The focus was on the President's statement to the nation.The only
decision made during this time was to return to Washington.
205
The President's motorcade departed at 9:35, and arrived at the airport
between 9:42 and 9:45. During the ride the President learned about the attack
on the Pentagon. He boarded the aircraft, asked the Secret Service about the
safety of his family, and called the Vice President. According to notes of the
call, at about 9:45 the President told theVice President:"Sounds like we have
a minor war going on here, I heard about the Pentagon.We're at war . . . some-
body's going to pay."
206
About this time, Card, the lead Secret Service agent, the President's military
aide, and the pilot were conferring on a possible destination for Air Force One.
The Secret Service agent felt strongly that the situation in Washington was too
unstable for the President to return there, and Card agreed. The President
strongly wanted to return to Washington and only grudgingly agreed to go
elsewhere.The issue was still undecided when the President conferred with the
Vice President at about the time Air Force One was taking off. TheVice Pres
ident recalled urging the President not to return to Washington.Air Force One
departed at about 9:54 without any fixed destination.The objective was to get
up in the air--as fast and as high as possible--and then decide where to go.
207
At 9:33, the tower supervisor at Reagan National Airport picked up a
hotline to the Secret Service and told the Service's operations center that
"an aircraft [is] coming at you and not talking with us." This was the first
specific report to the Secret Service of a direct threat to the White House.
No move was made to evacuate the Vice President at this time. As the offi
cer who took the call explained, "[I was] about to push the alert button
when the tower advised that the aircraft was turning south and approach
ing Reagan National Airport."
208
American 77 began turning south, away from the White House, at 9:34. It
continued heading south for roughly a minute, before turning west and begin
ning to circle back.This news prompted the Secret Service to order the imme
diate evacuation of the Vice President just before 9:36. Agents propelled him