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CNN Live Today

Correspondent Recalls Spending September 11 With President Bush

Aired March 11, 2002 - 11:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A question that we often ask of each other is, "Where were you on September 11th?"

Want to bring back in our Major Garrett, our White House Correspondent, to get back to our conversation. Major, we interrupted to you because we wanted, of course, hear what the defense secretary had to say from the Pentagon.

But, let's get back to where you were on September 11th. Of course, you were with the president on a road trip to Florida. A road trip that started out as routine and then turned into anything but routine.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Daryn. You know, I've often thought back on September 11th, and what I'm struck by most was the very ordinary beginning to that day. The president, as he often does when he's on the road, went out for an early morning jog. And when he got back, he bantered with reporters very casually. Told a couple of jokes, said he'd see us later and answer a few questions. And I've often thought, looking back on that, that it really undermines one of the great mythologies that we give about the president.

The media feeds into it. That the President of the United States knows everything about everything at all times. Clearly, he did not know what was going to happen within a matter of an hour. All of the terrorists who were aboard those planes were either on line or getting on the planes as the president was casually joking with a couple reporters after a casual morning jog.

And then everything changed, of course. I believe we have some video of the elementary school he was in in Sarasota, Florida. He was sitting with a bunch of children. He was about to read a story to them.

Now to set this up a little bit. By the time he has started this session with the children, he knows that one tower has already been struck. Then his Chief of Staff, Andrew Card, walks in, leans over, whispers into the president's ear. These, for me, unforgettable words, "a second tower has been hit, and America is under attack."

The president hears these words. His face collapses ever so briefly as Chief of Staff Andrew Card leaves the room, and the president now knows the country is in the middle of a terrorist war and he's sitting in front of these children, maintaining his composure, preparing in some ways for what lay ahead. But, in many ways, not knowing what lay ahead. And, for him, he wasn't even sure where he would be traveling next.

And, as we all know now, the president left Sarasota, Florida. Traveled, then, first to Louisiana, then to Nebraska to maintain absolute security for himself and Air Force One. Returned to the White House. Gave speech that night from the Oval Office. The first step toward reassuring the nation and pointing the direction of this war on terrorism.

But an unforgettable day in so many, many ways.

KAGAN: Just one part of that incredible day, and not incredible in a good way. So, Major, here we are six months later. You're on the South Lawn of the White House. Just to look around, would you notice any differences, then let's say, from September 10th?

GARRETT: Let's say, for example, we're out on the South Lawn. It's always a majestic scene. You see the White House, crisp and white against a sky of blue. And as the president was beginning his remarks, I heard the rumble after commercial aircraft make its approach to National Airport. And I thought, well, at least in one sense, things have begun to approach something approaching normalcy, because we can now hear commercial air travel near the White House.

In the very days right after September 11th, all we heard were either helicopters or fighter jets patrolling over the White House grounds. But, normalcy has not been completely retained, because, as the president spoke, I could look up on the Executive Office Building and above the White House, to see black clad Secret Service snipers, ever vigilant, ever on watch of all those who were sitting just before them and the president standing giving his address.

So, yes, a rumble of a commercial aircraft suggesting things are getting back to normal, but the Secret Service snipers there, also reminding us of very heightened security here at the White House. Daryn.

KAGAN: Yes. And if anyone has flown in or out of Reagan National Airport, you know that it is very unlike what it used to be before September 11th. Major Garrett, thank you very much.

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