“At about 8:13 a.m. [on September 11, 2001], the hijacking of American Airlines Flight 11 began…At 8:46, the plane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.” While visiting an elementary school in Florida to promote education, presidential Advisor Karl Rove informed President Bush, who responded, ” ‘What a horrible accident!’ …Just as Bush entered the classroom…United Airlines Flight 175…crashed into the second World Trade Center tower.” Director of the White House Situation room Captain Deborah Loewer said: ” ‘It took me about thirty seconds to realize this was terrorism.’ ” Chief of Staff Andrew Card passed her comment on to the President. But Press Secretary Ari Fleischer held up a large note saying to Bush, ” ‘Don’t Say Anything Yet’… Bush nodded his assent. Finally, he picked up the book to read a story called ‘The Pet Goat’ with the children. …The reading continued for eight or nine minutes and, at 9:12, Bush left the room.”
– Craig Unger, House of Bush, House of Saud, Pages 248-250