On September 11, 2001, “At 10:39 AM, [Vice President Dick] Cheney spoke to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld for the first time [following the terrorist attacks]. He reviewed the events of the past hour. ‘There’s been at least three instances here where we’ve had reports of aircraft approaching Washington,’ said Cheney. ‘A couple were confirmed hijack. And, pursuant to the president’s [Bush’s] instructions I gave authorization for them to be taken out.’ ”
– Stephen F. Hayes, Cheney, Page 340