George W. Bush

George W. Bush, the forty-third president of the United States, was visiting an elementary school in Florida when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked by terrorists. Shortly after he returned to the White House, Bush gave a televised speech, excerpted below, in which he consoles Americans and reassures them that the United States will overcome these attacks.

Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

Our Country Is Strong

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us...