lc_story89.xml

lc_story89.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-12-17

I was in a breakfast in the basement of the Capitol when it was announced a plane had flown into one of the World Trade Center Towers. I guess everyone had the idea that it was some errant small Cessna dangling out of a window since the breakfast continued uninterrupted. It was only until I started walking back to the Senate Hart building through the tunnels that my cell phone went off. (Cell phones didn't work in the basement of the Capitol.) My wife had called saying the Capitol was a likely target and to get out of there. The Capitol police told us to hurry through the tunnels since the Capitol was likely going to be shut down.

My most vivid memory of the day was walking into my office seeing all the staff standing around the television. I remember the picture. A phenomenally clear, blue sky and both towers, smoking and on fire. My other strong memory of the day was the clear, blue sky and gorgeous late summer day.

Every American era has its defining moments, for example Pearl Harbor or Kennedy's assasination. This era in American history will be defined by the events of September 11th.