Photos show the moment President George W. Bush first learned of the 9/11 attacks — and how the president's day unfolded

President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001. US National Archives After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, heart-wrenching images surfaced and stirred the world. Photos from the National Archives show exactly when President George W. Bush learned of the attacks. See how Bush responded to what would be the defining moment of his presidency. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush was visiting an elementary school and reading to the children when the second plane hit the World Trade Center in New York City. The school turned into a makeshift command center, and the president addressed the nation from the school before boarding Air Force One to get to a secure location. These photos from the US National Archives show how the 43rd president's day unfolded on 9/11. President George W. Bush participated in a reading demonstration on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. President George W. Bush participates in a reading demonstration the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Fla. US National Archives Dan Bartlett, deputy assistant to the president, pointed to news footage of the attacks while Bush listened to new security information. US National Archives Bush watched television coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center during a briefing in the classroom. President George W. Bush watches television coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center during a briefing in a classroom at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. US National Archives Bush took notes as he listened to news coverage of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. President George W. Bush takes notes as he listens to news coverage of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, during a visit to Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Fla. US National Archives Bush called New York Gov. George Pataki, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Vice President Dick Cheney. White House Chief of Staff Andy Card spoke on a cellphone. President George W. Bush calls New York Governor George Pataki, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Vice President Dick Cheney Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, from Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Fla. White House Chief of Staff Andy Card talks on a cell phone. US National Archives Bush delivered one of his first remarks to the nation after the attacks from the Florida elementary school. President George W. Bush delivers remarks to the nation regarding the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil from Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. US National Archives A highway sign on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, read, "All crossings to New York closed." A highway sign reads, "All Crossings to New York Closed" Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. US National Archives Bush watched television coverage of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center from his office aboard Air Force One. President George W. Bush watches television coverage of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, from his office aboard Air Force One. US National Archives Bush conferred with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card in the president's stateroom on Air Force One. President George W. Bush confers with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card in the President's stateroom aboard Air Force One. US National Archives Bush spoke with his staff by telephone as Air Force One flew from Sarasota to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. President George W. Bush confers with staff via telephone from his office aboard Air Force One during the flight from Sarasota to Barksdale Air Force Base. US National Archives Senior staff huddled in Bush's office aboard the presidential jet. President George W. Bush talks on the telephone as senior staff huddle in his office aboard Air Force One. US National Archives Bush and his staff looked out the windows of Air Force One at their F-16 escort while en route to Barksdale Air Force Base. President Bush and his staff look out the windows of Air Force One at their F-16 escort Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, while en route to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Pictured from left are: Andy Card, White House Chief of Staff; Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary; Blake Gottesman, Personal Aide to the President; Karl Rove, Senior Adviser; Deborah Loewer, Director of White House Situation Room, and Dan Bartlett, Deputy Assistant to the President. US National Archives An F-16 fighter jet escorted Air Force One. US National Archives Bush conferred with staff before delivering remarks on the World Trade Center disaster from the General Dougherty Conference Center at Barksdale Air Force Base. President George W. Bush confers with, from left, Karl Rove, Andy Card, Dan Bartlett and Ari Fleischer, prior to delivering remarks on the World Trade Center disaster from the General Dougherty Conference Center at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. US National Archives Bush delivered additional remarks on the terrorist attacks before departing for Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. President George W. Bush delivers remarks on the terrorist attacks Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, before departing for Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. US National Archives Offutt is a highly secure underground command center that can withstand a nuclear attack. President George W. Bush arrives at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. US National Archives Bush, Adm. Richard Mies, and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card conducted a video teleconference at the base. President Bush, Admiral Richard Mies, left, and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card conduct a video teleconference Tuesday Sept. 11, 2001, at Offutt Air Force Base. US National Archives Back on Air Force One, Bush and White House counsel Harriet Miers linked arms as the plane headed to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. President George W. Bush and Harriet Miers Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, aboard Air Force One. US National Archives Bush spoke with Ari Fleischer and Karl Rove aboard Air Force One during the flight. President George W. Bush speaks with Ari Fleischer, left, and Karl Rove aboard Air Force One during the flight from Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska to Andrews Air Force Base. US National Archives After departing Offutt Air Force Base for Washington, DC, Bush spoke on the phone with Vice President Dick Cheney from Air Force One. After departing Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska for Washington, D.C. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush talks on the phone with Vice President Dick Cheney from Air Force One. US National Archives National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice waited at the South Portico for Bush to arrive at the White House. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice waits at the South Portico for President George W. Bush to arrive at the White House Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. US National Archives Counselor Karen Hughes and counsel Alberto Gonzales followed Bush into the Oval Office after his return to the White House. Counselor Karen Hughes and Counsel Alberto Gonzales follow President Bush into the Oval Office after his return to the White House. US National Archives Working with his senior staff, Bush reviewed the speech he would deliver to the nation that evening. Working with his senior staff, President George W. Bush reviews the speech that he will deliver to the nation the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, from the Oval Office. Pictured from left are: Alberto Gonzales, White House Counsel; Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser; Karen Hughes, Counselor; Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary, and Andy Card, Chief of Staff. US National Archives Bush spoke with Cheney in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a secure bunker located beneath the White House. President George W. Bush talks with Vice President Dick Cheney in the President's Emergency Operations Center Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, after returning to the White House from Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Neb. US National Archives Laura Bush was also brought to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. US National Archives The president and first lady spoke with Cheney and Rice in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush talk with Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice Tuesday, September 11, 2001, in the President's Emergency Operations Center. US National Archives Bush also met with Special Agent Carl Truscott of the US Secret Service. After returning to the White House, President George W. Bush meets with from left: Vice President Dick Cheney; Chief of Staff Andy Card; Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser; and Special Agent Carl Truscott of the U.S. Secret Service in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center of the White House. US National Archives Bush reviewed notes with Hughes before addressing the nation from the Oval Office. US National Archives Bush delivered his televised address, saying, "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve." President George W. Bush delivers his Address to the Nation Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, from the Oval Office. US National Archives After addressing the nation, Bush returned to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center to meet with members of his National Security Council. After addressing the nation, President George W. Bush meets with his National Security Council in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center of the White House. US National Archives Read the original article on Business Insider

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