Political Quotes

“about an hour ago a number of Members of the House and the Senate, principally leadership, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony by the President at the Pentagon. The President has participated over the last 48 hours in similar events in New York, earlier today in Pennsylvania, and later at the Pentagon today. A number of colleagues have come to the Senate to offer statements in remembrance of that day 5 years ago and that question of: What were you doing? Whom did you talk to? What were your memories? Whom were you with? This is a familiar question and one we have all gone back over the course of the last several days and thought about. I remember where I was. I remember exactly what I was doing. I remember whom I was with. I was across the street in the Russell Building with my chief of staff, Emily Reynolds, at the time, who is now Secretary of the Senate. We were in a meeting with a colleague of mine, Senator Hutchison, talking over issues, when a member of her staff came in and told us that a plane had struck the Twin Towers. At that time, it was thought initially to be a corporate plane, but as a pilot it was very clear to me that would not have happened by accident. While our discussion continued for a few moments, someone wheeled in a television, and then, dumbstruck, we watched that second plane strike the tower. Shortly thereafter, of course, we heard there was smoke coming from the Pentagon, where we were a few moments ago.…”