The Year of the Inaugural Attacks: 2001

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THE YEAR OF THE INAUGURAL ATTACKS: 2001​

HIJACKED JETS KILL PRESIDENT, CONGRESS, AND THOUSANDS MORE
CAPITOL AND TWIN TOWERS DESTROYED

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From the New York Times
Published: January 21, 2001

Hundreds of thousands of Americans huddled around the platform built along the West Front outside the United Capitol building, against chill winds and under cloudy skies, to see the inauguration of the 43rd president of the United States, George Walker Bush. They would be the first victims of the worst and most audacious terror attack in our nation's history. At 12:02pm, a hijacked jetliner struck the proceedings, and trapped almost everyone present in a hellish storm of ash, smoke and fire before a national television audience. No official count has been made, but it's known that the President and his wife, nearly all former living Presidents, all the members of the Congress, all nine justices of the Supreme Court, most living Medal of Honor recipients, and thousands of civilians perished.

The coordinated strikes continued when each of the World Trade Center towers in New York City were hit, the first of which was struck nineteen minutes after the attack in the Capital, while the second hit an hour later. Many casualties were averted because it was the weekend, allowing what few remained to evacuate before the towers came toppling down. The last hijacked plane crashed in Virginia before it could hit whatever target it was destined for. All together, 312 people are confirmed to have lost their lives aboard these four planes.

"The enemies of liberty and our country should make no mistake: America remains engaged in the world by history and by choice, shaping a balance of power that favors freedom," said acting Secretary of Defense Rudolph deLeon reading from the late President's prepared address. "We will defend our allies and our interests. We will show purpose without arrogance. We will meet aggression and bad faith with resolve and strength. And to all nations, we will speak for the values that gave our nation birth."

Rudolph deLeon was the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and as the incoming cabinet had not been confirmed by the Senate while the outgoing cabinet has resigned (including the Deputy Secretary of State), he had become the acting Secretary of Defense. This is why he has assumed the powers of the presidency pursuant to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 until a Congressional leader is confirmed. Although there are no constitutional procedures to instantly restore the members of the House of Representatives, vacant Senatorial seats are filled either by Governor appointment or special election in most states. President Bush's cabinet nominees, although uncontroversial, cannot be confirmed until a new Senate can be assembled.

“I want to assure the American public that the search for those responsible for these unforgivable attacks is underway, and we look to our partners abroad for assistance in this time of unparalleled tragedy,” said deLeon in his televised address to the nation from the White House lawn.

No individual or organized has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the sophistication and scale required for such a coordinated attack, along with the recent history of major attacks on American targets in the previous years, has led many officials and experts to point to Osama bin Laden, an Islamic militant operating from Afghanistan. The Taliban, the hard-liner rulers of Afghanistan, have rejected these suggestions in what is most likely to be a defensive measure.