Pool Reports by Peter Baker, The New York Times
| Sent: | Reports: |
| September 11, 2024 08:10 |
Out of Town Pool Report #1 New York Good morning. It's a beautiful day in New York, much like that terrible day 23 years ago -- sunny, clear and crisp. The motorcade is on the move at 8:07 am. Your pool did not see POTUS get into his limousine. |
| September 11, 2024 08:32 |
Out of Town Pool Report #2 New York The motorcade arrived at 8:30 am. Per the WH: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Ground Zero: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| September 11, 2024 08:46 |
Out of Town Pool Report #3 New York POTUS is joined at the Ground Zero site by VPOTUS and former President Donald Trump, among others. Just hours after their debate clash in Philadelphia, VPOTUS and Trump stood just feet apart without addressing each other, with POTUS and Michael Bloomberg standing between them. Also on hand are other luminaries like JD Vance and Chuck Schumer. An honor guard of blue uniformed police officers carried a large US flag onto stage and a singer performed the National Anthem. Some in the crowd of hundreds are holding up photographs of loved ones lost 23 years ago. |
| September 11, 2024 09:09 |
Out of Town Pool Report #4 New York Photographers caught an image of VPOTUS and Trump shaking hands before the ceremony began. The first of a half dozen moments of silence was held at 8:46 am to mark the moment that hijacked Flight 11 struck the North Tower. Names of victims were read from the podium by relatives, some of whom offered personal testimonials to individual family members. A second moment of silence came at 9:03 am to mark when hijacked Flight 175 struck the South Tower. The reading of the names then continued. The president, vice president, former president and other elected leaders stood watching and listening. Among other officials or prominent people spotted: Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Rep. Dan Goldman, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Eric Trump. From the WH: The President and Vice President are participating in a greet with Former Mayor and 9/11 Memorial Chairman, Mike Bloomberg. The President is participating in a 9/11 commemoration ceremony at Ground Zero. Attendees: Program: |
| September 11, 2024 09:45 |
Out of Town Pool Report #5 New York The elected officials mostly are standing attentively watching and listening to the reading of the names, occasionally clapping after a personal testimonial. At different points, POTUS and VPOTUS have turned to each other to share a few comments while Trump chatted a couple times with Vance or with Donald Trump Jr., standing behind him. At one point, Giuliani leaned over to chat with Trump. The relatives reading out names have included quite a few kids who were born after 2001 and talked about never getting to know their loved ones. Several of the older relatives choked up as they remembered a father, an uncle, a brother, a sister, an aunt, a grandfather. Trump and Vance are both dressed in dark suits with white shirts and red ties. Trump occasionally scans the crowd as if looking for familiar faces. None of the elected officials has had a speaking role. The main figures are lined up in this order, left to right from our vantage point: Hochul Gillibrand Schumer Harris Biden Bloomberg Trump Vance After the ring of a bell, a third moment of silence was held at 9:37 a.m., marking the moment when hijacked Flight 77 struck the Pentagon. Your pool has now been moved back to the motorcade vans for imminent departure. There are multiple motorcades for multiple current, former and would-be presidents and vice presidents parked on the street and telling the difference is a challenge. |
| September 11, 2024 09:47 |
Out of Town Pool Report #6 New York The motorcade departed at 9:45 am. Your pool did not see POTUS get in his limousine. |
| September 11, 2024 09:59 |
Out of Town Pool Report #7 New York The motorcade arrived at the Wall Street Landing Zone at 9:51 am. Your pool did not see POTUS board Marine One. The helicopter was wheels up at 9:57 am. |
| September 11, 2024 10:33 |
Out of Town Pool Report #8 JFK airport Marine One touched down at JFK at 10:13 am. POTUS boarded the baby AF1 for the flight to Pennsylvania without stopping to talk with your pool. We are taxiing for takeoff at 10:31 am. From the WH: Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| September 11, 2024 11:55 |
Out of Town Pool Report #9 Johnstown, Pa. AF1 was wheels up from JFK at 10:39 am and wheels down in Johnstown at 11:37 am. No one visited the back during the flight. POTUS so embarked and boarded Marine One for the short flight to Shanksville. From the WH: Greeting the President upon arrival to John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport: Colonel Michael T. Girvin Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| September 11, 2024 12:20 |
Out of Town Pool Report #10 Shanksville, Pa. Marine One landed at 12:10 pm on a road next to an open field not far from the Flight 93 National Memorial. He will motorcade to the memorial in one of the Suburbans. We are moving at 12:19 pm. |
| September 11, 2024 12:51 |
Out of Town Pool Report #11 Shanksville, Pa. POTUS and VPOTUS were escorted onto the patio in front of the memorial's Wall of Names and stopped in front of a large wreath of white and red flowers mounted on a stand. POTUS briefly touched the wreath and the two of them then stood there solemnly and quietly for a couple minutes, their heads bowed. Scores of onlookers watched wordlessly from behind barriers. Placed in front of some of the panels on the wall are flowers, pictures, a Superman doll and a wooden angel. The two were then escorted away out of your pool's view to another stop at the sandstone boulder that marks the point of impact. Pool is now holding back in the vans. |
| September 11, 2024 12:54 |
Out of Town Pool Report #12 Shanksville, Pa. From the WH: The President and Vice President are participating in a greet with: Governor Josh Shapiro (PA) and his spouse, First Lady Lori Shapiro (PA) |
| September 11, 2024 13:19 |
Out of Town Pool Report #13 Shanksville, Pa. The motorcade is on the move again at 1:15 pm. Your pool did not see POTUS get back into his Suburban. |
| September 11, 2024 13:43 |
Out of Town Pool Report #14 Shanksville, Pa. After about an eight-minute drive, the motorcade arrived at the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department, where POTUS and VPOTUS are visiting with people affected by the attack. On the field outside the station is a sea of US flags surrounding a giant flag-draped cross made out of steel from the North Tower in New York with "9 11 01" on it and "WTC" block letters in front of it. POTUS put his arm around a man showing them around and crossed himself while looking at the memorial. The two were then escorted inside to meet with family and friends of the passengers and crew. As in other stops, there are no public remarks. During the ride here, the motorcade passed a truck festooned with blue and red Trump and Trump-Vance banners. Your pool is now waiting in the vans. From the WH: The President and the Vice President are visiting the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department to meet with volunteer firefighters, as well as the family members and friends of Flight 93 victims. Greeting the President and the Vice President upon arrival: Fire Chief James ("Jim") Bent, Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department |
| September 11, 2024 14:12 |
Out of Town Pool Report #15 Shanksville, Pa. The President brought beer and pizza to the firefighters and relatives, according to the White House. At 2:08 pm, the motorcade is on the move again. |
| September 11, 2024 15:06 |
Out of Town Pool Report #16 Johnstown, Pa. The POTUS motorcade merged with the VPOTUS motorcade to drive back to the Johnstown airport. We arrived at 2:49 pm. AF1 and AF2 are parked across from each other on the tarmac. POTUS and VPOTUS each emerged from their separate vehicles and posed together for photos with police officers. They said a brief goodbye before joining up again later in the day at the Pentagon. POTUS then boarded his plane without stopping to talk with the pool while VPOTUS got back into her armored vehicle to be driven maybe 100 feet or so to her plane. She likewise boarded without talking with reporters. AF1 taking off at 3:05 pm. |
| September 11, 2024 15:46 |
Out of Town Pool Report #17 Joint Base Andrews AF1 landed at 3:38 pm, about 40 minutes ahead of schedule. No one came back during the flight. From the WH: From White House Spokesperson Jeremy Edwards: Today, President Biden received a briefing from Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall regarding Hurricane Francine, and the White House is in touch with local and state officials across the region where Hurricane Francine is expected to make landfall later today. Last night, the President quickly approved the Governor of Louisiana's request for an emergency declaration, which unlocks federal assistance to help support lifesaving and life sustaining efforts. The President is also monitoring the wildfires in the western U.S., including the Line Fire in California and the Davis Fire in Nevada, and has directed federal support to ongoing wildfire suppression activity in the western U.S. Currently, over 7,000 federal personnel are supporting local firefighting efforts across multiple states, and FEMA has approved multiple Fire Management Assistance Grants to support states with firefighting costs. The President continues to urge residents in the affected areas, especially those who have been ordered to evacuate, to heed the warnings of state and local officials and remain vigilant. Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| September 11, 2024 15:54 |
Out of Town Pool Report #18 Joint Base Andrews POTUS disembarked from AF1 and climbed into his limousine for the motorcade to the Pentagon, again with no words to the pool. The motorcade began rolling at 3:52 pm. Turning over now to your in-town pool. Have a great evening! |
Pool Reports below by John Bennett, CQ/Roll Call
| Sent: | Reports: |
| September 11, 2024 15:58 |
In-town pool report #1 - departing JBA Air Force One came to a stop at JBA at 3:44 p.m. President Biden deplaned at 3:49 p.m., wearing a dark suit and sun glasses. He boarded The Beast and did not speak with our travel pool colleagues, who were under the wing. The motorcade rolled at 3:52 p.m. Next stop: the Pentagon for a 9/11 wreath-laying ceremony. That event will be live-streamed at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anj_b3tvRqo Air Force Two taxied by the POTUS motorcade as we waited for AF1 to land. |
| September 11, 2024 16:28 |
In-town pool report #2 - Pentagon arrival/ceremony starting The motorcade arrived at the Pentagon at 4:20 up.m. after an uneventful ride. We did not see POTUS exit his vehicle. The wreath-laying ceremony has begun at 4:28 p.m. Streaming link in previous report. |
| September 11, 2024 16:46 |
In-town pool report #3 - ceremony color / event info POTUS and VPOTUS walked through a military honor guard to a wreath decorated in red, white and blue at 4:28 p.m. They bowed their heads and stood before it for a few moments before "Taps" played. Also joining was Joint Chiefs Chairman Brown and Defense Secretary Austin. The foursome at 4:30 p.m. walked back through the honor guard to a plaque with the names of those who died at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. They again bowed their heads and stood in silence for a few moments, before softly chatting among themselves. Pool could not hear their conversation. At 4:35 p.m., President Biden asked Chairman Brown something and the Air Force four-star general pointed to the rectangular plaque and appeared to be explaining something to POTUS as VP Harris listened and briefly nodded. As POTUS spoke softly at one point, Secretary Austin smiled and nodded. Across the way, a large American flag was draped on the brown and glass facade of a building in Pentagon City. Behind the official party as the stood at the plaque was a similar American flag, draped over the side of the rebuild section of the Pentagon. The officials were still by the plaque when the in-town pool was escorted to the vans at 4:43 p.m. From the White House: President and the Vice President are participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the Pentagon. Greeting the President and the Vice President upon arrival: Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense |
| September 11, 2024 17:05 |
In-town pool report #4 - departing Pentagon The motorcade rolled from the Pentagon after a somber ceremony at 4:54 p.m. Pool did not see POTUS exit the memorial area nor board his vehicle. Attached is a pic of POTUS, VPOTUS, Secretary Austin and Chairman Gen. Brown during the ceremony. |
| September 11, 2024 17:07 |
In-town pool report #5 - back at WH The motorcade arrived swiftly at the White House at 5:03 p.m. President Biden entered the North Front of the mansion at 5:06 p.m. |
| September 11, 2024 17:17 |
In-town pool report #6 - lid The White House called a travel/photo lid at 5:16 p.m. |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of September 11, 2024 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/374192