Former President george bush reflected on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks during an event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, the Bush Center said.
At an “A Legacy of Service” program on Sept. 9, bush spoke with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the uncertainty and decisions that followed the attacks, saying, “9/11 was a clarifying moment for me and you and others in our administration because we realized that we were vulnerable to attack based upon what we believe,” CBS News reported.
The Bush Center’s event page says the program included a moderated conversation with military leaders and voices from the post‑9/11 generation of veterans, and that the evening examined “the enduring impact of the attacks and the spirit of service that continues to shape the nation.”
CBS News reported Rice described the immediate post‑attack effort to share intelligence inside the White House, saying, “A threat matrix that had been this big on September 10 was like a phonebook on September 12th.” The broadcast also quoted Bush recalling the surge in volunteer and recruitment numbers after the attacks.
CBS News noted the program in Dallas was one of the Bush family’s planned commemorations; the former president and first lady Laura Bush were scheduled to take part in a New York City commemoration and the Bush Center planned a moment of remembrance in its museum at 8:30 a.m., the outlet reported.
Organizers warned registered guests would be asked to present photo ID and that doors opened at 5:30 p.m., according to the Bush Center event page, which also lists the program schedule and security procedures for attendees.
Why the program mattered
The Bush Center framed the event as a reflection on service, pairing presidential-era officials with veterans to highlight how the attacks reshaped American institutions and public service, the center’s event description says.
CBS News said the program emphasized honoring the nearly 3,000 lives lost and preserving the historical record for generations who did not live through 2001. Bush told attendees, “The sad thing is one‑third of our nation has no clue what we’re talking about,” per CBS.
Sources
- CBS News — reported Bush’s remarks, quoted his and Rice’s comments, and said the event was part of the Bush Center commemorations.
- George W. Bush Presidential Center — event page for “A Legacy of Service” listing program guests, schedule, and visitor information.
- NBC DFW — local coverage noting Bush and Rice’s discussion at the Bush Center.
