The Morning of September 11: America Before the Attacks The morning of September 11, 2001, began like countless other mornings across the United States. It was a Tuesday, and millions of Americans were preparing for another busy day. Children hurried to school, parents left for work, businesses opened their doors, and commuters crowded highways and train stations. President George W. Bush was visiting Florida, where he planned to promote education and visit an elementary scho

My Name is Peter Jennings: The Journalist Who Watched America Make History For much of my life, I had the extraordinary responsibility of telling millions of Americans what was happening in their country and around the world. I was born on July 29, 1938, in Toronto, Canada. My father, Charles Jennings, was a respected broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and radio was part of our family life. By the age of nine, I was already hosting a children's radio progr

Bush, Gore, Nader, and the Race for the White House As the year 2000 approached, the United States was preparing to choose a new leader after eight years under President Bill Clinton. The economy had experienced years of growth, the internet was transforming everyday life, and Americans were looking toward a new century with excitement and uncertainty. Yet beneath the country's prosperity were growing political divisions. Republicans and Democrats disagreed over taxes, health

My Name is Gary Schroen: A CIA Officer's Hunt for Osama bin Laden I was born on November 6, 1941, in East St. Louis, Illinois. My father was an electrician, and I grew up far removed from the secret operations that would eventually define my career. In 1969, I joined the Central Intelligence Agency, beginning more than three decades of intelligence work. I wasn't interested in being a Hollywood spy. Real intelligence work involved patience, observation, relationships, and und

From the Soviet-Afghan War to a New Terrorist Network In December 1979, Soviet tanks and soldiers entered Afghanistan to support a struggling communist government, beginning a devastating war that would last nearly a decade. Afghan resistance fighters, known as the mujahideen, fought against the Soviet occupation using guerrilla warfare, mountain hideouts, and weapons supplied by foreign supporters. The United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan helped support Afghan resistanc

My Name is John P. O'Neill: FBI Investigator Who Warned America I was born on February 6, 1952, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Growing up, I was fascinated by law enforcement, especially the television program The F.B.I. I wanted to become a federal agent, someone who pursued dangerous criminals and protected innocent people. While attending American University in Washington, D.C., I began working at FBI headquarters as a fingerprint clerk and later as a tour guide. I graduate

The First World Trade Center Bombing On Friday, February 26, 1993, thousands of New Yorkers went about their daily routines, unaware that a devastating attack was about to unfold beneath one of America's most recognizable landmarks. The World Trade Center's Twin Towers stood 110 stories tall, towering over Manhattan as symbols of American commerce and economic power. Office workers attended meetings, tourists admired the skyline, and shoppers visited the stores below. But sho

My Name is Boutros Boutros-Ghali: The Diplomat Who Faced a World in Crisis I was born on November 14, 1922, in Cairo, Egypt, into a prominent Coptic Christian family. My grandfather had served as Egypt's prime minister before his assassination in 1910. Politics, international relations, and public service were part of my family's heritage. As a young man, I witnessed a world struggling through colonialism, nationalism, and global war. I studied law at Cairo University before

1991–1992 — Somalia Collapses: Civil War, Warlords, and Famine In January 1991, the East African nation of Somalia descended into a nightmare. After more than two decades in power, President Mohamed Siad Barre was driven from the capital, Mogadishu, by armed opposition forces. Barre had ruled Somalia since 1969, using military authority, political repression, and alliances with powerful clans to maintain control. During the Cold War, his government had received foreign milita

My Name is Paul Allen: I Saw Possibilities Before They Had Names I was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1953. I was the sort of kid who could disappear into science-fiction books and then spend hours wondering whether the machines in those stories might someday be possible. At Lakeside School, I met another student who shared my fascination with computers: Bill Gates. Computers were enormous, expensive machines in those days, and getting access to one felt almost like being al