From Terrorist Attack to Global War: The War on Terror Begins (2001) Following the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush declared that America would not only pursue those responsible but also confront terrorist organizations and the governments that supported or sheltered them. What began as a response to one terrible day soon developed into a worldwide military, intelligence, and diplomatic campaign that would influence American foreig

My Name is Colin Powell: From the Streets of New York to the U.S. Secretary of State I was born on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York City. My parents were immigrants from Jamaica who believed in hard work, education, and personal responsibility. I grew up in the South Bronx, surrounded by working families trying to build better lives. I wasn't the smartest student in school, nor did I have some grand plan to become a general or statesman. But I learned something important ea

The Election of 2000 and George W. Bush Takes Office As President Bill Clinton's second term came to an end, Americans faced a choice between two very different candidates: Republican George W. Bush, the governor of Texas and son of former President George H. W. Bush, and Democrat Al Gore, Clinton's vice president. Bush campaigned on tax cuts, education reform, and what he called "compassionate conservatism," while Gore emphasized economic prosperity, environmental protection

My Name is Ian Wilmut: The Scientist Who Helped Change Our Understanding of Life I was born on July 7, 1944, in Warwickshire, England, during the final years of World War II. My parents were teachers, and from an early age, I developed an interest in understanding how the natural world worked. I particularly enjoyed biology and working with animals. As a young man, I worked on farms and became fascinated by how animals developed and reproduced. I originally considered a caree

DNA and Science Revolution: Human Genome Project, Dolly the Sheep, & Biotechnology As the 1990s began, scientists embarked on one of the most ambitious scientific adventures in human history: discovering the instructions that make us human. Hidden inside nearly every cell of the human body is DNA, a remarkable molecule containing the genetic information that influences everything from eye color to susceptibility to certain diseases. Although scientists had understood DNA's do

My Name is Aaron Brown: The Journalist Who Witnessed America Under Attack I spent much of my life asking questions, reporting the news, and trying to explain a complicated world to the people watching at home. I was born on November 10, 1948, in Minnesota, where I grew up during a period when television was becoming America's window into history. I attended the University of Minnesota, studying political science, before serving in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. But my

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