Photos show the moment President George W. Bush first learned of the 9/11 attacks — and how the president's day unfolded

President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001. US National Archives After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, heart-wrenching images surfaced and stirred the world. Photos from the National Archives show exactly when President George W. Bush learned of the attacks. See how Bush responded to what would be the defining moment of his presidency. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush was visiting an elementary school and reading to the children when the second plane hit the World Trade Center in New York City. The school turned into a makeshift command center, and the president addressed the nation from the school before boarding Air Force One to get to a secure location. These photos from the US National Archives show how the 43rd president's day unfolded on 9/11. President George W. Bush participated in a reading demonstration on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. President George W. Bush participates in a reading demonstration the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Fla. US National Archives Dan Bartlett, deputy assistant to the president, pointed to news footage of the attacks while Bush listened to new security information. US National Archives Bush watched television coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center during a briefing in the classroom. President George W. Bush watches television coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center during a briefing in a classroom at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. US National Archives Bush took notes as he listened to news coverage of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. President George W. Bush takes notes as he listens to news coverage of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, during a visit to Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Fla. US National Archives Bush called New York Gov. George Pataki, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Vice President Dick Cheney. White House Chief of Staff Andy Card spoke on a cellphone. President George W. Bush calls New York Governor George Pataki, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Vice President Dick Cheney Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, from Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Fla. White House Chief of Staff Andy Card talks on a cell phone. US National Archives Bush delivered one of his first remarks to the nation after the attacks from the Florida elementary school. President George W. Bush delivers remarks to the nation regarding the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil from Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. US National Archives A highway sign on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, read, "All crossings to New York closed." A highway sign reads, "All Crossings to New York Closed" Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. US National Archives Bush watched television coverage of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center from his office aboard Air Force One. President George W. Bush watches television coverage of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, from his office aboard Air Force One. US National Archives Bush conferred with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card in the president's stateroom on Air Force One. President George W. Bush confers with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card in the President's stateroom aboard Air Force One. US National Archives Bush spoke with his staff by telephone as Air Force One flew from Sarasota to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. President George W. Bush confers with staff via telephone from his office aboard Air Force One during the flight from Sarasota to Barksdale Air Force Base. US National Archives Senior staff huddled in Bush's office aboard the presidential jet. President George W. Bush talks on the telephone as senior staff huddle in his office aboard Air Force One. US National Archives Bush and his staff looked out the windows of Air Force One at their F-16 escort while en route to Barksdale Air Force Base. President Bush and his staff look out the windows of Air Force One at their F-16 escort Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, while en route to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Pictured from left are: Andy Card, White House Chief of Staff; Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary; Blake Gottesman, Personal Aide to the President; Karl Rove, Senior Adviser; Deborah Loewer, Director of White House Situation Room, and Dan Bartlett, Deputy Assistant to the President. US National Archives An F-16 fighter jet escorted Air Force One. US National Archives Bush conferred with staff before delivering remarks on the World Trade Center disaster from the General Dougherty Conference Center at Barksdale Air Force Base. President George W. Bush confers with, from left, Karl Rove, Andy Card, Dan Bartlett and Ari Fleischer, prior to delivering remarks on the World Trade Center disaster from the General Dougherty Conference Center at Barksdale Air