When the terrorist attacks unfolded on September 11, 2001, the U.S. Secret Service moved with urgent precision to protect national leadership and execute emergency protocols never before fully utilized.
Brian Stafford, then the Secret Service Director, monitored the crisis from the agency’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. As he tracked the unfolding devastation at the World Trade Center and coordinated the safety of protected individuals—including President George W. Bush, who was visiting Florida—Stafford faced the grave possibility of a decapitation strike against U.S. leadership. He initiated the federal Continuity of Operations Plan under Presidential Decision Directive 67, a framework designed to relocate government officials to safety. According to historical records, this full continuity posture had not been activated since World War II, requiring Stafford to execute a plan the nation had trained for but never previously used.
In New York City, the danger was immediate and visceral. Special Agents Tom Armas and John Buckley, who were attending an annual UN General Assembly briefing at the nearby 7 World Trade Center, rushed into the North Tower to assist. Near the 40th floor, the impact wave from the South Tower’s collision knocked them off their feet. As they retreated downward, the South Tower collapsed, shattering windows and trapping them in the lobby. Once the debris settled, Armas and Buckley, still in casual attire with their gear clipped to their belts, guided civilians and FDNY personnel out of the building. The two agents were briefly separated in the chaos but reunited shortly afterward to continue evacuation efforts, as they recounted in a 2021 interview.
Meanwhile, in Sarasota, Florida, the focus shifted to securing President Bush. Deputy Special Agent in Charge Edward “Eddie” Marinzel, who led the president’s protective detail, was informed by White House Chief of Staff Andy Card that the country was under attack. Working with Card, the White House military aide, and Air Force One advance teams, Marinzel prioritized the president’s safety over his own wishes. Although Bush initially demanded an immediate return to Washington, D.C.—a city then considered vulnerable—Marinzel and his team diverted Air Force One to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana due to its superior communications capabilities. The flight subsequently moved to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, home to U.S. Strategic Command, which happened to be hosting a nuclear war drill that day, making it an exceptionally secure location.
Once civilian airspace was grounded and combat air patrols were established over the capital, Marinzel agreed to the president’s request to return to Washington. Marine One flew past the Washington Monument as Bush returned to the White House that evening.
Across the nation’s capital, other protective details acted swiftly. Detail leader Nick Trotta redirected First Lady Laura Bush away from the Capitol and directly to Secret Service Headquarters. Second Lady Lynne Cheney was moved from the American Enterprise Institute back to the White House. At the White House itself, Special Agent Jimmy Scott, part of Vice President Dick Cheney’s detail, received word of an incoming hijacked plane. He reportedly grabbed the vice president by his shoulder and belt, propelling him into the underground Presidential Emergency Operations Center bunker. Cheney later credited Scott’s quick action with ensuring his survival in his 2011 autobiography.
As night fell, agents continued to respond with valor, often making split-second decisions without clear orders. Reflecting on the day, one unnamed agent noted that personal concerns for families were set aside until sundown. The priority remained unwavering: maintaining the chain of command and ensuring the survival of national leaders.
The events of September 11, 2001, remain a testament to the unseen and seen heroism of the Secret Service during America’s darkest hours.
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