George W. Bush, the former President of the United States, shared a fond memory involving New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. This took place before Bush delivered a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium shortly after the September 11 attacks. Presenting the story with Condoleezza Rice, his national security advisor at that time, Bush reflected at a gathering at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas.
During the October 2001 World Series, Bush felt immense pressure as he steered the country through a delicate phase. Jeter humorously advised him not to let the ball bounce, warning, “Don’t bounce it, they’ll boo you.” This light-hearted comment drew laughter from those present. Bush recalled the profound emotions in the stadium as he approached the pitcher’s mound.
“I looked at the catcher, he looked really tiny, and the ball felt really heavy,” Bush shared.
While observing the crowd, he sensed a collective sentiment: “You can knock down our buildings, but you d— sure not going to touch our soul.” With courage, Bush delivered the pitch across the plate, describing the experience as “memorable.”
“I mean, it was an amazing feeling,” he expressed.
This Friday marks a somber milestone: the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, when al-Qaeda terrorists executed a coordinated hijacking of four commercial aircraft. Two planes struck New York City’s World Trade Center, bringing the Twin Towers down and leading to mass casualties. Another plane hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania’s Shanksville field.
The tragic events resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities, including many firefighters and police officers.
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