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Tuesday, November 12, 2024

WHCA Support for the Reagan Ranch (1980-1988)

 

Rancho del Cielo
Type Of Activity
Reagan Ranch Support
Location
Location
Santa Barbra CA
Date of Activity
1980-1988
Coordinates

WHCA SUPPORT AT THE RANCH                                                                                                                     by Don Cammel/Marty Williams/Ken Barbi

The White House Communications Agency (WHCA) established two key operational locations, one. in Santa Barbara and the other at the President's Ranch. Both sites operated 24/7 with rotating 12-hour shifts to manage communication centers, switchboards, and radio consoles.

At the Ranch, WHCA set up two trailers on a hill, which also housed a hangar for HMX-1 (the Marine helicopter squadron), overlooking the communications center and the Secret Service command post. 

WHCA Trailers, HMX hanger and Admin Trailer

One trailer contained the switchboard with two Dimension 400 PBX systems. Initially, a smaller mini board was installed, but it was soon replaced by a Dimension 400 as the primary system. The mini board was then used as the backup. However, the first 400 would occasionally crash, so a second Dimension 400 was installed for emergency switchovers. This setup ensured that even if the primary switch failed, service continued on the backup, though active calls were lost.

The Ranch Communications Trailers

The second trailer held the radio base stations, satellite communications (Satcom) terminal, line-of-sight (LOS) microwave terminal, power equipment, and WHCA’s Ranch office. Another first for WHCA was a long haul secure video back to Sit Room from the Ranch by using an early adopter video CODEC. The circle mound behind this is a Lorain Navigation Beacon for aircraft. This area was, also known as “The Vortec” due to the nearby FAA Vortac facility, and sat at the top of the hill.

Secret Service Command Post at the Ranch

Further down, closer to the ranch house, was the communications center handling secure traffic and the Secret Service command post. The command post also had facilities for the President’s weekly radio address and a small conference room for meetings.

Road to the Ranch

The 8-lock entrance gate to Rancho del Cielo 

Access to the Ranch was difficult, with over an hour’s drive on rough roads often affected by washouts and fog. Low water bridges and mountain terrain added to the challenge. 

Harry Davis, remembers that he was traveling with the press Corp. on one trip to the Ranch, when we arrived with the press plane the press was given vans to ride up to the ranch. It was raining hard, but I don't think anyone knew how it would affect the trip up that steep winding road that led to the Ranch. At one point water was flowing over the road and as we were driving through our van started to hydroplane. It certainly got everyone's attention. It was an interesting ride that's for sure the road was pretty dicey. We had to drive through flood water flowing over the road. It was really interesting, the van that I was in started skidding towards the edge and from my vantage point I think we would have starved to death before we hit the bottom lol.

Richard LePere, remembers that on another trip, I was the nighttime Switchboard Lead for this Ranch visit, Paul Sensel was my backup on this trip. We were briefed early that the heavy rain was causing flash flooding on Refugio Road. The nighttime shift for Radio, Swbd, KU SatCom, and Commcenter climbed into a 5 Ton and grabbed a seat. Then, they hooked up 2 - USSS White Bronco's, the kind that OJ Simpson drove in the infamous video. We headed up Refugio Road with 1 USSS agent in the driver’s seat of each Bronco, the rest of the agents were sitting next to us on the troop seats. Our radios were chattering the whole time, with the USSS CP giving us updates as we headed up the hill. At one point the driver geared down, and increased the engine RPM! Why? Because the water level on Refugio Road had reached the floor of where our feet were resting, and both Ford Broncos were floating slowly downstream as we passed through a major flood area. Mind you this is a narrow road, with twists and turns. A hillside with culverts crossing the road, that weren't engineered to handle this much water. As the 5 Ton made it through the water, onto solid pavement, the 1st Bronco's front tires hit the pavement, and both the 5 Ton and 1st Bronco were pulling the 2nd Bronco out of the swift current! Both vehicles were in line, going straight up the hill, while the 2nd Bronco was at a 90 degree angle from us, being swept downstream. Its only lifeline was the tow strap connected to the lead USSS Bronco. Let me tell you, once we passed the worst sections of the flooding, we disconnected the USSS Bronco's, finished the drive up to the Ranch, and not until we were on the hill, with our feet firmly planted on solid ground, did we thank the Lord above. Oh, and the 2 USSS agents that were driving the 2 Ford Bronco's? Those boys, got out of the Bronco's shaking like a leaf! You see, the water level in the worst area, was so high, it was up to the driver's windows, as they started floating downstream. The only WHCA people that I remember from that night were Paul Sensel and Kim Beck from SatCom.

There were also several incidents of brake failures on the 24-foot Hertz trucks descending the mountain because drivers were unfamiliar with using lower gears.


24ft Box Truck used to haul equipment
In Santa Barbara, WHCA installed another Dimension 400 PBX in the GTE Central Office, where the switchboard was located. Other WHCA assets were spread across the various hotels used by the White House staff. The senior staff stayed at the Biltmore Hotel, where the WHCA communications center used GriD laptop computers with encrypted chipsets and small, portable HP inkjet printers to process secure traffic. The rest of the staff and press were housed at the Sheraton, which had a press office and briefing room.

The Ranch Communications Network

A DMC microwave system (23 GHz initially, later upgraded to 18 GHz with four T1 links) was installed between the Biltmore and Sheraton hotels, as well as a link to the Goleta airport. This marked WHCA’s first experience with LOS line of site microwave systems, which used two Aydin 4 GHz carrier systems with channel banks for main trunk communications between Santa Barbara and the Ranch.


El Escorial Hotel  pool

When WHCA started using KU-Band, COMSAT was the satellite bandwidth provider.  COMSAT was the down link with their large Washington, DC, antenna. Extending the link to building 94 in Anacostia, Then a digital M/W to the OEOB on the 4th floor in WHCA’s data center where the circuit was terminated and decrypted. WHCA finally got their own down link KU-Band antenna which they use today. 

                                                     El Escorial WHCA Hotel Villa with Ku Band satellite terminal

WHCA and Secret Service personnel stayed at the Tahitian Motor Motel across from the Sheraton, where the WHCA photo lab was also located, at least through 1984. During the President’s second term, the WHCA operations, including the switchboard, communications center, radio control console, and office—moved to the El Escorial Hotel, where a Ku-Band satellite terminal was installed, it was the only WHCA operated high data rate (T-1) system installed back to Washington.

WHCA Quarters across from the Sheraton
All the radio frequencies were operational with repeaters all over Santa Barbara and at the ranch. Radio coverage was designed to not only cover the Ranch but also blanket the Santa Barbara area with extended coverage to include a possible motorcade back to Pt Magu or even driving down US101 back to LA.

Stories from the Reagan Ranch

Ericson Cobra Phone                                                                                                                                                                             by Don Cammel

                                             The Ericson Cobra phone was Nancy's favorite

Nancy Reagan always had a Metered Business (MB) line in her bedroom at all hotels, Camp David, and the Ranch. Her choice of instruments was an Ericson Phone, often nicknamed the Cobra Phone.   I can’t remember for sure which color she preferred, but I can tell you for sure it was not “White”.

The characteristics of this instrument are unlike any other phone anywhere in the industry.  Similar problems like the old Princess phones where one pair was the POTS line, and the other pair went to a 12V power cube that powered the light on the dial.    The Erickson phone was 3-wires.   The hook switch was in the bottom of the phone, and this was available first with a Rotary Dial, and then upgraded to a touch-tone pad.  Because of the constant USSS Technical Services Division doing their constant sweeps, the often disassembled this phone, and couldn’t figure it out.   The microphone in the instrument was “hot” all the time and would allow anyone on the line to hear conversations in the room.  

The solution to this problem, was for both WHCA and TSD to work together and build an interface box with basically a physical relay disconnect when the phone went on the hook.  

We arrived for a Ranch visit, and the Cobra phone beside the bed was DEAD!   This was a permanent line, and we didn’t carry spares on a standard trip load, in fact, I don’t think we had any spares anywhere.   Being in Santa Barbara and AF-1 and Press Plane already in the air, we started scrambling to find a replacement phone.   We called back to DC and they were going to purchase one and send it counter-to-counter on American Airlines.

Meantime, we found a White Cobra phone on Wilshire Blvd in LA, so we had the team still in LA drive halfway up US101 to courier the replacement.  We knew that “White” would not make her happy, but were going to explain we were waiting on her favorite color to arrive.  We considered moving the electronics to the new phone, but they were constructed with poured epoxy in the curved handset.  

I finally had the correct phone after about 36 hours of continuous effort, plus USSS had to sweep the new phone, and we warned them not to blow out one of the components.   

All is good, and I am sent down from the top of the mountain to the Ranch house knowing that the President and First Lady are out horseback riding.  I go into the bedroom, and the space between the bed and the wall might have been 15”.  I laid down on the floor and up near the headboard was the connector block to the home brew relay box.  They were changing out the pairs, and I had a standard butt set clipped across the pairs.   I was on the floor for eternity, and had my molded earpiece in my ear listening to the movements.  

At one point, I had to change ears with the butt set and I pulled out my earpiece.   I am getting frustrated, and entire body is about to go into muscle spasms from being confined to 15” of space for probably close to 45 minutes.   

Suddenly, I hear a noise and the bedroom door opens.   Here comes the President in nothing but a towel.   As I raised up from almost under the bed, it definitely got his attention.   I apologized for not knowing he was back from horseback riding, and told him I would return at a later time.  

He put his hands on his waist, and I was hoping the towel would hold, and said, “No, if you are working on Mommy’s phone, we both should make sure we get that done”!  

He turned around and went to the shower.  I completed the install and departed rapidly.

Although the First Lady wasn’t happy that the phone wasn’t yellow the only thing, she wanted to know was a specific date that her phone would be installed.

Chief of Staff Donald Regan                                                                                                                                                by Scott Downey/Brad Colip/Richard LePere · 

Donald Regan was Ronald Reagans White House Chief of Staff in the Presidents second term in office. He was given a tour of the WHCA setup on top of the hill at the Ranch. Regan came into the room, never even acknowledged our presence, and just uttered “Oh this is that piece of shit that never works.” He promptly left and headed over to the radio/satcom trailer.

I remember on a couple of trips to the ranch, he wasn't happy with his hotel room and moved to a premium suite. Of course that required a fast re-install of his phone. We had to send someone out to check cable pairs, isolate the pairs and work the tone back to the hotel frame, then swing the cross connects. If you kept detailed cross connect records, you could have it working in 15 to 20 minutes. He would constantly complain about his phone service.

I think it was the First Lady that got him fired, because the switchboard had to keep 3 separate copies of the Presidential Call Log during his tenure as the Chief of Staff, whenever  he visited the Ranch . One copy for the First Lady, one for whom the Chief of Staff was calling, and one one who was calling in to speak to the Chief of StaffHe must have committed some sort of sin that pi**ed off the First Lady, and its rumored she eventually had the President fire him. Eventually things heated up so badly he eventually resigned.

Dr Henry Kissinger                                                                                                                                                                       by Marty Williams   

During the early Reagan years, Dr Kissinger was appointed Super Envoy and served almost as a shadow Secretary of State. Most of us got use to talking to him at Signal. As the second term wore down, there was less daily involvement. And he seemed kind of “out to pasture”. One day, at the Ranch, I was working the board when a call came in from a guy claiming to be Dr Kissinger. His voice was as American as mine. I had so many calls from the real HK in the past, I knew his voice well. “Hallo vite house, dis is dr Kissinger, would you get me de president”. I asked the caller to repeat himself. Again in clear English he said he was Kissinger and wanted to talk to the president. I said “Dr. HENRY Kissinger?” Yes, he said and for me to get him the president. Sir, says I, it’s been my pleasure to talk with Dr. Kissinger on many occasions and I’m am comfortably sure you are not he. He got upset and hung up. After a few minutes I thought, maybe someone was calling for Dr K or something strange like that. So, I called his residence. His wife answered and I said it was the White House calling, explained the situation and asked had Dr. Kissinger been trying to contact the president.

No, said she, but let me get him for you. Oh no, said I, no reason to disturb him. She told me that he was just sitting around bored and would love to chat with the White House. He came on the line with his distinctive tone and we chatted for about 15 minutes. Even the greats have the need for reaching out to familiar memories.

I’m shipped                                                                                                                                                                                    by Marty Williams

It was another easy day at the ranch. Rick Steiner and I were on the Ranch Switchboard. Nothing happening. Nothing on the schedule. A call came in for one of the agents on duty that day. Rick caught the call and called down to the command post to see if the agent was there. The agent on the desk told Rick that the agent he wanted was at the Tack Barn. Knowing the boss had been in the Tack room earlier, Rick asked where the president was at that moment. The agent said he was in the residence. So, Rick rang the secret service/staff line in the room adjacent to the tack room. It rang several times and then was answered with a “hello” (insert Reagan sounding voice here) Rick asked for the agent and got “no. Nobody here but me.” He said thank you and turned to me and said, man, I swear that sounded like the Boss. He’s better than you. (I used to do a pretty good Reagan impression),so we called down to the CP again to recheck on the location of the president. They confirmed that he was still in the residence. With this, Rick figured the guy who answered was doing a bit, so he called back down. “Hello.” “Hi there”, says Rick. “I do a pretty good Nixon impression”(which he did) “but I had to tell you that you do a GREAT Reagan!” A slight pause and “Well, Thank you very much. I’ve been doing it for 73 years,” the call ended, and Rick turned to me and said, “I’m shipped!” No such thing happened and apparently RWR thought it was kind of funny…

I remember the Boss’s call to the Queen of England during this same trip and I was logging it into the call log. I found out that the queen’s official title was going to be longer than the allotted space on the log. There was no way we could shorten anything and have it still make sense. In the end it was decided to just use D.O.F. (Defender Of The Faith).

I had the privilege of meeting Queen Elizabeth in February or March of 1983. She was in the United States for a visit to San Francisco and the President's ranch. I was on press plane duty which meant I was travelling with the White House Press corps. Like most trips there were always things that stood out. One of them was the fact that someone had lined the motorcade route with both United States and British flags. For an outsider the Union Jack is somewhat hard to tell when it is right side up but if course not so for a British citizen. Well, at random someone mistakenly placed a Union Jack upside down along the route and someone on the Queens detail must have noticed.

Fast-forward to the Queens Royal Yacht sitting by a dock in the San Francisco harbor. President Reagan boards the Yacht and the British just for a moment raised the US Flag upside down then immediately lowered it and put the flag right side up.

After a meeting on the Yacht and (it might have been the next day I don't recall anymore) we boarded Marine helicopters and flew down the coast to Point Mugu where due to bad weather we had to motorcade up to President Reagan's ranch. It had been raining HARD! So the road to the ranch was under water at stream crossing's. The press was in a 12 or 15 passenger van. Well, we start through the water (did I forget to mention that the water was flowing very hard?) The van started to get pushed towards the edge of a steep cliff. It caused a whole lot of pucker factor.

After the event at the Ranch we then flew down to Los Angeles for some events down the there. 

Doctor Hutton                                                                                                                                                                           by Marty Williams

While Switchboard does get to talk to many celebrities, politicians and even occasional royals. A/V and Radio got to “see” a lot of cool things. Occasionally switchboard would get to see an event. At the Ranch, we sometimes got to do what to us, though sometimes boring, was always kind of cool just to do. Whenever the Boss would go for a ride or to do some brush clearing on his 688 acre Rancho Del Cielo, there was a WHCA car of sorts that followed behind the secret service follow up. Later in the years, the secret service follow up was a Hummer, but at the time of the story, both their “Halfback” and our WHCA Car were army Jeeps with canvas covers. Well, this particular day I was excited because I was going to get to ride along. In the WHCA Jeep there was a radio guy driving and the duty Trip Officer (TO) in the passenger seat. Crammed in the back was me and next to me was the very newly appointed presidential doctor. I was impressed. I’d read that he was a noted surgeon from Walter Reed. I was sure the Boss was in good hands. About an hour into the ride, he reached into his bag, pulled out a book and started to read. After a bit, I glanced over to see what this highly trusted physician to the president was reading. I immediately recognized it. It was a thin, hard cover, green book with a big Red Cross on it along with bold letters saying FIRST AID! I let out an uncontrolled hoot… he laughed, and he assured me that for the kind of stuff he’d most likely have to deal with on a trail ride was more likely in that book than everything in his Medical field…

Rental Vehicles                                                                                                                                                                                by Don Cammel

On the topic of rental cars, my hero was always Larry Little. Most of the Hertz/Avis agents always took care of the Trip Officer when he was renting his fleet of Trip cars for a site. The AVIS relationship in San Clemente almost became part of the WHCA family. For years, there was always a high profile vehicle or two that would end up as part of the fleet. It just happened that  someone showed up to pick up COL Schumann at a Trip location in a bright RED Cadillac.

Loading equipment getting ready to depart
He went totally Postal, and a memo was issued that forbid us from accepting anything considered a luxury car, convertible, or anything "flashy" was the wording. Larry was already on an Advance in Santa Barbara preparing for a visit to the ranch and driving a Cadillac. When he became aware of the memo, he went to the car agency and wanted to downgrade. It was not about price, because we were paying the same rate, but all about image. Several days went by but no luck, they were just out of cars during a Holiday season. It is rumored that this vehicle experienced a total failure of the headlights, and they had to bring in a replacement from Los Angeles. I never asked how hard you have to swing a tire iron to break a headlight! 



Friday, November 8, 2024

Vetreans History Project (2023)



Type of Activity
Documenting Veterans Military History
Location
Location 
 Waukegan Lake Co. IL
Date of Activity
 10 November 2023
Coordinates
  

On Nov. 11, 2023 I had the Honor to participate in the Veterans History Project (VHP) sponsored by the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Lake  County, Illinois. The Circuit Court will once again participate in the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project. The Program is open to any veteran that honorable served in every branch of service. Every veteran is interviewed and a transcript of their active duty service is prepared and forwarded to the Library on Congress to be recorded. 

The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project (VHP) in 2000 as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

VHP’s mission is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

Chief Judge Mark L. Levitt announced that Lake County’s 19th Judicial Circuit, various partners of the Lake County legal community, and the County of Lake will once again participate in the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project. This year's project will take place at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan on the morning of Friday, November 10, 2023. 

VHP Program

The event was held in the Atrium of the Lake County Court House. The event kicks off with check-in, after all of the participating veterans registered, were given a program and signed the Veterans History Quilt with our name unit and dates of service.

Signing the Veterans History Quilt

Waiting for the event to begin
   
 
Support from the Lake County Stars and Strips Honor  Flight

We were then served a great breakfast including S.O.S provided by the United States Marine Corps League. The Tri-County Leathernecks Detachment #1395.

The breakfast serving line
 
Breakfast line featuring SOS

After a nice breakfast and a short program by our hosts at the 19th District Court of Lake County each veteran was interviewed, and a transcript of their military service history will be recorded. Each transcript will be sent to the Library of Congress to become a permeant history of the Veterans' military service.

The programs Master of Ceremony

Todays Guest speaker

The Guest speaker, the Honorable Judge Michael Fusz (ret.) (Lt. Commander, US Navy reserves (ret.), gave us powerful words imploring us to honor our veterans by living our best lives and serving others!

 All of the registered veterans sat together for a group photograph to commemorate our participation.  After the photograph, we were then escorted to an assigned Court Room to give our oral histories with the assistance of volunteer attorney interviewers.

Group photo of the seventeen veterans that participated

I am with my Interviewer and Court Recorder

Each interview was recorded by a volunteer court reporter which will then be transcribed and archived at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. This program has been held in the courthouse since 2012 and is a moving and inspirational experience for all who participated.        

Everyone who participated received a packet of cards and letters from Lake County students thanking us for our service. We also received a commemorative flag for participating in the Project.


I am truly appreciative of all of the volunteers who spent their time to put this program together.

 The Lake County Veterans History Project on November 10, 2023, successfully achieved its goal of fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices made by veterans. The event was a testament to the resilience, bravery, and camaraderie that define the veteran experience. As my community expressed their gratitude to all of us who have participated, the project has left an indelible mark on the community, ensuring that the stories of our veterans will be remembered and honored for generations to come.

The Veterans History Project (VHP) of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand narratives of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service. Since 2000, VHP has preserved thousands of individual veterans’ collections, which offer users an unparalleled archive of primary source material.

In addition to unedited audio- and video-recorded oral history interviews, VHP accepts memoirs and collections of original photographs, letters, and diaries. You can find more detailed information about the basic requirements for a collection and the kinds of material that VHP accepts via our website (see How to Participate).

 

Biographical Data Form                               Veteran's Release Form

 

 

 


Sunday, October 13, 2024

The Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) (1942-2001)

 


Type Of Activity
Crisis Management
Location
Location
The White House, Washington DC
Date of Activity
1942 to Present
Coordinates

Initially a bunker was constructed in the White House to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the event of an aerial attack on Washington DC and this bunker has been an integral part of U.S. national security since World War II. During President Harry S. Truman’s extensive renovation of the White House from 1948 to 1952, the existing bunker was expanded into what is now known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC). Situated beneath the East Wing of the White House, the PEOC is designed to handle nuclear contingencies, serving as a haven of security and communication for the President of the United States and other high-ranking officials during times of crisis. 

In 1956 the cold War was becoming a large National issue; President Eisenhower and his Administration was overly concerned about the threat of Nuclear War. The federal Government realized that if an attack would occur that the area around Washington had to be protected so the Government would survive. A plan was approved and implemented, the construction of a communications network around Washington which was included in this plan for the relocation of Government Agencies, including the White House at a few locations that already existed also known as the Continuation of Government (COG). This Proposal presents the size and scope of certain Communications available today, at the National level.

The East Wing of the White House
The PEOC is likely to be the President's evacuation point in the event of an incoming ICBM, invasion, terrorist attack, or any other emergency. The PEOC is reportedly hardened to withstand up to 20 psi of blast overpressure from a nuclear detonation, boasting state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure to ensure the safety and functionality of its occupants.

The Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) in the East Wing of the White House
Over the years, the PEOC has undergone numerous upgrades. In 1988, the WHCA Signal switchboard was replaced by an AT&T Dimension 2000 system. This was later upgraded in 1994 to the Definity GR 3 with Dual Port Networks, connected via multimode fiber, and was referred to as the White House Switched Network (WHSN) during the Clinton Administration. The IST telephone, designed by Electrospace Systems Inc. and manufactured by Raytheon for the Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN), was also a key component of this upgrade. The DRSN is the main secure telephone network for military command and control communications and connects all major US command centers and many other military facilities. However, during 9/11, it came out that the Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN) didn't work like it should have.

The new system enhanced both the White House Admin Switchboard and WHCA’s Signal Switchboard, which consisted of 4,000 leased Centrex lines feeding three AT&T Definity GR 3 PBX switches with digital consoles. Lucent 8410 telephone sets are used with the internal telephone network for non-secure calls. The PEOC was also upgraded with modern communication equipment, including televisions and phones, to coordinate with external government entities. Secure communication channels, air filtration systems, and other critical infrastructure ensure no detail is overlooked in its construction. The IST telephone has been gradually replaced by the IST-2 since 2003.

The PEOC has been activated on several occasions throughout its existence. Its primary function is to protect the President and other key personnel in case of a security breach at the White House, including violations of the Washington, D.C. Air Defense Identification Zone (P-56 airspace). In such cases, as on September,11 2001, the President and other protectives are relocated to the executive briefing room adjacent to the PEOC.

North and South Towers of the World Trade Center and  the Marriot Vista Hotel at the base of the twin tower
On September 11, 2001, the PEOC played a significant role in the United States' response to the terrorist attacks. Vice President Dick Cheney, First Lady Laura Bush, Lynne Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Mary Matalin, and others were evacuated to the PEOC, where they coordinated the nation's response. President George W. Bush, visiting a school in Florida at the time, utilized the PEOC as the central command center, leveraging its advanced technology and secure communication channels.

While officials and other presidents had used the PEOC for drills and exercises, 9/11 was its first test in an actual emergency. The bunker's location is classified, and few are privy to its inner workings. What is known is that it is a massive underground facility with multiple layers, including living quarters, a medical suite, and conference rooms. The operations center, where the watch team fields phone calls, includes a conference room equipped with television screens, and a long conference table.

PEOC’s executive briefing room
The nation was shocked the moment that the news got out of the attack on the World Trade Center. Two planes, hijacked by Islamic jihadists vowing death to all Americans, plowed into both towers at the World Trade Center in New York. Another plane was flown into the Pentagon in Washington, DC. A fourth plane, presumably headed for the White House or the U.S. Capitol, was heroically diverted by passengers and ended up crashing in an empty field in Pennsylvania. After reports of the first plane hitting the North Tower, millions watched the second plane hit the South Tower on live television.

It was a terrifying, startling, and humbling event for the country. The 9/11 attacks were the deadliest on American soil since the shock attack at Pearl Harbor 60 years before, and the sense of outrage was reminiscent of that moment. The attacks in New York occurred in the country’s busiest city on a busy workday. And the staggered nature of the attacks meant that news footage captured almost everything as it happened, ensuring that millions of Americans saw the events precisely as they unfolded.

 Timeline September 11, 2001

5:45 AM – Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al-Omari, two of the intended hijackers, pass through security at the Portland International Jetport in Maine. They board a commuter flight to Boston Logan International Airport; they then board American Airlines Flight 11.

7:59 AM – American Airlines American Airlines Flight 11 a Boeing 767 carrying 81 passengers and 11 crew members, departs from Logan International Airport in Boston, bound for Los Angeles International Airport.

 8:14 AM – American Airlines Flight 11 is hijacked over central Massachusetts. There are five hijackers on board 

Flight paths of the hijacked planes 
8:15 AM – United Airlines Flight 175 a Boeing 767, carrying 56 passengers and 9 crew members, departs from Logan International Airport in Boston, bound for Los Angeles International Airport.

8:19 AM – A flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, alerts ground personnel that a hijacking is underway, and that the cockpit is unreachable.                                                     

8:20 AM – American Airlines Flight 77 a Boeing 757 with 58 passengers and 6 crew members, departs from Washington Dulles International Airport, for Los Angeles International Airport.

8:24 AM – Mohamed Atta, a hijacker on American Airlines Flight 11, unintentionally alerts air controllers in Boston to the attack. He meant to press the button that allowed him to talk to the passengers on his flight. 

8:37 AM – After hearing the broadcast from Atta on American Airlines Flight 11, Boston air traffic control alerts the US Air Force’s Northeast Defense Sector, who then mobilize the Air National Guard to follow the plane.

8:42 AM – United Airlines Flight 93 a Boeing 757 with 37 passengers and 7 crew members, departs from Newark International Airport, bound for San Francisco International Airport, after a delay due to routine traffic.

8:42–8:46 AM – United Airlines Flight 175 is hijacked above northwest New Jersey. There are five hijackers on board

8:46 AM – American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the north face of the North Tower 1 of the World Trade Center, between floors 93 and 99. All passengers aboard are instantly killed, and employees of the WTC are trapped above the 91st floor.

8:50–8:54 AM – American Airlines Flight 77 is hijacked above southern Ohio. There are five hijackers on board

Flight 175 heads toward the South Tower 2 of the World Trade Center
9:03 AM – United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the south face of the South Tower 2 of the World Trade Center, between floors 77 and 85. All 65 all passengers aboard are killed instantly and so are an unknown number of people in the tower.

Flight 175 crashes into the south tower
9:05 AM – President George W. Bush, in an elementary school classroom in Florida, is informed about the hit on the second tower by his chief of staff, Andrew Card

9:28 AM – United Airlines Flight 93 was attacked by hijackers above northern Ohio. There are four hijackers on board and  forty passengers and crew members. These forty fought a battle in the sky over Pennsylvania. These 40 heroes voted and decided to fight back, thwarting a planned attack on our nation's capital. They saved the lives of many others, but sacrificed their own in a field just east of Pittsburgh in Somerset County, Pennsylvania

9:34AM American Airlines Flight 77 began turning south, away from the White House. It continued heading south for roughly a minute, before turning west and beginning to circle back. This news prompted the Secret Service to order the immediate evacuation of the Vice President just before 9:36 AM. Agents propelled him out of his chair and told him he had to get to the bunker. The Vice President entered the underground tunnel leading to the PEOC.

9:37 AM Vice President Cheney and the agents paused in an area of the tunnel that had a secure phone, a bench, and television. The Vice President asked to speak to the President, but it took time for the call to be connected and he saw television coverage of smoke coming from the North Tower.

9:37 AM – American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the western side of the  Pentagon. All passengers aboard are instantly killed and so are 125 civilian and military personnel in the building.

The Pentagon is hit by flight 77
9:39 AM The Secret Service logged Mrs. Cheney’s arrival at the White House, and she joined her husband in the tunnel, where the Vice President was still on the phone with the President advising that three planes were missing, and one had hit the Pentagon. This is the same call in which the Vice President urged the President not to return to Washington. After the call ended, Mrs. Cheney and the Vice President moved from the tunnel to the JEOC executive briefing room. The Vice President learns about the Pentagon.

Vice President Cheney in the PEOC

President Bush, in Florida, talks to Vice President Cheney
9:45 AM – US airspace is shut down under Operation Yellow Ribbon. All civilian aircraft are ordered to land at the nearest airport. Once in the conference room of the PEOC the Vice President  was able see a monitor with a feed showing every airplane across the nation still in the air. there were thousands of little airplane symbols on it

Sample screen of approximately 700/800  United Airlines flights in the air at 10:00 AM
9:55 AM – Air Force One with President George W. Bush aboard takes off from Florida.

9:57 AM – Passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 begin to run up toward the cockpit. Jarrah, the pilot, begins to roll the plane back and forth in an attempt to destabilize the revolt.

9:59 AM – The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses. 56 minutes after the impact of. United Airlines Flight 175

The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses
10:02 AM – United Airlines Flight 93 plows into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Although its ultimate target is unknown, it was likely heading for either the White House or the US Capitol. Later reports indicate that passengers had learned about the World Trade Center and Pentagon crashes and were resisting the hijackers. All 44 people on board are killed in the crash.

Shanksville, Pennsylvania the site where flight 93 crashed
10:10 AM After the attacks had occurred, while crisis managers were still sorting out a number of unnerving false alarms, One of these alarms was of a reported threat against Air Force One itself, a threat eventually run down to a misunderstood communication in the hectic White House Situation Room that morning. While the plan at the elementary school had been to return to Washington, by the time Air Force One was airborne the Secret Service, the President’s advisers, and Vice President Cheney were strongly advising against it. President Bush reluctantly acceded to this advice and, Air Force One changed course and began heading due west. The immediate objective was to find a safe location—not too far away—where the President could land and speak to the American people. The Secret Service was also interested in refueling the aircraft and paring down the size of the traveling party. The President’s military aide, an Air Force officer, quickly researched the options and decided that Barksdale Air Force Base was an appropriate interim destination.

10:18 AM – After the planes struck the twin towers, a third took a chunk out of the Pentagon. President Bush authorized any non-grounded planes to be shot down. At that time, all four hijacked planes had already crashed but the president’s team was operating under the impression that United Airlines Flight 93 was still in the air. Vice President Cheney then heard a report that a plane over Pennsylvania was heading for Washington. A military assistant asked Cheney twice for authority to shoot it down. The vice president said yes. Then the word came that Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania.

Vice President Cheney in the PEOC on 9/11
President Bush initially thought the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania was the result of the shootdown order as did Vice President Cheney. Aides frantically called the White House Situation Room to find out whether a military jet had shot it down. It was then that they discovered the flight had crashed on its own. Everyone learned later that the passengers had tried to storm the cockpit to gain control of the aircraft.

10:28 AM – The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses, 1 hour and 42 minutes after the impact of American Airlines Flight 11

The North Tower collapses 
 10:30 AM - The Marriott Vista Hotel at the base of the two towers is also destroyed

The Marriot Vista Hotel
10:50 AM – Five stories of the western side of the Pentagon collapse due to the fire.

10:53 AM – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld orders the US military to move to a higher state of alert, going to DEFCON 3

AF1 at Barksdale AFB
10:30 AM – Air Force 1  lands at Barksdale Air Force Base, the home of the Air Force Global Strike Command near Shreveport, Louisiana. After getting the news of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center in New York, President George W. Bush left Florida and wanted to head back to Washington D.C. However, the Secret Service strongly objected and Air Force One headed to Barksdale AFB instead.

The Air Force Global Strike Command Center at Barksdale AFB
11:45 AMhurriedly organized speech site would be needed for the president to address the nation, including a simple wooden podium. President Bush addressed the nation with his first public comments from a conference room at the 8th Air Force Headquarters.

President Busch confers with top aides
When Air Force One landed at Barksdale at about 10:30 AM, personnel from the local Secret Service office were still en route to the airfield. The motorcade consisted of a military police lead vehicle and a van; the proposed briefing theater had no phones or electrical outlets. Staff scrambled to prepare another room for the President’s remarks, while the lead Secret Service agent reviewed the security situation with superiors in Washington. The President completed his statement, which for security reasons was taped and not broadcast live, and then the traveling party returned to Air Force One.

President Busch addresses the nation from Barksdale AFB
12:15 PM – Approximately 2:30 hrs. after the FAA issued the order, airspace in the United States is completely free of thousands of commercial and private flights.

1:30 PM – Air Force 1 leaves Barksdale AFB.

2:30 PM – Rudy Giuliani, the mayor of New York City, visits the fallen Twin Towers of the World Trade Center at what becomes known as Ground Zero.

Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and New York Mayor Giuliani at Ground Zero
3:00 PM – Air Force 1 lands at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, and President Bush is immediately taken to a secure bunker that is capable of withstanding a nuclear attack. The next destination was discussed: once again the Secret Service recommended against returning to Washington, and the Vice President agreed.

President Bush arrives at Offutt AFB
Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska was chosen because of its elaborate command and control facilities, and because it could accommodate overnight lodging for 50 persons. The Secret Service wanted a place where the President could spend several days, if necessary.

3:15 PM, President Bush met with his principal advisers through a secure video teleconference. Rice said President Bush began the meeting with the words, “We’re at war,” and that Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet said the agency was still assessing who was responsible, but the early signs all pointed to al Qaeda. The Secretary of Defense had directed the nation’s armed forces to Defcon 3, an increased state of military readiness. For the first time in history, all nonemergency civilian aircraft in the United States were grounded, stranding tens of thousands of passengers across the country.

A secure video teleconference with the PEOC
Contingency plans for the continuity of government and the evacuation of leaders had been implemented. The Pentagon had been struck; the White House or the Capitol had narrowly escaped direct attack so extraordinary security precautions were also put in place at the nation’s borders and ports.

4:30 PM – Air Force 1 leaves Offutt and heads back toward Andrews Air Force base near Washington, DC. In the late afternoon, the President overruled his aides’ continuing reluctance to have him return to Washington and ordered Air Force One back to Andrews Air Force Base. He was flown by helicopter back to the White House, passing over the still-smoldering Pentagon.

President Bush returns to Washington
5:30 PM – Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses. Debris from the North Tower ignited fires on at least 10 floors of World Trade Center 7, some of which burned out of control because the automatic sprinkler system for some floors had failed (partly due to city water lines damaged by the collapse of the Twin Towers).

Building 7 of the World Trade Center
6:00 PM - President Bush returns to the White House and joins Vice President Cheney in the PEOC.

In the PEOC just prior to his speech addressing the events of the day
8:30 PM – President Bush addresses the nation. President Bush goes on national TV to address the nation from the White House. After emphasizing that the first priority was to help the injured and protect against any further attacks, he said: “We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.” He quoted Psalm 23—“though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . .” No American, he said, “will never forget this day.”

President Bush addresses the nation from the Oval Office
9:00 PM Following his speech, President Bush met again with his National Security Council (NSC), expanded to include Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and Joseph Allbaugh, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who had returned from Peru after hearing of the attacks, joined the discussion. They reviewed the day’s events.

National Security Council and others meet in the PEOC ‘s executive briefing room
When the meeting with the NSC concluded the Secret Service suggested that President Bush and Mrs. Bush spend the night in the PEOC, but they declined the antiquated furniture in the living quarters of the PEOC, choosing to return to the residence in the White House instead.

President Bush, the First Lady, Vice President Cheney and others prepare to leave the PEOC for the evening
Vice President Cheney and his staff were transported by helicopter to Camp David that night, returning to the White House the following day thus ending the need for the PEOC.

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, combined with emerging demands from a tech-savvy administration, emphasized the critical need for reliable, real-time, and secure information flow to the President and his staff. September 11 was the first real test of the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) during a crisis, exposing the deficiencies in the existing communication systems. This event underscored the issues the Department of Defense (DOD) had already identified. WHCA had already embarked on a significant modernization effort, and by September 11, they had a clear understanding of what was needed. The attacks only intensified the urgency of these efforts.

The transformation plan for this information technology overhaul included a realignment of core functions and missions within the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), along with a series of technological upgrades. Many of these improvements were initiated before September 11. At the end of 2000, the U.S. Defense Department assessed the President’s communication capabilities, focusing on DOD support to the commander in chief.

In the three years following September 11, there were significant changes in the presidential communication systems, largely driven by WHCA, which accelerated their efforts after the attacks. Although much has been accomplished, continued enhancements are necessary to ensure the President and his staff can fully leverage the benefits of advancing technology.

WHCA began evaluating each of its existing systems, examining their capacities and capabilities, and exploring the potential of Internet technology. This evaluation encompassed everything from office phones to the mobile systems that travel with the President, as well as the communications systems on aircraft. WHCA identified around 41 projects that required attention, prioritizing 11 of the largest and most complex under the Pioneer Project.

This initiative included upgrading all IP networks supporting WHCA’s role in White House operations, converging data, voice, and video on those networks, introducing a new IP-capable mobile band, enhancing the secure voice environment known as the Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN). Which, during 9/11, it came out that the Red Switch did not perform like it should have, and finally to expand the use of various military communications satellites.

In 2010, workers broke ground on the North Lawn of the White House for another underground project. Although officially described as an update to electrical and air conditioning systems, speculation suggests it was a cover for constructing a new White House bunker under the East Wing. While the area reportedly wasn’t in use under President Barack Obama’s administration, some believe the PEOC underwent renovation between 2010 and 2012 as $375 million was used for an upgrade at the White House, it’s probably safe to assume this state-of-the-art shelter features something more comfortable than a few fold-out beds from the 1940s for the principle parties. by almost all accounts part of the project included a new, massively expanded, PEOC—one complete with the latest communications, computer systems, and environmental technologies that could allow the President and their staff to operate unimpeded for extended periods of time during a crisis. In other words, we are likely talking about a fortified, deeply buried, five-story office building—an underground emergency White House if you will—that is in itself akin to a giant Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), which would also make it an ideal locale for holding highly sensitive meetings. 

In an increasingly uncertain world, the importance of the PEOC cannot be overstated. It represents the country's commitment to preparedness and dedication to ensuring the safety and security of its people. In the face of adversity, the PEOC stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of the United States, embodying the enduring American spirit.

The tragedy of September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum opened on the site of the former World Trade Center on September 11, 2011, and features reflecting pools in the footprints of where the Twin Towers once stood.