NPR Coverage of the Commission's Press Conference
The commission charged with investigating the 2001 terrorist attacks releases its final report. The panel claims a "failure of imagination" across the government, from the executive branch to Congress.
Hear an NPR News Special Previewing the Report
November 27, 2002
Kissinger Named Head of 9-11 Commission
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger speaks to reporters on Nov. 27, 2002, after President Bush named him chairman of the newly created 9-11 Commission. Kissinger would resign from the commission on Dec. 12, 2002, after he declined to disclose the client list of his consulting firm.
March 31, 2003
Kean Opens First 9-11 Commission Hearing
9-11 Commission chairman Thomas Kean opens the first public hearing of the panel in New York on March 31, 2003. President Bush appointed Kean, a former Republican governor of New Jersey, after former secretary of state Henry Kissinger stepped down from the post.
March 23, 2004
Albright Defends Handling of Al Qaeda Under Clinton
Madeleine Albright, who was secretary of state under President Bill Clinton, testifies before the 9-11 Commission on March 23, 2004. She explains the Clinton administration's response to the Al Qaeda attacks on the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.
March 24, 2004
Clarke: Government 'Failed You'
Former White House counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke appears before the 9-11 Commission on March 24, 2004. He begins his comments by addressing the family members of 9-11 victims.
April 8, 2004
Rice Testifies Under Pressure
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice explains the development of the terrorist threat in testimony before the 9-11 Commission on April 8, 2004. Rice agreed to testify in public after pressure was applied by 9-11 families and members of the commission.
April 8, 2004
Rice Defends 9-11, Iraq Link
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice responds to former White House counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke's claim that President Bush asked him, "in a very intimidating way," to find out if Saddam Hussein was connected to the 9-11 attacks.
April 8, 2004
Mother of Sept. 11 Victim Pushes for Answers
Mary Fetchet is founding director of Voices of September 11th, a group of 9-11 families. Her son, Brad, died at the World Trade Center. In an NPR interview, Fetchet questions why key documents, such as President Bush's Aug. 6, 2001, intelligence briefing, need to remain classified. The White House would later de-classify the briefing on April 10, 2004.
April 13, 2004
Pickard: Terrorism Was 'Not a Top Item' for Ashcroft
In a public hearing on April 13, 2004, 9-11 Commission member Tim Roemer, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana, questions former acting FBI Director Thomas Pickard about Attorney General John Ashcroft's commitment to counterterrorism.
April 13, 2004
Ashcroft Rebuts, Claims Terrorism Was 'Priority'
In testimony on April 13, 2004, Attorney General John Ashcroft responds to former acting FBI Director Thomas Pickard's claim that terrorism was not "the top item" on Ashcroft's agenda.
April 14, 2004
Tenet Concedes CIA Made Mistakes
Former CIA Director George Tenet testified publicly before the 9-11 Commission on April 14, 2004. In this appearance, Tenet admits that the CIA "made mistakes" before Sept. 11. Tenet would submit his resignation on June 3, 2004.
April 29, 2004
Bush Reveals Little on Closed-Door Testimony
U.S. President George W. Bush speaks to the press corps at the White House Rose Garden after meeting privately with the 9-11 Commission for over two hours, April 29, 2004.
May 19, 2004
Giuliani Addresses New York Efforts Against Terror
9-11 Commission member Tim Roemer, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana, questions former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani on May 19, 2004.
May 19, 2004
Family Members Interrupt Giuliani's Testimony
During the testimony of former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on May 19, 2004, several family members interrupt the proceedings, demanding the panel address the communications problems in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
June 17, 2004
Hijacker: 'We Have Some Planes'
A radio transmission, believed to be the voice of Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta at the controls of American Airlines Flight 11, is played by the commission on June 17, 2004. The speaker says, "We have some planes. Just stay quiet, and you'll be okay. We are returning to the airport." The plane would later crash into Tower One of the World Trade Center.
June 17, 2004
Nation's Air Defense in Chaos on Sept. 11
A Sept. 11, 2001, radio transmission between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Northeast Air Defense Sector of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The 9-11 Commission played the audio at its final public hearing on June 17, 2004.
