George W. Bush
President of the United States

"Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

"We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbored them.

"America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world. And we stand together the win the war against terrorism."

Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense

"We have taken a series of measures to prevent further attacks and to determine who is responsible. We're making every effort to take care of the injured and the casualties in the building."

Norman Y. Minteta
Secretary of Transportation

"We are currently looking at a wide variety of additional security measures to increase traveler security. Travelers will indeed see increased security measures at our airports, train stations and other key sites. There will be higher level of surveillance, more stringent searches.

"Airport curbside luggage check-in will no longer be allowed. There will be more security officers and random identification checks."

John Ashcroft
Attorney General

"These heinous acts of violence are an assault on the security of our nation; they are an assault on the security and the freedom of every American citizen.

"We will not tolerate such acts. We will expend every effort and devote all the necessary resources to bring the people responsible for these acts, these crimes, to justice."

J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House of Representatives

" . . . when America suffers, and when people perpetrate acts against this country, we as a Congress, and as a government stand united, and we stand together."

Senator Tom Daschle
Majority Leader, U.S. Senate

"And we will speak with one voice to condemn these attacks, to comfort the victims and their families, to commit our full support to the effort to bring those responsible to justice."