9/11 Looking Back: Tramm Hudson

As head of the Republican Party of Sarasota County at the time, we had gotten a call Wednesday the week prior letting us know that (President George W.) Bush had chosen Emma Booker Elementary School. That weekend, I had a trip scheduled to visit colleges with my daughters.

On Friday, I got a call from Kathleen Shannahan, chief of staff for Gov. Jeb Bush, who said, “Tramm, the governor would like you to join him for dinner with his brother on Monday night.”

On Monday afternoon, my wife met me at the airport with a change of clothes.

The dinner felt like old friends getting together. There was a lot of bantering. We talked about Sen. Fred Thompson and whether he was going to run for re-election. The president thought he would run, but I interjected that I didn’t think he would run. I said I’d bet the president $5; we stood up and shook on it. It lasted about two or two-and-a-half hours. After we broke, we took photographs, and he left the room.

The next morning, I had been invited to either go to the school where Bush was speaking or to tour Air Force One at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

Jay Crouse and I drove to the airport and arrived there around 9:15. When we arrived, we could tell something was up. The Secret Service agents said, “We’re sorry, but the president will have to leave quickly.”

We were escorted down the tarmac and stood with the press corps. By that time, their phones were going off, and we heard news of the World Trade Center. The motorcade came speeding around the corner at the airport. Everyone started hustling onto Air Force One on the back end. The president went in the front, turned around and waved quickly, and the door closed instantly. The plane left the air at an incredible incline. At that time, we still did not know the full impact of what had happened.

 Read more Longboat  9/11 coverage here.