Expressions of Concern From Friends

After being evacuated from the White House, only some presidential aides return to the building, while others relocate to a makeshift headquarters a few blocks away. Wherever they are, they receive messages from friends and loved ones fearing for their safety, and they worry about friends and loved ones in New York or at the Pentagon.

12:13 p.m. “Are you safe? Hard to fathom what’s going on today. Hope you and [sic] safe and sound.”

— Clay Johnson, the president’s longtime friend and now White House aide, receives this from his sister, Ellen.

12:45 p.m. “Mark and Rachel are okay. Brenda Anders also ok.”

— Ms. Hughes receives this from an aide, reassuring her about friends and colleagues.

1:10 p.m. “Dear Karen, I am in disbelief. You are in my prayers as is the president. I realize that were a country behind this, we would now be at war. We have services today at 12:45 and 5:30. We will keep you in our prayers. I am attaching some notes from my meditation on Psalm 23. I love you, Doug.”

— To Ms. Hughes from Douglas Fletcher, her pastor and friend in Texas.

1:31 p.m. “Josh, We’re thinking of you and are confident your team will handle this with wisdom and fortitude. Love from Ellen and Jay.”

— Mr. Bolten receives this from an old friend.

1:44 p.m. “All my solidarity and friendship today. Javier.”

— To Condoleezza Rice, the president’s national security adviser, from Javier Solana, the European Union’s chief security official.