Garrett Graff examines the lasting impact of the September 11 attacks

Historian Garrett Graff discusses the lasting global impact of the September 11 attacks, noting that the 17-minute interval between the first and second plane impacts marked the end of an era of “innocent optimism” and the beginning of a world defined by fear and uncertainty.

Graff’s work, including his book “The Only Plane in the Sky,” serves as a comprehensive oral history of the day. The book utilizes 500 testimonies from survivors, victims, first responders, and politicians to capture the raw emotional chronicle of the event. The title refers to Air Force One, which carried President George W. Bush and his cabinet for hours while all other aircraft were grounded or ordered to land.