Bob Beckwith (born September 21, 1933) is a former member of the New York City Fire Department. He became well known to the United States' public after he stood next to President George W. Bush as the president gave a speech at the ruins of the World Trade Center after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Photos of Beckwith and the president appeared on the front page of the New York Daily News and the cover of Time magazine. This exposure launched him into the national spotlight and led to press attention and interviews. Beckwith has met several times with President Bush since then, spoken extensively in public, and acted as a fundraiser for charities.
Bob Beckwith
Beckwith stands at the site of the collapsed World Trade Center in New York City Friday, Sept. 14, 2001
Beckwith has lived for more than 50 years with his wife Barbara in the same house in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. The couple has six adult children.[1]
U.S. President George W. Bush speaking at Ground Zero with Beckwith beside him
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Beckwith was tending to his grandson, who had been hit by a car while biking to school. Before he arrived at the hospital with his grandson, Beckwith was aware that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. When the boy appeared to be in stable condition, Beckwith left the hospital and went to World Trade Center site after he saw the South Tower collapse via television. Even though he had been retired for seven years from the New York City Fire Department, he grabbed his old gear and bluffed his way past the blockades and barricades that had been set up and began helping with bucket brigades and missing person searches.[1]
President George W. Bush speaking at Ground Zero with Beckwith beside him
On September 14, after Beckwith and some men had unearthed a fire engine buried in rubble from the fallen buildings, they tested its stability as a stand from which to speak, and a Secret Service agent ordered him to help President Bush onto the platform.[1] Beckwith handed Bush a megaphone with which to address the crowd of responders and workers[3] and was told to climb down by the Secret Service[1] and Karl Rove,[3] but Bush insisted that Beckwith stay with him.[1][3][4] An image of Bush with Beckwith was featured the next day on the front page of the New York Daily News.[1]
National fame and activities since 9/11
A photo of Bush with Beckwith standing together was published two weeks later on the cover of Time magazine, catapulting Beckwith to the national spotlight. Rejecting his new-found fame, he initially refused to speak to various news personalities and shows—Diane Sawyer, the Today Show, and Rosie O'Donnell—though he eventually appeared on MSNBC and other news channels and programs.[1]
Beckwith continues to be bashful about his fame,[2] though an enlarged version of the Time magazine cover that made him famous hangs in his den.[1][2] Regarding the cover, Beckwith said that "[a]ll these guys that come over to interview me, they all have to have a picture of it." Beckwith also has a first edition print of the cover, which is encased in a display box together with a flag that waved at Ground Zero, given to him by President Bush. Beckwith has volunteered to have the items in his possession go to the 9/11 Memorial after he dies. He has already donated the clothes and helmet that he was wearing that day to the memorial.[1]
Beckwith has visited 11 times with President Bush, traveled and spoken extensively,[1] and dedicated much of his activity to fundraising for the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation.[1][2]
On February 25, 2002, in a White House ceremony together with Governor George Pataki of New York state, Beckwith presented to Bush the bullhorn the president had used to address workers at the World Trade Center site just days after the attacks.[3]
In the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden by a team of U.S. Navy SEALs, Beckwith was asked his opinion. He stated: "I would have liked it to be on George Bush's watch, but it wasn't, so OK."[2] He also said: "But I'm glad we got him. He's burning in hell and he's going to rot there."[4]
References
^ abcdefghijkWisloski, Jess (September 2, 2011). "Firefighter tells story behind iconic moment with George W. Bush". Yahoo News. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
^ abcde"AP Interview: Bullhorn firefighter's famous moment". Wall Street Journal. Associated Press. September 1, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
^ abcdBazinet, Kenneth (February 26, 2002). "Bush is given WTC megaphone". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
^ abMurphy, Mary (May 2, 2011). . WPIX. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
External links
WPIX with Beckwith following the killing of Osama bin Laden
May 26, 2023
beckwith, born, september, 1933, former, member, york, city, fire, department, became, well, known, united, states, public, after, stood, next, president, george, bush, president, gave, speech, ruins, world, trade, center, after, attacks, september, 2001, phot. Bob Beckwith born September 21 1933 is a former member of the New York City Fire Department He became well known to the United States public after he stood next to President George W Bush as the president gave a speech at the ruins of the World Trade Center after the attacks of September 11 2001 Photos of Beckwith and the president appeared on the front page of the New York Daily News and the cover of Time magazine This exposure launched him into the national spotlight and led to press attention and interviews Beckwith has met several times with President Bush since then spoken extensively in public and acted as a fundraiser for charities Bob BeckwithBeckwith stands at the site of the collapsed World Trade Center in New York City Friday Sept 14 2001Born 1933 09 21 September 21 1933 age 89 NationalityAmericanOccupationFiremanChildren6 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 2 1 Actions at Ground Zero 2 2 National fame and activities since 9 11 3 References 4 External linksPersonal life EditBeckwith has lived for more than 50 years with his wife Barbara in the same house in Baldwin Nassau County New York The couple has six adult children 1 Career EditBeckwith is a veteran of the New York City Fire Department with 30 years of service from 1964 to 1994 2 Actions at Ground Zero Edit U S President George W Bush speaking at Ground Zero with Beckwith beside him On the morning of September 11 2001 Beckwith was tending to his grandson who had been hit by a car while biking to school Before he arrived at the hospital with his grandson Beckwith was aware that a plane had struck the World Trade Center When the boy appeared to be in stable condition Beckwith left the hospital and went to World Trade Center site after he saw the South Tower collapse via television Even though he had been retired for seven years from the New York City Fire Department he grabbed his old gear and bluffed his way past the blockades and barricades that had been set up and began helping with bucket brigades and missing person searches 1 source source source source source source source source track track President George W Bush speaking at Ground Zero with Beckwith beside him On September 14 after Beckwith and some men had unearthed a fire engine buried in rubble from the fallen buildings they tested its stability as a stand from which to speak and a Secret Service agent ordered him to help President Bush onto the platform 1 Beckwith handed Bush a megaphone with which to address the crowd of responders and workers 3 and was told to climb down by the Secret Service 1 and Karl Rove 3 but Bush insisted that Beckwith stay with him 1 3 4 An image of Bush with Beckwith was featured the next day on the front page of the New York Daily News 1 National fame and activities since 9 11 Edit A photo of Bush with Beckwith standing together was published two weeks later on the cover of Time magazine catapulting Beckwith to the national spotlight Rejecting his new found fame he initially refused to speak to various news personalities and shows Diane Sawyer the Today Show and Rosie O Donnell though he eventually appeared on MSNBC and other news channels and programs 1 Beckwith continues to be bashful about his fame 2 though an enlarged version of the Time magazine cover that made him famous hangs in his den 1 2 Regarding the cover Beckwith said that a ll these guys that come over to interview me they all have to have a picture of it Beckwith also has a first edition print of the cover which is encased in a display box together with a flag that waved at Ground Zero given to him by President Bush Beckwith has volunteered to have the items in his possession go to the 9 11 Memorial after he dies He has already donated the clothes and helmet that he was wearing that day to the memorial 1 Beckwith has visited 11 times with President Bush traveled and spoken extensively 1 and dedicated much of his activity to fundraising for the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation 1 2 On February 25 2002 in a White House ceremony together with Governor George Pataki of New York state Beckwith presented to Bush the bullhorn the president had used to address workers at the World Trade Center site just days after the attacks 3 In the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden by a team of U S Navy SEALs Beckwith was asked his opinion He stated I would have liked it to be on George Bush s watch but it wasn t so OK 2 He also said But I m glad we got him He s burning in hell and he s going to rot there 4 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Wisloski Jess September 2 2011 Firefighter tells story behind iconic moment with George W Bush Yahoo News Retrieved September 5 2011 a b c d e AP Interview Bullhorn firefighter s famous moment Wall Street Journal Associated Press September 1 2011 Retrieved September 5 2011 a b c d Bazinet Kenneth February 26 2002 Bush is given WTC megaphone New York Daily News Retrieved September 5 2011 a b Murphy Mary May 2 2011 Firefighter Who Stood With Pres Bush At Ground Zero Osama Is Burning In Hell WPIX Archived from the original on March 18 2012 Retrieved September 5 2011 External links EditWPIX Interview with Beckwith following the killing of Osama bin Laden Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bob Beckwith amp oldid 1146104288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
