Jordan: This is an interview with JoAnn Rogers about the time period from nine eleven, two thousand one, to March two-thousand three, the invasion of Iraq.
JoAnn: (noise of affirmation)
Jordan: So, before we really get into questions I just want you to kind of… there’s been a lot that’s published since we were in- it’s been 10 years now, 11 really. I want you to forget all of that.
JoAnn: (inaudible)
Jordan: Like, I want you to do your best to just take yourself back all the way to 2001. We’re gonna-I’m gonna kinda help you with that. Uhm. So the first thing I’m going to ask is where were you-
JoAnn: -I know exactly where I was-
Jordan: - in 2001. Not on 9/11, just in general. What were you doing with your life?
JoAnn: I was in grad school. I was uhm, my first semester in graduate school working on my Ph.D.
Jordan: What was your Ph.D.?
JoAnn: In Sociology. So we were in Ames, Iowa. Me and my husband and my two boys.
Jordan: And… Yeah… And Bush was newly appointed President at that point.
JoAnn: Ah, yeah.
Jordan: What did you think about him?
JoAnn: I was depressed.
Jordan: You were depressed?
JoAnn: Yeah, I was depressed. I remember waking up every morning thinking, “Oh my god, what kind of country have we uh, what did we get ourselves into?” I just remember I cried- I think it was the first time that I actually cried- I cried when he became president. I think it was one of the first elections that I was really invested in. ‘Cause it was right after Clinton’s election. Ugh, yeah! It was the- When Bush won the presidency through the elector- right? The Electoral College, but didn’t win the popular vote. There was all sorts of controversy about it.
Jordan: And what were you doing in the fall of 2001?
JoAnn: Same thing. Working on my Ph.D., going to school, raising my kids.
Jordan: Did you have a job?
JoAnn: (sigh) Yes, I was a graduate student so that means I was teaching… I was teaching women’s studies, I think. Wait. I might have been teaching two different- I might have been TA-ing… for a course, it was Ph.D. … I was either TA-ing for a course and also teaching a course, ‘cause they had an emergency and they needed somebody to teach women’s studies and no one was available. So I was allowed to. I believe that was it.
Jordan: And what were your kids doing?
JoAnn: Huh! Shnikies. I think my youngest was in- uhhh- kindergarten? My oldest is turning 21.. he was in 6th grade? 5th grade! 4th?! Oh my god!
Jordan: Maybe 5th.
JoAnn: Huh?
Jordan: Maybe 5th, actually.
JoAnn: We had that birthday party for him that year. (inaudible)-2 classes. Right? So, it was 4th grade I think it was a big birthday party. It was 4th grade, because we invited boys and girls. Had it out in the garage. I remember that.
Jordan: When was the birthday party?
JoAnn: (Laughter) the birthday part was the day after 9/11. Because his birthday was on 9/10, 9/11 hit…
Jordan: 9/11 was a school day.
JoAnn: Yeah, so, it was a Saturday, so it was 2 days- it was the next day. So- and I remember people asking us if we were still going to have the birthday party, and I said “well, yeah, it doesn’t affect the kids any.”
Jordan: And-so… Tell me about 9/11.