For several hours after the twin towers were collapsed on 9/11, New
York City’s black deputy mayor ran the city while Rudy Giuliani was
trapped in a building, writes Stanley Crouch. Rudy Washington
arranged air cover, ordered the bridges closed and started with the
cleanup – and had the situation “as well in hand as possible” by the
time Giuliani got back on the scene, according to Crouch.

“Washington remains the forgotten man of 9/11 because he hasn’t wanted
to be seen as a grandstanding opportunist about a day when some 2,800
people were killed. But enough time has passed. Hereis his story.”