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In all, terrorists commandeered four jetliners on Tuesday, flying two of them into the towering buildings in Manhattan and one into the Pentagon. The fourth - possibly aiming for the White House - crashed southeast of Pittsburgh after passengers apparently struggled with the hijackers.

There were 55 confirmed fatalities in New York, but that was only the beginning. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites) indicated city officials had asked the federal government for 6,000 body bags.

Washington-area hospitals treated at least 94 people from the Pentagon, more than 10 of them in critical condition.

Congress moved quickly to vote money for Bush's war on terrorism. Officials discussed legislation providing $20 billion, and said it could reach the House floor on Thursday.

Drafts also circulated of a separate measure authorizing the administration to undertake military action under the War Powers Act. Officials said there had been some discussion of a formal declaration of war, as well, although that seemed less likely.

Bush and the rest of his administration sought to reassure the nation that life was returning to normal - and the White House was reopened to public tours to prove it.

But there were glaring exceptions.

The New York financial markets, not far from the site of the New York terror attack, were shut down for a third straight day with no date yet set for reopening. The nation's air traffic system was largely shut down, as well, pending implementation of strict new security measures. And major league ballparks were dark for the third night, autumn pennant races put on unprecedented hold.

Then there were the scenes of destruction themselves, battle zones in a war brought to American soil as never before.