Today in the West Wing: Thursday, April 29

Flags are flying at half-staff above the White House and federal buildings today. It is to honor the civil rights leader Dr. Dorothy Height, whose funeral is this morning at National Cathedral. President Obama will deliver remarks.

After his weekly lunch with Vice-President Biden, Obama will honor the National Teacher of the Year - and teachers from across the country at a Rose Garden ceremony. It's a tradition going back to the Truman era.

Obama also meets with Secretary of State Clinton and then motors to a private residence here in Washington for a fundraising dinner.

Quick Hits

...Obama said he's skeptical that he'll sign an immigration reform bill this year: "In the wake of health care there may not be an appetite immediately to dive into another controversial issue. There's still work that has to be done on energy. Midterms are coming up.”

...Paul Volcker, the former Fed Chairman who is now an economic advisor to the President, knocked down the idea of a value added tax (or VAT) as a way of reducing deficits, saying the idea was too unpopular to be under consideration “now or for the indefinite future.”

...Latest Polls. Gallup: 49% approve of Obama's job performance, 44% don't. Rasmussen: 47%-52%; Pew: 47%-42%; ABC-Washington Post: 54%-44%. Average of all recent polls as compiled by Real Clear Politics.com: 47.9% approve, 45.7% don't.

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In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: FOX
Print: Baltimore Sun
Radio: VOA

EDT

9:00AM Pool Call Time

9:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY attend Dorothy Height’s funeral; THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks
National Cathedral
Open to pre-credentialed media (Travel Pool Gather Time 9:20AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

1:40PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at an event honoring the 2010 National Teacher of the Year
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 10:30AM – Final Gather 1:10PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

7:35PM THE PRESIDENT attends a DNC fundraising dinner
Private Residence
Closed Press (Travel Pool Gather Time 7:00PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

12:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

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On This Day


1974: President Richard Nixon announces to the public that he will release transcripts of 46 taped White House conversations in response to a Watergate trial subpoena issued in July 1973. The House Judiciary committee accepted 1,200 pages of transcripts the next day, but insisted that the tapes themselves be turned over as well.

In his announcement, Nixon took elaborate pains to explain to the public his reluctance to comply with the subpoena, and the nature of the content he planned to release. He cited his right to executive privilege to protect state secrets and stated that the transcripts were edited by him and his advisors to omit anything "irrelevant" to the Watergate investigation or critical to national security. He invited committee members to review the actual tapes to determine whether or not the president had omitted incriminating evidence in the transcripts. "I want there to be no question remaining," Nixon insisted, "about the fact that the President has nothing to hide in this matter" and "I made clear there was to be no cover up."

- from History.com

Presidential Quote

"I like the job I have, but if I had to live my life over again, I would like to have ended up a sports writer." - Richard Nixon