West Wing Report

West Wing Report: Oct. 18, 2010

2010-10-17T20:46:00.002-04:00

Just 15 days to go…and all signs continue to point to a “wave” – as in tidal wave – that will engulf Democrats on election night. President Obama spent the weekend on the road trying to buck up allies in Massachusetts – which has sported a purple hue since a guy named Scott Brown took Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat – and Ohio. In both states key allies – Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland – are in deep trouble and it’s unclear just how much an increasingly unpopular President Obama will be able to help.

Obama hits the trail again on Wednesday and will be gone for four days:

Wednesday: travels to Portland, Or.; fundraiser & rally for Gubernatorial candidate Kitzhaber; travels to Seattle.

Thursday: campaigns in Seattle w/Sen. Murray; flies to San Francisco, attends fundraiser; spends night.

Friday: flies to Los Angeles; campaigns w/Sen. Boxer; campaigns in Las Vegas w/Sen. Reid; spends the night in Vegas.

Saturday: travels to Minneapolis; campaigns w/Gubernatorial candidate Dayton; attends fundraiser; returns to Washington.

As for today, after his usual intelligence and economic briefings, the President host the White House Science Fair. It’s a way of drawing attention to so-called STEM education – science, technology, engineering and math – which Obama says is critical to future U.S. economic competitiveness and jobs.

In the evening, he’ll attend a Democratic fundraiser at a private residence in Rockville, Maryland.

EDT

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing

Oval Office

Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors

Oval Office

Closed Press

11:35AM THE PRESIDENT views science fair projects

State Dining Room

Pooled Press (Pre-set 9:50AM – Final Gather 11:10AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the White House Science Fair

East Room

Open Press (Pre-set 10:35AM – Final Gather 11:10AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

West Wing Report, Oct. 13, 2010

2010-10-13T06:48:00.003-04:00

What has surprised Barack Obama since he took office nearly two years ago? It shouldn’t come as a surprise, actually: it’s the 24/7 news culture. He told a Democratic National Committee rally last night he’s he’s surprised at how the media focuses on what’s happening “this minute,” as opposed to “what needs to happen over the course of months, years.”

The long view is a recurring theme for Mr. Obama. On the campaign trail in these last frantic weeks before the November midterms, he says the United States got itself into such a hole that’ll it’ll take a long time – longer than anyone would like he says – to get out.

“We have to adjust to new realities,” the President said.

But how long? One woman, “Maureen from New Jersey,” asked via Twitter “if it took us eight years (of George W. Bush) to get into this mess, won’t it take at least that long to get out?”

Even Obama called that a softball question. But without giving any specific time frame (how do you know exactly, when you’ve ‘gotten out?”), he said it will take a ”persistent effort” to build a clean energy economy, overhaul the education system and so forth.

Last night’s Obama rally, held on the nearby campus of George Washington University, is the latest in a White House effort to get young adults to the polls in November. A Pew survey says only 27% of young Democrats are interested in this election – in contrast to 39% of young Republicans.

The President: ”I really need you to get out on Nov. 2.”

As for today:

After his usual intelligence and economic briefings, Obama meets with college students and their families on the impact of the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) – part of last year’s stimulus program which gives families tax breaks for college tuition. After the meeting (the schedule says 5 minutes have been allotted for it), the President will comment in the Rose Garden.

The White House has also released more of Obama’s campaign schedule. Beyond Friday in Delaware, Saturday in Boston and Sunday in Ohio (where Mrs. Obama will join in on their first joint campaign appearance since 2008), he’ll be in Portland, OR on Wednesday the 20th, Seattle and San Francisco on Thursday the 21st, Los Angeles and Las Vegas on Friday the 22d and in Minnesota on Saturday the 23d. He’ll come back to the White House for a day before beginning the campaign’s final week on Monday the 25th in Providence, RI.

The White House also says President and Mrs. Obama have requested absentee ballots; they’ll likely spend election night at the White House.

THE SCHEDULE

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:45AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:45PM THE PRESIDENT meets with college students and their families on the impact of the American Opportunity Tax Credit
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:50PM THE PRESIDENT delivers a statement to the press
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 12:50PM – Final Gather 1:20PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

10:00AM Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will convene an off-camera gaggle in the Brady Press Briefing Room

TBD Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

2010-10-12T07:02:00.001-04:00

Back to school for President Obama. He'll hold a town hall this evening on the campus of George Washington University. The theme: "Moving America Forward." It's part of a big Democratic push to get young voters to the polls on election day. The 18-24 crowd was a source of big support for candidate Obama two years ago, but have not shown much interest in the midterms.

As for the rest of hsi day, after his usual intelligence and economic briefings, the meets with student finalists of the NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. These students – four of whom are still in high school – have all started new businesses and
competed against 24,000 other young people in the competition.

EDT

9:00AM Pool Call Time

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:45PM THE PRESIDENT meets with student finalists of the NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Oval Office
Closed Press

7:00PM THE PRESIDENT hosts a “Moving America Forward” town hall meeting
George Washington University
Travel Pool Coverage (Gather Time 6:25PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

9:45AM Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will convene an off-camera gaggle in the Brady Press Briefing Room

2:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

West Wing Report, Oct. 11, 2010

2010-10-10T20:37:00.002-04:00

22 days to go and the White House is in full campaign mode, as President Obama and the Democrats try to slow down what's expected to be a Republican juggernaut on election night.

After a Philadelphia rally yesterday, the President is on the road for much of the week, beginning with today's fundraising trip to Miami. Tomorrow and Thursday, he'll focus on getting young adults to vote - crucial to his 2008 victory - with one town hall at George Washington University here in Washington, and another on Thursday that'll be aired live on MTV, the Country Music Television and Black Entertainment TV.

Friday, Obama and Delaware's favorite son, Vice-President Biden, campaign in Wilmington for Senate candidate Chris Coons - who leads Republican nominee Christine O'Donnell by a double-digit margin. They're running for Biden's old seat.

Saturday, the President travels to Boston, where he'll campaign with Governor Deval Patrick and raise some cash.

And on Sunday, Obama will be joined by First Lady Michelle Obama in Ohio, where they'll campaign with Governor Ted Strickland - and raise more cash still.

THE SCHEDULE

Later, the President will hold a meeting with Cabinet secretaries, former secretaries of Transportation and mayors and governors on infrastructure investment in the State Dining Room. This meeting is closed press. The President will then deliver a statement to the press in the Rose Garden. This statement is open press.

Later in the morning, the President will meet with senior advisors in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press.

In the afternoon, the President will meet with the students from the movie Waiting for Superman in the Oval Office. There will be a spray for pool still photographers only.

Later in the afternoon, the President will travel to Miami, Florida. The departure from the South Lawn and the arrival at Miami International Airport are open press.

In the evening, the President will deliver remarks at a DCCC reception and then at a dinner for the DCCC at a private residence in Miami, Florida. There will be print pool coverage of the President’s remarks.
The President will return to Washington, DC at night. The departure from Miami International Airport and the arrival on the South Lawn are open press.

EDT

9:40AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT holds a meeting on infrastructure investment
State Dining Room
Closed Press

10:50AM THE PRESIDENT delivers a statement to the press
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 9:50AM – Final Gather 10:20AM – North Doors of the Room)

11:10AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with the students from Waiting for Superman
Oval Office
Pool Stills Only Spray (Gather Time 1:20PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Miami, Florida
Miami International Airport
Open Press

5:45PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a DCCC reception
Private Residence, Miami, Florida
Print Pool Coverage

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a DCCC dinner
Private Residence, Miami, Florida
Print Pool Coverage

West Wing Report: Oct. 8, 2010

2010-10-08T07:05:00.000-04:00

The White House claims it pays no attention to the polls - which certainly isn't true - but it absolutely pays attention, with a laser-like focus, to the unemployment rate. The final pre-election reading on this crucial figure comes out today and it is expected to show the jobless rate increasing from 9.6% to 9.7% - or more. The broader rate that some analysts say better reflects the U.S. labor market, now 16.7%, is expected to rise as well.

Obama will put his spin on this when he visits a small business in Bladensburg, Md. After returning to the White House, he'll sign the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, which will make it easier for blind and deaf citizens to access the internet, cable TV and other communication platforms.

No word yet on the President's weekend plans.

THE SCHEDULE

EDT

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

11:25AM THE PRESIDENT tours a small business
Bladensburg, MD

11:40AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the monthly jobs numbers
Bladensburg, MD

1:40PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office

2:05PM THE PRESIDENT signs the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010
East Room

Briefing Schedule

TBD

West Wing Report: Oct. 7, 2010

2010-10-07T06:39:00.000-04:00

President Obama signs two bills today designed to bring greater transparency and accountability to the U.S. government's massive and shadowy intelligence gathering system. The first is the Intelligence Authorization Bill, which subjects America's 16 intelligence agencies - that's right, 16 - to many of the same oversight measures that other executive agencies have. For the first time they will also have an inspector general, overseen by the General Accounting Office.

Obama will also sign the Over-Classification Act. This will require the Department of Homeland Security to figure out how to stop classifying so much information and to share more information with Congress and the American people.

ON THE TRAIL

In the afternoon the President hits the campaign trail. He'll appear with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley in suburban Washington, then fly to Chicago, where he'll appear at two fundraisers for Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias. Polls show Gov. O'Malley ahead in his race, and Giannoulias slightly ahead - at best - in his. Obama returns to Washington late tonight - and no, he won't be campaigning with Chicago mayoral hopeful Rahm Emanuel. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says that election isn't until February.

AFGHAN ANNIVERSARY

It was nine years ago today that President Bush announced Operation Enduring Freedom - the U.S. and NATO operation to topple the Taliban and drive Al Qaeda out of Afghanistan. That mission, launched 26 days after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, is now the longest active military campaign in American history. There are some 100,000 U.S. forces there, and since 2001, 1,321 Americans have died - 374 of them this year alone. President Obama says the U.S. is still on schedule to begin withdrawing forces next summer - though at what rate remains unknown. The Pentagon, while publicly supportive of the commander-in-chief's policy, is privately concerned about setting what some officers consider to be arbitrary timelines disconnected to conditions on the ground.

THE SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern)

10:15-intelligence briefing

10:45-senior advisors

12:05-signs the Intel Authorization Bill

12:20-signs the Reducing Over Classification Bill

1:30-Treasury Sec. Geithner

3:15-campaigns w/Md. Gov. O'Malley

7:00-Chicago fundraiser for Senate candidate Giannoulias

7:40-Chicago fundraiser for Senate candidate Giannoulias

*****

What's YOUR question for the President of the United States? Call us: 1-866-USA-0021 (872-0021), or e-mail: westwingrpt@gmail.com.

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West Wing Report: October 5, 2010

2010-10-05T08:47:00.000-04:00

A month to go until election day and polls show the Republicans remain in the drivers seat - though their lead over the Democrats is eroding a bit. A Washington Post-ABC News poll says that among likely voters, the GOP holds a 49%-43% edge on congressional races. This time four years ago, Democrats led by 12 points. That being said, both parties remain in the voter doghouse. Disapproval of Congressional Dems. is 61%; Disapproval of Congressional GOP is even higher: 67%.

Meantime, polls show slight gains for President Obama. ABC-WashPost: 50% approve of the President, 47% don't (a month ago this was 46%-52%). Gallup: 46% approve, 48% don't (44%-48%); Rasmussen: 48%-51% (45%-55%)

As for the President's schedule today, he starts with the usual intelligence and economic briefings in the Oval Office.

Later, he'll sign S.1055, a bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.

This afternoon, the President joins Dr. Jill Biden (a longtime teacher) at the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges. The White House says the event "will highlight the critical role that community colleges play in developing America’s workforce and reaching our educational goals." Obama said yesterday that he wants five million more Americans to get community college degrees - along with the job skills for the positions of tomorrow.

Later in the afternoon, the President and the First Lady will host the Diplomatic Corps Reception for the foreign diplomatic corps in the East Room.

Obama's evening wraps up with an address to the 2010 Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit. He'll talk about the impact of women in business on the economy and the steps we can take together to ensure that America remains competitive over the long term.

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:45AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT signs the Gold Medal Bill
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:15PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the Community College Summit with Dr. Biden
East Room
Pooled TV, Open to correspondents & still photographers (Pre-set 11:15AM – Final Gather 11:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY host the Diplomatic Corps Reception
East Room
Pooled Press (Final Gather 4:00PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

7:50PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks to the 2010 Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit
Carnegie Mellon Auditorium
Pooled TV & still photographers, Open to correspondents (Travel Pool Gather Time 7:10PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

1:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

A month to go until election day and polls show the Republicans remain in the drivers seat - though their lead over the Democrats is eroding a bit. A Washington Post-ABC News poll says that among likely voters, the GOP holds a 49%-43% edge on congressional races. This time four years ago, Democrats led by 12 points. That being said, both parties remain in the voter doghouse. Disapproval of Congressional Dems. is 61%; Disapproval of Congressional GOP is even higher: 67%.

Meantime, polls show slight gains for President Obama. ABC-WashPost: 50% approve of the President, 47% don't (a month ago this was 46%-52%). Gallup: 46% approve, 48% don't (44%-48%); Rasmussen: 48%-51% (45%-55%)

West Wing Report: October 4, 2010

2010-10-03T19:08:00.001-04:00

In the morning, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing then meet with senior advisors in the Oval Office. These meetings are closed press.

In the afternoon, the President will host a meeting of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) in the Roosevelt Room to discuss a range of economic issues. Dr. Jill Biden will also attend. There will be a pool spray at the top of the meeting. The entire meeting will be streamed live at www.WhiteHouse.gov/live.

PERAB MEMBERS EXPECTED TO ATTEND
Anna Burger, Former Chair, Change to Win
John Doerr, Partner, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers
William H. Donaldson, Chairman, SEC (2003-2005)
Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics, Harvard University
Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President & CEO, TIAA-CREF
Mark T. Gallogly, Founder & Managing Partner, Centerbridge Partners L.P.
Jeffrey R. Immelt, CEO, GE
Monica C. Lozano, Publisher & Chief Executive Officer, La Opinión
Jim Owens, Chairman, Caterpillar Inc.
Penny Pritzker, Chairman & Founder, Pritzker Realty Group
David F. Swensen, CIO, Yale University
Richard L. Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
Laura D'Andrea Tyson, Dean, Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley
Paul Volker, Chairman, PERAB
Robert Wolf, Chairman & CEO, UBS Group Americas

CABINET MEMBERS EXPECTED TO ATTEND
Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
CEA Chair Austan Goolsbee

Following the meeting, PERAB members, Anna Burger, former chair of Change to Win, and Penny Pritzker, chairman & founder of Pritzker Realty Group, will address reporters at the West Wing Stakeout Location at approximately 3:30PM EDT.

EDT

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with the PERAB
State Dining Room

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

###

West Wing Report: October 1, 2010

2010-10-01T09:42:00.002-04:00

This much is true: The Obama White House will never be the same.

Blunt, outspoken, hyper-aggressive chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is leaving. He'll be replaced, at least for now, by Pete Rouse, whose demeanor is the exact opposite of Emanuel's quiet, soft-spoken, self-effacing.
Rouse, who has served Obama quietly for years, has expressed reservations about doing the job for very long. But if asked by the President to stay on for the long-term, Rouse would likely do so.

“There’s a complete loyalty and trust with somebody like Pete,” says White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

The President, Emanuel and Rouse will meet reporters in the East Room at 11am Eastern. The White House is billing it as a "personnel announcement."

THE SCHEDULE

EDT

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:05AM THE PRESIDENT makes a personnel announcement
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 10:05AM – Final Gather 10:35AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT attends Justice Kagan’s Investiture Ceremony
Supreme Court
Travel Pool Coverage (Gather Time 1:10PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

3:20PM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office
Closed Press

West Wing Report: September 29, 2010

2010-09-29T07:29:00.000-04:00

Waking up in a place he knows quite well - Des Moines, Iowa - a suddenly (or at least publicly) revitalized President Obama continues his backyard town hall road show today. He'll spend 10 minutes talking about the economy with a family at their home; after this a larger discussion with the neighbors.

Obama then moves on to Richmond, Virginia - a blue state two years ago but now returning to its traditional red-purpleish hue. He'll meet a local Richmond family, then chat with the neighbors. The President returns to Washington late this afternoon.

Obama last night signaled that although he and Democrats are down, they're not out. Speaking before tens of thousands of students at the University of Wisconsin/Madison, he said if Republicans win in November, they'll take the country back to the Bush-era - which Obama says led to the economic meltdown.

"You've got to stick with me," he implored. "You can't lose heart."

Obama's comments echoed those made in a Rolling Stone interview, in which he blasted what he sees as Democratic apathy. In that interview, the President indicated he has kept some 70% of his campaign promises - and says the biggest danger for Democrats now is voter apathy.

But will young voters - who helped sweep Obama into office two years ago - get the message? A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll says just 35% of voters aged 18-34 are interested in the midterm vote - far fewer than senior citizens. Look for the President to visit more college campuses between now and November.

The Schedule

CDT

10:05AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Des Moines family
Private Residence, Des Moines, Iowa

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT holds a discussion on the economy
Private Residence, Des Moines, Iowa

EDT

3:20PM THE PRESIDENT meets with a Richmond, Va. family
Southampton Recreation Association, Richmond, Virginia

3:35PM THE PRESIDENT holds a discussion on the economy
Southampton Recreation Association, Richmond, Virginia

PM: Returns to Washington

ON THIS DAY

...1789: President Washington appointed Thomas Jefferson to be the first
Secretary of State

...1907: With President Theodore Roosevelt watching, the foundation stone
for Washington National Cathedral was laid. The last finial was placed 83
years later in the presence of President George H. W. Bush.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work
worth doing.” - Theodore Roosevelt

West Wing Report: September 1, 2010

2010-09-01T07:09:00.001-04:00

The President turns his attention towards the most elusive of goals - peace in the Middle East.

Good morning - it's West Wing Report - and the leaders of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority are here today - they'll meet separately with President Obama and then all have dinner together - this ahead of tomorrow's peace talks.

The White House goal seems beyond ambitious: it wants a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians within 12 months.

The rough outlines are well known of course - the U.S. wants the so-called two-state solution - that will enable ISrael and the Palestinians to live side by side in peace - but the underlying dynamics are complex and, to some emotional - Secretary of State Clinton says the 12-month goal can be met - though she is lowering expectations by saying - if not understating - that there have been problems in the past and there will be in the future.

A Mideast peace deal is central to Obama's broader goal of, in his words, "lowering the temperature" in the region. He thinks that'll help with other Mideast messes - like Iran and the expanding U.S. war in Afghanistan.

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report: August 31, 2010

2010-08-31T06:51:00.001-04:00

It is August 31. After 7 years, 5 months and 11 days -- and 4,416 American lives -- the official U.S. combat mission in Iraq is over.

Good morning from West Wing Report, and President Obama will address the nation from the Oval Office tonight about Iraq. He'll outline the situation to the American people and also pay tribute to the men and women who served. Today he'll visit the troops in Ft. Bliss, Texas.

Yesterday, he pinned Purple Hearts on 11 wounded vets at Walter Reed hospital here in Washington.

One thing you won't hear from the President tonight are the words -- "Mission Accomplished" -- that phrase, of course, used prematurely by the Bush White House back in 2003. But Obama will call his predecessor to brief him on the speech.

But keep in mind just because the White House says the combat role is over, it's really not. There are still 50,000 American troops there - including special forces and intelligence units -- who will remain for another 16 months to support the final transition to Iraqi authorities. And they will go into harm's way from time to time.

So even if the official combat role comes to and end today - the fighting -- and the dying -- probably will not.

In addition to the 4,416 American lives lost since 2003, another 31,882 servicemen and women were wounded. Then there are the countless number of Iraqis who have been killed and wounded. Also among the dead: an estimated 135 journalists.

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report: August 30, 2010

2010-08-30T07:08:00.002-04:00

The President's vacation is over -- and it's back to work -- with a long to do list.

Good morning from West Wing Report - and the White House is bracing for what's expected to be another poor unemployment report this week.

The economy has to create at least 125,000 jobs each month just to keep up with population growth, but the August report, which comes out Friday, is expected to show about 10,000 private sector jobs were created, with the unemployment report inching up to 9.6% from July's 9.5%.

The President will comment on the economy this morning when the press pool is allowed into the Oval Office for a few minutes after Obama's economic briefing.

In New Orleans last night, where he spoke at events marking the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the President told NBC there's no question the economy isn't growing fast enough - this as election day looms ever nearer, now just nine weeks away.

Obama also has some big foreign policy items on his plate this week. Tomorrow night: an Oval Office address to the nation on the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq - even though 50,000 troops remain and will continue to go into harm's way for another 16 months.

And on Thursday: peace talks with leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The White House has an ambitious goal here - a peace deal within 12 months.

Have a question for the President? Send it to WWR: westwingrpt@gmail.com and we'll try and get an answer.

- Paul Brandus at the White House

Vacation? What Vacation?

2010-08-19T08:41:00.002-04:00

When President Obama boards Marine One this afternoon for a ten-day vacation with his family on Martha’s Vineyard, a military officer will board as well. He’ll be carrying two thick briefcases and, like everyone but the First Family, will slip on board via the steps towards the rear of the aircraft. Because all eyes are on the President, few will even notice the officer or the bulky bags he’s lugging in each hand.

Those bags are known as “the football” – and inside are the top-secret nuclear codes the President needs to launch a nuclear attack. For decades, an officer has gone everywhere with the Commander-in-Chief and is always available instantly, should it come to Armageddon.

Martha’s Vineyard for Obama, Crawford for George W. Bush, Rancho del Cielo for Reagan, Hyannisport for JFK. The football goes along – a symbol that no matter where the President is, the crushing burden of the job is always – and – literally – present.

“Presidents don’t get vacations,” Nancy Reagan once said. “They just get a change of scenery. The job goes with you.”

The criticism goes with them too. With two wars, unemployment stubbornly hovering near 10%, Iran, the oil spill and all the rest, many of President Obama’s detractors have made fodder of his frequent golf outings – nearly every weekend – and mini-getaways to places like Maine, Florida and Chicago, where he spent a bachelor weekend with his buddies.

But some Obama opponents like Ari Fleischer, once George W. Bush’s spokesman, say give the man a break.

“Presidencies wear people out,’’ Fleischer told the Boston Globe. “And they just simply deserve a break, especially a president with a couple little kids.’’

And even on Martha's Vineyard, Obama will still be working, says deputy White House spokesman Bill Burton.

“Whenever you talk about a presidential vacation you ought to put the word “vacation” in quotes because you can bet that there will still be work that he’s doing every day,” Burton says. “He'll continue to get his daily intelligence brief from (counterterrorism advisor) John Brennan, who will be there. He'll be getting constant updates on what’s happening in the economy and other issues.”

But what about all the golf Obama plays? The President has come under criticism for spending what some feel is too much time on the links – practically every weekend.

“This question has come up since the Eisenhower era,” points out pollster Charles Franklin of Pollster.com, who says any criticism is usually linked to how Americans think the nation is doing.

“For the most part, people, on balance, say ‘the president isn’t spending too much time on vacation,’” Franklin says. “But if a president becomes a little less popular, as the current president is, voters become a little more critical of their vacation or golf outings.”

Take Eisenhower, for instance, who played golf every chance he got.

“Early in his term, in 1953, 17% of Americans said he was playing too much. But by the late part of his presidency, 1958, that number more than doubled, to 36%. Interestingly, his popularity had fallen during the same time from 74% to 52%. So the issue here is people criticize the golf when they also don’t feel good about the president.”

And given the pressures of the job, the unimaginable stress that goes with it, it is necessary for any president to clear his head. Herbert Hoover fished. Ronald Reagan cleared brush. Barack Obama plays golf.

“The idea that a president is somehow permanently chained to the desk in the Oval Office 24/7 really is a wrong notion of how human beings cope with that kind of pressure,” Franklin says.

It’s not necessary for the president to be chained to that desk anyway, Franklin points out.

“The president doesn’t run the government; he delegates the running of it to others. Where we really need the president is on momentous decisions whether it’s foreign policy or legislative approaches or regulation. Only on the big calls does the president really have to make those decisions, and that’s really not every moment of every day.”

- Paul Brandus at the White House

WWR is on vacation through Aug. 29.

2010-08-16T09:13:00.001-04:00

West Wing Report, August 6, 2010

2010-08-06T07:16:00.001-04:00

The President is back in Washington this morning after a birthday trip to Chicago - he'll comment today on the July unemployment report - which shows the economy creating more private sector jobs, but not enough to bring down the unemployment rate itself.

The expectation of most analysts is that some 100,000 private sector jobs were created in July, with the unemployment rate inching up to 9.6% from 9.5%. This is the narrow U3 rate; the broader U6 rate which many economists say is a more accurate snapshot of the U.S. labor market, is 16.5%.

While Obama talks jobs, his top economic advisor is leaving hers. Christina Romer, chairman of the council of economic advisors, is said to be frustrated about her access - or lack thereof - to the President. Obama ignored questions about Romer's resignation last night.

One person who does have access to the President, at least for today: Elena Kagan. She's the guest of honor at an East Room reception this afternoon - before she is sworn in as the newest member of the Supreme Court tomorrow.

Meantime, there has been buzz that another Justice - Ruth Bader Ginsburg - may retire soon. Ginsburg, 77, has been battling cancer, and her husband died recently. Ginsburg denies the rumors, but if she were to leave, President Obama would get his third opportunity to appoint a Justice to the high court. After Ginsburg, the oldest Supreme Court Justices are Antonin Scalia, 74; Anthony Kennedy, 73; Stephen Breyer, 71; Clarence Thomas, 62; Samuel Alito, 60; Sonia Sotomayor, 56 and the baby of the group, Chief Justice John Roberts, 55.

President's Schedule

9:00AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:20AM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route landing zone near Gelberg Signs
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 10:50AM – Final Gather 11:05AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

11:40AM THE PRESIDENT tours Gelberg Signs
Gelberg Signs, Washington, DC
Travel Pool Coverage (Travel Pool Gather Time 10:00AM – Stakeout Location)

11:55AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at Gelberg Signs
Gelberg Signs, Washington, DC
Travel Pool Coverage

12:35PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 12:05PM – Final Gather 12:20PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

1:10PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:35PM THE PRESIDENT hosts a reception marking the Senate confirmation of Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 1:35PM – Final Gather 2:05PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

West Wing Report, August 5, 2010

2010-08-05T07:56:00.002-04:00

There's no mission accomplished banner, no boasting - just a sober announcement hat the oil leak has stopped and the worst is over.

Good morning - it's West Wing Report - and after 107 days, the worst environmental disaster in American history finally appears to be over. But the clean up continues and the White House expects BP to make good on its obligations to the people of the Gulf.

The sense of relief throughout the West Wing was evident - as a major crisis for the President eased. It was, perhaps, the best birthday present Obama could ask for. He celebrated by having dinner with Oprah at a trendy Chicago restaurant and then visiting a friend's home. The President today visits a Ford factory and holds two fundraisers, then it's back to Washington. He may also comment today on the big legal ruling in California striking down a ban on same-sex marriage. Legal experts say the case will probably go to the Supreme Court.

By the way, Obama's a bachelor President for the next few days, since Mrs. Obama and youngest daughter Sasha are in Spain and Malia's at summer camp. Mrs. Obama. by the way, has provoked criticism for choosing Spain as a vacation spot. Spanish media says the First Lady's party booked 30 rooms at a five-star resort.

The Schedule

CDT

9:55AM THE PRESIDENT tours the Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant
Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant
Travel Pool Coverage

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant
Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant
Open Press

12:45PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on behalf of Senate Candidate Giannoulias
Palmer House Hilton
Travel Pool Coverage

5:15PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a DNC finance event
Chicago Cultural Center
Travel Pool Coverage

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT attends a DNC finance event
Private Residence
Closed Press

7:50PM THE PRESIDENT departs Chicago, Illinois en route Andrews Air Force Base
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Open Press

EDT

9:00PM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

10:25PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at Andrews Air Force Base
Out-of-Town Travel Pool

10:40PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 10:10PM – Final Call 10:25PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

West Wing Report, August 4, 2010

2010-08-04T06:49:00.002-04:00

It's the President's 49th birthday, and he'll celebrate with a trip home.

Good morning from the White House - it's West Wing Report - and while the 49-year old Obama complains about all his new gray hair, aides say he's enjoying the job despite the enormous and never-ending pressure.

The President will celebrate with friends tonight in Chicago - but not with his family. Michelle Obama and younger daughter Sasha will be in Spain, while older daughter Malia is away at camp.

Before leaving, the President speaks to the executive committee of the AFL-CIO and later awards 13 Americans the Civilian Medal - it's the second highest civilian honor - given to those who've done good deeds in their community.

He'll also have lunch with Senators - and has a one-on-one meeting with the top Senate Republican, Mitch McConnell - upcoming legislation tops their agenda. Obama also says he expects the Senate to confirm Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court before it goes on August recess.

*****

EDT

9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:05AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the AFL-CIO Executive Council Meeting
Washington Convention Center
Pooled Press (Gather Time 10:35AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT has lunch with Senators
Roosevelt Room
Closed Press

2:15PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks and present the 2010 Citizens Medal to 13 winners from across the country
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 1:15PM – Final Gather 1:45PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

3:10PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Mitch McConnell
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Andrews Air Force Base
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 3:30PM – Final Call 3:45PM - North Doors of the Palm Room)

4:15PM THE PRESIDENT departs Andrews Air Force Base en route Chicago, Illinois
Andrews Air Force Base
Out-of-Town Travel Pool (Call Time 3:00PM – Virginia Gate, Andrews Air Force Base)

CDT

5:00PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Open Press

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

West Wing Report, July 29, 2010

2010-07-29T07:28:00.001-04:00

Good morning from the White House, which is pleased with that big court ruling yesterday that effectively guts an Arizona crackdown on illegal immigrants. But the legal fight goes on, as the pressure on the White House and Congress to pass a national law grows.

Out goes the most controversial part of the law, which, starting today, would have required police to try and determine the immigration status of anyone they stop, detain or arrest, if they suspect that person is in the U.S. illegally.

The White House said from the get go that such a law was unconstitutional and would lead to racial profiling and harassment of American citizens, legal immigrants and foreign visitors.

U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton agreed, saying in a 36-page ruling that it was "not in the public interest" for Arizona to preempt federal enforcement of immigration law.

Also out are provisions in the Arizona law that would have required foreigners to apply for or carry certain documents and make it a crime for illegals "to solicit, apply for or perform work."

Although Judge Bolton upheld other parts of the law, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), says she'll appeal, calling the ruling "A little bump in the road."

Sherrod Comments?

The President tackles another thorny issue today - race - when he makes a much anticipated speech to the National Urban League. We're told he'll make his first public comments on Shirley Sherrod - remember her? - that was last week's big story.

Wikileaks

And one of this week's big stories - the Wikileaks release of documents on the Afghan war - is certain to come up during a National Security meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The FBI is now helping the Pentagon identify the leaker of those 91,000 documents; Director Robert Mueller told a Senate panel yesterday the investigation could go in any direction.

But that direction appears headed straight for Army Pfc. Bradley E. Manning. The 22-year-old
intelligence specialist is already behind bars, charged earlier this month with passing classified information to an "unauthorized source" while stationed in Iraq. A former hacker in whom Manning has confided tells the Washington Post that Manning passed documents and videos to WikiLeaks. The former hacker, Adrian Lamo, said "the overwhelming probability" is that Manning was WikiLeaks' source for the documents.

Ups and Downs

Meantime, President Obama tells the ABC talk show "The View" that his 20 months in office have been a series of ups and downs> Barbara Walters asked him about the downs:

Obama: "Where do I begin?"

After the laughter died down, the President got serious:

"Look, the country has gone through a tough stretch. Since I took office when I was sworn in ... the last 20 months have been a nonstop effort to restart the economy, to stabilize the financial system, to make sure we are creating jobs and not losing them."

Obama also mentioned the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the oil spill and last winter's swine flu scare.

What about the ups?

"In the last month the rose has to be a couple of days we took in Maine with Michelle, Sasha and Malia," he said. "They're full of opinions and ideas and observations and it's just a great age ... Malia just turned 12 and Sasha 9. Couldn't been a better couple of days."

*****

President's Schedule

10:05AM THE PRESIDENT delivers a major education reform speech at the National Urban League 100th Anniversary Convention

Washington Convention Center

Open to pre-credentialed media (In-Town Travel Pool Gather Time 9:30AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

11:10AM THE PRESIDENT meets with his national security team for his monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan

Situation Room

Closed Press

12:35PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch

Private Dining Room

Closed Press

1:45PM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing

Oval Office

Closed Press

4:50PM THE PRESIDENT signs the Tribal Law and Order Act

East Room

Open Press (Pre-set 3:50PM – Final Gather 4:20PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

7:05PM THE PRESIDENT attends a DNC finance event

Private Residence

Closed Press (In-Town Travel Pool Gather Time 6:30PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

2:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report, July 28, 2010

2010-07-28T06:21:00.000-04:00

The President hits the road today - he's visiting the Tastee Sub shop in Edison NJ - where he'll talk with small business owners. It's a common theme for Obama, and today he'll use the stop to renew his call for more tax cuts and loans for small businesses. The Senate is expected to vote this week on both; the White House accuses Republicans of holding both "hostage."

After the sub shop - maybe the President will get a foot-long to go - he hops across the Hudson River to tape "The View," the female chat fest on ABC. It's the first time a sitting President has appeared on a daytime talk show.

Obama also has two fundraisers in New York. One at the Four Seasons Hotel, the other at the home of fashion diva Anna Wintour. The President returns to the White House tonight.

The President's fundraisers come as the Fall campaign heats up. Mr. Obama will hit the trail selectively for Democrats this Fall, though some Democrats from vulnerable districts have quietly let the White House know they don't want Obama - whose slow but steady erosion in the polls is a source of growing concern - campaigning for them.

Also on the agenda today: the President meets Mass. Sen. John Kerry. Two things are on the agenda: Kerry is Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations, and wants to talk about Afghanistan and the Wikileaks documents mess; he is also the co-author of the energy/climate bill now before the Senate and will discuss legislative strategy with the President.

EDT

9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:40AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator John Kerry
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:45AM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Andrews Air Force Base
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 11:15AM – Final Call 11:30AM - North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT departs Andrews Air Force Base en route Newark, New Jersey
Andrews Air Force Base
Out-of-Town Travel Pool (Call Time 10:45AM – Virginia Gate, Andrews Air Force Base)

12:50PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Newark, New Jersey
Newark Liberty International Airport
Open Press

1:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with a group of small business owners to discuss the economy and urge Congress to pass support for small businesses
Tastee Sub Shop, Edison, New Jersey
Travel Pool Coverage

2:20PM THE PRESIDENT delivers a statement to the press
Tastee Sub Shop, Edison, New Jersey
Travel Pool Coverage

5:40PM THE PRESIDENT attends a DNC finance event
Four Seasons Hotel, New York City
Closed Press

7:20PM THE PRESIDENT attends a DNC finance event
Private Residence, New York City
Closed Press

8:50PM THE PRESIDENT departs Newark, New Jersey en route Andrews Air Force Base
Newark Liberty International Airport
Open Press

9:40PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at Andrews Air Force Base
Out-of-Town Travel Pool

9:55PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 9:30PM – Final Gather 9:45PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

- Paul Brandus at the White House

Wikileaks: Big Deal - or Big Yawn?

2010-07-26T10:56:00.001-04:00

The White House this morning is trying to downplay the significance of the nearly 92,000 page Wikileaks report on U.S. involvement in the Afghan war. But if it’s so insignificant, then why yesterday's angry statement by National Security Advisor Jim Jones? Here's what he said:

"The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security. Wikileaks made no effort to contact us about these documents – the United States government learned from news organizations that these documents would be posted. These irresponsible leaks will not impact our ongoing commitment to deepen our partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan; to defeat our common enemies; and to support the aspirations of the Afghan and Pakistani people."

Pretty strong stuff for something that others in the West Wing are spinning as "insignificant."

What does the President think? Mr. Obama so far has not ordered an investigation into who's behind the leaks - perhaps the largest of its kind in history. Wikileaks, not surprisingly, isn't saying. It may not even know for sure. Its founder, Julian Assange, has said the names of leakers are generally unknown, even to his organization.

Meantime, WWR isn't sure that we're learning much that is truly new. For example, the Wikileaks report says that elements within Pakistan’s spy service – the ISI – have been helping the Taliban for years. This has been widely known and reported for quite some time. Also: U.S. special ops have been targeting insurgent leaders and that civilians have been killed in such missions. There is fresh information on the number of civilians allegedly killed during such raids, however.

One thing that apparently is disclosed for the first time: the Taliban appears to have surface-to-air missiles capable of shooting down American helicopters, though not in large numbers.

Leaks related to the nearly decade-long U.S. war in Afghanistan are hardly new. Last year someone leaked a report from the former commander of the Afghan war – Gen. Stanley McChrystal – angering Obama and forcing a three-month review of the war, that culminated in the President's decision to double down on the conflict.

We'll get more from this afternoon's White House briefing, slated to begin at 1:00.

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report: July 26, 2010

2010-07-26T08:53:00.000-04:00

Good morning from the White House press room on what looks to be another hot sticky week in Washington. Bring on Autumn!

Here's what's in store for President Obama this week:

Today: the Wikileaks bombshell...92,000 pages of what is literally a blow-by-blow account of the Afghan war, covering Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2009. The White House is outraged, Congress is asking questions and the early take on all this is that it could change - or shortchange - America's nearly decade-long involvement in Afghanistan -Pakistan. There is a national security team meeting in the Situation Room on Thursday and this is sure to be a part of it. In a statement released yesterday, National Security advisor James Jones could barely contain his anger:

"The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security. Wikileaks made no effort to contact us about these documents – the United States government learned from news organizations that these documents would be posted. These irresponsible leaks will not impact our ongoing commitment to deepen our partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan; to defeat our common enemies; and to support the aspirations of the Afghan and Pakistani people."

How did Wikileaks obtain nearly 92,000 pages of documents anyway? It has, not surprisingly, declined to say. Its founder, Julian Assange has said the names of leakers are generally unknown, even to the organization.

Wednesday: Obama will hold a jobs/economy event in New Jersey, and attend two fundraisers in Manhattan. One's at the home of fashion diva Anna Wintour, the other at The Four Seasons. The president will also make an appearance on the ABC talk show "The View," which will air on Thursday - an attempt to reach out to the show's female viewers.

Thursday: After last week's racially-charged Shirley Sherrod matter, Obama speaks to the National Urban League Convention here in Washington. It'll be his first public comments on the incident - if he addresses it. Also the afore-mentioned national security team meeting in the Situation Room on Afghanistan-Pakistan.

Friday: Obama visits General Motors and Chrysler plants in Michigan. The automakers were bailed out in 2008-09 and are now doing better, in some cases hiring again. Next week, Obama also visits a Ford plant - Ford was the only one of the so-called "Big Three" that did not dip into the bailout trough.

Saturday: The White House denies it, but the President may attend Chelsea Clinton's wedding.

Quick Bytes

...it looks like BP's CEO Tony Hayward will get his life back. White House sources say he'll be given the boot today by the company's board.

...Vice President Biden has a god assignment: he's visiting the Grand Canyon today and Yellowstone tomorrow, to highlight $25 million in stimulus projects that are sprucing up the iconic National Parks. Biden's office says over 1,000 workers are involved.

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report: July 23, 2010

2010-07-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

A quiet day here at the White House. We won't be seeing the President - he has no public events on his schedule:

11:00 - Intelligence Briefing, Oval Office

11:30 - Senior Advisors, Oval Office

There's no press briefing, either - not uncommon in the summertime. A few items this sticky Friday morning:

Jobless Benefits

The President has signed a bill extending jobless benefits through the end of November - a desperately needed lifeline for some 2.5 million Americans. But the cost - 34-billon dollars - is now added to the government's already record deficit. And it runs counter to Obama's prior insistence that any new spending must be paid for. The White House says this is different - it's an emergency. This means, of course, the debate over benefits will be revived just after Thanksgiving.

Vacation Plans

We've also learned that the First Family will spend the weekend of Aug. 14th on the Gulf Coast - Florida, specifically. The trip is seen as blunting some of the criticism directed at the Obamas for encouraging Americans to vacation in the oil spill region - but going to Maine themselves last weekend. The Obamas will also take a longer breather on Martha's Vineyard, like they did last year.

Another Court Vacancy?

Looking ahead to next week: Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is expected to be confirmed by the Senate. This as speculation increases that yet another Justice may step down soon. It is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is 77 and battling cancer; the Clinton appointee has been on the court since 1993.

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report: July 21, 2010

2010-07-21T06:16:00.000-04:00

President Obama savors another legislative win today: he'll sign the Wall Street reform bill. It's going to be such a big event, the White House has moved it a few blocks away so more people can attend.

It's the biggest overhaul of the nation's financial industry since the Great Depression. Obama hopes it'll prevent the kind of meltdown that nearly brought the economy to its knees just two years ago. It also creates a new consumer protection agency designed to safeguard individuals against everything from predatory lending to bank overdraft fees.

Unemployment Benefits, Kagan Confirmation

Obama has other reasons to celebrate today as well - the Senate is poised for a final vote on extending unemployment benefits for several million Americans. And his choice for the Supreme Court - Elena Kagan - has cleared the Senate Judiciary committee - her nomination now goes to the full Senate for a vote - her confirmation is not in doubt.

And even before a final vote on Kagan, there is buzz that another Justice - Ruth Bader Ginsburg - wants to retire soon. Ginsburg, 77, has been battling cancer, and her husband died recently. If she were to leave, President Obama would get his third opportunity to appoint a Justice to the high court. After Ginsburg, the oldest Supreme Court Justices are Antonin Scalia, 74; Anthony Kennedy, 73; Stephen Breyer, 71; Clarence Thomas, 62; Samuel Alito, 60; Sonia Sotomayor, 56 and the baby of the group, Chief Justice John Roberts, 55.

President's Schedule

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT meets with THE VICE PRESIDENT
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT signs the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; THE VICE PRESIDENT also attends
Ronald Reagan Building
Pooled TV, Open to pre-credentialed correspondents (In-Town Travel Pool Gather Time 10:55AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:45PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch with House Members
Roosevelt Room
Closed Press

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:45PM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Situation Room
Closed Press
Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

2010-07-20T07:21:00.003-04:00

Unemployment Benefits: Round 4

The Senate votes on unemployment benefits for millions of Americans today - an issue that has become a political football in this election year.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with three citizens who are having trouble finding work, President Obama points out that the Senate has tried three times in recent weeks to extend jobless benefits - and come up short each time.

"Each time, a partisan minority in the Senate has used parliamentary maneuvers to block a vote, denying millions of people who are out of work much-needed relief. These leaders in the Senate who are advancing a misguided notion that emergency relief somehow discourages people from looking for a job should talk to these folks," he said.

Obama calls this misguided, but Republicans say it's a matter of dollars and cents. Their view: the cost of extending those benefits - about $35 billion - must be offset with spending cuts. Democrats call that hypocrisy, because Republicans also want to spend much more - $650 billion - to extend Bush-era tax cuts for the rich without any offsets.

Republicans say the tax cuts are needed to get the economy moving; Democrats say you had thse tax cuts for nearly a decade and there was a recession anyway.

But today's vote - the fourth attempt - is expected to pass - as is a package of tax cuts and small business lending.

BP - and the Pan Am 103 Bombing

On the President's schedule today: British Prime Minister David Cameron visits. They'll hold a news conference. Near the top of their agenda: Afghanistan, BP - and what role the British energy company played in helping free a Libyan man convicted in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland - most of the victims in that that attack were Americans and the White House last year was outraged at the release.

BP claims it was not involved in discussions with the British government or Scottish government about the case (it was the latter which held and ultimately freed the Libyan convict, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi). But BP admits it was concerned "with the slow progress" being made with al-Megrahi's release, which it said could have a "negative impact" on business. Within weeks after the 2007 transfer agreement's signing, the Libyan government formally ratified a $900 million with BP to drill deep water wells off the Libyan coast. But BP experienced what the Wall Street Journal reports as "bureaucratic hurdles" until Megrahi was finally released in August 2009.

Of the 270 victims of Pan Am flight 103, 190 were Americans. It was the second worst terror attack on Americans prior to Sept. 11.

*****

President's Schedule

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:45AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom
Oval Office
Pool spray at the top for still photographers (Gather Time 10:50AM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

12:20PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT host a working lunch with Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom
State Dining Room
Closed Press

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT holds a joint press conference with Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 1:00PM – Final Gather 1:30PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report: July 19, 2010

2010-07-19T08:53:00.000-04:00

Front and center at the White House this week: the economy. President Obama will appear in the Rose Garden this morning to blast Republicans for refusing to spend $30 billion to extend unemployment benefits for 2.5 million Americans. The President will have "strong words" for the GOP, we're told.

A White House aide says one of those words could be "hypocrisy." That's because, the aide points out, Republicans say the U.S. simply can't afford that $30 billion, but can afford $650 billion to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.

It's not that the U.S. can't afford $30 billion for the unemployed, says Sen. Jon Kyl, the #2 Republican in the Senate. But “You do need to offset the cost of increased spending. And that’s what Republicans object to."

Then shouldn't that $650 billion in tax cuts for the wealthy be offset too? No, says Kyl: "You should never have to offset the cost of a deliberate decision to reduce tax rates on Americans.”

Besides, Republicans say, these tax cuts will stimulate the economy. The Democrats answer: You had these tax cuts over the last decade and we fell into a nasty recession anyway.

Also on the President's agenda this week, he'll welcome British Prime Minister David Cameron to the White House tomorrow (they'll hold a news conference); and Wednesday he'll sign that big Wall Street reform bill. It's Obama's second big legislative win in just four months. The White House is now turning its sights on an energy/climate bill and an immigration reform bill. Nothing's going to happen on either front until after the November mid-terms.

*****

The President's Schedule

10:30: Rose Garden remarks on the economy

12:00-senior advisors

1:40: WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury

2:05: Sen. John Glenn (ret).

7:00: White House Music Series

West Wing Report: July 13, 2010

2010-07-13T07:05:00.002-04:00

The Cap: Will It Work?

The White House is cautious, but hopeful, that the cap put in place last night by BP is a turning point in the 84-day crisis – the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. Press secretary Robert Gibbs calls it a turning point:

"Well, I think obviously a turning point in the sense that our containment capacity is likely to be equal to what is coming out of the damaged blowout preventer. Obviously, I think - well, twofold; obviously, we still, at some point, believe the permanent solution to that well is to cap it. And obviously that's going to - I wouldn’t change the original time frame of intersecting the well and capping it by mid-August."

But the White House cautions that the long, dirty work of cleaning up the muck, restoring once pristine beaches and wetlands goes on – and will go on for the forseeable future.

Meantime, the administration has issued new rules for a six-month ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf. Some rigs will be allowed to drill if they’re proven to be safe – meaning if they can shut down quickly in an emergency. A prior moratorium on drilling was struck down in court.

On the President’s schedule today: he’ll host Senate Democratic leaders – they’ll talk about the energy/climate bill, an immigration bill – and also the next big item that could be checked off Obama’s to-do-list within days – the landmark financial reform bill.

*****

President's Schedule

In the morning, the President and the Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. The President will then meet with senior advisors in the Oval Office. These meetings are closed press.

Later in the morning, the President and the Vice President will meet with the Senate Democratic Leadership Team in the Roosevelt Room to discuss legislative priorities before the August recess. This meeting is closed press. Expected attendees at the meeting include:

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Majority Leader
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), President pro tempore
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Majority Whip
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Vice Chairman of the Conference
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Secretary of the Conference
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chairman of the Outreach Committee
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chief Deputy Whip
Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Deputy Whip
Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chairman of the Policy Committee
Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), Deputy Whip
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Chair of Rural Outreach
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Campaign Committee
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), Deputy Whip
Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), Vice Chairman of Committee Outreach
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chair of Steering and Outreach Committee

In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will have lunch in the Private Dining Room. This lunch is closed press. Later in the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will meet with Secretary of Defense Gates in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press.

In the evening, the President will discuss the National HIV/AIDS Strategy during remarks at a pooled-press reception to honor the work of the HIV/AIDS Community. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy is committed to making the United States a place where new HIV infections are rare, and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic circumstance will have unfettered access to high-quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination. To make this vision a reality, the Obama Administration is launching a comprehensive plan for fighting HIV in our country.

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

EDT

9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:45AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with the Senate Democratic Leadership Team
Roosevelt Room
Closed Press

12:20PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

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

5:50PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the National HIV/AIDS Strategy
East Room
Pooled Press (Pre-set 5:00PM – Final Gather 5:30PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

3:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

West Wing Report, July 12, 2010

2010-07-12T06:19:00.001-04:00

Speaker Boehner?

Less than four months to go 'til election day and the White House now acknowledges the Republicans could take over the House of Representatives.

"I think there is no doubt there are enough seats in play - that could cause Republicans to gain control. There's no doubt about that," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told NBC's "Meet the Press." Gibbs then asked if Americans are really ready for House Speaker...John Boehner?

That frank admission could serve as a warning to Democratic voters that they'll have to fight harder than ever to fend off what appears to be a rising Republican tide. And it's not just the House that's in jeopardy: the GOP will also chip away at the Democrats' 59-seat Senate majority.

Meantime, the White House is still trying to work with Republicans. The President will host a bipartisan meeting of Congressional leaders tomorrow; Obama wants to chart a course for an energy/climate bill, and an immigration reform bill. Though at this point, those bills will most likely be dealt with in 2011 - certainly not this year.

Overall, it's looking like a quiet week for Obama. He'll host the leader of the Dominican Republic today, visit a battery plant in Michigan on Thursday and the First Family heads to Maine for some R & R this weekend.

*****

President's Schedule

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:10PM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:40PM THE PRESIDENT holds a joint press availability with President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic
Oval Office
Pooled Press (Gather Time 2:20PM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

Briefing Schedule
1:30PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Headed for the Heartland - and Vegas, Baby

2010-07-08T05:30:00.000-04:00

Wheels up this morning for Kansas City: President Obama will visit a factory there that makes electric trucks. The company - Smith Electric Vehicles – is an all-electric, zero emissions commercial truck manufacturer that received a $32 million Recovery Act grant last year. It hopes to open 20 manufacturing plants around the country. Jobs AND vehicles that don't use gas - that’s a two-for-one deal for Obama, who sees such projects as the key to rebuilding America’s economy.

He’ll also drop in on two fundraisers for Robin Carnahan, a Senate candidate in Missouri. Polls show her five or six points behind her GOP rival, longtime Congressman Roy Blunt.

The President then heads to Nevada for two more fundraisers – these for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Reid needs all the help he can get. Polls show him behind GOP candidate Sharron Angle by a three-to-seven point margin.

The President will spend the night in Las Vegas; don't look for him to show up in any casinos, we're told.

As for the President’s poll numbers – some slight erosion this week. A new Gallup survey puts his approval at 44%, but his disapproval at 46. And for the first time, the Real Clear Politics avg. of nine major polls puts Obama’s approval below his disapproval: not by much, just a tenth of a point at 46.3% approve vs. 46.4% disapproval. Still, troubling news for the White House.

*****

President's Thursday Schedule

CDT

11:55AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City International Airport
Open Press

12:10PM THE PRESIDENT tours Smith Electric Vehicles
Kansas City, Missouri
Travel Pool Coverage

12:30PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the economy
Smith Electric Vehicles
Open Press

2:05PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a fundraiser for Senate candidate Robin Carnahan
Kansas City Marriot
Travel Pool Coverage

2:45PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a grass roots event for Senate candidate Robin Carnahan
Folly Theater
Open Press

4:25PM THE PRESIDENT departs Kansas City, Missouri en route Las Vegas, Nevada
Kansas City International Airport
Open Press

PDT

5:00PM THE PRESIDENT arrives Las Vegas, Nevada
McCarran International Airport
Open Press

6:15PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a fundraiser event for Senator Harry Reid
Aria Resort and Casino
Open Press

7:30PM THE PRESIDENT attends a dinner fundraiser for Senator Harry Reid
Aria Resort and Casino
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

2010-07-07T07:13:00.002-04:00

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

This could fix the ailing economy in a hurry: double American exports by 2015. The White House thinks it could create two million jobs - but that, of course, is easier said than done.

That ambitious goal was first outlined by Obama during his State of the Union address back in January. Since then, we haven't heard much about it. Today we'll get some details.

But experts say most of the ideas are either unrealistic or simply out of Obama's control. For example, China could allow its currency to rise 40%, which would make U.S. exports more competitive. China is moving in that direction - but but not that much and not that fast.

Obama could also lower taxes on American companies that do business abroad, but that contradicts his pledge to lower the deficit by ending tax breaks for big U.S. firms.

One thing Obama does get credit for so far: he has resisted efforts to ignite trade wars with countries that have unfair trade policies - the president thinks that would hurt Americans just as much as foreigners.

Looking ahead: Obama hits the road tomorrow and Friday. He'll talk jobs and the economy in Kansas City and Las Vegas - and also campaign for Democratic candidates - including struggling Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:25AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the administration’s commitment to export promotion to grow the economy and support new American jobs
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 10:30AM – Gather Time 10:55AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Oval Office
Closed Press

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

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

West Wing Report, July 6, 2010

2010-07-06T06:51:00.004-04:00

Netanyahu Visit: Make Up Session?

The Mideast peace process, or lack thereof, is center stage today when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House.

Netanyahu and President Obama have a love-hate relationship: they need each other, and have to deal with each other, but agree to disagree on the big issues like Iran and the Mideast peace process.

Israel's top concern is the nuclear menace of Iran, and the Mideast peace process second. Israel sees itself as living in a bad neighborhood, with one neighbor - Tehran - threatening to destroy it with nuclear weapons most of the world is convinced it is rushing to construct.

The White House agrees that Iran is a threat; Obama is ratcheting up what the administration hopes will be tough new sanctions designed to weaken the Iranian regime and bring it to the negotiating table. Even so, the White House priority - for now - appears to be getting Israel to the negotiating table. Obama wants a two-state solution that would establish another Palestinian nation. This, the President feels, is the key to everything. It would, to use one of his favorite phrases, "lower the temperature" in the region, placate Israel's Arab neighbors and thus enhance regional security for all.

The tension between the two men is evident in the theatrics behind today's meeting. When recent world leaders have visited the White House - like France's Nicolas Sarkozy, Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai or, most recently, Russia's Dmitry Medvedev - there has been a full blown news conference in the East Room, with both leaders standing side by side before the cameras.

Today, there'll be just a short Oval Office statement and maybe a question or two from the press pool - a small group of reporters.

Chilly as that is, at least it's an improvement from May, when Obama left the Israeli leader alone for hours in the West Wing and allowed no photos of them together.

Obama is unhappy with continued construction of Israeli housing in territory claimed by Palestinians - and that recent raid on a ship carrying aid to Gaza aid ship didn't improve his mood either.

But Obama's displeasure has its limits. Republicans and Jewish groups are questioning the President's commitment to Israel and think it'll hurt already vulnerable Democrats in November.

The White House sees it differently, characterizing the rift as just a disagreement among friends. By pressuring Israeli to the negotiating table, Obama thinks he's acting in the best long-term interests of the Jewish state - making a peace deal, the President thinks - is essential to its survival.

President's Schedule

EDT

9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT holds a joint press availability with Prime Minister Netanyahu
Oval Office
Pooled Press (Gather Time 11:50AM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

12:35PM THE PRESIDENT has a working lunch with Prime Minister Netanyahu
Cabinet Room
Closed Press

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office
Closed Press

West Wing Report, July 2, 2010

2010-07-02T07:32:00.003-04:00

June Unemployment: Mixed Bag

The June unemployment rate fell to 9.5% from May's 9.7%; on the surface that looks good. But the drop was driven largely by 652,000 Americans dropping out of the job market. Private-sector jobs grew by 83,000, but because census workers are now being laid off, total payrolls declined by 125,000.

The broader U6 measure of unemployment, which many analysts say better reflects the U.S. labor market, ticked down to 16.5% from May's 16.6%.

Slicing the data still further, June unemployment rates were: Men: 9.9%; Women: 7.8%; Whites: 8.6%; Blacks 15.4%; Hispanics: 12.4%, Teens 25.7%l Asians (unadjusted): 7.7% The number of long-term unemployed (jobless for 27+ weeks) was 6.8 million, or 45.5% of of unemployed persons, the government says.

The bottom line: the June report shows continued weakness in the labor market. It's a big worry for the White House, which now admits its concerned about a double-dip recession. But unemployment is, as they say on Wall Street, a lagging economic indicator.

President Obama is trying to win the Friday news cycle by announcing 66 more stimulus projects, that will create an estimated 5,000 jobs. They’re all broadband projects: the administration wants to bring high-speed internet to parts of the country that don’t have it now.

Services for Senator Byrd

The President and Vice-President this Morning head to West Virginia for a memorial service for Senator Robert Byrd. Obama will say how much Byrd helped him when he was a junior Senator from Illinois. Biden’s story is the eloquent one. He’ll talk about how Byrd was there for him during the darkest days of Biden’s life: Right after Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972, his wife and daughter were killed by a drunk driver. Biden hadn’t even been sworn in yet, but Byrd came to the funeral, and, as Biden recalls, stood with him in the pouring freezing rain.

After the memorial service, President Obama and his family head to Camp David. They'll return to the White House Sunday evening – to catch the 4th of July fireworks.

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report, June 29, 2010

2010-06-29T07:51:00.000-04:00

Nearly a quarter of the Senate – 23 members from both sides of the aisle – come to the White House today. The agenda: an energy and climate bill. The President wants one by the end of the year – now the House passed a bill last year and a similar Senate bill – sponsored by John Kerry and Joe Lieberman – was introduced last month.

But like healthcare, the number of Republicans supporting the bill is a big fat zero. Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid thinks an energy & climate bill will be tougher than health care – if you can believe that. The BP oil spill is a complicating factor, but one the White House is using to make its case for 21st-century energy - wind and solar power, for instance - as opposed to oil.

Speaking of the oil spill, Vice-President Biden makes his first visit to the spill zone today. He'll visit New orleans and Pensacola, FL - but no beaches, visits to marshland or boat trips appear to be on the agenda.

In the afternoon – another tough bill is on Obama’s radar: immigration. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus will visit. The dilemma for both Republicans and Democrats here: crack down on illegals and risk the election-year wrath of the fast-growing Hispanic bloc – or woo them by making concessions – which may alienate other voters.

Obama has another guest today – one who’s come a lot farther than Capitol Hill – it’s Saudi King Abdullah. The agenda includes everything from the Mideast peace process to Iran – the Saudis are very nervous about Iran and its growing power in the region. The Saudis have signaled privately they’d like to see Iran contained – a goal the White House certainly shares.

Day two of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Today she'll take questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kagan's mission: answer questions respectfully, while saying as little as possible. She and her White House handlers have been practicing answers to anticipated questions for weeks.

Meantime, Vice-President Biden makes his first visit to the oil spill zone today. He'll visit New Orleans and Pensacola, FL - but no beaches, visits to marshland or boat trips appear to be on the agenda.

*****

President's Schedule

EDT

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:50AM THE PRESIDENT meets with a bipartisan group of senators to discuss passing comprehensive energy and climate legislation this year
Cabinet Room
Pool spray at the bottom (Gather Time 11:30AM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:05PM THE PRESIDENT has a working lunch with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Old Family Dining Room
Closed Press

2:10PM THE PRESIDENT holds a meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Oval Office
Pool Spray at the Top (Gather Time 2:00PM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

3:40PM THE PRESIDENT meets with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
State Dining Room
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

2:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

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West Wing Report: June 28, 2010

2010-06-28T15:12:00.000-04:00

President's Schedule

After a long weekend in Toronto at the G-8 and G-20 summits, President Obama is out of the public eye today. In addition to his usual intelligence, economic and staff briefings, he'll meet at 3:15 with what the White House calls "grassroots leaders" to discuss immigration legislation.

Tuesday: he'll meet with bipartisan Senate leaders to discuss energy/climate legislation. He'll also welcome Saudi King Abdullah to the White House.

Wednesday: Obama travels to Wisconsin for another of his "White House to Main Street"events designed to focus on jobs and the economy.

Friday: we'll get the big June unemployment report. The jobless rate is expected to remain at 9.7%.

The Death of Senator Byrd

The week is off to a sad start, with the dawn announcement that Sen. Robert Byrd, (D-W.Va.) has passed away. While hardly unexpected - Byrd was 92 and in failing health - his death still comes as a bit of a shock, as the passing of such a momentous figure usually does.

And what a figure he was. The longest-serving member of Congress in American history. Elected to the Senate nine times. A parliamentary titan who will go down in the history books as one of the most consequential of Senators. Flags over the Capitol and White House were quickly lowered to half-staff, and tributes from both sides of the aisle poured in.

In a statement this morning, President Obama said: "The people of West Virginia have lost a true champion, the United States Senate has lost a venerable institution, and America has lost a voice of principle and reason with the passing of Robert C. Byrd." The President added "Senator Byrd’s story was uniquely American. He was born into wrenching poverty, but educated himself to become an authoritative scholar, respected leader, and unparalleled champion of our Constitution. He scaled the summit of power, but his mind never strayed from the people of his beloved West Virginia. He had the courage to stand firm in his principles, but also the courage to change over time."

Vice-President Biden was equally eloquent. Speaking in Kentucky, he remembered what Byrd did for him back in 1972 - after the tragic accident that took the life of Biden's wife and daughter. Byrd, he said, was "a guy who was there when I was a 29-year-old kid being sworn into the United States Senate shortly thereafter; a guy who stood in the rain, in a pouring rain, freezing rain outside a church as I buried my daughter and my wife before I got sworn in, Robert C. Byrd. He passed away today. He was the -- we lost the dean of the United States Senate, but also the state of West Virginia lost its most fierce advocate and, as I said, I lost a dear friend."

Arrangements haven't been made public yet, but the President and Vice-President will certainly participate.

Kagan Hearings Underway

Although Elena Kagan is expected to be confirmed for the Supreme Court, don't think her hearings, which began today, will lack for drama. Kagan has never been a judge and therefore has no record for Republicans to pick apart. So instead they'll say this lack of a paper trail shows she doesn't have the experience to sit on the high court. They'll also paint her as - gasp - a liberal and say she'll inject her personal views into her judicial rulings.

Kagan and her White House handlers know all of this, of course, and have spent weeks practicing answers to a wide range of anticipated questions. At the end of the day, he advice given to the solicitor general and former dean of the Harvard Law School is simple: answer the Senate's questions respectfully - while saying as little as possible.

Petaraeus Cakewalk

Speaking of confirmation hearings, even Republicans predict Gen. David Petraeus - Obama's choice to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal as commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan - will be quickly and easily confirmed. Senate Armed Services Committee hearings begin tomorrow.

- Paul Brandus at the White House

West Wing Report: June 25, 2010

2010-06-25T07:36:00.000-04:00

President Obama heads to Toronto this morning for weekend meetings with leaders from the world's top industrialized nations - the so-called G-8 and broader G-20 summits. Obama has been working the phones for the last week or so, telling other leaders he’s worried that the global economy is still weak, and that the U.S. and other countries should not back away too quickly on stimulus plans.

Obama will arrive knowing that a key goal of his administration is a step closer to fruition: a landmark bill overhauling financial regulations. It would be th ebiggest overhaul since the Great Depression and change the way markets and the government interact for decades to come. Both the House and Senate are expected to vote on final legislation within days, and the President could sign a bill by July 4th. Here are the key points:

Derivatives: For most of the 20th century, there was a wall - called the Glass-Steagall Act - between your bank and big Wall Street investment banks; one couldn't dabble in the other's business. That wall came down in 1999 and a decade later came the near collapse of the U.S. economy. That wall is now being rebuilt, meaning commercial lenders won't be able to underwrite or trade things like mortgage-backed securities or collateralized debt obligations that are widely blamed for the market collapse.

Consumer Bureau: The bill would create an independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which would would write and enforce rules for most banks, mortgage lenders, credit-card and private student loan companies. The "CFPB" would be part of the Federal Reserve.

Credit Scores: You've always been able to get free credit reports from private-sector companies like Equifax or Eperian. Now you'll be able to see if your credit score (your FICO) has been hurt by anything in these reports, which will help when and if you apply for a loan.

Mortgages: Those "liar loans" that helped banks give hundreds of thousands of dollars to applicants who couldn't afford them are a thing of the past. Sensible as it may seem, lenders will have to check borrowers’ income and assets. Many lenders that didn't do this during the real estate boom are now out of business. Other rules include a ban on prepayment penalties for people with adjustable rate and other more complex types of mortgages. And mortgage brokers will no longer be able to earn bonuses based on the type of loan they put you in.

Fiduciary Duty: The Securities and Exchange Commission will create a a new rule for brokers that requires them to put their clients’ interests first - as opposed to trying to generate fees for themselves by sell clients products they don't need.

*****

Unemployment Benefits Expiring

Speaking of the economy, the White House this morning is blasting what it calls “obstructionism” by Senate Republicans for blocking more benefits for the unemployed. The Republicans say that’s not accurate. What IS accurate is that 1.3 million Americans will lose their final assistance this week, unless something is done.

Here’s the broader issue: States are looking at budget gaps of $127 billion dollars thru 2012. The gaps are so big, the Pew Center on the States is warning of "havoc" as they try and stem all the red ink. One top Wall Street analyst says the states may have to layoff some two million people.

The dilemma for the federal government: help the states again, and run up the deficit still more, or slash federal aid - and let the states cut all those jobs - including those of firemen, cops and teachers.

*****

President's Schedule

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Toronto, Canada
Lester B. Pearson International Airport
Travel Pool Coverage

11:20AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Muskoka, Canada
Deerhurst Resort Landing Zone, Muskoka, Canada
Travel Pool Coverage

12:15PM THE PRESIDENT attends the G8 working lunch
Deerhurst Resort
Closed Press

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT and G8 Leaders take a G8 Family Photo
Deerhurst Resort
Limited Pool Spray at the top

2:45PM THE PRESIDENT participates in G8 Session with African Outreach Leaders
Deerhurst Resort
Limited Pool spray at the top

4:45PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a G8 working session with African Outreach Leaders and Expanded Outreach Leaders
Deerhurst Resort
Limited Pool spray at the top

5:45PM THE PRESIDENT, G8 Leaders, African Outreach Leaders and Extended Outreach Leaders take a G8 Family Photo
Deerhurst Resort
Limited Pool spray at the top

7:30PM THE PRESIDENT and G8 Leaders meet with My Summit 2010 Youth
Deerhurst Resort
Limited Pool spray at the top

7:45PM THE PRESIDENT attends the G8 Working Dinner
Deerhurst Resort
Closed Press

9:15PM THE PRESIDENT attends the G8 Working Dinner
Deerhurst Resort
Closed Press

West Wing Report: June 24, 2010

2010-06-24T06:26:00.000-04:00

In accepting the resignation “with considerable regret” of Gen. Stanley McChrystal as the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, President Obama framed the argument well: this is about a sacrosanct component of American democracy: civilian control of the military. McChrystal’s jaw-droppingly indiscreet and insulting comments were nothing less than insubordination, and no President – certainly not one leading two wars – can tolerate such dissent.

"We have to remember what this is all about,” Obama said. “This nation is at war." He added "I welcome debate…but I will not tolerate division."

The President could have made yesterday's Rose Garden announcement alone. Instead, in a show of unity, Vice-President Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen stood with him – along with Gen. David Petraeus, who Obama has nominated to fill McChrystal’s shoes.

Although the President praised McChrystal’s long record of service, his anger was reflected in his public rebuke of the General – something Obama rarely if ever does. That anger erupted Monday night when the President read the now infamous Rolling Stone article, which criticized nearly every member of Obama’s national security team - including the President himself.

But Obama said his sacking of the General wasn’t taken from “any sense of personal insult.“

“The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general,” the President said. “It undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system. And it erodes the trust that’s necessary for our team to work together to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan.”

"I've got great admiration for (McChrystal) and for his long record of service in uniform,” Obama said. "But war is bigger than any one man or woman, whether a private, a general, or a president. And as difficult as it is to lose General McChrystal, I believe that it is the right decision for our national security.“

Difficult as Iraq was, Petraeus says Afghanistan is a much more difficult situation: poor, remote, completely lacking in infrastructure. After nearly nine years there, the U.S. is fighting the same battle it fought back in 2001 – the battle for the hearts and minds of the Afghan people – even battles for the same land it won back then and later ceded to the Taliban. The U.S. war in Afghanistan, by the way, is now the longest in American history.

*****

Foreign policy dominates Obama’s schedule today as well. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits. Iran, energy and trade will dominate – they’ll hold a news conference in the East Room this afternoon.

*****

EDT

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT holds bilateral meeting with President Medvedev
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT hold an expanded bilateral meeting with President Medvedev
Cabinet Room
Closed Press

1:45PM THE PRESIDENT holds a joint press conference with President Medvedev
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 12:45PM – Final Gather 1:15PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

3:05PM THE PRESIDENT attends the U.S.–Russia Business Summit with President Medvedev
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Travel Pool Coverage (Gather Time 2:45PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

*****

President Sacks Gen. McChrystal

2010-06-23T15:17:00.000-04:00

West Wing Report: June 23, 2010

2010-06-23T08:28:00.001-04:00

West Wing Report: Judgment Day. Will President Obama fire his top general in Afghanistan for those incendiary comments in Rolling Stone magazine? The betting in most of Washington is that the General is through. More from Paul Brandus at the White House:

The Rolling Stone article. You know all about it by now: the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan damning in his criticism of key U.S. officials running the Afghan war – including the President himself.

But now Gen. Stanley McChrystal is singing a different tune.

McChrystal has apologized to half of official Washington, including Vice-President Biden and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who hand-picked the general for the job.

Today: more groveling. This time before the President himself, who has summoned the General to appear in person at today's national security meeting in the Situation Room. Obama says he’s made no decision yet:

"General McChrystal is on his way here and I am going to meet with him. Secretary Gates will be meeting with him, as well. I think it’s clear that the article in which he and his team appeared showed a poor -- showed poor judgment. And -- but I also want to make sure that I talk to him directly before I make any final decisions."

But it’s clear to just about everyone that the General simply cannot remain in such a position of authority. Sandra Erwin is the editor of National Defense magazine:

"The commander-in-chief may not be able to trust the general at this point. And once that trust is broken, he can't continue in that position. He has put himself in an untenable position. As for what it means for the war, for the troops, they need to have a commabder who has the full confidence of the commander-in-chief, meaning the president."

Meantime, the fighting in Afghanistan itself goes on. The U.S. death toll for this year is 183. Since U.S. combat operations began nearly nine years ago, 1,130 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan, which has now become the longest running war in American history.

At the White House – I’m Paul Brandus – West Wing Report – for Capitol News Connection.

*****

President's Schedule

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

11:35AM THE PRESIDENT meets with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan
Situation Room
Closed Press

1:10PM THE PRESIDENT has lunch with senators
Old Family Dining Room
Closed Press

2:50PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY attend the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Nutrition Event
Columbia Heights Educational Campus
In-Town Travel Pool Coverage (Gather Time 1:55PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

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

5:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

###

West Wing Report: June 22, 2010

2010-06-22T05:47:00.001-04:00

Fore! Republicans think they can gain political advantage by criticizing the number of times President Obama has played golf. Obama has hit the links on a regular basis this spring – and the GOP thinks that’s the wrong message to send – especially while oil continues to spew into the Gulf. The administration disagrees. More from Paul Brandus at the White House.

The question: how much golf is too much – and is Obama’s golf comparable to BP Chairman Tony Hayward spending Saturday at a yacht race?

Good morning – I’m Paul Brandus and this is West Wing Report for Capitol News Connection. And that question was put to Bill Burton, the White House deputy press secretary.

"I don't think there's a person in this country who doesn't think that their president ought to have a little time to clear his mind."

It’s the toughest job in the world. Every President needs time off. Burton says just look at everything he did last week alone:

“And so after a week where the president was taking on the oil spill, got an historic agreement with BP to put aside $20 billion to pay claims; after a day on Friday when he strengthened lobby and ethics rules in the White House; after going to Ohio to talk about the economy and see the progress that’s being made and some of those stimulus projects that are happening around the country — all the different issues that the president is dealing with, I think that a little time to himself on Father’s Day weekend probably does us all good as American citizens that our president is taking that time,” Burton said.

E-mails and messages to West Wing Wing Report are mixed: One man writes: “Everyone needs an escape valve – especially whoever’s doing THAT job. But another says: “It’s insulting that our duffer-in-chief plays so much, where are the jobs?”

Shifting gears – it has been three months since that big healthcare bill was signed. The President meets this morning with insurance and state government officials to discuss how things are going.

Later – he’ll sit down with Defense Secretary Gates – this ahead of tomorrow’s national security meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan. And tonight – an event on the East Room marking Lesbian, Gay and Transgender Pride month.

*****

EDT

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:15AM THE PRESIDENT attends a meeting with health insurers and state insurance commissioners
Roosevelt Room
Closed Press

11:45AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks regarding the ongoing effort to implement the new law and the new benefits it affords to families across the country
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 10:45AM – Final Call 11:15AM—North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:20PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

1:35PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT holds a Cabinet Meeting
Cabinet Room

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT attend remarks at an LGBT Pride Month event; THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks
East Room
Pooled Press (Pre-set 5:00PM – Gather Time 5:30PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

12:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

###

Today in the West Wing: June 21, 2010

2010-06-21T06:52:00.000-04:00

After being consumed by the oil spill for the last few weeks, President Obama pivots to foreign policy this week – mostly.

OK, Father’s Day was yesterday, but that’s not stopping Obama from holding a mentoring event for Dads today. It’s meant to show the importance of responsibility that comes with being a Dad.

Tuesday, the President meets with health insurance officials from around the country; he'll then host an event marking Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.

Then comes the tough stuff.

With fresh concerns that the war in Afghanistan – already the longest in American history – is not going to plan – that, along with neighboring Pakistan – is the subject of a national security team meeting in the Situation Room on Wednesday.

Thursday, Obama welcomes Russian President Medvedev to the White House; their agenda includes Iran and nuclear proliferation.

And on Friday, it’s off to Canada for next weekend’s summit of G-8 and G-20 leaders.

Obama spent a quiet weekend here in Washington – Saturday he played golf – and on the way back – there was an incident involving the presidential motorcade.

Two men on bikes tried to cut through the motorcade a Secret Service agent, clad in black, quickly emerged from a vehicle – gun drawn. The Secret Service later told West Wing Report the bikers apparently never heard an order to stop, and when they got too close to the motorcade, that’s when the weapon was drawn. When the bikers realized the situation they were in, they complied with orders immediately.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a Father’s Day Event
Washington, DC
Pooled Press (Gather Time 9:25AM—North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:15PM THE PRESIDENT hosts a Father’s Day Mentoring Barbeque at the White House
South Lawn
Closed Press

3:45PM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Press Briefing

###

West Wing Report: June 18, 2010

2010-06-18T07:21:00.000-04:00

"I think most of the skeptics have come around to the point that all the talk about the Recovery Act being dead on arrival and how it was going to be this great boondoggle and all the fraud and abuse that was going to occur and it wasn’t going to have much impact -- well, the fact is, the Recovery Act is working." - Vice-President Biden

Good morning, I’m Paul Brandus – and this is West Wing Report for the Capitol News Connection. Vice-President Biden had a slide show yesterday with lots of numbers to make his case that the $787 billion stimulus plan is working.

It’s true that the economy has grown for three quarters in a row now. The White House says you can thank the stimulus for that – and also for saving or creating around 2.5 million jobs.

But if that’s the case, then why is unemployment still close to 10%? The administration claimed it would top out at around 8%.

BIDEN: “…because every other major econometric model predicted the same thing, that we thought that unemployment wouldn’t go much above 8 percent. My point in my statement was this recession was so much deeper, so much more profound than anyone - most people thought it was.”

Meantime, more storm clouds on the horizon – at the state level. Even after two years of budget cuts and tax hikes, the states are looking at a total budget gap of $127 billion. Governors and Mayors have warned Biden what’s coming next:

BIDEN: “I have spoken to well over 140 mayors and county execs. I do this once a week for a couple hours -- an hour each with them. And privately every single one of them have thanked me for the Act. But one of the things they’ve all said -- every one of them -- you think my situation is bad in 2010, Mr. Vice President, it’s worse in 2011.”

And that means:

BIDEN: "So that’s why a lot of folks ask why do we think we need to continue to have some counter-cyclical help for the states and localities -- because essential services, teachers, cops, firefighters, they’re going to be laying an awful lot of those folks off.”

Just one reason, Biden argues – why the stimulus is so essential – and why, he says, it’ll continue.

From the White House press room -- I’m Paul Brandus -- West Wing Report – for the Capitol News Connection.

*****

The Schedule

In the morning, the President will travel to Columbus, Ohio. The departure from the South Lawn and the arrival at Port Columbus International Airport are open press.

In Columbus, the President will meet with workers and deliver remarks at the site of the 10,000th Recovery Act road project to get underway - the first of many significant Recovery Act milestones coming this summer. The road improvement project in downtown Columbus is expected to create over 300 construction jobs and will contribute to the broader economic development effort underway in the area around Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The President’s remarks are open press.

In the afternoon, the President will return to Washington, D.C. The departure from Port Columbus International Airport and the arrival on the South Lawn are open press.

Later, the President will meet with senior advisors in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press.

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

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: FOX
Print: AFP
Radio: CBS

EDT

11:40AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Columbus, Ohio
Port Columbus International Airport
Open Press

12:05PM THE PRESIDENT tours Recovery Act Highway Project site
East Livingston Avenue & Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio
Travel Pool Coverage

12:15PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the economy
East Livingston Avenue & Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio
Open Press

12:55PM THE PRESIDENT departs Columbus, Ohio en route Washington, DC
Port Columbus International Airport
Open Press

2:45PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One.

*****

Today in Presidential History

...On this day in 1798, President Adams passes the Naturalization Act, the first of four pieces of legislation known together as the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were aimed at foreign nationals living in the U.S.

Adams’s Alien and Sedition Acts give more authority to the federal government, to deal with “suspicious persons,” especially foreign nationals who immigrated to the U.S.

The Naturalization Act said aliens had to live in the U.S. for 14 years before applying for citizenship; an earlier law had required only five years of residence.

Political opposition to the Alien & Sedition Acts helped undermine the Adams administration, helping Thomas Jefferson to win the presidency in 1800.

...On this day in 1812: The day after Congress voted to declare war against Great Britain, President Madison signs the declaration into law--and the War of 1812 began.

The war of 1812 began after a British economic blockade of France, the induction of American seaman into the British Royal Navy against their will, and the British support of hostile Indian tribes along the Great Lakes.

During the war of 1812, the British burned the White House and Capitol, in response to U.S. troops burning British buildings in Canada.

*****

Presidential Quote

"As to the Presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it." - Martin van Buren

*****

Have a question/comment for West Wing Report? Call 1-866-USA-0021 (872-0021), or e-mail: westwingrpt@gmail.com. All opinions are welcome & respected.

And for White House updates throughout the day, follow "WestWingReport" (one word) on Twitter. The Atlantic magazine calls Paul "One of the top Washington Insiders you should be following on Twitter."

West Wing Report: June 17, 2010

2010-06-17T06:46:00.001-04:00

West Wing Report: Show Me the Money – So BP has agreed to put $20 billion in an escrow account for individuals and businesses hurt by the oil spill. But it doesn’t end there. The company may wind up paying for a whole lot more than that – in a process that’s likely to play out over a period of many years. Paul Brandus has more from the White House:

"This $20 bilion will provide substantial assurance that claims people and businesses have will be honored. It's also important to emphasize this is not a cap. The people of the Gulf have my commitment that BP will meet its obligations to them." - President Obama yesterday

And that’s just the escrow account, for economic claims, as Obama pointed out. Totally separate from that are legal costs and possible criminal fines – which one Wall Street analyst this morning estimates could hit $63 billion – three times more than the $20 billion escrow account.

In their meeting yesterday, BP began by apologizing to the President for the accident. Obama accepted the apology. The oil company also told Obama it’s suspending its dividend for the rest of the year, which will free up billions in cash to help pay for all this.

Obama was glad to hear that, of course – but in a private Oval Office chat with BP’s chairman, the President said something too:

“And so I emphasized to the chairman that when he’s talking to shareholders, when he is in meetings in his boardroom, to keep in mind those individuals; that they are desperate; that some of them, if they don’t get relief quickly, may lose businesses that have been in their families for two or three generations. And the chairman assured me that he would keep them in mind.”

*****

No public appearances by the President today, it's all behind closed doors, and the emphasis this Thursday is the military. In addition to his usual intelligence, economic and oil spill briefings, Obama meets separately with the Veterans of Foreign War’s New Commander in Chief Tommy Tradewell, Navy Secretary Mabus and with Marine Corps Commandant Nominee General James Amos. The President also has his weekly meetings with Treasury Secretary Geithner and Secretary of State Clinton.

Looking ahead, Obama heads to Ohio for another jobs/economy event tomorrow.

The Schedule

EDT

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:35AM THE PRESIDENT meets with the Veterans of Foreign War’s New Commander in Chief Tommy Tradewell
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:25PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of the Navy Mabus
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:45PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:45PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Marine Corps Commandant Nominee General James Amos
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

2:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

###

On This Day

1972: Five men were arrested for breaking into Democratic National Committee hq in Washington’s Watergate building. The ensuing investigation eventually led to the biggest political scandal in American history, and the only resignation of a president – Richard Nixon – in Aug. 1974.

Presidential Quote

“Let us begin by committing ourselves to the truth...find the truth...speak the truth...live the truth.” - Richard Nixon

*****

Have a question/comment for West Wing Report? Call 1-866-USA-0021 (872-0021), or e-mail: westwingrpt@gmail.com. All opinions are welcome & respected.

And for White House updates throughout the day, follow "WestWingReport" (one word) on Twitter. The Atlantic magazine calls Paul "One of the top Washington Insiders you should be following on Twitter."

West Wing Report: June 16, 2010

2010-06-16T06:53:00.001-04:00

"For decades, we talked and talked about the need to end America's century-long addiction to fossil fuels. And for decades we have failed to act with the sense of urgenchy that this challenge requires." - President Obama last night

That could have been said decades ago – in fact, it pretty much was – but now, President Obama warns, the U.S. reliance on oil is a strategy that’s running on fumes.

The President is now pivoting towards one of the top three goals of his administration – an energy and climate bill. The House passed such a bill a year ago; a similar bill is now in the Senate.

He wants a price on carbon – and acknowledges the shift towards renewable energy won’t come cheap:

"Now there are costs associated with this transition. And there are some who believe that we can't afford those costs right now. I say we can't afford NOT to change how we produce and use energy. Because long-term, costs to our economy, our national security and our environment are far greater."

Speaking of costs – those top execs from BP are coming to the White House today – Obama will demand perhaps as much as 20-billion dollars from them to help pay for claims – the money going into an escrow account controlled by a third party.

Obama will get right to the point – the meeting is set to run less than 20 minutes.

*****

The Schedule

President Obama's long-awaited meeting with BP executives will be short: Just 20 minutes have been set aside for the Roosevelt Room showdown.

The major questions at this point are: who is the third party that will administer the escrow account to handle claims by individuals and businesses hurt by the catastrophic spill - and how much money will BP be asked/told to put into it? The number on Capitol Hill is $20 billion.

Obama will talk about the meeting in a Rose Garden statement to reporters at 12:15. Later he'll meet in the Oval with Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R) and make a speech to the American Nurses Association.

EDT

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT attend a meeting with BP executives
Roosevelt Room
Closed Press

10:35AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:05AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:15PM THE PRESIDENT delivers a statement to the press
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 11:15AM – Final Gather 11:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

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

1:45PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Scott Brown
Oval Office
Closed Press

5:35PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the American Nurses Association House of Delegates
Washington Hilton
Open to Pre-Credentialed Press (Travel Pool Gather Time 4:45PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

2:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

###

On This Day

On This Day: 1858: Future President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous “House divided” speech, warning that slavery was tearing America apart.

Borrowing a phrase from the New Testament, Lincoln said "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

On This Day. 1941: President Roosevelt ordered the closure of all German consulates in the United States.

Presidential Quote

“Politics would be a helluva good business if it weren't for the goddamned people.” - Richard M. Nixon

Today in the West Wing: Tues. June 15

2010-06-15T06:51:00.000-04:00

Tar balls on the beach – and those heart-breaking pictures of oil-soaked birds – President Obama claims that’s just part of the story on the Gulf Coast.

"There's still a lot of opportunity for visitors to come down here," he says. "There's a lot of beaches that are not yet affected or will not be affected."

That defiant vow is part of what you’ll hear tonight when the President speaks to the nation. But Obama has quite a sales job ahead of him. A USA Today/Gallup poll says 71% of Americans think he hasn’t been tough enough responding to the oil spill – and more than half rate his response as “poor” or “very poor.”

One reason for that poor -- or very poor – view – is his acknowledgement that nine weeks in – there’s still a lack of communication between all the different agencies responding to the crisis:

"We want to coordinate, at every level - federal, state and local - to make sure that we are leaving no stone unturned in terms of our ability to respond to this crisis."

The White House also hopes to lock down today a deal with BP to create an escrow account to pay individuals and businesses who’ve been effected by the Gulf gusher. That account could be something of a gusher itself – up to $20 billion – but some critics say even THAT might not be enough.

*****

The Schedule

The President's day begins in Pansacola, Fla., where he'll receive a briefing with Admiral Allen and local officials on efforts to fight the BP oil spill. He'll speak to military personnel at the Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Naval Air Technical Training Center, and then return to Washington for tonight's address to the nation - his first prime time speech from the Oval Office.

CDT

9:15AM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing with Admiral Allen and local officials on efforts to fight the BP oil spill
Pensacola Beach, Florida
Travel Pool Coverage

11:10AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at an event with military personnel
Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola, Florida
Open Press

12:15PM THE PRESIDENT departs Pensacola, Florida en route Washington, DC
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Open Press

EDT

8:00PM THE PRESIDENT addresses the nation
Oval Office
Pooled Press Coverage

*****

On This Day
1849: James K. Polk died. He was the eleventh President, serving between 1845-49. President Polk is best known for leading the nation into the Mexican-American war; U.S. forces conquered New Mexico, Calif. and Mexico City itself. Historians rank Polk as a very good President, in fact: the "least known consequential president" of the United States.”

Presidential Quote
"The Presidency is no bed of roses." - James Polk

Today in the West Wing

2010-06-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

A poker term comes to mind: all in. President Obama is now putting all his chips - and perhaps his presidency - on the line now with his response to the catastrophic oil spil.

He's off to the Gulf zone today for a two-day trip, his fourth since the crisis began, and when he gets back he'll make a dramatic primetime address to the nation from the Oval Office. Then, on Wednesday, a White House showdown with the chairman of BP; Obama will demand as much as $20 billion from the oil company to pay claims from people and businesses who have been hurt by the disaster.

All this is designed to show an angry and frustrated American public what's being done - and that Obama is fully in command of the crisis, as it nears its two month anniversary.

The money from BP would go into an escrow account and administered independently. Of Wednesday's White House meeting, a BP spokesman says "We want to explain what we're doing, but we'll also be very much in listening mode."

Meantime, the President is now comparing the oil catastrophe to the September 11 terrorist attacks. He thinks the psychological impact is sweeping, and will change the way Americans think about energy and the environment.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

11:35AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Biloxi, Mississippi
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
Open Press

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing with Admiral Allen and local officials on efforts to fight the BP oil spill
Coast Guard Station Gulfport
Travel Pool Coverage

1:25PM THE PRESIDENT hosts a roundtable and meets with local residents
Gulfport, Mississippi
Travel Pool Coverage

2:50PM THE PRESIDENT departs Biloxi, Mississippi en route Theodore, Alabama
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
Travel Pool Coverage

2:50PM THE PRESIDENT arrives Theodore, Alabama
Travel Pool Coverage

3:45PM THE PRESIDENT tours the Theodore Staging Facility
Theodore, Alabama
Travel Pool Coverage

4:40PM THE PRESIDENT delivers a statement to the press
Theodore Staging Facility, Theodore, Alabama
Open Press

5:35PM THE PRESIDENT travels from Dauphin Island, Alabama to Fort Morgan, Alabama
Dauphin Island Ferry Loading Zone, Dauphin Island, Alabama
Travel Pool Coverage

6:05PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Fort Morgan, Alabama
Fort Morgan, Alabama
Travel Pool Coverage

8:25PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Pensacola, Florida
Travel Pool Coverage

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

*****

On This Day

1922: Warren G. Harding, became the first President to have his voice transmitted by radio. It began a revolutionary shift in the way Presidents communicated w/the American public.

The first President to really understand the power of radio was Roosevelt. It remains an effective tool today, reaching 93% of consumers weekly – far more than the internet.

Presidential Quote

“About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends.” - Herbert Hoover

The West Wing Today: June 11, 2010

2010-06-11T08:15:00.000-04:00

***** UPDATE *****

Yesterday, White House bureau chief Paul Brandus reported that in order to get Russia to back U.N. sanctions on Iran, the White House made what could be considered a dangerous concession - allowing the Russians to sell anti-aircraft missiles to the Iranians. Brandus asked the president's press secretary about it:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/06/10/question_to_gibbs_is_deal_with_russians_on_iran_putting_americans_lives_at_risk.html

Thanks to Real Clear Politics Video for their terrific assistance.

*****

Not sure if it'll be, to use the president's phrase, an "ass kicking," but the White House has "requested" that BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg come to the White House n Wednesday for a chat (read the letter here: http://bit.ly/dno3Y7). Funny: usually people are "invited" to the White House, as opposed to being "requested" to appear.

Today, the President has the usual intelligence and oil spill briefings, then meets with small business owners to discuss job creation. He'll comment on this in the Rose Garden at 11:00. Leter, Obama has his weekly meeting with Secretary of State Clinton.

The President's last scheduled appointment is 11:45 (with Clinton) - something may be up for the afternoon. Stay tuned.

The Schedule

EDT

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:40AM THE PRESIDENT meets with small business owners
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT delivers a statement to the press on his small business jobs initiatives
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 10:00AM – Final Gather 10:30AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

11:15AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:45AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

###

West Wing Report: June 10, 2010

2010-06-10T07:04:00.001-04:00

The oil spill eats up a big chunk of President Obama's day. In addition to his daily briefing on the spill and response efforts, Obama will discuss the situation with lawmakers in a Cabinet Room sitdown. Also on the agenda: the economy and the summer session of Congress. Invited to attend are House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Minority Leader John Boehner.

In the afternoon, the President meets with the family members of those killed on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the State Dining Room; he sent a letter to each of the families extending the invitation last week.

And speaking of energy, Obama also meets with business leaders this and energy experts this afternoon. Agenda: Let's speed things up development of solar, wind and other forms of clean power.

The Schedule
EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Cabinet Room
Closed Press

11:15AM THE PRESIDENT meets with bipartisan members of Congress
Cabinet Room
Pool spray at the bottom (Gather Time 11:55AM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

1:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with the family members of those killed on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig
State Dining Room
Closed Press

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Specter
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:45PM THE PRESIDENT meets with business leaders and energy experts to discuss energy reform
Roosevelt Room
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

For Paul's White House updates throughout the day, follow "WestWingReport" (one word) on Twitter. The Atlantic magazine calls Paul "One of the top Washington Insiders you should be folowing on Twitter."

Today in the West Wing: Wednesday, June 9

2010-06-09T07:16:00.003-04:00

Palestinian Leader Visits

The intractable mess known as the Middle East is high on the President's agenda today. He'll host Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who is seething - as the President is privately - over that deadly Israeli raid on ships bringing aid to Gaza.

The raid left nine civilians, including an American, dead, sparking global fury against the Jewish state and setting back Obama's efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The White House calls the tight restrictions on Gaza "untenable," and has joined joined other foreign governments and the United Nations in calling for an inquiry into the raid.

Abbas's visit comes a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his own White House visit to deal with the crisis.

Quick Bites

National Debt: Up, Up and Away...Did you miss the Friday night data dump? The U.S. debt - expected to top $13.6 trillion this year - will soar another 44% to $19.6 trillion in just five years. That's according to a Treasury Department report sent to Congress very quietly just as the weekend began. The ratio of debt to GDP would rise to 102% by 2015 from 93% this year.

Back to the Gulf...Obama will travel to the Gulf region again on Monday and Tuesday for another close up look at the oil spill - and what's being done about it. This time, he'll visit Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Veto Threat...The White House is threatening to veto of legislation that would strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) is expected to ask the Senate Thursday to vote on her "disapproval resolution" tomorrow.

SCOTUS Watch...Confirmation hearings draw neart for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Today she'll visit more Senators on Capitol Hill: Inouye, Webb, DeMint, Begich, and Coburn.

Latest Obama Polls...Approve: 48.0%, Disapprove: 45.9% (Real Clear Politics avg)

President's Wednesday Schedule

EDT

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:45AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority
Oval Office
Pool Spray at the Bottom (Gather Time 11:55AM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Oval Office
Closed Press

WWR is on vacation.

2010-05-27T08:51:00.002-04:00

Today in the West Wing: Wed. May 26

2010-05-26T07:25:00.002-04:00

Maybe you’ve heard how calm President Obama tends to be. Doesn’t get excited or emotional about stuff. There’s even a term for this: “no-drama Obama.”

So it comes as a surprise that the President had an outburst in the Oval Office – sparked by his anger and frustration over the oil spill. In the meeting, with staffers, he reportedly cut one of them off midsentence:

“Plug the damn hole.”

And this was a month ago, just after the spill first occurred. He must be ready to blow his top now.

This as the hole remains very much UN-plugged, still gushing as much as a million gallons of oil a day, according to some estimates.

Obama travels to Louisiana on Friday; it’s his second visit to the oil-soaked region since the “Gulf Gusher” began.

Border Security

Meantime, the President is moving to plugging a different kind of leak: America’s porous border with Mexico. In a contentious meeting with Senate Republicans, Obama said he wants $500 million in supplemental spending, and up to 1,200 National Guard troops sent to the region. Some Republicans – notably John McCain, who’s in a tough re-election fight - want a lot more than that.

California Dreamin’?

Obama wakes up this morning in San Francisco, where he was the star attraction at three Democratic fundraisers - and the target, again, of a heckler who wants him to move faster on "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

This morning Obama visits a solar power factory, Solyndra, before heading home. He'll use it as an opportunity to tout renewable energy, which is looking more attractive to many Americans in the wake of the oil spill.

But when will Obama put those solar panels back onthe White House? WWR has asked the President this question on three different occasions over the past year; Obama has always said it's a good idea but it hasn't happened yet.

*****

The Schedule

PDT

9:35AM THE PRESIDENT tours Solyndra, Inc
Fremont, California
Pooled Press

10:20AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the economy
Solyndra, Inc
Open Press

Obama then returns to Washington.

*****

Odds & Ends

...Obama will talk about the BP with reporters on Thursday.
...The First Family will spend Memorial Day weekend in Chicago.
...Paul McCartney - winner of the Gershwin Prize - will be honored June 2.

*****

On This Day

1868 - President Andrew Johnson escaped conviction on impeachment charges by one vote after a two-month Senate trial. The House impeached Johnson on two charges; and in both cases Senators voted 35 guilty and 19 not guilty - one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed to remove the President from office.

1924 - President Calvin Coolidge signed an Immigration Law that restricted immigration into the U.S.

1994 - President Clinton renewed trade privileges for China, and announced that his administration would no longer link China's trade status with its human rights record.

Presidential Quote

"Legislation can neither be wise nor just which seeks the welfare of a single interest at the expense and to the injury of many and varied interests." - Andrew Johnson

West Wing Report: May 25, 2010

2010-05-25T07:15:00.004-04:00

BP may be driving the White House crazy. But there’s little that anyone can really do, it seems.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is so "frustrated" and "angry" with BP that he’d like to "push them out of the way." Tough talk, but outgoing Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen, who’s been dealing around the clock with BP since this nightmare began five weeks ago, asks simply:

ALLEN: “To push BP out of the way would raise the question: ‘Replace them with what?’”

Not that BP is the expert here:

ALLEN: “I think it’s further away from their central business competency. These guys are drilling for oil. This is an oil spill response.”

If that’s the case – if BP isn’t competent at plugging a leak - then why NOT let the Feds take over? The White House has said that the government ALSO lacks the expertise and equipment. This is – if you’ll pardon the pun – uncharted waters.

And that, Admiral Allen says, is why this is taking so long:

ALLEN: It’s very difficult, it’s five-thousand feet below the surface and it’s never been done before.

*****

U.S. Ups the Stakes with North Korea

The Pentagon will conduct naval exercises with South Korea in response to the sinking of a South Korean patrol ship by North Korea. Washington says it stands firm with South Korea and is fully committed to its defense. In Beijing, Secretary of State Clinton calls the situation "highly precarious;" she's urging Pyongyang not to escalate the crisis.

"Don't Ask Don't Tell" Compromise

President Obama and lawmakers have reached a compromise that could pave the way for repealing the military's policy of banning gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces.

*****

The Schedule

After his usual staff meetings, Obama hosts a group of small business owners from around the country in the Rose Garden. Then it's off to Capitol Hill and into the lion's den: the Senate Republican Caucus, where the President will discuss his legislative agenda.

Back at the White House, Obama meets Italian President Napolitano, who surely must be related to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet.

Obama then heads to San Francisco for fundraisers. Tonight's recipients: Sen. Barbara Boxer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Obama will spend the night in San Francisco.

EDT

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:15AM THE PRESIDENT hosts award-winning small business owners from around the country; delivers remarks on small business jobs proposals
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 10:15AM – Final Gather 10:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:05PM THE PRESIDENT addresses the Senate Republican Caucus
U.S. Capitol
Closed Press

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with President Napolitano of Italy
Oval Office
Closed Press

PDT

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a fundraiser for Senator Barbara Boxer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Fairmont Hotel
Travel Pool Coverage

6:30PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a fundraiser for Senator Barbara Boxer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Fairmont Hotel
Travel Pool Coverage

7:50PM THE PRESIDENT attends a reception for Senator Barbara Boxer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Private Residence
Closed Press

*****

Odds & Ends

...Obama will talk about the BP with reporters on Thursday.
...The First Family will spend Memorial Day weekend in Chicago.
...Paul McCartney - winner of the Gershwin Prize - will be honored June 2.

On This Day

1961: President Kennedy to work toward putting a man on the moon before the end of the decade. The speech, coming just weeks after the Soviet Union launched the first man into orbit, had a sense of urgency. Kennedy tied the space program to the political and economic battle between democracy and communism, saying America should "go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share."

Presidential Quote

"Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day."
- Harry S Truman

Today in the West Wing: May 24, 2010

2010-05-24T06:31:00.008-04:00

Full damage control: the White House is pulling out all the stops on the BP spill as a new gusher erupts: a gusher of criticism over what even some Democrats say is an insufficient response – or at least the appearance of one – to the crisis.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs disputes the notion that the White House is behind the curve on the BP catastrophe - he appeared yesterday on the CBS program "Face the Nation:"

"I don't think anybody could credibly say even as frustrated as they are, and as frustrated as we are, that the government has stood around, done nothing and hoped for the best. We were activated the moment that this oil rig exploded, this has been on the President's agenda ever since that happened and we have mobilized every aspect that we possibly can in our government. There have been calls to every sector of our government to ask for help."

But in a sign of defensiveness, Gibbs called White House reporters into the West Wing Friday and criticized them for asking too many BP questions.

He’ll get a lot more today – when he appears with Admiral Thad Allen – the Coast Guard Commandant who’s been working with BP these last few weeks. As for President Obama – he’ll hold a noon conference call with Gulf Coast Governors to discuss the latest developments.

North Korea Tensions Increase

Dramatic late night developments concerning that sinking of a South Korean warship, which killed 46 people. South Korea, which formally accuses North Korea of the attack, is demanding an apology and the punishment of those responsible.

The White House, early this morning, issued a statement saying President Obama fully backs South Korean President Lee in the matter:

"Specifically, we endorse President Lee’s demand that North Korea immediately apologize and punish those responsible for the attack, and, most importantly, stop its belligerent and threatening behavior. U.S. support for South Korea’s defense is unequivocal, and the President has directed his military commanders to coordinate closely with their Republic of Korea counterparts to ensure readiness and to deter future aggression."

The tough message is undoubtedly meant to both reassure South Korea and, perhaps, more importantly, send a message to North Korea. The Communist North has threatened "all out war" in the matter if it comes to that.

Officially, the Korean War - which took 36,000 American lives in just three years - has never ended. A truce was signed - but not a peace treaty - back in 1953.

There are some 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. A U.S. diplomatic source in Seoul tells WWR the atmosphere is "noticeably more tense" today.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:20AM THE PRESIDENT attends a reception for the Federal Judge Association
State Floor
Closed Press

11:05AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT participates in the daily briefing call with Gulf Coast Governors on the BP oil spill
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT welcomes Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon to the White House
Oval Office
Pool Still Photographers Spray at the Bottom (Pool Gather Time 2:10PM--Brady Press Briefing Room)

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT host a reception to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
East Room
Pooled Press (Pre-Set 2:00PM //Final Gather 3:30PM—North Doors of the Palm Room)

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

3:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and United States Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen

*****

Presidential Quote

"I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business." - Richard Nixon

Today in the West Wing: Friday, May 21

2010-05-21T07:30:00.001-04:00

You can't fire me, I quit.

That's the essence of how the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, is leaving his job today.

The "DNI" offered to quit yesterday during a phone call with Obama; who accepted the offer. Obama had floated the idea of replacing Blair earlier this week, and wanted him to stay on until a replacement could be named. But Blair refused. It is the highest ranking departure to date of the Obama administration.

Aside from the usual statements to the media that are meant to downplay these departures - Obama: Blair "performed admirably and effectively at a time of great challenges to our security;" Blair: "with deep regret I informed the President today that I will step down;" - it's worth noting that Blair has been the third person to hold the job since it was created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. There is growing talk that the DNI job, the way it is structured and so forth, is flawed and doesn't help the U.S. combat terrorism.

Or it could just be that Blair wasn't the right fit for the job. Obama loyalists cite political missteps and a failure to connect the dots that might have prevented the Christmas Day scare on that Detroit-bound jet, or the fizzled car bomb in Times Square.

The fact that no replacement has been named suggests a lack of coordination by the White House. With terrorist threats mounting, the country's top intelligence job is vacant, and because a new replacement must be approved by the Senate, it'll be vacant for weeks to come.

Financial Reform Moves Ahead

Meantime, Obama is hailing Senate passage of a bill that would dramatically overhaul regulations of the financial industry - the biggest changes since the 1930s.

This isn't a done deal. The Senate bill passed last night by a 59-39 vote must now be combined with a similar House bill - and then both the House and Senate must vote again on that combined measure. But the President and Congressional leaders seem confident this will happen.

The bill aims to rein in the kind of risky Wall Street practices that nearly caused the U.S. economy to collapse two years ago. It would 1) set up a new consumer watchdog agency to oversee things like mortgages and credit cards; 2) banks would be required to spin off their derivatives businesses - the murky, lightly regulated instruments that helped spark the downturn; and 3) prevent banks from being bailed out in the future by taxpayers.

Opponents - practically all Republicans - say it doesn't do anything about mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were bailed out in 2008. They also say small banks and businesses will be burdened with new rules that'll make it harder to operate.

Electric Cars

We'll hear from the President at 10:45, when he unveils new measures to increase fuel efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas emissions for cars and trucks beginning in 2017.

A big part of the fuel-effiency drive is electric cars. Obama wants to move away from oil-based fuels as quickly as possible. He sees a trifecta of benefits for national security, the economy and the environment.

Last month the administration rolled out mileage goals for 2012-2016 model year vehicles: 35.5 miles per gallon, nearly 10 miles per gallon more than now.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks and signs a Presidential Memorandum outlining the next steps in his vision for cleaner, more efficient vehicles
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 9:40AM – Final Gather 10:10AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

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

*****

Presidential Quote

"Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder." - George Washington

Today in the West Wing: Thursday, May 20

2010-05-20T06:44:00.001-04:00

"The Arizona law, I think, expresses some of the frustrations that the American people have had in not fixing a broken immigration system and, frankly, the failures of the federal government to get this done. I’m sympathetic to those frustrations; I share those frustrations."

That frustration, President Obama said at yesterday’s news conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, extends to Capitol Hill, where there's not enough support for an immigration reform bill - at least the one he wants:

"Here’s the challenge that we have politically. The political challenge is, is that I have confidence that I can get the majority of Democrats, both in the House and the Senate, to support a piece of legislation of the sort that I just described. But I don’t have 60 votes in the Senate. I’ve got to have some support from Republicans."

Perhaps not in this election year, but there is widespread support in general for a bill that would overhaul what everyone agrees is a broken system now. In a bipartisan effort a few years ago, Arizona Sen. John McCain and the late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy got enough Senate votes for a bill, but it fell short in the House.

Meantime, Obama made this claim:

"Illegal immigration is actually down on the borders, not up. I know that’s not the perception out there, but that’s the fact."

The White House provided no proof of this. But there is anecdotal evidence that the economic slowdown is causing some potential illegals to stay away.

As for those who are here illegally, Obama wants what he calls accountability:

"That means they need to pay a fine, they need to pay back taxes. I believe they should learn English. I believe that it is important for them to get to the back of the line and not in the front, but that we create a pathway so that they have an opportunity, if they are following the rules, following the law, to become legal residents and ultimately citizens of this country."

*****

The Schedule

EDT

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:00PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

On This Day

1862: President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, which opens government-owned land to small family farmers ("homesteaders"). The act gave "any person" who was the head of a family 160 acres to try his hand at farming for five years. The individual had to be at least 21 years old and was required to build a house on the property.

Presidential Quote

"As the term of my relief from this place (Washington, D.C.) approaches, its drudgery becomes more nauseating and intolerable. - Thomas Jefferson

Today in the West Wing: Wednesday, May 19

2010-05-19T06:16:00.001-04:00

America has a "special relationship" with Britain. Its largest trading partner is Canada. And China its biggest rival.

But as Mexican President Felipe Calderon arrives for a State visit this morning, the White House says "there is no more important relationship for the United States."

It's also perhaps the most complex. A 2,000 mile border across which billions of dollars in trade flows - but also drugs, weapons and illegal immigrants.

President Obama and Calderon have discussed all this before - this will be their fourth bilateral meeting in just a year-and-a-half - but what's new now is that controversial law in Arizona that cracks down on those illegals.

Calderón will tell Obama, obviously, that he opposes the Arizona law - as does Obama. But you won't hear him say that the issue is a personal one, since he has relatives in the U.S. - some of whom came here illegally.

As for the drug trade - a staple of chats between Mexican and American Presidents for decades - Obama and Calderon are sympatico, but there appears to be a perception in Mexico that Calderon is cracking down too hard, and a perception here that Obama isn't doing enough to stench the flow of drugs - or illegals.

The two men will see each other often today. After the welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn - a full-blown affair with all the ruffles and flourishes - the Presidents will meet in the Oval Office and hold a Rose Garden news conference. And tonight, a gala State Dinner, just the second of Obama's Presidency.

You may remember what happened at the first State Dinner one back in November: two people walked in, uninvited and mingled with guests - even meeting the President himself. The faux pas cost then-White House social secretary Desiree Rogers her job. Asked Monday whether the White House was confident thus wouldn't happen again, press secretary Robert Gibbs said: "We are."

The Schedule

EDT

8:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, THE FIRST LADY, and DR. BIDEN welcome President Calderón and Mrs. Zavala to the White House
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 6:30AM – Final Gather 8:30AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with President Calderón
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:55AM THE PRESIDENT holds an expanded bilateral meeting with President Calderón and Official U.S. and Official Mexican Delegations
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:50AM THE PRESIDENT and President Calderón hold a joint press conference
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 10:50AM – Final Gather 11:20AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

3:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Lou Susman
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:15PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY welcome President Calderón and Mrs. Zavala
North Portico
Open Press (Pre-set 5:00PM – Final Gather 5:30PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

6:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY take official photo with President Calderón and Mrs. Zavala
Grand Staircase
Pooled Press (No pre-set, Final Call 6:10PM--North Doors of the Palm Room)

7:10PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY attend the State Dinner with President Calderón and Mrs. Zavala; THE PRESIDENT and President Calderón will each deliver a toast
East Room
Pooled Press for toasts by President Obama and President Calderón (No pre-set, Final Call 6:40PM--North Doors of the Palm Room)

8:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY attend the State Dinner Reception with President Calderón and Mrs. Zavala
South Lawn
Pooled Press (No Pre-set, Final Call 8:05PM--North doors of the Palm Room)

*****

On This Day

1962 - Marilyn Monroe performed a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" for President Kennedy at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Presidential Quote

Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office seeking." - Rutherford B. Hayes

Today in the West Wing: May 18, 2010

2010-05-18T06:44:00.001-04:00

The President hits the road today for another installment in his "White House to Main Street" tour. Today's destination: hard-hit Youngstown, Ohio (March unemployment rate: 14.0%). He'll tour one place that is actually doing well, the V&M factory, which makes steel pipes for the natural gas industry. Then it's back to Washington for a late afternoon meeting with Jewish lawmakers.

But behind the scenes, all eyes in the West Wing are on primaries in Arkansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. After Democrats lost the Governorships last year in New Jersey and Virginia - and the stunning loss of Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts - everyone wants to know what tomorrow means for November's mid-term vote, now less than six months away.

Pointing to the downfall of Utah's arch-conservative Republican Sen. Robert Bennett, the White House says the anti-incumbency mood is just as applicable to the GOP as it is to Democrats. True - but unfortunately for them, there are a lot more incumbent Democrats this year.

In Arkansas, the incumbent Senator Blanch Lincoln (D) is favored to win the Democratic primary race over Bill Halter. The winner will face the GOP Rep. John Boozman in November; polls show Boozman beating either one of them.

In Kentucky, political novice Rand Paul (the son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul) has a double-digit lead over Trey Grayson, the Republican Party establishment's choice in the GOP race for Senate. On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo holds a seven -point lead over Attorney General Jack Conway. The winners will face off in November for the seat beign vacated by Sen. Jim Bunning (R).

And in Pennsylvania, the Democratic Senate primary is going down to the wire with Rep. Joe Sestak and the longtime incumbent Arlen Specter running neck and neck. The winner will probably take on former GOP congressman Pat Toomey in November.

The Schedule

EDT

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:20PM THE PRESIDENT tours the facilities of V&M Star
Youngstown, Ohio
Travel Pool Coverage

1:45PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on jobs and the economy to workers
V&M Star
Open Press

5:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Jewish Members of the Democratic Caucuses
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

*****

Presidential Quote

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."
- John Adams

The West Wing Today: May 17, 2010

2010-05-17T06:13:00.001-04:00

Obama's day begins with the Presidential Daily Briefing - the famous PDB. Later he'll sign the Freedom of Press Act in the Oval Office. The Freedom of the Press Act expands the examination of press freedom worldwide in the State Dept.’s annual human rights report. It is named for Daniel Pearl, the Wall St. Journal reporter who was decapitated by terrorists in 2002.

After lunch, Obama welcomes the NCAA champion University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to the White House to honor the Huskies for their second straight NCAA Championship and back-to-back undefeated seasons.

Looking ahead, Obama heads to hard-hit Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday, for another installment in his "White House to Main Street" tour. He'll visit a manufacturing plant and talk with workers about the economy.

Wednesday, Mexican President Felipe Calderon pays a visit. There'll be a news conference and, in he evening, a Stat Dinner. It'll be the second State Dinner Obama has held and you can be sure there won't be any gate crashers this time.

The Schedule

EDT

9:00AM Pool Call Time

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:35AM THE PRESIDENT signs the Freedom of Press Act
Oval Office
Pooled Press (Gather Time 11:30AM – Briefing Room)

1:05PM THE PRESIDENT welcomes the NCAA champion University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to the White House
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 12:05PM – Final Gather 12:45PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

1:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

On This Day

1973 - The Senate Watergate Committee began its hearings.

1996 - President Clinton signed "Megan's Law," a bill requiring neighborhood notification when sex offenders move in. Megan's Law was named for 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and killed in 1994.

Presidential Quote

"May God save the country, for it is evident that the people will not."
- Millard Fillmore

Today in the West Wing: Friday, May 14

2010-05-14T07:38:00.000-04:00

A lot of extra security at the White House today. Nothing to be concerned about. President Obama is hosting a ceremony honoring the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) in the Rose Garden; he'll present awards to NAPO's "TOP COPS."

Later, Obama meets with members of his Cabinet and other senior administration officials to determine next steps in the ongoing effort to stop the BP oil spill, contain its spread, and help affected communities. After the meeting, he'll deliver remarks in the Rose Garden. The President is said to be "beyond livid" about the oil spill and BP's inability thus far, to stop it.

No plans, at least for now, for the President to go to Camp David this weekend. WWR suspects a little golf may be in the cards for tomorrow.

No formal press briefing today. There could be an informal briefing - known as a "gaggle" - in press secretary Robert Gibbs's office.

Next week: another State Dinner, this time for the President of Mexico. A big tent is on the South Lawn for the soiree. Pretty sure there won't be any gate crashers this time.

The Schedule

EDT

10:10AM THE PRESIDENT honors the TOP COPS award recipients in a ceremony
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 9:10AM – Final Gather 9:40AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

11:15AM THE PRESIDENT meets with members of his Cabinet and other administration officials to discuss the ongoing efforts to stop the BP oil spill and help affected communities
Roosevelt Room
Closed Press

11:50AM THE PRESIDENT makes a statement to the press about the meeting
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 10:50AM – Final Gather 11:30AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

*****

On This Day

1999: President Clinton apologizes directly to Chinese President Jiang Zemin on the phone for the accidental NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, that had taken place six days earlier. Clinton called the bombing an "isolated and tragic event" and insisted it was not deliberate, contrary to what Chinese officials were claiming. At the time, American forces were part of a U.N. effort to help end a bloody sectarian war in Yugoslavia. - from History.com

Presidential Quote

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison

Today in the West Wing: Thursday, May 13

2010-05-13T07:08:00.005-04:00

Good morning...there are 87,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan today – there’ll be 100,000 by this summer.

But President Obama says they won’t be staying long:

"I am confident that we’re going to be able to reduce our troop strength in Afghanistan starting in July 2011."

Obama – insisting that after eight years in Afghanistan – now the longest active military conflict in American history – he needs just one more year to accomplish the military mission – and turn over more control of that war-torn country to the Afghans.

But the U.S. presence there in general? That’s open-ended. Economic development, cultural ties - the nation-building thing.

"But after July 2011, we are still going to have an interest in making sure that Afghanistan is secure, that economic development is taking place, that good governance is being promoted. And so we’re going to still be putting in resources and we’re still going to be a friend to the Afghan people in their efforts to stabilize. So that’s something I want to make absolutely clear."

There are plenty of analysts however, who say Obama’s military deadline is arbitrary, driven more by his 2012 re-election bid than the situation on the ground in Afghanistan.

The White House denies this and says one reason we’ve been in Afghanistan so long is that for most of the last eight years the war was largely ignored, largely under-resourced, and largely overshadowed by Iraq.

Hence the Obama surge: tripling the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan – and between now and next summer. He's bracing the American people for more casualties:

"There are going to be ups and downs. And one thing that I’ve tried to emphasize is the fact that there’s going to be some hard fighting over the next several months."

*****

Kagan Watch

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan makes another round of Senate visits. On the schedule today: Kerry, Specter, Schumer, Collins, Cardin, Brown, and Klobuchar.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:35PM THE PRESIDENT tours the facilities of Industrial Support Inc.
Buffalo, New York
Travel Pool Coverage

1:50PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the economy and take questions from workers and small businesses in the audience
Industrial Support Inc., Buffalo, New York
Open Press

7:05PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a DCCC fundraising dinner
St. Regis Hotel, New York, New York
Travel Pool Coverage

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

*****

On This Day
1846: Congress overwhelmingly votes in favor of President James K. Polk's request to declare war on Mexico in a dispute over Texas.

Presidential Quote
"Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away."
- Abraham Lincoln.

The West Wing Today: May 12, 2010

2010-05-12T06:25:00.003-04:00

200,000 gallons a day - the oil continues to spew from that sunken oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. BP's efforts to cap the rig so far have failed, much to the consternation of President Obama.

"I would say the President is deeply frustrated that we have not plugged this leak," says Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary.

In fact, Obama is "frustrated with everything (and) with everybody, in the sense that we still have an oil leak," Gibbs adds.

That frustration might include his own government - which appears to be stonewalling on the release of key documents in the matter.

The federal agency that oversees the safety of oil rigs -- the Mineral Management Service -- won't release inspection reports -- telling CBS they're quote - part of an ongoing investigation. A spokesman says they need to review the documents to to quote - make sure they meet legal standards for release."

And something that else that's not being released -- BP has some dramatic underwater video of the leak - but so far refuses to make it public -- probably not good for their already oil-stained image.

But the White House is overseeing cleanup efforts -- couldn't it force BP to release the tape?

Gibbs: Well, we've asked that to happen.

Q: Well, why hasn’t it happened?

Gibbs: You’d have to ask that of BP.

Meantime, the Minerals Management Service will be broken up, in an effort to split its apparently conflicting missions.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says one part of the agency that deals with safety and environmental laws, will soon be seperate from another that brings in billions in drilling royalties each year.

The move is to guarantee "no conflict, real or perceived, with respect to those functions," he said.

Karzai Visit

It's Afghan day at 1600 Pennsylvania. Hamid Karzai, the embattled President - often derided as the "Mayor of Kabul" because his authority seems rather limited - visits President Obama this morning. They'll meet privately in the Oval Office and then hold a news conference in the East Room. Tensions between the two leaders have flared in recent weeks, though everyone's playing nice now.

The U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan is still underway - but their withdrawal is already planned to begin in August, 2011. Afghan forces are gradually assume more control, but there are serious doubts about the timing and substance of this. The best the U.S. can say is that progress is "slow and steady."

In general, Washington's strategy now bypasses Karzai - focusing instead on regional and tribal leaders; this doesn't sit well with Karzai, who argues this weakens his authority as a leader - and his ability to help defeat the Taliban. But since 2001, the U.S. stratagy in Afghanistan had been nearly entirely on Kabul and Karzai - with limited results.

Kagan Nomination

Meantime, Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kegan, heads to Capitol Hill to make the Senate rounds. On today's agenda: Reid, McConnell, Leahy, Sessions, Durbin, Hatch, Kohl, and Feinstein.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT holds bilateral meeting with President Karzai
Oval Office
Pool spray at the bottom for still photographers (Gather Time 10:30AM – Briefing Room)

11:15AM THE PRESIDENT holds a joint press conference with President Karzai
East Room
Open Press (Pre-set 9:30AM – Final Gather 10:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:25PM THE PRESIDENT has lunch with President Karzai
Cabinet Room
Closed Press

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

*****

On This Day

1903: President Theodore Roosevelt's trip to San Francisco was captured on moving-picture film, making him the first president to have an official activity recorded in that medium. Presidents have been playing to the cameras ever since.

Presidential Quote

"Truth is the glue that holds governments together. Compromise is the oil that makes governments go." - Gerald Ford.

The West Wing Today: May 11, 2010

2010-05-11T06:41:00.000-04:00

President Obama is out of the public eye today – as he gets ready for tomorrow’s visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The U-S troop surge – and the mission – is far from complete – but Obama still insists American forces will start withdrawing in just 15 months. But the U-S worries that Afghan forces won’t be ready to take over – Obama’s also fed up with Afghanistan’s legendary and pervasive corruption. Meantime, Karzai’s angry and feels he’s being disrespected by the Americans.

But these differences are now being papered over – at least in public. U-S Ambassador to Kabul, Karl EIkenberry.

"President Obama has expressed his confidence in President Karzai and our work together. As you know, every relationship -- every bilateral relationship, especially one that’s as close as we have with Afghanistan, they experience ups and downs."

Meantime – Press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked: WILL the Afghans be able to take over in August 2011?

"Progress is steady but slow. And I think that is likely to continue."

Why August 2011, anyway? Because Obama thinks it’s a good re-election issue. So how’s that timetable working out?

"We're making progress on that."

The clock is ticking.

*****

The President's Schedule

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:20AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

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

1:25PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:45PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Eikenberry
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Leahy
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with General McChrystal and Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

2:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate

*****

On This Day

1960: After the U.S. was caught lying by the Soviets in the wake of a U-2 spy plane being shot down, President Eisenhower defended intelligence-gathering activities as "distasteful" but necessary, saying "no one wants another Pearl Harbor."

Presidential Quote

"Arms alone are not enough to keep the peace - it must be kept by men."
- U.S. President John F. Kennedy, 1962.

The West Wing Today: May 10, 2010

2010-05-10T06:48:00.003-04:00

President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court appears to be Solicitor General Elena Kagan. We'll get an official announcement at 10:00.

Kagan, the former dean of Harvard Law School, would replace the retiring John Paul Stevens. If confirmed, she would be be the fourth woman to serve on the high court.

Kagan, 50, has never served in the judiciary. The last time a non-judge was appointed was in 1972, when President Richard M. Nixon nominated William H. Rehnquist and Lewis Powell in the same year.

Kagan is the government's top appellate lawyer and representative at the Supreme Court. She was confirmed last year by the Senate in a 61 to 31 vote.

Look for Senate hearings to begin within weeks. This will be Obama’s second Supreme Court pick.

Afghanistan

On the foreign policy front – you may remember Obama wants to start pulling U-S forces out of Afghanistan -- in 15 months. But that could depend on whether the Afghans can step up and keep terror groups like al-Qaeda from returning. That’s an issue between the President and Afghan President Hamid Karzai – who visits the White House on Wednesday.

We’ll get a briefing on all this today from the top American General and the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan.

*****

EDT

8:30AM Pool Call Time

10:00 THE PRESIDENT introduces his Supreme Court nominee

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:05PM THE PRESIDENT meets with the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT holds a meeting to review BP efforts to stop the oil leak
Situation Room
Closed Press

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of Energy Chu
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, General Stanley McChrystal and Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry

*****

On This Day

1877: President Rutherford B. Hayes has the White House's first telephone installed in the mansion s telegraph room. President Hayes embraced the new technology, though he rarely received phone calls. In fact, the Treasury Department possessed the only other direct phone line to the White House at that time. The White House phone number was "1." Phone service throughout the country was in its infancy in 1877. It was not until a year later that the first telephone exchange was set up in Connecticut and it would be 50 more years until President Herbert Hoover had the first telephone line installed at the President's desk in the Oval Office. - from History.com

Presidential Quote

"All men having power ought to be mistrusted." - James Madison

The West Wing Today: May 7, 2010

2010-05-07T06:51:00.002-04:00

Jobs, jobs, jobs.

The economy is growing again and creating jobs. Just not enough of them to make much of a dent in the unemployment rate.

Analysts surveyed for MarketWatch expect the economy to have grown by 185,000 jobs last month - but the unemployment rate holding steady at 9.7%.

Why the slow job growth? After all, the economy has been expanding for nine months now. It grew 2.2% in the third quarter of last year, 5.6% in the forth, and 3.2% in the first quarter of 2010.

"The bad news is that following recessions historically, it takes a long time for employment to come back ot pre-recession levels," says Charles Franklin, a professor at the University of Wisconsin and the co-creator of Pollster.com. "It's a very slow recovery on the jobs side even if GDP growth or consumer spending may go up a lot faster."

With November's mid-term election looming, this is fodder for Republicans who blame President Obama and his policies. As House Minority Leader John Boehner is find of saying: "Where are the jobs?"

But what we're seeing is very normal. Franklin compares it to the last bad recession three decades ago.

"The peak unemployment was 10.8% in 1982. It was still 7.4% in '84 when President Reagan was re-elected and it didn't drop below six percent until September of '87. That's fairly typical of how long it takes for jobs to fully come back."

But as even President Obama has said, all of this means nothing to the millions of Americans without a job. He says more of them need to hear the words "You're hired."

*****

The Schedule

Obama has just one public event on his schedule today: 11:00 remarks on the April unemployment figures. He'll be joined by Treasury Secretary Geithner, Secretary of Commerce Locke, Secretary of Labor Solis, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Orszag, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Romer and Director of the National Economic Council Summers.

EDT

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT makes a statement on the monthly jobs numbers
South Driveway
Pooled TV, Open to correspondents & still photographers (Pre-set 10:00AM – Final Gather 10:30AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

*****

On This Day

1789 - The first Inaugural Ball was held in New York City.

Presidential Quote

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson

Today in the West Wing: Thursday, May 6

2010-05-06T06:49:00.004-04:00

So the Times Square bomber failed. But only because he was incompetent - not because the U.S. knew who, or where, he was.

Good morning, and this question is haunting the U.S. government – plus millions of Americans: how could Faisal Shahzad come THAT close to pulling it off?

After all, we knew he’d been to Pakistan for months on end – here’s an exchange between press secretary Robert Gibbs and CBS Radio’s Peter Maer:

Q Well, if it wasn’t as grave, say, as a systemic failure, would you concede then there were some failures that allowed both the planning of the bomb and his ability to re-enter the U.S. and plant this bomb and almost get away -- there were a number of failures? What I’m getting at is, is the President going to --

MR. GIBBS: Well, I guess I would just ask you to be more specific about each one of your -- I don't want to try to parse what you’re saying, but I don't --

Q Okay, the guy left the United States. He came back from Pakistan, and he was interviewed when he came back, because that policy was allowed.

MR. GIBBS: Right.

Q They had certain details about him. He was able to drive into Times Square, plant this bomb --

MR. GIBBS: I guess I’m not entirely sure what would -- I’m not the police commissioner for New York. I’m not the mayor of New York. I honestly don't know what would prevent somebody from driving into Times Square.

Q Well, drive into Times Square, fine. But to -- this guy had a background.

*****

Today's Schedule

No public appearances for the President today. After his usual intelligence and economic briefings, he'll head downstairs to the Situation Room for a national security meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan. No doubt Saturday's attempted car bombing in Times Square will cast a shadow over the meeting.

Expected attendees include:

Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State

Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense

Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff

Ambassador Susan Rice, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations

General James L. Jones, National Security Advisor

Admiral Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence

Tom Donilon, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor

John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

James Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State

Michele Flournoy, Undersecretary of Defense Policy

Leon Panetta, CIA Director

Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator

Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (via videoconference)

General James E. Cartwright, USMC, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan

Anne Patterson, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan (via videoconference)

Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (via videoconference)

General David Petraeus, Commander, USCENTCOM

General Stanley McChrystal, Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, Special Assistant to the President for Afghanistan and Pakistan

In the afternoon, the President will meet with Secretary of State Clinton in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press.

*****

EDT

9:15AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan
Situation Room
Closed Press

3:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

On This Day

1933: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an executive order creating the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was just one of many Great Depression relief programs created under the auspices of the Emergency Relief Appropriations Act, which Roosevelt had signed the month before. The WPA, the Public Works Administration (PWA) and other federal assistance programs put unemployed Americans to work in return for temporary financial assistance. Out of the 10 million jobless men in the United States in 1935, 3 million were helped by WPA jobs alone.

While FDR believed in the "elementary principles of justice and fairness," he also expressed disdain for doling out welfare to otherwise able workers. So, in return for monetary aid, WPA workers built highways, schools, hospitals, airports and playgrounds. They restored theaters--such as the Dock Street Theater in Charleston, S.C.--and built the ski lodge at Oregon s Mt. Hood. The WPA also put actors, writers and other creative arts professionals back to work by sponsoring federally funded plays, art projects, such as murals on public buildings, and literary publications.

- from History.com

Presidential Quote

"I have never been hurt by anything I didn't say." - Calvin Coolidge

Today in the West Wing: Wednesday, May 5

2010-05-05T06:14:00.002-04:00

Hundreds may have been killed. That's what President Obama says about the failed car bombing attempt in New York's Times Square. The suspect in the case - Faisal Shahzad - is said to be cooperating, and there have been arrests in Pakistan, where the Faisal reportedly went to bomb-making school. Fortunately, he wasn't much of a student.

In an appearance before a group of CEOs, the President, appearing more subdued than usual, said the failed attack "is another sobering reminder of the times in which we live." And he added:

"As Americans, and as a nation, we will not be terrorized. We will not cower in fear. We will not be intimidated. We will be vigilant. We will work together. And we will protect and defend the country we love to ensure a safe and prosperous future for our people. That’s what I intend to do as President and that’s what we will do as a nation."

Oil Spill Latest

As WWR mentioned yesterday, there are doubts about just how much BP will have to pay to clean up that massive Gulf oil spill.

A federal law limits the company's liability to just $75 million. The White House says it wants to raise that limit significantly. Some lawmakers on Capitol Hill want it lifted 13-fold to $10 billion, but even that might not be enough: some damage estimates are already topping $14 billion.

Today's Schedule

It's May 5th, also known as Cinco de Mayo, and the President will hold a reception tonight in the Rose Garden. It has become quite the holiday in the U.S., thanks in no small part to the influx of Mexican immigrants over the years.

You may have heard that the state of Arizona has a problem with immigrants - of the illegal kind anyway - and a recent law allowing authorities there to ask anyone suspected of being an illegal may come up this afternoon when Obama meets in the Oval with Arizona's junior Senator, Jon Kyl (R).

But Obama also wants to talk with Kyl - a member of the Judiciary Committee - about the vacancy on the Supreme Court. The Committee is stop one on the confirmation process, and the President, we are told, is close to announcing who the nominee will be. Obama will also meet with another committee member, Utah Republican Orrin Hatch, on the same topic.

Obama also signs another healthcare bill - the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act - aimed at improving health care services and benefits for veterans.

*****

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:15AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Kyl
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:45AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Hatch
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:30PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks and signs the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act
State Dining Room
Pooled Press (Pre-set 11:30AM – Final Gather 12:45PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a Cinco de Mayo reception; THE FIRST LADY also attends
Rose Garden
Pooled Press (Pre-set 5:00PM – Final Gather 5:40PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

*****

On This Day

1985: President Reagan angered Jewish leaders and Holocaust survivors by visiting the Bitburg war cemetery in Germany. Then-German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who suggested the visit, accompanied Reagan to the cemetery, where 2,000 German troops are buried. Reagan laid a wreath at the base of a monument to fallen German soldiers. What he did not know was that the cemetery included the graves of 49 of Hitler s infamous SS (Schutzstaffel), the paramilitary organization that planned and carried out the massacre of approximately 6 million people in death camps during World War II.

Before going to Bitburg, Reagan had visited the site of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, in which victims of Nazi persecution, mostly Jews, were exterminated. At Bergen-Belsen, Reagan stood by a marker identifying a mass grave of 50,000 bodies and said solemnly, ''here they lie. Never to hope. Never to pray. Never to love. Never to heal. Never to laugh. Never to cry.'' - from History.com

Presidential Quote

"Men may die, but the fabrics of our free institutions remain unshaken." - Chester Alan Arthur

Today in the West Wing: Tuesday, May 4

2010-05-04T07:59:00.002-04:00

President Obama was told of an arrest in the New York car bomb case just after midnight; he has been briefed constantly on the security scare - six times yesterday alone - by his counterterrorism advisor, John Brennan.

The suspect - a 30-year old Pakistani-born U.S. citizen named Faisal Shahzada - will be accused today of driving a bomb-laden SUV into Times Square and attempting to blow it up.

Shahzada nearly got away. He was just minutes from boarding a New York-Dubai flight last night when authorities swooped in.

But Attorney General Eric Holder cautions this case is still unfolding, and that authorities "will not rest until we have brought everyone responsible to justice."

Oil Spill: Who'll Pay?

As for another crisis being juggled by the White House - that giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - you’ve probably heard the government will make BP foot the entire bill for the damage – but is this really so?

BP says it’ll pay "all necessary and appropriate costs" - but what "necessary and appropriate" mean could be in the eye of the beholder. On top of that – a federal law caps – or limits -- BP’s liability to just 75 million dollars. That’s the law.

Judging by this exchange from yesterday's White House briefing, it appears press secretary Robert Gibbs isn’t sure what the deal is:

Q Can you say that the taxpayer, the American taxpayer will not face any cleanup costs?

MR. GIBBS: The commitment the President made yesterday is the responsible party will pay for this and that responsible party is BP.

Q And regardless of caps or anything, somehow, something --

MR. GIBBS: I will look into the notion of caps. I will look into that.

Some damage estimates already top 14-billion dollars. Who’s going to pay may not be clear – what IS clear: like the Exxon-Valdez disaster in Alaska two decades ago – fighting over the money will likely take years.

*****

President's Schedule

After his usual intelligence and economic briefings, the President will address the annual meeting of the Business Council at a local hotel. He'll tell the group - some 150 CEOs - of the administration's efforts to get the economy moving; Obama will also make another pitch for Wall Street reform.

Later, the President lunch with fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel. Mr. Wiesel, a holocaust survivor and world-renowned humanitarian, toured the Buchenwald concentration camp with Obama last year.

Obama's last appointment of the day is with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

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

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:05AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks to the Business Council

12:05PM THE PRESIDENT has lunch with Elie Wiesel
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

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

Briefing Schedule

12:45PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

On This Day

1865: Abraham Lincoln is laid to rest in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois.

Presidential Quote

"You can not stop the spread of an idea by passing a law against it." - Harry Truman.

Today in the West Wing: Monday, May 3

2010-05-03T06:49:00.001-04:00

Good morning from rainy Washington, where the president is staying put for the day after a packed weekend. He gave a commencement address in Michigan, dropped one liners at the glitzy White House correspondents' dinner and traveled to Louisiana for a briefing on the oil spill - while staying plugged in on that failed New York car bombing.

The spill is getting worse by the hour, with officials now warning it could top even the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska. After a briefing on the Gulf spill and efforts to protect fragile coastal areas, Obama called it a "massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster," adding his administration will spare no effort to protect the region, which is still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina.

Today, Obama keeps a lower profile. He'll present the Commander in Chief Trophy to the Naval Academy football team - the trophy goes to the winner of the annual Army-Navy game - and host a dinner tonight for the Business Council.

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the Commander in Chief Trophy Presentation with the Naval Academy
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 3:00PM – Final Gather 3:45PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

6:45PM THE PRESIDENT hosts dinner for the Business Council
State Dining Room
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

"We Americans have no commission from God to police the world." - Benjamin Harrison

Today in the West Wing: Friday, April 30

2010-04-30T06:44:00.000-04:00

The White House must be expecting this morning's report on economic growth to be good - because the President is scheduled to comment, in the Rose Garden, at 10:35. In real terms, GDP probably grew at a 3.2% annual rate in the first three months of the year, down from 5.6% in the fourth quarter, according to a survey of economists. Joining Obama for the event are workers from two U.S. manufacturers, Itron, a Washington state based maker of smart energy meters, and A123 Systems, a Massachusetts based advanced battery manufacturer.

In the afternoon, Obama visits a Secret Service training facility in suburban Washington. He'll thank the men and women who protect him and other government officials - and get to see how they train.

Looking ahead: tomorrow Obama delivers the commencement address at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and in the evening attends Washington's equivalent of the Academy Awards: the White House Correspondents Dinner.

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: NBC
Print: BNA
Radio: ABC

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

10:35AM THE PRESIDENT makes a statement on the first quarter 2010 GDP numbers
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 9:35AM - Final Gather 10:05AM - North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:30PM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Beltsville, Maryland
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 12:00PM - Final Gather 12:15PM - North Doors of the Palm Room)

12:45PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Beltsville, Maryland and visits the James J. Rowley Training Center
James J. Rowley Training Center, Beltsville, Maryland
Closed Press (Travel Pool Gather Time 11:30AM - Stakeout Location)

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 3:30PM - Final Gather 3:45PM - North Doors of the Palm Room)

*****

On This Day

1789: George Washington is sworn in as the first American president and delivers the first inaugural speech at Federal Hall in New York City. Elements of the ceremony set tradition; presidential inaugurations have deviated little in the two centuries since Washington s inauguration. - from History.com

Presidential Quote

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."
- George Washington

##

Today in the West Wing: Thursday, April 29

2010-04-29T07:01:00.001-04:00

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.

*****

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

*****

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

President's Schedule: Wednesday, April 28

2010-04-28T07:02:00.001-04:00

President Obama wakes up in Des Moines, Iowa today, where he'll continue his so-called "White House to Main Street" tour. First stop: Macon, Missouri and a tour of a biorefining plant. He'll then visit a farm.

In the afternoon, Obama will speak on financial reform ("Wall Street reform" in White House parlance) at a town hall in Quincy, Illinois. Obama returns to the White House in the evening.

Yesterday, Obama blasted Senate Republicans for blocking open debate on a financial reform bill. He said opposing reform is one thing - but refusing to even talk about it is another. "The American people deserve an honest debate on this bill,” he said.

The President also took another shot at Arizona’s new immigration law, saying the measure - that allows police to ask anyone to show ID to prove they're not here illegally - could result in the harassment of Hispanic-Americans. At the same time, Obama said it underscores the need to tighten the porous U.S.-Mexican border.

*****

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CNN
Print: Washington Times
Radio: Talk Radio

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CNN
Print: New York Times

CDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT departs Des Moines, Iowa en route Quincy, Illinois
Des Moines International Airport
Open Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Quincy, Illinois
Quincy Regional Airport
Open Press

12:20PM THE PRESIDENT tours POET Biorefining
Macon, Missouri
Travel Pool Coverage

1:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on rebuilding our economy
POET Biorefining, Macon, Missouri
Open Press

2:20PM THE PRESIDENT tours a local farm and visits with the family that operates the farm
Palmyra, Missouri
Travel Pool Coverage

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the urgent need to pass Wall Street reform
Oakley Lindsay Civic Center, Quincy, Illinois
Open Press

5:15PM THE PRESIDENT departs Quincy, Illinois en route Andrews Air Force Base
Quincy Regional Airport
Open Press

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

*****

On This Day

1758: James Monroe was born. He was the fifth President, serving between 1817-1825. He is most remembered for his "Monroe Doctrine," which stated that the United States would not tolerate European intervention in the Western hemisphere.

Presidential Quote

"National honor is a national property of the highest value." - James Monroe

President's Schedule: Tuesday, April 27

2010-04-27T07:00:00.002-04:00

President Obama begins his day with a meeting of his deficit reduction commission (formally known as the "National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform;") afterwards he'll deliver remarks in the Rose Garden.

Then it's wheels up for the heartland, in the latest installment of Obama's White House to Main Street tour. First stop: the Siemens Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing Plant in Fort Madison, Iowa. The President will then speak with workers and share his views on growing the economy and putting Americans back to work.

The President will later tour a local business in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and hold a town hall meeting at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. He'll spend the night in Des Moines.

Speaking of the deficit commission, it holds its first formal meeting at the White House Conference Center where they will hear remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, OMB Director Peter Orszag, and Former OMB Directors Robert Reischauer and Rudolph Penner.

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CBS
Print: Washington Post
Radio: SRN

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CBS
Print: AFP
Radio: NPR

EDT

8:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT greets members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
Roosevelt Room
Still Photographer Pool spray at the top (Gather time 9:25AM – Briefing Room)

9:45AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks underscoring the importance of forging bipartisan consensus around recommendations to meaningfully improve our long-run fiscal health
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 8:45AM – Final Gather 9:30AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

CDT

12:30PM THE PRESIDENT tours the Siemens Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing Plant
Fort Madison, Iowa
Travel Pool Coverage

1:10PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on how to grow the economy and put Americans back to work
Siemens Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing Plant
Open Press

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT tours a local business
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Travel Pool Coverage

4:35PM THE PRESIDENT holds town hall meeting
Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, Iowa
Open Press

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

##

On This Day

1822: Ulysses S. Grant was born. He was the 18th President, serving between 1869-77.

1861: President Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus, giving the federal government the extraordinary power to hold opponents in prison without appeal or judicial review.

Presidential Quote:

"A man is known by the company he keeps, and also by the company from which he is kept out."
- Grover Cleveland

President's Schedule: Monday, April 26

2010-04-26T07:44:00.001-04:00

Back from some r & r at a North Carolina resort - and a moving visit with the families of those deceased West Virginia coal miners - President Obama is back in the White House this foggy Monday morning, and he's got a lot on his plate.

FINANCIAL REFORM

Obama is keeping a close eye on Capitol Hill, where a key legislative goal, reforming the financial industry, comes up for a crucial test vote in the Senate.

Democrats have reached a tentative deal that would restrict trading of derivatives - the murky financial instruments that played such a big role in the economy's meltdown. Even so, both Republicans and Democrats think today's "test" vote won't pass, because no GOP senators as of this morning support the measure. Democrats will get to say the GOP is standing in the way of reform; Republicans will counter by charging the bill's flaws will do the economy more harm than good. But both sides say the bill's long-term prospects are pretty good.

ENERGY UNPLUGGED

Today was supposed to have been the day that a sweeping energy and climate bill was unveiled in the Senate. Primarily the work of John Kerry (D-Mass), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), the bill would focus on curbing emissions from power plants and blocking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant. It would also create a way for industries to "trade" credits allowing them to emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

But it won't be introduced today after all, because Graham is angry that the Senate is moving immigration reform efforts up the priority ladder.

DAMN YANKEES

Obama also welcomes the World Series champion New York Yankees to the White House. Don't look for the POTUS - a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan - to wear a Yankees cap.

MUSLIM OUTREACH

This evening Obama speaks at the "Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship" - an event designed to strengthen U.S. ties links with business leaders, foundations, and entrepreneurs in the Muslim world.

*****

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:40AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:00PM THE PRESIDENT welcomes World Series Champion New York Yankees to the White House.
South Portico
Open Press (Pre-set 2:00PM – Final Gather 2:30PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

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

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship
Ronald Reagan Building
Pooled TV, Open to pre-credentialed correspondents & still photographers (Pool Gather time 5:15PM– North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

On This Day

1984: President Ronald Reagan arrives in China for a summit with Chinese President Li Xiannian. It was the first time a U.S. president had traveled to China since President Richard Nixon s historic trip in 1972. Reagan's trip highlighted his administration s desire to improve diplomacy with China in light of the growing economic relationship between the two nations. Other topics of discussion between the two leaders over the course of the six-day trip included the development of commercial nuclear power in China and China s displeasure with continuing U.S. support for nationalists in Taiwan.

Presidential Quote

"If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity."
- John F. Kennedy

President's Schedule: Friday, April 23

2010-04-23T07:30:00.001-04:00

It's a pretty quiet day for the President. He'll deliver remarks at a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members. Rose Garden at 10am. Obama and Mrs. Obama later fly down to Ashville, NC for a bit of R & R. But their "weekend" will be cut short by Sunday's trip to West Virginia, where the President will deliver the eulogy at a memorial service for the 29 coal miners recently killed.

Looking ahead to next week: the President heads to the heartland, for the latest stops on his so-called "Main Street" tour. He'll visit Iowa, Missouri and Illinois on Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll probably get details on the rest of the week ahead later today.

Immigration Top Priority

With Hispanics - two-thirds of whom voted for Obama in 2008 but are wobbly on Democrats this election year - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have reversed course and now put immigration reform at the top of their to-do list. Reid says he'll bring a Senate bill to the floor later this year, and Pelosi says she'll follow suit. It's no coincidence that several Democratic Senators in uphill reelection fights are from states with large Hispanic populations: California's Barbara Boxer, Colorado's Michael Bennet and Reid's Nevada, where 15% of the voters are Hispanic.

The core of immigration legislation would include yet another effort to beef up the Mexican border, create a guest worker program, and develop e biometric ID card to help verify that only legal workers are hired by U.S. firms. The bill would also create a path to U.S. citizenship for millions already here illegaly.

Energy Bill on Monday

Meantime, a new energy and climate bill will be introduced in the Senate on Monday. Unlike the House energy/climate bill that passed a year ago, this legislation - crafted by John Kerry (D-Mass), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), will focus on curbing emissions from power plants and block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant. It will also create a wayfor industries to "trade" credits allowing them to emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

The bill won't include higher gasoline taxes - an idea shot down by President Obama and Sens. Graham and Kerry.

*****

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CNN
Print: Tribune
Radio: AURN

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CNN
Print: Politico
Radio: CBS

EDT

8:45AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members

Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 9:00AM – Final Gather 9:30AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

*****

On This Day

1789: President Washington moved into New York's Franklin House. It was the first official presidential home, before the White House was built.

1908: President Theodore Roosevelt signed an act creating the U.S. Army Reserve.

Presidential Quote

"May our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right."
- John Quincy Adams

President's Schedule: Thursday, April 22

2010-04-22T06:53:00.001-04:00

Financial reform - Wall Street reform - tops the President's agenda today. He'll give a much anticipated speech at New York's Cooper Union on why it is essential.

Here are some excerpts from the President's speech today:

"I believe in a strong financial sector that helps people to raise capital and get loans and invest their savings. But a free market was never meant to be a free license to take whatever you can get, however you can get it," Obama will say. "Some on Wall Street forgot that behind every dollar traded or leveraged, there is family looking to buy a house, pay for an education, open a business, or save for retirement. What happens here has real consequences across our country."

In an interview on CNBC yesterday, Obama emphasized he's a free marketeer - but not so "laissez faire" as to allow markets to run amok and bring the U.S. economy to its knees, like it did two years ago - and leaving American taxpayers holding the bag. To that end, he wants a new consumer protection agency, ends the concept that big banks are "too big to fail" and to subject derivatives - the murky financial products that are widely blamed for igniting the market collapse - under greater control and transparency.

It looks like there will be some Republican support for Obama here. Not much, but probably enough to have his way - a second major legislative victory for the White House appears likely here.

The trip to New York is a quick one. Obama has an afternoon meeting in the Oval Office with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in the Oval Office. Then, this being Earth Day, he'll deliver remarks at a Rose Garden reception.

The Schedule

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CBS
Print: Talking Points Memo
Radio: AP

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CBS
Print: AFP
Radio: FOX

EDT

11:55AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on Wall Street reform
Cooper Union
Pooled TV, Open to pre-credentialed correspondents & still photographers

3:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner
Oval Office
Closed Press

5:30PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at Earth Day reception
Rose Garden
Pooled Press (Pre-set 4:30PM – Final Gather 5:10PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Press Briefing: Robert Gibbs will brief on Air Force One.

*****

On This Day

1994: Richard Nixon died. He was the 37th President, serving between 1969-74. Nixon, of course, was the only President to resign from office.

Presidential Quote:

"Don't get the impression that you arouse my anger. You see, one can only be angry with those he respects." - Richard Nixon

President's Schedule: Wednesday, April 21

2010-04-21T06:14:00.001-04:00

President Obama wants a Senate vote by August on his nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy left by the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens. But who should that nominee be? He'll get some input today from bipartisan leaders of the Senate and the Judiciary Committee. Expected to attend: Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, and the ranking Republican on the committee, Jeff Sessions.

In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will have lunch in the Private Dining Room. The President then attends a reception for G-20 labor ministers in the Diplomatic Reception Room.

The President and Mrs. Obama with the White House Office on Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport, will host members of the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams on the South Portico. The President and First Lady will congratulate Olympians and Paralympians on their performance and thank them for representing the United States during the Vancouver Winter Games. They will also discuss the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign to solve the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will also attend.

Last on Obama;s schedule today are meetings with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and a meeting with Secretary Geithner and Secretary Sebelius.

*****

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: ABC
Print: Scripps Howard
Radio: ABC

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with bipartisan leaders of the Senate and the Senate Judiciary Committee
Oval Office
Pool spray at the top (Gather time 10:25AM – Briefing Room)

12:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:15PM THE PRESIDENT attends reception for G-20 labor ministers
Diplomatic Reception Room
Closed Press

2:50PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:50PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY welcome members of the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House
South Portico
Open Press (Pre-set 2:00PM – Final Gather 3:20PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

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

5:45PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary Geithner and Secretary Sebelius
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

12:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

"There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure." - Dwight D. EIsenhower

President's Schedule: Tuesday, April 20

2010-04-20T07:41:00.000-04:00

President Obama flies home from Los Angeles today after a series of fundraisers for Sen. Barbara Boxer and the Democratic National Committee. Some of those who paid to see Obama heckled him over what they say is his foot-dragging over repealing "Don't Ask Don't Tell" - the military's policy for gays and lesbians. Here's the transcript of the event as released by the White House press office:

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!”

THE PRESIDENT: We are going to do that. Hey, hold on a second, hold on a second. We are going to do that.

AUDIENCE: Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!

THE PRESIDENT: Here we go. All right -- guys, guys, all right. I agree, I agree, I agree. (Applause.) Now --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no, no, listen. What the young man was talking about was we need to -- we need to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don't Tell,” which I agree with and which we have begun to do. (Applause.) But let me say this: When you’ve got an ally like Barbara Boxer and you’ve got an ally like me who are standing for the same thing, then you don't know exactly why you’ve got to holler, because we already hear you, all right? (Applause.) I mean, it would have made more sense to holler that at the people who oppose it. (Applause.)

...and a few minutes later:

AUDIENCE MEMBER: It’s time for equality for all Americans!

THE PRESIDENT: I’m sorry, do you want to come up here? (Applause.) You know, the -- all right, because can I just say, once again, Barbara and I are supportive of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” so I don't know why you’re hollering.

Supreme Court and Financial Reform

On Air Force One today, the President may be reviewing what the White House calls a lengthening list of names to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens (who turns 90 today, incidentally). Tomorrow, Obama will hold a meeting with Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee to get their input.

Looking ahead, Obama heads to New York on Thursday for a speech on financial reform; he wants swift Senate action and he wants the bill to include tough regulation of derivatives, which are widely blamed for igniting the near-economic collapse.

*****

On This Day

1898 - President McKinley asked Congress to declare war on Spain. This followed the famous sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana, Cuba (then a Spanish colony) which killed 252 people. According to the History.com, "Hawks in the media and within the government immediately blamed Spain, and President McKinley, abandoning his hopes for neutrality in the Cuban-Spanish conflict, bowed to Congressional calls for war. (It was later discovered that the explosion was caused by the spontaneous ignition of faulty ammunitions onboard the Maine.)"

Presidential Quote

"That's all a man can hope for during his lifetime - to set an example - and when he is dead, to be an inspiration for history." - William McKinley

*****

President's Schedule: Monday, April 19

2010-04-19T07:24:00.002-04:00

California Dreamin'?

Topping the President's agenda today: a trip to Los Angeles, where he'll try and bolster the shaky reelection prospects of Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Boxer needs all the help she can get. The three-term Democrat has seen her poll numbers dragged down by California's wobbly economy. Unemployment in the so-called Golden State tops 12%, well above the national average, and the state is in a deep fiscal crisis. Three GOP candidates are battling for the right to oppose her in November: former Rep. Tom Campbell, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore.

Obama will speak at an evening fundraising reception for Boxer and the DNC at the California Science Center in L.A. Tickets go for for the event are between $250-$2,500. Then it's off to a a more exclusive fundraising dinner at the Museum of Natural History, where the tickets sold for a reported $35,200 a couple, with $4,800 going to Boxer's Senate campaign and the rest directed to the DNC, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The President will spend the night in Los Angeles and return to Washington on Tuesday.

Focus on Sudan

Before leaving for the West coast, Obama will meet with his special envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration.

The Schedule

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

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: FOX
Print: Washington Times

EDT

12:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Sudan Special Envoy General Scott Gration
Oval Office
Closed Press

PDT

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at fundraising reception for Senator Boxer and the DNC
California Science Center
Print Pool Coverage

6:40PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at fundraising event for Senator Boxer and the DNC California Science Center
Travel Pool Coverage

8:45PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at fundraising dinner for Senator Boxer and the DNC Museum of Natural History
Travel Pool Coverage

Briefing Schedule

1:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

On This Day

1861 - President Abraham Lincoln ordered a blockade against southern ports, effectively shutting them off from imports during the Civil War.

1933 - President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the U.S. removed from the gold standard.

Presidential Quote

"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"
- Abraham Lincoln

President's Schedule: Friday, April 16

2010-04-16T06:08:00.004-04:00

Step Forward for Same-sex Partners

President Obama has ordered the government to issue new medical rules that would give them the right to visit their partner in the hospital.

The White House says the rule changes would also make it easier for gay men and lesbians to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners; Obama says the new rules would affect any hospital that participates in Medicare or Medicaid.

Mr. Obama said: “Every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindness and caring of a loved one at their sides,” adding that the rules could also help widows and widowers who rely on friends and members of religious orders who care for one another.

Jobless Aid

With unemployment remaining stubbornly high, Congress has passed - and Obama quickly signed into law last night - legislation maintaining jobless benefits.

The $18 billion measure extends federal benefits through June 2; it means Americans out of work can get up to 99 weeks of assistance in some states. Although the measure passed the House in a bipartisan 289-112 vote, it was held up in the Senate over concerns it will add to the ballooning deficit.

*****

The President's Day

After his usual intelligence briefing, the President delivers remarks at the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors, which will be held indoors at the Department of the Interior.

WWR has never heard of such an event. The White House press office says: "He will address the challenges, opportunities, and innovations surrounding modern-day land conservation and the importance of reconnecting Americans and American families to the outdoors."

OK.

After returning to the White House, Obama will meet with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Situation Room. Expected attendees include:

* Vice President Joe Biden

* Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

* Ambassador Susan Rice, Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations (via videoconference)

* USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah

* Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg

* Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew

* Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Neal Wolin

* Under Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy

* Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan

* Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (via videoconference)

* Anne Patterson, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan (via videoconference)

* Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

* General James E. Cartwright, USMC, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

* General David Petraeus, U.S. Central Command

* General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Commander in Afghanistan (via videoconference)

* Admiral Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence

* CIA Director Leon Panetta

* General James Jones, National Security Advisor

* Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor

* John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security

* Tony Blinken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President

* Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, Special Assistant to the President for Afghanistan and Pakistan

The U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan, incidentally, is still underway. When it is complete, it will bring U.S. force levels there to 100,000. And then they will begin coming home - with withdrawals starting, the White House maintains, in July 2011. But many Republicans say a deadline they consider to be arbitrary is risky and will just strengthen the hand of the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

After the meeting breaks up, Obama and Vice-President Biden will have their weekly lunch in the Private Dining Room.

In the afternoon, the President will convene a meeting of his Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) in the Roosevelt Room. On the agenda: a range of economic issues, including financial reform, job creation and the President’s proposal to double U.S. exports over the next five years.

*****

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: ABC
Print: Politics Daily/Sun Times
Radio: FOX

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors
Department of the Interior
Pooled for TV and still photographers and open to pre-credentialed correspondents (Travel Pool Gather Time 9:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan
Situation Room
Closed Press

12:45PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

1:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with the PERAB
Roosevelt Room
Pool spray at the top (Gather Time 1:20PM –Briefing Room)

*****

Presidential Quote

"Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company." - George Washington

President's Schedule: Thursday, April 15

2010-04-15T07:00:00.004-04:00

"Happy" Tax Day! Well, not really. But if it makes you feel any better, the Obamas (and Bidens) will release their 2009 returns for all to see around noon. No question the President and First Lady, being in a sky-high bracket, will write a hefty check to the IRS (last year they paid $855,323 on a total income of $2,736,107). So they won't be getting a tax cut like you hopefully are.

Speaking of sky high, the future of NASA and the U.S. space program dominates Obama's agenda today. He'll fly down to Cape Canaveral for a 2:50 speech.

It's an out-of-this-world controversy. Obama is scrapping George W. Bush's plans to return to the moon (a base for an eventual Mars landing) and shifting towards a space program more reliant on the private sector, while it develops a big, new government rocket. But icons from America's glory days of yesteryear - including the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong - are angry. They accuse Obama of ceding U.S. leadership in space to the Chinese and Russians.

But younger space cadets say Obama's shift makes sense. There are big bucks to made in space; and entrepreneurs are already itching to build their own launch vehicles. These younger folks say Obama's plan is the best way to get to Mars. They have older allies, by the way, including Buzz Aldrin, who was the second man to walk on the moon.

After the 2:50 speech, Obama hops down to Miami for a pair of fundraising events. He returns to Washington late tonight.

*****

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: NBC
Print: Politico
Radio: CBS

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: NBC
Print: Washington Post
Radio: NPR

EDT

9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of Labor Solis and Mine Safety and Health Administrator Main
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:50AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on mine safety
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 9:50AM – Final Gather 10:20AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

1:55PM THE PRESIDENT tours a commercial rocket processing facility
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Travel Pool Coverage

2:50PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the bold new course the Administration is charting for NASA and the future of U.S. leadership in human space flight
Kennedy Space Center
Open Press

5:00PM THE PRESIDENT attends DNC fundraiser
Private Residence
Closed Press

7:10PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at DNC fundraiser
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Travel Pool Coverage

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One.

*****

On This Day

1865 - Vice-President Andrew Johnson became the 17th President, following the death of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson served until 1869. He also became the first president to be impeached, but was acquitted by a single vote in the Senate.

Presidential Quote

"The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people." - Andrew Johnson

President's Schedule: Wednesday, April 14

2010-04-14T06:41:00.004-04:00

The President wrapped up yesterday's nuclear security summit with a very ambitious goal: with each of the 47 nations attending promising to lock down hundreds of thousands of tons of weapons-usable nuclear fuel by 2014.

But the promises are non-binding, with leaders saying only that they'll work together "as appropriate" to secure nuclear material, or to convert reactors that use highly enriched uranium to less-dangerous fuel "where technically and economically feasible," according to the summit's final communique.

Still the summit - the largest gathering hosted by a U.S. President since Harry Truman hosted the 1945 founding of the United Nations - succeeded in one critical area. It raised public awareness of a very critical issue - one that undeniably poses a grave and ongoing threat to the security of the American people.

"We have seized this opportunity," Mr. Obama said, "and because of steps we've taken, the American people will be safer, and the world will be more secure."

The White House says the summit also advanced U.S. efforts to get Russia and China on board with U.S. sanctions against Iran. But while agreeing that both the U.S. and China should work together on the sanctions issue, Chinese President Hu Jintao was noticeably circumspect on the issue - what kind of sanctions, how tough and so forth. While Hu was in town, the Chinese Foreign Ministry back in Beijing said "Sanctions and pressure cannot fundamentally resolve the issues.”

A followup meeting to strengthen the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is set for next month in New York. South Korea has agreed to host the next nuclear security summit in 2012.

*****

Today the President moves on to a very different threat: a financial industry that he says needs to be regulated more to prevent the kind of collapse that recently brought the U.S. economy to its knees.

He and Vice President Biden meet with bipartisan Congressional leaders to discuss financial regulatory reform. Scheduled to attend: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Minority Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The Schedule

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: FOX
Print: New York Times
Radio: AURN

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with bipartisan Congressional leadership to discuss financial reform
Cabinet Room
Pool spray at the top (Gather time 10:40AM – Briefing Room)

12:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:15PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

2:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

On This Day

1865 - President Abraham Lincoln was shot as he attended a play at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. The attack came just five days after the end of the Civil War. Mr. Lincoln, widely regarded as America's greatest President, died the next morning.

1986 - President Reagan ordered U.S. air strikes on Libya. The attack was ordered after a bomb - linked to Libyan agents - exploded in a West Berlin nightclub, killing an American soldier. Reagan said: “Self-defense is not only our right, it is our duty."

Presidential Quote

"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" - Abraham Lincoln

President's Schedule: Tuesday, April 13

2010-04-13T07:48:00.002-04:00

It's day two of the Nuclear Security Summit and and it looks like the administration is gaining a bit of ground on its efforts to isolate Iran and impose economic sanctions.

The key phrase here is "a bit." Although White House officials say Chinese President Hu Jintao has agreed to negotiate with the U.S. on tightening the screws on Iran, the question is: What kind of sanctions, exactly? The Chinese aren't saying - at least publicly - and there are no indications they'll go along with anything as tough as what the U.S. and allies like France are calling for.

Indeed, there have been signs that to get the Chinese and Russians - both of whom hold critical veto power in the U.N. Security Council - on board, that the Obama administration has been watering down its position, in hopes of eventually getting Beijing and Moscow on board. WWR recently asked presidential press secretary Robert Gibbs, for instance, if cutting off gasoline shipments to Iran was still on the table. Gibbs demurred (Iran is a giant oil producer but can't refine much of it, which is why it has to import much of its gasoline).

To underscore China's reluctance to back Obama on Iran, while Hu was here in Washington yesterday, a foreign ministry official back in Beijing said "Sanctions and pressure cannot fundamentally resolve the issues.”

Earlier, the White House counterterrorism advisor, John Brennan, told reporters that both al- Qaeda and organized criminal networks remain focused on getting their hands on highly enriched uranium or plutonium - essential to making a nuclear weapon - and warned, ominously, that the clock was ticking.

"We cannot wait any longer," he said, "Before we lock down these stockpiles, because we don't want to have any type of materials that fall into the hands of terrorist groups because the results would be devastating."

*****

The Schedule

The final day of the nuclear security summit begins with the usual group photo with Heads of Delegation (also known as the "Class Photo"). President Obama will then deliver remarks at the first Plenary Session; after a working lunch there will be a second Plenary.

Heads of state who will sit down with the President today include Turkish Prime Minster Erdogan Argentina's President Fernandez and German Chancellor Merkel.

Obama will also squeeze in a news conference at 4:30 this afternoon.

EDT

9:20AM THE PRESIDENT participates in Heads of Delegation Group Photo
Washington Convention Center

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT attend Plenary Session I of the Nuclear Security Summit, THE PRESIDENT delivers opening remarks

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT attends Heads of Delegation working lunch
Washington Convention Center Dining Room

1:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Prime Minster Erdogan of Turkey
Washington Convention Center

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT attends Plenary Session II of the Nuclear Security Summit
Washington Convention Center

4:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with President Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT holds a press conference
Washington Convention Center

5:15PM THE PRESIDENT attends Heads of Delegation reception
Washington Convention Center Dining Room

6:00PM THE PRESIDENT holds bilateral meeting with Chancellor Merkel of Germany
Washington Convention Center

*****

On This Day:

1743: Thomas Jefferson was born. He was the 3d President, serving between 1801-1809. But the great man didn't consider that significant enough to put on his tombstone. If you have ever visited his grave at Monticello, Virginia, it reads:

"Here was buried Thomas Jefferson. Author of the Declaration of American Independence of the Statue of Virginia for Religious Freedom and Father of the University of Virginia."

Presidential Quote:

"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." - Thomas Jefferson

President's Schedule: Monday, April 12

2010-04-11T22:12:00.004-04:00

Washington, a city that has seen its fair share of spectacles, is witnessing another one over the next two days. It is the Nuclear Security Summit, a gathering of leaders from 47 countries. It's the biggest event hosted by a U.S. President since Harry Truman welcomed leaders to the founding of the United Nations in 1945. It's so big, the White House moved the whole thing to the cavernous Washington Convention Center, and a big chunk of downtown DC is essentially one giant security zone.

President Obama - the Nobel Peace Prize winner - wants to rid the world of nuclear weapons, although he admits this probably won't happen in in his lifetime. But another goal is, he thinks, within reach: keeping nuclear materials from falling into the hands of terrorists.

Speaking with reporters Sunday, Obama said the nightmare scenario of a "loose nuke" falling into the hands of, say, al-Qaeda, is the #1 national security threat to the United States.

"We know that organizations like al Qaeda are in the process of trying to secure a nuclear weapon -- a weapon of mass destruction that they have no compunction at using. There (is) a lot of loose nuclear material around the world," he said, adding if a nuclear weapon ever went off in New York, London or elsewhere, "The ramifications economically, politically, and from a security perspective would be devastating."

But what about actual countries like North Korea, which has successfully tested a nuclear weapon, and Iran, which is believed to be working on one? They're not invited. But their behavior and nuclear programs are likely to be discussed in depth.

“We fear North Korea and Iran because their behavior as -- in the first case, North Korea being -- already having nuclear weapons, and Iran seeking them -- is that they are unpredictable,” said Clinton on ABC's “This Week”.

The summit officially begins today. But Sunday Obama walked across the street from the White House to Blair House, for a series of meetings with leaders from India, Pakistan (both have nuclear weapons of their own), South Africa, Kazakhstan (which have given up nuclear programs) and Nigeria.

Among the leaders Obama will meet one-on-one with today: King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prime Minister Mohammed Najib Abdul Razak of Malaysia, President Viktor Yanukovich of Ukraine, President Serzh Sargsian of Armenia, and President Hu Jintao of China.

In the evening, the President will also welcome each head of delegation to the National Security Summit. Later, he'll host a working dinner for Heads of Delegation in the Washington Convention Center Dining Room.

The Schedule

EDT

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT arrives at the Convention Center to attend the Nuclear Security Summit

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan
Washington Convention Center

11:45AM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Najib Abdul Razak of Malaysia
Washington Convention Center

12:55PM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with President Viktor Yanukovich of Ukraine
Washington Convention Center

1:30PM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with President Serzh Sargsian of Armenia
Washington Convention Center

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with President Hu Jintao of China
Washington Convention Center

5:00PM THE PRESIDENT welcomes Heads of Delegation to the National Security Summit
Washington Convention Center

6:30PM THE PRESIDENT holds a working dinner with Heads of Delegation
Washington Convention Center Dining Room

Briefing Schedule

1:30 PM Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security John Brennan Briefing

Washington Convention Center Press File

*****

On This Day
In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died. Elected four times, he led America through the Depression and World War II. After his death, the Constitution was changed so future Presidents could serve just two consecutive terms.

Presidential Quote:
"I am neither bitter nor cynical but I do wish there was less immaturity in political thinking." - FDR

###

President's Schedule: Thursday, April 8

2010-04-08T06:52:00.003-04:00

"I call upon the scientific community in our country, those who gave us nuclear weapons, to turn their great talents now to the cause of mankind and world peace, to give us the means of rendering those nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete."

- President Ronald Reagan, March 23, 1983

Ever since that first blinding flash and mushroom cloud appeared in the New Mexico dawn 65 years ago, all American Presidents have spoken of the dangers of nuclear weapons - and the need to control them. The terrifying specter of nuclear holocaust - which has seemingly faded from the minds of many Americans - is with us still, and probably always will be.

The U.S. and Russia today took an important step towards reducing this danger. President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the so-called "New Start" treaty that requires each country to cut its arsenal of strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 warheads each - a cut of nearly a third. If ratified by the Senate (67 votes needed) and Russia's legislature, it would be the first major arms reduction treaty with the Kremlin in nearly two decades.

Speaking after the treaty signing, Obama - who would like to see the total elimination of nuclear weapons - said the pact with the Kremlin "will move us further beyond the Cold War, strengthen the global non-proliferation regime, and make the United States, and the world, safer and more secure."

Today's amity isn't guaranteed to last. The Russians say they could withdraw over a planned U.S. missile-defense system, which the Kremlin sees as a threat - though Washington says it's meant to protect Europe from a potential Iranian attack.

Speaking of Iran, Obama and Medvedev will discuss ongoing efforts to ratchet up sanctions against Tehran today. But White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, briefing reporters on Air Force One, cautioned that there wouldn't be any breakthrough announcement.

But even as though the U.S. and Russia cut their arsenals, most analysts think the real threat of a nuclear holocaust today comes from rogue states (like Iran or North Korea) or terror groups. Next week Obama hosts a conference of 47 nations with a very lofty goal: an agreement to secure all weapons-grade nuclear materials - which would lower the odds of them falling into the wrong hands - and to establish international nuclear fuel banks that would allow countries to build nuclear power plants without having to enrich uranium or plutonium on their own.

"A nuclear weapon in the hands of a terrorist is a danger to people everywhere," the President said.

The Schedule

CEST (6 hours ahead of Eastern time)

9:25AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Prague, Czech Republic
Prague Ruzyně Airport

9:45AM THE PRESIDENT arrives at Prague Castle and is greeted by President Klaus of the Czech Republic
Prague Castle

9:55AM THE PRESIDENT takes family photo with President Klaus and President Medvedev of Russia
Prague Castle

10:05AM THE PRESIDENT holds bilateral meeting with President Medvedev
Prague Castle

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT holds expanded meeting with President Medvedev
Prague Castle

11:50AM THE PRESIDENT and President Medvedev attend New START Treaty signing ceremony and hold a press conference
Prague Castle

1:00PM THE PRESIDENT and President Medvedev attend ceremonial lunch hosted by President Klaus; THE PRESIDENT delivers toast remarks
Prague Castle

6:30PM THE PRESIDENT greets Central and Eastern European leaders on arrival
Ambassador’s Residence

7:15PM THE PRESIDENT hosts dinner for Central and Eastern European leaders
Ambassador’s Residence

President's Schedule: Tuesday, April 6

2010-04-06T07:59:00.001-04:00

The White House releases President Obama's nuclear strategy - the "Nuclear Posture Review" today. It makes major changes to longstanding U.S. policy - changes that overturn decades of policies that have been in place since the beginning of the Cold War.

Obama's policy: the U.S. will not use nuclear weapons on a non-nuclear state that is in compliance with the nuclear nonproliferation treaty - even if that country launches a devastating biological, chemical or cyber attack on the U.S.

Obama's policy also ends decades of deliberate vagueness about how it would respond to an enemy attack. Prior administrations have always thought it best to keep a potential opponent guessing. But the President is making an exception for what he calls "outliers like Iran & North Korea" that have violated or renounced the NPF treaty.

The nuclear strategy comes on the eve of Obama's trip to Prague to sign a new START pact with Moscow cutting strategic nuclear arms.

And next week, the U.S. hosts dozens of world leaders at a nuclear security summit here in Washington.

Also today:

Obama hosts an Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House. He will comment on yesterday's coal mining tragedy in West Virginia - the worst in the U.S. in a quarter-century - that has claimed at least 25 lives. Joining the President will be Christian leaders from around the country for a time of prayer, reflection, and celebration of Easter. The President will also highlight the important role that Christian organizations play in serving our country.

Later, the President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. The President and the Vice President will then receive the Economic Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. These briefings are closed press.

In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will have lunch in the Private Dining Room. This lunch is closed press.

Later, the President will meet separately with senior advisors and Secretary of Defense Gates in the Oval Office. These meetings are closed press.

In-Town Travel Pool

Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: ABC
Print: Houston Chronicle
Radio: CBS

EDT

8:00AM Pool Call Time

9:40AM THE PRESIDENT hosts an Easter Prayer Breakfast
East Room

Pooled press (Pre-set 8:00AM – Final Gather 9:20AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

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

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

President's Schedule: Monday, April 5

2010-04-05T09:06:00.001-04:00

Good morning --

Spring has arrived in Washington in a big way. Today, President Obama throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals home opener – but first, he participates in the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Both are steeped in tradition. The Easter Egg Roll will be attended in shifts by 30,000 visitors from around the country. There are all kinds of games, sports, exercise pavilions, music and of course a big bunny and lots of eggs. In keeping with Mrs. Obama’s emphasis on eating right and getting in shape, this year’s theme is: “Ready Set Go!” The “Rock ‘n’ Egg Roll” Stage will feature live music with performances by Sara Bareilles, Justin Bieber, the cast of TV show Glee, Yo Gabba Gabba, Sesame Street and more. J.K. Rowling, ReeseWitherspoon, Apolo Ohno, Mariska Hargitay, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Elmo and Maria of Sesame Street and Betty DeGeneres will read on the Storytime Stage.

Later the President heads to the ballpark, where the perennial cellar dwelling Washington Nationals open their 2010 baseball season against the Philadelphia Phillies. It is the 100th anniversary of the ceremonial first pitch. In 1910, President William Howard Taft tossed a ball to Washington Senators great Walter Johnson, who then went out and threw a one-hitter to beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 3-0. Since that day, nearly every president has continued the tradition.

The Schedule

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:45AM THE FIRST FAMILY attends the Easter Egg Roll; THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY deliver remarks
South Lawn

12:55PM THE PRESIDENT throws out the first pitch on Opening Day
Nationals Park

5:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors

*****

On This Day

On This Day. 1792 - George Washington cast the first presidential veto. It concerned apportioning representatives among the states.

Presidential Quote: "The struggle of today, is not altogether for today - it is for a vast future also." - Abraham Lincoln

Economy Gained Jobs in March, Govt. Says

2010-04-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Two years of devastating job losses for the U.S. economy are over. The Labor Department says the economy grew by 162,000 jobs in March, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 9.7%.

Now for some context. Of the 162,000 new jobs added to the economy in March, 48,000 are temporary census jobs. So net net, it's fair to say true payrolls grew by 114,000. It generally takes 125,000-150,000 new jobs each month just to keep up with population growth.

Slicing up the unemployment data further by race and sex:

* Adult men: 10.0%
* Adult women: 8.0%
* Teenagers: 26.1%
* Whites: 8.8%
* Blacks: 16.5%
* Asians: 7.5%
* Hispanics: 12.6%

Obama will comment on the job numbers at 11:55, when he visits a N.C. maker of components for lithium-ion batteries. - WWR

President's Schedule: Friday, April 2

2010-04-02T06:58:00.003-04:00

Good morning -

Jobs, jobs, jobs. President Obama says he won't rest until every American who wants a job can find one. We'll find out how many of them got one - or lost one - at 8:30, when the Labor Dept. releases the March unemployment report.

It could be good news for the White House - and for 200,000 people, because that's the number of jobs most analysts expect the economy added last month. That would end two years of job losses - more than eight million since Feb. 2008, the government says. That would likely bring the unemployment rate down from its current 9.7%. But keep in mind that's the U3 rate; the broader U6 rate, which some analysts think better reflects the true health of the U.S. labor market, is 16.8%.

Look for Obama to talk about all this when he visits Celgard LLC, a Charlotte, NC manufacturer of components for lithium-ion batteries. He'll take a brief tour and also hold a q&a with workers.

That's the only public event on Obama's schedule tomorrow. He returns to Washington after that and, far as we know, will remain in Washington over the weekend - unless there's another secret trip to Afghanistan or Iraq.

*****

China Chat

Is the U.S. making progress in its efforts to get China on board with sanctions against Iran? Last night, Obama spent an hour on the phone with Chinese President Hu Jintao - keeping everyone waiting on Air Force One as he wrapped up the call - trying to persuade Beijing, which has been reluctant thus far to back Washington. China isn't confirming U.S. reports that it had dropped its opposition to possible new U,N. sanctions against Iran - but Beijing continues to say it is "concerned about the current situation."

*****

New Airport Security

Changes in the way the U.S. looks for potential terrorists on U.S. bound planes: Instead of using nationality as the sole factor in determining which air travelers should be subject to additional security screening, passengers will be selected based on possible matches to intelligence information, including physical descriptions, particular travel patterns - even the numbers in their passport.

The upgraded security screening replaces a system that was rushed into place after the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit bound jet. That system, where passengers from 14 specific countries would be subjected to secondary searches, was criticized by some as a discriminatory.

*****

On This Day

1877 - The first Easter Egg Roll was held on the White House grounds.

1917 - President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany; and the U.S. entered World War I.

*****

Presidential Quote

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." - Franklin D. Roosevelt.

President's Schedule: Thursday, April 1

2010-04-01T06:34:00.003-04:00

Good morning...

No, it's no April Fool's joke. The president is holding another health care event today, this one in Portland, Maine. Didn't he win? Isn't his health care bill now the law of the land?

Well, yes. But Obama continues to hammer away, trying to sell it to the millions of Americans who remain skeptical. How skeptical? The RealClearPolitics.com average of all recent polls puts Obama's job approval at 48.6%, with 46.3% disapproving. Neither figure has budged much for weeks. Among major polls, CNN/Opinion Research has him up three points in a week - but Gallup says Obama's numbers are exactly where they were a month ago.

Om the way home from Maine, Obama will stop off in soggy Boston for a pair of Democratic fundraisers. And that's it for Thursday.

Looking ahead to Friday, the president travels to Charlotte, NC to talk about jobs and the economy. The big March unemployment report will be released at 8:30, and many analysts think it'll show very good news for the White House: actual job growth. The February rate (U3 rate): 9.7%. But the broader U6 rate, which some analysts say better reflects the true health of the U.S. labor market, is 16.8%.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

1:20PM THE PRESIDENT departs Andrews Air Force Base en route Portsmouth, New Hampshire

3:25PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on health insurance reform
Portland Expo Center

4:55PM THE PRESIDENT departs Portland, Maine en route Boston, Massachusetts
Portland International Jetport

5:40PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Boston, Massachusetts
Logan Boston International Airport

6:05PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at DNC fundraising reception

8:05PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at DNC fundraising dinner
Boston Opera House

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will gaggle aboard Air Force One

*****

On This Day

1970 - President Nixon signed the bill that banned cigarette advertisements to be effective on January 1, 1971.

1987 - President Reagan told doctors in Philadelphia, "We've declared AIDS public health enemy No. 1."

*****

Presidential Quote

"The only man who makes no mistake is the man who does nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt

President's Schedule: Wednesday, March 31

2010-03-31T06:27:00.003-04:00

Good morning...

You won't hear the phrase "Drill, baby drill," but that's what President Obama will propose when he announces plans to open new areas for offshore oil and gas drilling. The remarks are set for 11:05 during a visit to Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington.

Obama called for offshore drilling in the 2008 campaign; he says it’s part of an overall energy strategy that also includes nuclear, solar and wind power. Areas he wants to open include coastal Virginia and other parts of the mid-Atlantic, Alaska & Gulf of Mexico. But some areas he wants to keep off limits to drilling: Alaska’s Bristol Bay, and Calif., Oregon and Washington state through 2017.

Obama also wants the U.S. military - the biggest consumer of oil in the United States - to use fuel more efficiently; he sees energy security helping effecting a "trifecta" of concerns - national security, the economy and environment.

The military is such a huge consumer of fuel, that if it changes its buying habits, it can create, singlehandedly, a vast new market for renewable energy, spurring entrepreneurs to serve it. It's kind of a reverse "Field of Dreams" thing, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus tells National Defense: "If we come, they will build it." The legendary DARPA - the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency - is encouraging this; in fact, WWR predicts the Pentagon will be a key driver of America's pivot towards a green energy economy.

In the afternoon, the President meets with the family of civil rights legend Cesar Chavez on what would have been his 83rd birthday, as well as leaders of the United Farm Workers (UFW) that Chavez co-founded. Obama will then sign a proclamation designating March 31, 2010 as Cesar Chavez Day.

Obama ends his day with remarks at the closing session of the "Forum for Workplace Flexibility." No, not stretching and bending, but rather how companies can better create work environments to help employees do the work-life balance thing.

The Schedule

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

11:05AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on energy security
Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington

2:40PM THE PRESIDENT meets with the Chavez family and signs a proclamation in honor of Cesar Chavez Day
Oval Office

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at closing session of the Forum for Workplace Flexibility
EEOB South Court Auditorium

*****

Obama's Mail

You may have heard that President Obama gets 20,000 letters and e-mails a day. He reads 10 of them - and responds. The Washington Post has a fascinating look at what Obama calls his most important daily reading material.

http://bit.ly/a0xI6W

Presidential Quote

"I have never been hurt by anything I didn't say." - Calvin Coolidge

President's Schedule: Tuesday, March 30

2010-03-30T06:28:00.003-04:00

Good morning...

The President is squeezing as much mileage as possible out of his health care law, which the White House political operation sees as ultimately helping Obama at the polls. (see below for an early read on how that's working). At 11:05, at Northern Virginia Community College, he'll sign the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

WWR thinks you know what the health care law is by now (don't you?). But what about the education part of the bill? It centers around how the federal government will give aid to college students. Essentialy, it ends the process of subsidizing private banks which give out federally insured loans. These loans will now be administered by the Department of Education. It also ups the value of Pell Grants. Starting in 2014, students who qualify will be able to cap the amount they must spend on loan repayment each month to 10% of their discretionary income, down from 15%. Obama hopes this will ease the debt burden on graduates as they enter the work force. It'll also be easier for borrowers to be "forgiven" their loans after 20 years of they've made timely payments during that time.

After lunch with Vice-President Biden and his weekly meeting with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Obama meets with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Look for Iran (where Sarkozy is talking tough on sanctions) Afghanistan (where he's reluctant to provide more troops) and, to a lesser extent, Europe's fiscal issues to top the agenda. They'll also hold a short news conference in the Rose Garden (or East Room if it's raining). In the evening, the Obamas and Sarkozys will have dinner together - fashionistas eagerly await pictures of Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in their stately attire.

The Schedule
EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office

11:05AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks and signs the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
Northern Virginia Community College

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office

12:20PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch
Private Dining Room

2:45PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office

3:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with President Sarkozy of France
Oval Office

4:45PM THE PRESIDENT and President Sarkozy hold joint press availability
Rose Garden

6:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY host dinner for President Sarkozy and Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy
Private Residence

Briefing Schedule

2:15PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Polls: Short-Lived Bounce?

In the days immediately following passage of the landmark health care law, it looked like Obama's numbers were turning around. But some polls have since flattened out or dropped again, a troubling sign for the President.

Gallup, for instance, has Obama’s approval 48% (rolling three-day average), near his all-time low of 46% percent. Obama had been up to 50% when the bill passed.

“People thought Obama might get a significant uptick,” Gallup's Frank Newport tells Politico. “Obama’s approval seems to have moved up a few points during and slightly after passage. Then it fell back down again.”

CNN-Opinion Research, however, shows Obama's gains holding for now. The President jumped from 46% to 51% approval as health care passed - with jumps registered from two key voting blocs: lower-income households and union members.

*****

On This Day

1981: President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt after being shot by John W. Hinckley Jr. Exiting a Washington hotel after giving a speech, Reagan was hit by one bullet, which entered through his left armpit, grazed a rib and lodged in his lung, stopping nearly an inch from his heart. Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady were also wounded. The President was rushed to George Washington University hospital, immediately underwent a three-hour operation - he remained in the hospital for 13 days and made a full recovery.

Presidential Quote

"Honey, I forgot to duck." - President Reagan to his wife after the assassination attempt.

President's Schedule: Monday, March 29

2010-03-29T14:55:00.000-04:00

President Obama's trip to Afghanistan ended as it began - shrouded in fog. Air Force One was wheels down at Andrews AFB at 8:52 this morning, but a thick, pea-soup mush grounded Marine One, forcing the Secret Service to drive Obama back to the White House.

Obama spent 27 1/2 hours in the air on the 14,000 mile trip, which began in secret Saturday night, after he was flown in secret from Camp David, where he was supposed to be spending the weekend.

The President today has a light schedule: at 4:00pm, he'll participate in a credentialing ceremony for foreign ambassadors. Tonight he'll host a Passover Sedar for White House staff and friends.

A look ahead at the President's week:

Tuesday: signs the Health Care & Education Act; PM: meets French President Sarkozy, and later he and Mrs. Obama will host, a private dinner for their French counterparts.

Wednesday: visits Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, and later holds a forum on Workplace Flexibility.

Thursday: health care event, Portland, Maine, and a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Boston.

Friday: jobs/economy event in Charlotte, NC.

President's Schedule: Friday, March 26

2010-03-26T07:29:00.000-04:00

Good morning from the White House press room...

A quiet day to end a historic week. Obama has his weekly meeting with Secretary of State Clinton; he'll then receive his intelligence briefing (officially called the the Presidential Daily Briefing, or PDB). Both meetings are in the Oval Office.

In the afternoon, the President will travel to Camp David.

Health Care

The Senate and House have both made their final adjustments to the new health care law, so now it is finally over. Until the Fall midterm elections, which are already underway. So it's not really over.

Housing Program

Another plan to help homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages is being rolled out. It'll require lenders to lower mortgage payments and principal for many homeowners who are unemployed. And TARP funds (the $700 billion program from 2008) will be used to help borrowers to refinance up to 115% of their home's value.

The move reflects the shifting causes of foreclosures. The initial wave of foreclosures a few years ago was driven by subprime mortgages; now it is joblessness. In the future, however, it may be two entirely new causes: Alt-A and Option Adjustable mortgages, which threaten, according to some data, to be as damaging as the initial subprime tidal wave. All told, an estimated 14% of all mortgages in the U.S. are "underwater," meaning the homeowner owes the bank more than the home is worth.

The Schedule

EDT

9:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

PM THE PRESIDENT departs The White House en route Camp David
South Lawn

Briefing Schedule

10:45AM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

On This Day

In a 1979 White House ceremony, the historic Camp David accords were signed between Egypt and Israel, ending three decades of war. The peace treaty, negotiated with President Jimmy Carter as the middleman, sparked outrage in much of the Arab world. For their efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat won the Nobel Peace Prize - but Sadat was then assassinated. The Camp David agreement is generally regarded as the high point of the Carter administration.

Presidential Quote

"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth." - George Washington

President's Schedule: Thursday, March 25

2010-03-25T06:51:00.002-04:00

Good morning from the White House press room...

The health care bill isn't quite done yet. Senate Republicans will be able to kill language in a measure altering President Obama's bill, meaning it has to go back to the House for final House approval.

This doesn't appear to be a big deal. Democratic leaders say the language in question concerns Pell Grants for college students; the changes won't affect the health care bill itself - or the grants, for that matter. Final House approval is likely before the weekend.

"The parliamentarian struck two minor provisions tonight from in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. But this bill's passage in the Senate is a big win for the American people," said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Meantime, thought you were done hearing the President speak about health care? Au contraire. He heads to Iowa City today (which coincidentally is in Iowa), where he'll talk up his new health insurance reform bill, which Obama says will lower costs for small businesses and families.

Obama chose Iowa City because that's where he first announced his health care plan in May 2007; the University of Iowa Field House holds just 3,000 people and yesterday afternoon White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said there had been some 16,500 requests for tickets.

"We're going to need a bigger boat!" Gibbs tweeted.

The Iowa trip eats up most of Obama's day. He leaves right after his daily intelligence brief and senior staff meeting.

Iran Setback

WWR has mentioned previously that U.S. efforts to get tough sanctions against Iran appear to be going nowhere - and that Tehran, in fact, has successfully called America's bluff over its nuclear program. The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that the administration is watering down its efforts to put the screws to Tehran, in hopes of winning support from Russia and China.

Just Tuesday, Secretary of State Clinton said the U.S. wanted "biting" sanctions that would hurt Tehran. But the Journal says the White House is scrapping efforts to choke off Tehran's access to international banking services and capital markets, and closing international airspace and waters to Iran's national air cargo and shipping lines.

The U.S. worries Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons and is determined to prevent this. Iran says its nuclear activities are peaceful.

Arms Control Deal

But it looks like Obama will have one foreign policy success to crow about. The President and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, are set to announce an agreement on a new START treaty that would slash each country's arsenal of strategic nuclear weapons. Expect an official announcement shortly. The treaty, which of course requires Senate approval, would be signed by both leaders next month in Prague, the Czech capital.

The Schedule

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office

CDT

1:00PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on health care reform
University of Iowa Field House, Iowa City

Briefing Schedule

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will gaggle aboard Air Force One

*****

On This Day...in 1933, President Herbert Hoover accepts the newly commissioned USS Sequoia as the official presidential yacht. For 44 years, the Sequoia served as an occasional venue for recreation and official gatherings for eight U.S. presidents. - courtesy of History.com

Presidential Quote

"The revenue of the country, levied almost insensibly to the taxpayer, goes on from year to year, increasing beyond either the interests or the prospective wants of the Government." - Franklin Pierce

President's Schedule: Wednesday, March 24

2010-03-24T07:47:00.004-04:00

Good morning from the White House press room...

After yesterday's historic signing of the health care bill - a "big (expletive)-ing deal" as Vice-President Biden was overheard saying - it'll be a much quieter day at the White House. The President has no publicly-scheduled events on his agenda. He'll sign an executive order this afternoon limiting the use of federal funds for abortion. This was, of course, the deal he made with Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak to secure the winning votes for the health care bill.

Meantime, the first polls are in on passage of the health care bill. USA Today says 49% of Americans say passage of the landmark bill is a "good thing," while 40% say it's a "bad thing." Republicans, who failed to stop the bill in Congress, are now rolling out Plan B: an effort to "recall and repeal" the bill through legal challenges at the state level.

Obama also meets with Senators John Kerry (D-Ma.) and Richard Lugar (R-In.) this morning on START talks (reduction of strategic nuclear arms) with Russia; a recent START pact with the Kremlin expired in December and both Washington and Moscow have indicated that agreement on a new pact is near. Kerry and Lugar would help win Senate approval of the treaty.

The president also will sit down with Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Ct.), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, and Congressman Barney Frank (D-Ma.), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, in the Oval Office to discuss financial reform.

Strained Ties

On the foreign policy front, yesterday's health care hoopla overshadowed a low-key West Wing visit by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. A 3 1/2 hour meeting came and went with no comment from either side. No media coverage, not even the usual pool photo of the leaders chatting in the Oval Office. This is no accident: Netanyahu's last visit here, in July, was also kept as low key as possible.

Netanyahu - descrbed last night as looking somber - has been blasted by U.S. officials over plans to construct housing in East Jerusalem. White House efforts to stop it show the limits of American power over its closest Mideast ally, casting an ever-darkening shadow over efforts to forge a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The United States sees such a deal as crucial to a broader regional effort to sway Arab/Muslim opinion, tamp down terrorism and bolster America's national security. But Netanyahu bluntly rejected U.S. demands to end the housing project.

Unspoken, at least publicly, during the Netanyahu visit is what to do about Iran. Israel sees Iran as a mortal threat - Iranian leaders have taunted that Israel should be wiped from the map - and has made no secret about contingency plans for a possible strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. The U.S. dilemma is a difficult one. Washington also says Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. But it desperately wants to avoid military action against Tehran. At the same time, its preferred tactic - ratcheting up economic sanctions against Iran - seems to be going nowhere. The Chinese aren't on board and say they won't be, and recent comments from the Kremlin indicate that the Russians are skeptical of American efforts as well. Diplomatic spats between Washington and Moscow over anti-missile sites in Europe, and between Washington and Beijing over the Dalai Lama, arms sales to Taiwan, and trade and currency matters aren't exactly inducements for China and Russia - which hold veto power in the U.N. Security Council - to help the Americans.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

9:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Kerry and Senator Lugar
Situation Room

9:35AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Dodd and Representative Frank to discuss financial reform
Oval Office

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT signs an executive order reaffirming the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s consistency with longstanding restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion
Oval Office

Briefing Schedule

12:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

Presidential Quote

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
- Thomas Jefferson

President's Schedule: Tuesday, March 23

2010-03-23T07:18:00.001-04:00

Good morning from the White House press room...

"People with low or moderate incomes do not get the same medical attention as those with high incomes," the President said. "The poor have more sickness, but they get less medical care. People who live in rural areas do not get the same amount or quality of medical attention as those who live in our cities."

It was true when these words were spoken - by President Harry Truman on Nov. 19, 1945 - and they are true this morning. But this is about to change. At 11:15, President Obama will sign the Health Insurance Reform bill, perhaps the most significant piece of domestic legislation in half a century. It is certainly the biggest transformation of the American health care system in decades.

Such a momentous piece of legislation can only be signed in one place: the grand confines of the majestic East Room, site of some of the most momentous events in American history. After the 11:15 signing, the President heads to the Dept. of the Interior, where he'll thank members of Congress and other guests who helped get the bill passed.

At 3:00, Obama will meet Senators Lugar and Kerry in the Oval Office. The subject: ongoing START talks (strategic nuclear arms reduction talks) with Russia. A prior agreement expired in December, and Washington and Moscow are said to be nearing agreement on a new pact to reduce the number of nuclear warheads.

Obama's last appointment of the day will be at 5:30: a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. It may be contentious. The U.S. is unhappy with ongoing Israeli plans to expand housing in disputed areas of Jerusalem, so there will not be the usual "pool spray" by the White House press. Another topic is also on the table: Iran.

*****

The Schedule

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office

11:15AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks and signs the health insurance reform bill
East Room

12:05PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the health insurance reform bill
Department of Interior

3:00PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Kerry and Senator Lugar
Oval Office

5:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel
Oval Office

*****

Presidential Quote
"What kind of nation we will be, what kind of world we will live in, whether we shape the future in the image of our hopes, is ours to determine by our actions and our choices." - Richard Nixon

President's Schedule: Monday, March 22

2010-03-22T05:52:00.003-04:00

Good morning from the White House press room...

It is difficult to overstate the significance of last night's dramatic health care showdown in the House of Representatives. Capping a year of debate, divisiveness, anger and confrontation, the 219-212 vote lays the foundation for what would be the biggest transformation of the American health care system in decades. It is also likely to be the one achievement that, for better or worse, ultimately defines the legacy of the Obama administration.

"We proved that we are a people capable of doing big things," the President said in a late-night appearance in the White House East Room. "This legislation will not fix everything that ails our health care system, but it moves us decisively in the right direction."

Mr. Obama added: "This is what change looks like."

Not yet. Tuesday, the Senate takes up revisions to the legislation approved by the House. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he has enough votes to keep the Republicans from derailing the Democratic train - though Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to do just that, with what Obama last night called "another siege of parliamentary maneuvering."

As Senate Republicans review the reconciliation bill, one - New Hampshire's Judd Gregg - has identified at least one provision that he thinks could bring the entire bill crashing down. Gregg, who sits on the Budget Committee, thinks that a new tax on high-cost insurance policies would violate reconciliation rules by impacting the Social Security trust fund.

But Reid says Democrats will be able to keep the train moving along. Assuming this is so, the Senate will approve the House revisions - setting the stage for a historic bill signing by Mr. Obama this week. Look for this to happen not in the Rose Garden, but in the far grander confines of the East Room, where historic legislation is often signed, such as Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Act of 1964.

And what IS that change anyway? This is what the bill intends to do, courtesy of the unbiased fact-checkers at Politifact.com, which has checked hundreds of claims about health care reform and selected 10 facts that you should know:

1. "The plan is not a government takeover of health care like in Canada or Britain."

2. "Insurance companies will be regulated more heavily. They will be told the minimum services they must cover, including preventive care. They will have to pay out a certain percentage of premiums for patient care. By 2014, when the exchanges open, insurers won't be able to deny customers for pre-existing conditions."

3. "Everyone will have to have health insurance or pay a fine, a requirement known as the individual mandate."

4. "Employers will not be required to buy insurance for their employees, but large employers may be subject to fines if they don't provide insurance."

5. "The vast majority of people will not see significant declines in premiums."

6. "The plan might or might not bend the curve on health spending."

7. "The government-run Medicare program will keep paying medical bills for seniors, but it will begin implementing cost controls on health care providers, mostly through penalties and incentives."

8. "Medicaid, a joint federal-state program for the poor, will cover all of the poor, instead of just a few groups the way it currently does."

9. "The government won't pay for elective abortions."

10. "No one is proposing new benefits for illegal immigrants."

There are more details for each of these ten points. Go to Politifact.com for more. It's in their "Truth-O-Meter" section. Leave yous bias, pro or con, at the door.

*****

As for the President's schedule today, it is light, with just one item - an 11:30 session with his senior advisors - on the schedule. Obama was supposed to have been in Asia this week, so the West Wing schedulers are filling in the calendar. There is talk the president will meet Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

EDT

10:00AM Pool Call Time

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office

Briefing Schedule

12:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

On This Day
1933: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Beer and Wine Revenue Act, which levied a federal tax on alcohol to raise money for the federal government.

Presidential Quote
"A president's hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what is right."
- Lyndon B. Johnson

President's Schedule: Friday, March 19

2010-03-19T07:51:00.004-04:00

Good morning from the West Wing press room...

As WWR tweeted last night: Beware the pundits. The narrative of many of them, through yesterday, was "Obama's on the ropes." The President, after all, was forced to cancel an important trip to Indonesia and Australia because he lacked the votes for his $940 billion health-care plan. And his poll numbers continue to sink. Yesterday, Gallup said Obama's approval rating hit the lowest point of his presidency, 46%, with 48% disapproving.

But look for this narrative to change, perhaps as early as Sunday, driven by what is now becoming apparent: that the President will, in fact, get the magic 216 votes he needs. So the "Obama on the ropes" theme will morph, for some, into "The President stuck to his guns and got the job done." This is how it's looking as the sun comes up this Friday morning.

In fact, the discussion appears to have shifted from "Will Obama and Pelosi get the votes" to "Which Democrats will be allowed to vote no?" There are many Dems on thin ice this November. But the ice is thinner for some than others, and they will be allowed to vote against the health-care plan.

The President this morning will make one more final pitch for his plan, an 11:35 rally at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. It will be his 54th major health-care event since taking office and you won't hear anything new. Today's event is designed to show that Obama is fighting to the very end - this plays into the coming change of narrative that WWR predicts will soon occur.

Deal on Guantanamo Near

Obama failed to deliver on another major campaign pledge, to close the Guantanamo Bay prison within a year. But within a year-and-a-half? That seems doable. The administration and a bipartisan group of Senators are close to a deal that would shut the prison and put more detainees on trial before a military commission.

The military commission route is a reversal of stated administration policy. Originally, the White House intended to try 9/11 plotter Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other suspects in a civilian court.

Of course, the Gitmo naval base itself stays open. The U.S. has been there since 1903 and with an annual rent of around $4,085, the price is right. WWR highly recommends a visit. The bachelor officer's quarters on leeward is the place to stay - but look out for the big iguanas in the road.

The President's Schedule
EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office

11:35AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on health insurance reform
George Mason University’s Patriot Center

1:00PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch
Private Dining Room

*****

On This Day
2003: The war in Iraq began. The U.S. and its allies - primarily the British - invaded, promising to bring down the government of Saddam Hussein, who was suspected of building weapons of mass destruction. No WMD were ever found, and after 7 years, more than a trillion dollars and (as of today) 4,385 American lives, the United States is pulling out. Saddam is long gone and a new Iraqi government is emerging from the rubble. When Bush said "Mission Accomplished" on May 1, 2003, that clearly wasn't so - but Iraq, which WWR has visited, is now increasingly stable, has held a series of highly successful elections and holds much promise for the future.

Presidential Quote
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." - John Quincy Adams

President's Schedule: Thursday, March 18

2010-03-18T07:07:00.008-04:00

Good morning from the West Wing...

The President still lacks the 216 House votes he needs to get a health-care bill, but he is getting closer. Wednesday, two key Democrats moved into the Obama column: Ohio's Dennis Kucinich, who had previously opposed the bill, and Dale E. Kildee of Michigan, who had been among a group seeking more restrictions on insurance-covered abortions. But analysts say the White House still appears to be about 10 votes short of that magic 216.

What happens next? Everyone is waiting for the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office to come out with its estimate of the bill's price tag. House Democratic leaders have said that when the estimate comes out - maybe today - lawmakers will be given 72 hours to review the legislation before voting. This suggests a final vote could take place on Sunday. If the House approves the President's bill, the Senate could then pass a reconciliation bill next week.

Mr. Obama is still scheduled to leave for Asia on Sunday. His departure was supposed to have been today, but was delayed to give him more time to work on health-care.

The Schedule
The President has one public event on his schedule today: he'll sign the HIRE Act in a Rose Garden ceremony. HIRE is a bill designed to spur job growth and strengthen the private sector by encouraging businesses to hire new workers and invest in their companies and communities.

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

11:20AM THE PRESIDENT signs the HIRE Act
Rose Garden

1:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office

Briefing Schedule
Sunny and 70, that's the forecast. So Robert Gibbs will hold today's press briefing (at 12:30) in the Rose Garden. It's the first time a regular briefing has been held there in years. Not that there are any roses there this time of year. WWR will bring the frisbee.

Stand Up Joe
If this politics stuff doesn't work out, Vice-President Biden may have a career as a nightclub comic. He brought down the house - not that house - at last night's Radio-TV Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Convention Center. A sampling:

..."trying to negotiate a lasting make peace between the Palestinians and Israel is tough. But it's a hell of a break from health-care."

..."The Republicans are wrong when they say the stimulus hasn't created one job. Well, tell that to Scott Brown."

..."The health care bill's (too long)...just ask Sarah (Palin). That's a hell of a lot to write on the palm of your hand."

..."Liz Cheney has been on a tear. Now she's questioning whether Tom Brady's a real patriot."

But Biden, in case you haven't heard, had no gift of gab at a prior event - a St. Patrick's Day reception at the White House where the guest of honor was Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. Paying tribute to the Prime Minister's Mother, Biden said "God rest her soul." Just one problem: Mr. Cowen's mother is very much alive. The Vice-President quickly realized his error, noting that it was Mr Cowen's father who had recently died. Biden then corrected himself, saying "God bless her soul" in reference to Mr Cowen's mother.

On This Day
1837: Grover Cleveland was born. He is the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms. He was the 22nd president from 1885 to 1889 and the 24th president from 1893 to 1897.

Presidential Quote
"National honor is a national property of the highest value." - James Monroe

President's Schedule: Wednesday, March 17

2010-03-17T07:07:00.005-04:00

Good morning from the White House press room...

With what could be a final showdown on the President's health-care plan just days away, the White House is still fighting an uphill battle. The latest pothole: Some Democrats are now complaining about an overhaul of the student-loan program, which party leaders plan to include in a companion bill.

Meantime, a fresh NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows Obama's massive communications blitz on health-care failing to gain traction. In October, 45% of Americans supported the president on health-care, with 39% opposed. Today, 46% support, but 45% oppose. And when asked if overhauling health-care is a "good idea" or a "bad idea," the gap is even wider: 48% call it a "bad idea," and 36% a "good idea."

The same poll, by the way, says Congress' approval rating is near an all-time low. Just 17% of Americans approve of the way lawmakers are doing their job, while 77% disapprove. Looking ahead to November, 45% prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, 42% Republican (but different Democrats and Republicans, of course). WWR predicts most incumbents will be re-elected as usual, anyway.

The Schedule

It's the wearin' o' the green at the White House on this Saint Patrick's Day. After the usual intelligence and economic briefings, the President meets with the Taoiseach (or Prime Minister) of Ireland Brian Cowen. After that it's off to Capitol Hill for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the Capitol - and, maybe just a wee bit of lobbying for healthcare.

In the evening, the President and the First Lady will host the Prime Minister and Mrs. Cowen at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Reception held in the East Room. There'll be the usual Shamrock Ceremony and entertainment. This year it comes via the Keltic Dreams, an after school Irish dancing troupe from Public School 59 in the Bronx; the City of Washington Pipe Band will also perform.

And look for the fountain on the North Lawn to turn green, like it did last year.

At 5:15PM, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius hosts a live video chat on the health-care reform through Ustream, the White House’s first major engagement on the platform, with questions taken in advance from Yahoo! News and live through Ustream’s social stream chat feature. The chat will happen at http://www.ustream.tv/whitehouse.

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT meets with the Taoiseach of Ireland Brian Cowen
Oval Office

12:35PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at Speaker Pelosi’s Friends of Ireland Luncheon
The Capitol

7:25PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY host St. Patrick’s Day reception
East Room

*****

On This Day
1972: In order to achieve school desegregation, President Nixon asked Congress to halt student busing.

Presidential Quote
"I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessing on this house (the White House) and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof!" - John Adams

What's YOUR Question for the President?
Send to: Westwingrpt@gmail.com. It COULD be asked at the next White House news conference!

President's Schedule: Tuesday, March 16

2010-03-16T06:05:00.004-04:00

Good morning from the White House press room...

A few weeks ago, President Obama was asked what he would do if a healthcare vote didn't go his way. His reply: "I always have a Plan B." But he gave no details.

Now we know. Plan B would be a non-vote vote.

Huh?

The non-vote vote would involve a procedural manuever that would allow House members to vote on fixes to the Senate healthcare bill; Speaker Nancy Pelosi could then declare that lawmakers "deem" the healthcare bill to be passed.

If you're not a master of House procedures, this tactic - known as a "self-executing rule" or a "deem and pass" - is used quite often, though never for something as big as an $875 billion healthcare bill. Speaker Pelosi says there is an added benefit as well: the "self-executing" rule could politically shield lawmakers from having to support the full-blown healthcare bill publicly in an election year.

"I like it," Pelosi said during a chat with bloggers yesterday. "Because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill."

There's no question that such a tactic wouldn't even be floated by the House Speaker if she and the President had the House votes they need. In Ohio yesterday, where he gave his 53rd major healthcare speech of his presidency, Obama told ABC's Jake Tapper he would have the votes, and the White House is openly predicting that a healthcare bill will be a done deal by this weekend.

*****

The President's Schedule

As the healthcare drama rolls on, the President will be out of sight today, with no public events on his schedule.

EDT

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT and DNC Chairman Kaine have lunch
Private Dining Room

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office

Briefing Schedule

1:00PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

*****

On This Day

1751: James Madison was born. He served as the fourth President, serving between 1809-17. Madison is also regarded as the "Father of the Constitution." As a member of the first Continental Congress in 1779, he and helped pass the Articles of Confederation. Then, with the help of Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, he then published the "The Federalist Papers," a series of articles that successfully argued for ratification of the Constitution in 1787. Although installments of "The Federalist Papers" were published under the pseudonym "Publius," it is estimated that Madison wrote at least half of the articles.

- thanks to the History Channel.com

Presidential Quote

"The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted." - James Madison.

What's YOUR Question for the President?

Send to: Westwingrpt@gmail.com. It COULD be asked at the next White House news conference!