Digest of Other White House Announcements

The following list includes the President’s public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this issue.

December 6

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

December 8

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he had separate telephone conversations with President Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Chairman Dr. John Garang to discuss the Sudan peace process.

Later in the morning, the President made a surprise drop-by visit during Mrs. Bush’s interview with Larry King of CNN.

In the afternoon, the President met with Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snow, Postmaster General John E. Potter, and members of the President’s Commission on the U.S. Postal Service to discuss postal reform. Later, on the State Floor, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted a Christmas reception and program for children of U.S. military personnel.

In the evening, on the State Floor, the President hosted the Congressional Ball.

December 9

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, on the South Lawn, he and Mrs. Bush participated in an arrival ceremony for Premier Wen Jiabao of China. The President and Premier Wen then met in the Oval Office. Later in the morning, in the Cabinet Room, the President and Premier Wen met with U.S. and Chinese economic officials to discuss economic and trade issues.

In the afternoon, in the Residence, the President had lunch with Premier Wen. Later, in Room 450 at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, he dropped by a meeting between National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and the U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum to discuss the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

In the evening, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the President and Mrs. Bush attended a joint performance by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra.

The President announced his intention to nominate Lisa Marie Kruska to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Public Affairs.

The President announced his intention to nominate Donald Lee Korb to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant General Counsel in the Department of the Treasury.

The President announced his intention to nominate Robert Scott Jepson, Jr., Paul Byron Jones, and Charles Leon Kolby to be members of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board.

The President announced his intention to appoint Robert A. Martinez as a member of the Board of Governors of the United Service Organizations, Inc.

The President declared a major disaster in the U.S. Virgin Islands and ordered Federal aid to supplement Territory recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides on November 10-16.

The President declared a major disaster in Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding on November 18-19.

December 10

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a National Security Council meeting. Later, he met with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.

During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Jacques Chirac of France, and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany to discuss his appointment of James A. Baker III as his personal envoy on the issue of Iraqi debt.

December 11

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He also had separate telephone conversations with outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada, to congratulate him on his service to the Canadian people, and with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, to discuss the situation in Iraq and the President’s appointment of James A. Baker III as his personal envoy on the issue of Iraqi debt.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to McLean, VA.

In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.

In the evening, the President attended a holiday dinner.

The President announced his designation of Kirk Van Tine as Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

The President announced his designation of Neil McPhie as Vice Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board.

December 12

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing and then met with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. Later, he dropped by a White House meeting between Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman, Council on Environmental Quality Chairman James L. Connaughton, and wildlife conservation leaders.

In the afternoon, the President greeted winners of the 2003 MATHCOUNTS National Competition. Later, he attended holiday receptions.

In the evening, the President attended a holiday reception for members of the U.S. Secret Service. Later, he traveled to Camp David, MD.