Digest of Other White House Announcements, Week Ending Friday, December 9, 2005

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 3

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he and Mrs. Bush traveled to Camp David, MD.

December 4

In the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to Washington, DC.

In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush attended the Kennedy Center Honors Gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

December 5

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Greensboro, NC, where, upon arrival, he greeted USA Freedom Corps volunteer Winfield Rose.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to Kernersville, NC, where he participated in a tour of the John Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corp. excavator assembly line. Later, he returned to Washington, DC.

December 6

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a hurricane briefing. Later, in the Yellow Oval Room, he and Mrs. Bush participated in an interview and photo shoot with People magazine.

In the afternoon, at the historic Evermay house, the President attended a Republican National Commitee luncheon. Later, in the Roosevelt Room, he met with Jewish educators.

The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium to the White House on January 17, 2006.

The White House announced that the January 11, 2006, visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany to the White House has been rescheduled for January 13.

December 7

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil to discuss the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Hong Kong. Later, he had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Vice President Dick Cheney. Later, he participated in a photo opportunity with White House interns.

Later in the afternoon, in the Residence, the President met with congressional leaders to discuss legislative priorities.

In the evening, the President hosted a holiday reception at the White House.

December 8

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in the Oval Office, he met with Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel of Austria. Then, in the Roosevelt Room, he participated in a briefing with Republican Members of Congress on the war on terror.

In the afternoon, on the State Floor, the President hosted a holiday reception for White House staff.

In the evening, on the State Floor, the President hosted another holiday reception for White House staff.

December 9

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he met with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. He then participated in a photo opportunity with Make-a-Wish-Foundation children.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to Minneapolis, MN, where, upon arrival, he greeted USA Freedom Corps volunteer Nancy Sager.

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

In the evening, the President hosted a holiday reception.

The President declared a major disaster in Alaska and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe fall storm, tidal surges, and flooding on September 22-26.