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 15

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

December 17

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Fredericksburg, VA.

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

December 18

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President participated in a signing ceremony for H.R. 3315, designating the Great Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center as Emancipation Hall.

The White House announced that the President will travel to Israel, the West Bank, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt from January 8-16, 2008.

The President declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe winter storms on December 8 and continuing.

The President announced his intention to nominate Irene B. Brooks to be Chairman and Samuel W. Speck to be a Commissioner of the International Joint Commission of the United States and Canada.

The President announced his intention to nominate Robert G. McSwain to be Director of the Indian Health Service within the Public Health Service at the Department of Health and Human Services.

The President announced his intention to nominate Deanna Tanner Okun to be Deputy U.S. Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador.

December 19

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in front of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, he and Vice President Dick Cheney thanked Washington, DC, firefighters who responded to a fire in the Vice President’s ceremonial office.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, where he visited with wounded U.S. military personnel and presented Purple Heart medals to service members. He then returned to Washington, DC.

December 20

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, the President visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he met with wounded U.S. military personnel and presented Purple Heart medals to soldiers.

December 21

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