Digest of Other White House Announcements, Week Ending Friday, March 19, 2004

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.

March 13

In the morning, at Camp David, MD, the President had an intelligence briefing.

March 14

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

In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush attended a gala at Ford’s Theatre.

March 15

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin of Russia to discuss President Putin’s March 14 reelection victory. President Bush then had a telephone conversation with President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia to thank her for Latvia’s support in Iraq and discuss Latvia’s upcoming accession into NATO.

Later in the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he had a telephone conversation with outgoing President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain to thank him for his support, friendship, and leadership during his term. President Bush then had a telephone conversation with President-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain to congratulate him on his March 14 election victory.

Also in the morning, the President participated in a photo opportunity with finalists of Intel Corporation’s Science Talent Search.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to Ardmore, PA, where, upon arrival, he greeted USA Freedom Corps volunteer Robert S. Bright. Later, he visited the home of first-time homebuyer Pearl Cerdan.

Later in the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.

March 16

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, in the East Room, the President participated in a photo opportunity with recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.

The President announced his intention to nominate Constance Berry Newman to be Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

The President announced his intention to nominate Jonathan W. Dudas to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The President announced his intention to designate Thomas Neil Hull III as Ambassador to Sierra Leone.

The President announced his intention to nominate Jendayi Elizabeth Frazer to be Ambassador to South Africa.

The President announced his intention to designate Mitchell B. Reiss as Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and to nominate him for the rank of Ambassador during his term of service.

March 17

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he met with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President met with Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland. Then, in the Diplomatic Reception Room, he participated in a photo opportunity with Northern Ireland political and civic leaders. Later, on the State Floor, he participated in a Saint Patrick’s Day reception.

In the afternoon, at the Capitol, the President and Prime Minister Ahern attended a Saint Patrick’s Day luncheon hosted by Speaker of the House of Representatives J. Dennis Hastert.

Later in the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Director General Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency to discuss efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The President announced his intention to nominate R. Niels Marquardt to be Ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

The President announced his intention to nominate Lauren Moriarty for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as U.S. Senior Official to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.

March 18

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis of Greece to congratulate him on his party’s March 7 parliamentary election victory, and to discuss the situation in Cyprus and security for the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens. Later, he had an intelligence briefing.

Later in the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Fort Campbell, KY, where, upon arrival, the President greeted USA Freedom Corps volunteer Billy C. Colwell, Sr.

In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush had lunch with U.S. military personnel. They then visited with family members of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq.

Later in the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to Washington, DC.

The President announced his intention to nominate Roger A. Meece to be Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The President announced his intention to nominate James Moriarty to be Ambassador to Nepal.

March 19

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland to discuss the war on terrorism, the situation in Iraq, and other issues. He then had a telephone conversation with President Jacques Chirac of France to discuss the upcoming 60th anniversary of D-day and to thank him for his support against terrorism following the March 11 terrorist attacks in Madrid, Spain.

Later in the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.