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.

January 29

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

January 30

In the afternoon, the President had separate telephone conversations with King Abdullah II of Jordan, Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to discuss the elections in Iraq.

Later in the afternoon, in the Family Theater, the President participated in a speech preparation session for his February 2 State of the Union Address.

January 31

In the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, President Jacques Chirac of France, and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany to discuss the elections in Iraq, the situation in the Middle East, and the President’s upcoming visit to Europe.

Later in the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and President Ghazi al-Ujayl al-Yawr of the Iraqi Interim Government to discuss the elections in Iraq. He then had an intelligence briefing and met with the National Security Council.

In the afternoon, in the Family Theater, the President participated in two speech preparation sessions.

During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United Nations to discuss the elections in Iraq.

The President announced that he has named Jack D. Crouch II as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser.

February 1

In the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Secretary General Jakob Gijsbert "Jaap" de Hoop Scheffer of NATO, and European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso to discuss the elections in Iraq. Later, he had a telephone conversation with President Vicente Fox of Mexico to discuss the elections in Iraq and other issues.

Later in the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in the FamilyTheater, he participated in a speech preparation session.

In the afternoon, the President met with Representative Jo Ann Emerson, chair, National Prayer Breakfast. He then participated in an interview with columnist Cal Thomas. Later, in the Family Theater, he participated in a speech preparation session.

February 2

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to discuss the elections in Iraq, the President’s upcoming visit to Europe, and other issues. He then had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada to discuss the elections in Iraq. Later, he had a telephone conversation with President Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador to discuss the elections in Iraq and to thank President Saca for the service of Salvadoran troops in Iraq.

Later in the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then had separate meetings with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. Later, in the Family Theater, he participated in a speech preparation session.

In the afternoon, the President had lunch with network television correspondents.

The President declared a major disaster in Hawaii and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flash flooding on October 30, 2004.

The President declared an emergency in Illinois and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by record/near record snow on December 21-23, 2004.

The President declared a major disaster in West Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, and landslides beginning on January 4 and continuing.

The President declared a major disaster in Utah and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding on January 8-12.

February 3

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan to discuss the elections in Iraq, the situation in North Korea, and other issues. He then had an intelligence briefing.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to Fargo, ND, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Fran Rickers.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to Great Falls, MT, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteers Char and Roy Brady.

In the evening, the President traveled to Omaha, NE.

Also in the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister John Howard of Australia to discuss the elections in Iraq, relief efforts following the December 26, 2004, earthquake and tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, and other issues.

February 4

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he had separate telephone conversations with President Traian Basescu of Romania and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Bulgaria to discuss the elections in Iraq.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to Little Rock, AR, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Katya Lyzhina.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to Tampa, FL, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Margaret Goodson.

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

The President announced his intention to nominate Brig. Gen. William T. Grisoli, USA, to be a Commissioner of the Mississippi River Commission.

The President announced his intention to designate Christopher Bancroft Burnham as Acting Under Secretary of State for Management.

The President announced his designation of the following individuals as members of the Presidential delegation to attend the state funeral of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania ofGeorgia on February 6: Senator Richard G. Lugar (head of delegation); Richard J. Miles; Paul V. Applegarth; and Lorne W. Craner.

The President announced his designation of former Presidents George Bush and William J. Clinton as members of the Presidential delegation to visit tsunami-affected countries of South and Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Maldives on February 19-21.

The President declared a major disaster in California and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, debris flows, and mudslides on December 27, 2004, through January 11, 2005.