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.

October 20

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he and Mrs. Bush traveled to Laurel, MD, where they toured the Patuxent Research Refuge. They then traveled to St. Michaels, MD.

Later in the morning, the President participated in an interview with Chris and Melissa Fischer of ESPN’s "Offshore Adventures" program.

In the afternoon, at the Vice President’s residence, the President and Mrs. Bush had lunch with Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne Cheney. Later, they returned to Washington, DC.

October 21

During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Governor-elect Bobby Jindal of Louisiana to congratulate him on his election victory.

October 22

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he had a video teleconference with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq.

In the afternoon, the President had lunch with President Nambaryn Enkhbayar of Mongolia. Then, in the Oval Office, the President met with veterans, leaders of military service organizations, and family members of a marine who was killed in the war on terror. Later, he had two telephone conversations with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California to discuss the wildfires in southern California.

During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Abdullah Gul of Turkey.

In the evening, at Decatur House, the President attended a Republican Governors Association reception.

October 23

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, the President had a telephone conversation with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California to discuss the wildfires in southern California.

In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator R. David Paulison, who briefed him on the damage and recovery efforts in southern California.

The President announced his intention to nominate James Shinn to be Assistant Secretary of Defense (Asian and Pacific Security Affairs).

The President announced his intention to nominate Robert A. Sturgell to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The President declared an emergency in California and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning on October 21 and continuing.

October 24

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he had a video teleconference with Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator R. David Paulison, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Acting Secretary of Agriculture Charles F. Conner, and Gen. Victor E. Renuart, Jr., USAF, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, to discuss the wildfires in southern California.

The President declared a major disaster in California and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning on October 21 and continuing.

October 25

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to San Diego, CA, where, aboard Marine One, he took an aerial tour of the areas damaged by the wildfires. He then traveled to Escondido, CA.

In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC, arriving in the evening.

The President announced his intention to nominate Steven R. Chealander to be a member of the National Transportation Safety Board.

The President announced his intention to nominate John H. Gibson to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management).

The President announced his intention to nominate Mark V. Rosenker to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

The President announced his intention to appoint Kenneth C. Canterbury, Jr., as a member of the medal of Valor Review Board (Law Enforcement).

The President announced that he has named Brian V. McCormack as Deputy Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs.

October 26

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.