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 13

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

In the afternoon, in a telephone conversation with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, the President received notice of the possible capture of former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq by U.S. military personnel in Tikrit, Iraq. Later, he had another telephone conversation with Secretary Rumsfeld to discuss further information on the possible capture. He then had separate telephone conversations with Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to notify them of the possible capture.

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

December 14

In the morning, in a telephone conversation with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, the President received confirmation of the capture of former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. He then had separate telephone conversations with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, and Central Intelligence Agency Director George J. Tenet to inform them of the capture. The President and Mrs. Bush also watched television coverage of the briefing in Baghdad by L. Paul Bremer III, Presidential Envoy to Iraq, announcing the capture.

Later in the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Adnan Pachachi, Acting President of the Governing Council of Iraq, to express his congratulations. He also had separate telephone conversations with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld; Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA, combatant commander, U.S. Central Command; Secretary of State Colin L. Powell; and President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain to discuss the capture. Also in the morning, the President had a briefing on details of the capture.

In the evening, at the National Building Museum, the President and Mrs. Bush participated in the taping of the annual "Christmas in Washington" concert for later television broadcast.

December 15

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada to discuss Canada-U.S. relations. He then had an intelligence briefing.

Later in the morning, the President met with Iraqi Minister of Health Khadir Abbas; Rend Rahim Francke, Head of the Iraq Interests Section in the U.S.; and a group of Iraqi doctors to discuss health care in Iraq.

The President announced his designation of the following individuals as members of a Presidential delegation to attend the funeral of former President Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan: Brent Scowcroft (head of delegation), Sam Brownback, A. Elizabeth Jones, and Reno L. Harnish.

December 16

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan to discuss the completion of the Afghan national highway from Kabul to Kandahar and other developments in Afghanistan. He then had an intelligence briefing.

Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President participated in a photo opportunity for the Pediatric Equity Research Act of 2003 and a signing ceremony for the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003. Later, he participated in an interview with Diane Sawyer of ABC News.

In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President participated in separate signing ceremonies for the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act and the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003. He then participated in separate photo opportunities for the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act and the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003.

Later in the afternoon, at Blair House, the President and Mrs. Bush attended the diplomatic corps holiday reception.

During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with James A. Baker III, his personal envoy on the issue of Iraqi debt, concerning Secretary Baker’s discussions with President Jacques Chirac of France and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany.

In the evening, the President attended holiday receptions.

December 17

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Kill Devil Hills, NC.

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

In the evening, the President attended holiday receptions.

December 18

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he had an MRI examination of his knees, followed by a brief visit with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who was recovering from surgery. He then visited U.S. military personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and awarded Purple Hearts to several of them.

In the afternoon, the President had a telephone conversation with President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia to discuss the capture of former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, Colombia’s fight against drugs and terrorism, and bilateral and regional issues. Later, he had a telephone conversation with President Vicente Fox of Mexico to discuss the capture and bilateral and regional issues.

In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush attended a holiday reception.

December 19

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he met with Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson and Director of National Drug Control Policy John P. Walters to discuss progress toward the President’s goals for reducing drug use.

Also in the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United Nations to exchange holiday greetings.

In the afternoon, the President met with James A. Baker III, his personal envoy on the issue of Iraqi debt.

In the evening, the President had a holiday dinner with senior White House staff.

The White House announced that the President will travel to Monterrey, Mexico, on January 12-13, 2004, to attend the Special Summit of the Americas.

The President announced his intention to designate Mark J. Warshawsky as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy.

The President announced his intention to designate Gordon H. Mansfield as Acting Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The President declared a major disaster in the Federated States of Micronesia and ordered Federal aid to supplement national and State recovery efforts in the area struck by Typhoon Lupit on November 22-26.