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.

March 22

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

March 23

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

In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr., who updated him on the discussions between JPMorgan, Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., and the Federal Reserve.

March 24

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in the Situation Room, he participated in a National Security Council meeting, where he was briefed by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker and Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force—Iraq, via secure video teleconference.

In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee of India.

March 25

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani of Pakistan to congratulate him on his recent nomination and discuss Pakistan-U.S. relations and the war on terror. Later, he had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, in the Old Family Dining Room, the President had a working lunch with King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain. Later, he traveled to McLean, VA, arriving in the evening.

Later in the evening, at a private residence, the President attended a National Republican Senatorial Committee reception. He then returned to Washington, DC.

March 26

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with President Hu Jintao of China. He then had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Arlington, VA, where, at the Pentagon, he participated in Defense Department briefings.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to Sterling, VA.

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

The President declared a major disaster in Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on March 18 and continuing.

The President announced his intention to nominate Kameran L. Onley to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Water and Science).

The President announced his intention to nominate A. Ellen Terpstra to be Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador.

The President announced his intention to designate William E. Kovacic as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission.

March 27

In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to express his condolences for the accidental death of a citizen who was killed in the Suez Canal by U.S. naval gunfire. Later, he had an intelligence briefing. He then traveled to Dayton, OH.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to Bellbrook, OH.

In the afternoon, at a private residence, the President attended an Ohio Victory 2008 reception. Later, he returned to Dayton, OH, where, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, he met with families of military personnel killed in the war on terror.

Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to Pittsburgh, PA, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Lydia Humenycky. He then traveled to Sewickley, PA, where, at a private residence, he attended a Pennsylvania Victory reception.

In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC. While en route aboard Air Force One, he participated in an interview with the History Channel for the documentary "Air Force One: Behind the Scenes."

March 28

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to Wrightstown, NJ, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer AndrellReid. Later, he traveled to Freehold, NJ, where, at Novadebt, he participated in a roundtable on the HOPE NOW Alliance. He then toured Novadebt.

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

The White House announced that the President and Mrs. Bush will welcome Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom and his wife, Sarah, to the White House on April 17.

The President announced his intention to nominate Luis Aguilar and Elisse B. Walter to be Commissioners of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The President announced his intention to nominate Marie L. Yovanovitch to be Ambassador to Armenia.

The President announced his intention to appoint Christopher A. Padilla as a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People’s Republic of China.

The President announced his intention to appoint Alexa E. Posny as a member of the National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board.

The President announced his intention to designate Stephanie Johnson Monroe as Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the Department of Education.