    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [July 1, 2003]
    [Pages 1763-1792]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Appendix A / Administration of George W. Bush, 2003

    Appendix A--Digest of Other White House Announcements

    [[Page 1763]]

    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 book.

    July 1

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing and met with
    the National Security Council.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Gwendolyn Brown to be Chief Financial Officer for the National
    Aeronautics and Space Administration.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Jeane J.
    Kirkpatrick for the rank of Ambassador
    during her service as U.S. Representative on the Human Rights Commission
    of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Joan Avalyn
    Dempsey as Executive Director of the
    President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.

    July 2

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with
    President Vladimir Putin of Russia to discuss
    the situations in Iran and North Korea. He then had intelligence and FBI
    briefings.
    Later in the morning, the President met with Secretary of the Interior
    Gale A. Norton to discuss the National Park
    System. He then had separate telephone conversations with President
    Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah
    II of Jordan to discuss the peace process in
    the Middle East. Later, he met with Randall Tobias, his nominee to be Global AIDS Coordinator.
    In the afternoon, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime
    Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel to discuss the
    peace process in the Middle East.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Joel David
    Kaplan to be Deputy Director of the Office of
    Management and Budget.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Donald K.
    Steinberg to be Ambassador to Nigeria.
    The President declared a major disaster in Kentucky and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area
    struck by severe storms, flooding, mud and rock slides, and tornadoes on
    June 14 and continuing.

    July 3

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    he had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu
    Mazen) of the Palestinian
    Authority to discuss the peace process in the Middle East.

    July 4

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing and met with
    the National Security Council. Later, he traveled to Dayton, OH.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. Later, he
    attended a party hosted by Mrs. Bush to celebrate his upcoming 57th
    birthday.
    In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush viewed the Independence Day
    fireworks display on the National Mall from the Truman Balcony.

    July 5

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    July 6

    In the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush attended church services at
    St. John's Church in Lafayette Square.

    July 7

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    he traveled to Landover, MD.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Dakar, Senegal,
    arriving the next morning.

    [[Page 1764]]

    July 8

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, at
    the Presidential Palace, he and Mrs. Bush participated in a welcoming
    ceremony with President Abdoulaye Wade of
    Senegal and his wife, Viviane. Later, the two
    Presidents participated in a meeting followed by a photo opportunity
    with leaders of West African democracies, including President Mathieu
    Kerekou of Benin, President Pedro
    Pires of Cape Verde, President Yahya
    Jammeh of The Gambia, President John Agyekum
    Kufuor of Ghana, President Amadou
    Toumani Toure of Mali, President
    Mamadou Tandja of Niger, and President Ahmad
    Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone.
    Later in the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush, with President
    Wade and Mrs. Wade,
    traveled to Goree Island, where they toured the House of Slaves.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Pretoria,
    South Africa, arriving in the evening.
    The President announced his intention to nominate James Casey
    Kenny to be Ambassador to Ireland.

    July 9

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, at
    Union House, he and Mrs. Bush participated in a welcoming ceremony with
    President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and his
    wife, Zanele Dlamini.
    In the afternoon, at the Presidential Guest House, the President and
    Mrs. Bush attended a luncheon hosted by President Mbeki and Mrs. Mbeki. Later,
    the President toured a Ford Motor Co. automobile assembly plant in
    Mamelodi, Pretoria, and participated in a roundtable discussion on AIDS
    prevention with Ford employees.
    In the evening, at the U.S. Ambassador's residence, the President and
    Mrs. Bush attended a dinner with South African and U.S. business
    executives hosted by Ambassador Cameron R. Hume and his wife, Rigmor.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Susan C.
    Schwab to be Deputy Secretary of the
    Treasury.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Kenneth Leet to be Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic
    Finance.

    July 10

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, at
    the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel, he met with U.S. Embassy employees and
    their families.
    Later in the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Gaborone,
    Botswana, where they participated in an arrival ceremony with President
    Festus Gontebanye Mogae of Botswana
    at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. Later, at the Gaborone
    International Convention Centre, the President and Mrs. Bush, with
    President Mogae and his wife, Barbara, viewed
    Southern African Global Competitiveness Hub exhibits on trade between
    southern Africa and the U.S. and met with Botswanan businesspeople,
    including women business entrepreneurs.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush toured the Mokolodi Nature
    Reserve.
    Later in the afternoon, the President greeted U.S. Embassy employees and
    their families at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. He and Mrs.
    Bush then traveled to Pretoria, South Africa.
    The White House announced that the President will meet with United
    Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the White
    House on July 14.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Karan K.
    Bhatia to be Assistant Secretary of
    Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Cynthia R.
    Church to be Assistant Secretary of
    Veterans Affairs for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Domingo S.
    Herraiz to be Director of the Bureau of
    Justice Assistance.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Leslie
    Silverman to be a member of the Equal
    Employment Opportunity Commission.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Mauricio J.
    Tamargo to be Chairman of the Foreign
    Claims Settlement Commission of the United States.
    The President announced his intention to designate Marianne Lamont
    Horinko as Acting Administrator of
    the Environmental Protection Agency.
    The President announced his intention to designate Stephen L.
    Johnson as Acting Deputy

    [[Page 1765]]

    Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

    July 11

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush traveled to Entebbe, Uganda, arriving in the afternoon.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush participated in an arrival
    ceremony with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda at Entebbe International Airport. Later, at
    the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, the President met with U.S. Embassy
    employees and their families.
    Later in afternoon, at The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) Centre, the
    President and Mrs. Bush, with President Museveni and his wife, Janet, toured
    facilities and listened to a performance of the Watoto Children's Choir.
    Later, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Abuja, Nigeria, arriving
    in the evening.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister
    Tony Blair of the United Kingdom to the White
    House for a meeting and dinner on July 17.
    The President announced his intention to nominate David Eisner to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for
    National and Community Service.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Constance A.
    Morella to be Representative of the
    U.S. to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with
    the rank of Ambassador.
    The President declared a major disaster in Indiana and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on July 4 and continuing.

    July 12

    In the morning, in Abuja, Nigeria, the President had an intelligence
    briefing. Later, in the courtyard of the Nicon Hilton Hotel, the
    President and Mrs. Bush met with U.S. Embassy employees and their
    families.
    Later in the morning, at the Abuja National Hospital, the President and
    Mrs. Bush had a briefing on HIV/AIDS programs, toured laboratories, and
    participated in a roundtable discussion with medical staff and
    beneficiaries of HIV/AIDS mother-to-child transmission prevention
    programs.
    Also in the morning, at Aso Presidential Villa, the President and Mrs.
    Bush participated in a welcoming ceremony with President Olusegun
    Obasanjo of Nigeria.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to Washington,
    DC, arriving in the evening.

    July 14

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings and met
    with the National Security Council. Later, in the Oval Office, he met
    with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.
    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Gen. Tommy R.
    Franks, USA, former combatant commander,
    U.S. Central Command, and his wife, Cathryn,
    in honor of General Franks' retirement.
    The White House announced that the President will host Prime Minister
    Silvio Berlusconi of Italy at the Bush
    Ranch in Crawford, TX, on July 20-21.
    The President declared a major disaster in Arizona and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    the Aspen fire on June 17 and continuing.

    July 15

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in
    the Oval Office, he met with Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla of the Czech Republic to discuss the situation in
    Iraq and Europe-U.S. relations.
    Later in the morning, he met with Secretary of State Colin L.
    Powell.
    In the afternoon, the President participated in a photo opportunity with
    teenagers involved in the Seeds of Peace camp program. Later, he met
    with bipartisan congressional leaders to discuss Medicare reform.
    The White House announced that the President will host the G-8 Summit in
    Sea Island, GA, on June 8-10, 2004.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Robert B.
    Charles to be Assistant Secretary of State
    for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Thomasina V.
    Rogers to be a member of the
    Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

    [[Page 1766]]

    The President declared a major disaster in Ohio and ordered Federal aid
    to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    severe storms and flooding on July 4 and continuing.

    July 16

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    made brief remarks to U.S. Attorneys at the Department of Justice
    headquarters building.
    Later in the morning, the President met with economists.
    In the afternoon, the President participated in the ceremonial swearing-
    in of Office of Management and Budget Director Joshua B. Bolten.
    Later in the afternoon, the President met with Members of Congress to
    discuss African affairs.
    In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted a reception in the
    Residence followed by a dinner on the State Floor for former President
    Gerald Ford and his wife, Betty, in honor of former President Ford's
    90th birthday.
    The President announced his intention to nominate George H.
    Walker to be Ambassador to Hungary.

    July 17

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing and met with
    the National Security Council. Later, he met with Secretary of Defense
    Donald H. Rumsfeld.
    In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Veterans of
    Foreign Wars commander in chief Raymond C. Sisk. Later, he participated in an interview with a journalist
    from Leaders magazine.
    Later in the afternoon, the President met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan
    Howard H. Baker, Jr. Later, in the Oval
    Office, he met with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom.
    In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to the Bush Ranch
    in Crawford, TX.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome President
    Nestor Kirchner of Argentina to the White
    House on July 23.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister
    Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the
    Palestinian Authority to the White House for a meeting and working lunch
    on July 25.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister
    Ariel Sharon of Israel to the White House for a
    meeting and working lunch on July 29.

    July 18

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Dallas, TX,
    and in the evening, they returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX.
    The White House announced that the President will award the Presidential
    Medal of Freedom to the following individuals in a ceremony at the White
    House on July 23:

        Jacques Barzun;
        Julia Child;
        Roberto Clemente Walker;
        Van Cliburn;
        Vaclav Havel;
        Charlton Heston;
        Edward Teller;
        R. David Thomas;
        Byron Raymond White;
        James Q. Wilson; and
        John R. Wooden.

    The President announced his intention to nominate John Joseph
    Grossenbacher to be a member of the
    Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Peter
    Lichtenbaum to be Assistant Secretary of
    Commerce for Export Administration.
    The President announced his intention to designate Joan Ridder
    Challinor as Chairman of the National
    Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
    The President declared a major disaster in Texas and ordered Federal aid
    to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    Hurricane Claudette on July 15 and continuing.

    July 19

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Houston, TX,
    and in the evening, they returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX.

    July 20

    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush welcomed Prime Minister
    Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to the Bush
    Ranch in Crawford, TX.

    [[Page 1767]]

    July 21

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to Washington,
    DC.
    The President declared a major disaster in Nebraska and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    severe storms and tornadoes on June 9 through July 14.

    July 22

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met with his Corporate Fraud Task Force to discuss progress in combating
    corporate fraud.
    Later in the morning, the President met with his National Infrastructure
    Assurance Council to discuss progress in enhancing cybersecurity and the
    war on terrorism.
    Also in the morning, the President communicated with Secretary of
    Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld concerning
    military operations in Iraq.
    In the afternoon, at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, the President
    made remarks at the Bush-Cheney '04, Inc., national finance committee
    meeting.
    Later in the afternoon, the President hosted Members of Congress at the
    White House to discuss constituent concerns and other issues.
    In the evening, the President hosted a reception for Republican Members
    of Congress.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Kerry N. Weems to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human
    Services for Management and Budget.

    July 23

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met with L. Paul Bremer III,
    Presidential Envoy to Iraq, and Secretary of Defense Donald H.
    Rumsfeld to discuss the situation in
    Iraq.
    Later in the morning, in Room 450 at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive
    Office Building, the President made brief remarks to State and national
    student leaders of the National FFA Organization. Later, in the Oval
    Office, he met with former President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic.
    In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with President
    Nestor Kirchner of Argentina. Later, he met
    with the congressional conference committee on Medicare reform.
    In the evening, the President hosted a reception for Republican Members
    of Congress.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Cristina Beato to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human
    Services for Health.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Jennifer Young to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human
    Services for Legislation.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Michael
    O'Grady to be Assistant Secretary of Health
    and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation.
    The President announced his intention to designate Eugene Hickok as Acting Deputy Secretary of Education.
    The President announced his intention to designate Ronald
    Tomalis as Acting Assistant Secretary for
    Elementary and Secondary Education.

    July 24

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He also had
    a telephone conversation with President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea to discuss the situation in North Korea.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Philadelphia, PA, where
    he toured the Treasury Department's Philadelphia Financial Management
    Service regional center.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Livonia, MI. Later, he
    traveled to Dearborn, MI.
    In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Michelle Van Cleave as National Counterintelligence Executive.

    July 25

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Prime Minister Mahmoud
    Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the
    Palestinian Authority. Later, in Room 450 at the Dwight D. Eisenhower
    Executive Office Building, he made remarks to 2003 Boys and Girls Nation
    participants.
    Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to Camp David, MD.

    [[Page 1768]]

    The President announced his intention to nominate Barbara McConnell
    Barrett to be Secretary of the Air
    Force.

    July 26

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    July 27

    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. Later, he
    hosted a White House tee-ball game on the South Lawn and made welcoming
    remarks to the participants.
    Also in the afternoon, the President had a telephone conversation with
    American cyclist Lance Armstrong to
    congratulate him on winning his fifth Tour de France earlier in the day.

    July 28

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Junichiro
    Koizumi of Japan to discuss the situations
    in Iraq and North Korea and economic development in Japan.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Pittsburgh, PA.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.

    July 29

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, in the Old Family Dining Room, the President had lunch
    with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel.
    Later, he met with Foreign Minister Saud al-Faysal al Saud and Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia to discuss the recent congressional
    report on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
    Later in the afternoon, the President met with a bipartisan group of
    Senators to discuss proposed energy legislation.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Duane Acklie as a member of the Board of Directors of the Student
    Loan Marketing Association and, upon appointment, to designate him as
    chairman.
    The President declared a major disaster in Florida and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    severe storms and flooding on June 13 and continuing.
    The President declared a major disaster in Tennessee and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    severe storms, high winds, and heavy rain on July 21-22.

    July 30

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He also had
    a telephone conversation with President Hu Jintao
    of China to discuss the situation in North Korea.
    The President announced his intention to reappoint William K. Sessions
    III as a Vice Chair of the U.S.
    Sentencing Commission.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Pamela P.
    Willeford to be Ambassador to
    Switzerland and concurrently to Liechtenstein.
    The President announced his designation of William H. Campbell as Acting Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs
    for Human Resources and Administration.

    July 31

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Vice President Dick
    Cheney.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Michele M.
    Leonhart to be Deputy Administrator of
    Drug Enforcement at the Drug Enforcement Administration.
    The President announced his designation of Karen P. Tandy as Acting Administrator of Drug Enforcement at the Drug
    Enforcement Administration.

    August 1

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Richard Eugene
    Hoagland to be Ambassador to Tajikistan.
    The President declared a major disaster in North Dakota and ordered
    Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area
    struck by severe storms and high winds on June 24-25.
    The President declared a major disaster in Ohio and ordered Federal aid
    to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    tornadoes, flooding, severe storms, and high winds on July 21 and
    continuing.

    [[Page 1769]]

    August 2

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, where he
    had his annual physical examination and visited U.S. military personnel
    injured in operations in Iraq.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to the Bush Ranch in
    Crawford, TX.

    August 3

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with members
    of the U.S. women's gymnastics team to congratulate them on winning a
    gold medal at the Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic.

    August 4

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    August 5

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the evening, the President had dinner with Secretary of State Colin
    L. Powell and Deputy Secretary of State
    Richard L. Armitage.
    The President announced his intention to nominate David L. Lyon to be Ambassador to Kiribati.
    The President announced his intention to nominate William A.
    Chatfield to be the Director of
    Selective Service.

    August 6

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    had a meeting and then lunch with Secretary of State Colin L.
    Powell and Deputy Secretary of State Richard
    L. Armitage.

    August 7

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and national security
    briefings.

    August 8

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met with Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary
    of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Chairman
    of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers, USAF, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and other officials to discuss military issues.

    August 9

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, the President hosted a barbecue for Bush-Cheney '04,
    Inc., fundraisers at a neighboring ranch in Crawford.

    August 11

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and national security
    briefings aboard Air Force One en route to Tucson, AZ. Upon his arrival
    in Tucson, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Deborah
    Toland. Later, he traveled to Coronado
    National Forest. En route, he took an aerial tour of areas damaged by
    wildfire near Summerhaven, AZ.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Denver, CO, where he met
    with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Phuong Nguyen.
    In the evening, the President returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX.

    August 12

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and national security
    briefings.
    The President announced his designation of the following individuals as
    members of the Presidential delegation to the inauguration of President
    Nicanor Duarte Frutos of Paraguay on
    August 15: Anthony J. Principi (head of
    delegation), John F. Keane, and Robert L.
    Peeler.

    August 13

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and national security
    briefings, during which he had a video conference call to discuss the
    capture of Al Qaida terrorist Nurjaman Riduan Isamuddin (also known as
    Hambali).
    Later in the morning, the President met with members of his economic
    team.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Duane H. Laible as a member of the Arctic Research Commission.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Sandra O.
    Sieber as a member of the Committee for
    Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Peter Field as Federal Commissioner and Alternate Federal
    Commissioner of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochie-Flint River (ACF) Basin
    Commission.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Charles J.
    Chaput, Khaled Abou El Fadl, and Richard D. Land
    as members of the U.S.

    [[Page 1770]]

    Commission on International Religious Freedom.

    August 14

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, CA.
    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with U.S. military personnel.
    During lunch, he was informed by White House Deputy Chief of Staff
    Joseph W. Hagin of the power blackout in
    portions of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada.
    Later, he received updates on the blackout from Deputy Hagin and Deputy
    National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley.
    Later in the afternoon, the President participated in an interview with
    Armed Forces Radio and Television journalists. Later, he had a telephone
    conversation with Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to discuss the blackout. He also received updates on the
    blackout from Deputies Hagin and
    Hadley and White House Chief of Staff
    Andrew H. Card, Jr.
    Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to San Diego, CA.
    In the evening, the President traveled to Newport Beach, CA.

    August 15

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and national security
    briefings. He then had a telephone conversation with Secretary of the
    Treasury John Snow to discuss the status of the
    stock markets during the blackout. Later, he traveled to Thousand Oaks,
    CA, where he toured the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Irvine, CA, where he had
    telephone conversations from the Hyatt Regency Irvine with Governors
    George E. Pataki of New York, John G.
    Rowland of Connecticut, Jennifer
    Granholm of Michigan, and Bob
    Taft of Ohio and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City to discuss the blackouts.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had a telephone conversation
    with Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada to
    discuss the blackout.
    During the day, the President received updates on the blackout from
    Deputies Hagin and Hadley and other officials.

    August 16

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    August 18

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    had a telephone conversation with Energy Secretary Spencer
    Abraham to discuss the recent power blackout
    in portions of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada.

    August 19

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with
    President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil to express his condolences concerning the
    death of Brazilian citizen Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special Representative of the United Nations
    Secretary-General to Iraq, who died in the August 18 terrorist bombing
    of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. Later, he had a telephone
    conversation with Prime Minister Tony Blair of
    the United Kingdom to discuss the Baghdad terrorist attack.

    August 20

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime
    Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel to discuss the
    August 18 terrorist attack in Jerusalem. He then had an intelligence
    briefing.
    Later in the morning, the President participated in a video conference
    call with the National Security Council, including Ambassador L. Paul
    Bremer III, Presidential Envoy
    to Iraq, and Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA,
    combatant commander, U.S. Central Command.

    August 21

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Portland, OR.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Redmond, OR, where he
    participated in a briefing on the Bear Butte and Booth fires in
    Deschutes National Forest. Later, aboard Marine One, he took an aerial
    tour of the forest fires.
    Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to Bend, OR.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Hugh Douglas
    Barclay to be Ambassador to El Salvador.

    [[Page 1771]]

    The President announced his intention to nominate Michael David
    Gallagher to be Assistant Secretary of
    Commerce for Communications and Information.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Lydia Irene
    Beebe, William Wilson III, and Joseph Thomas Yew,
    Jr., as members of the Board of Directors of the Presidio Trust.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Carl Michael Morgan,
    Jr., and Deborah Doris Wetsit as members of the President's Board of Advisors on
    Tribal Colleges and Universities.

    August 22

    In the morning, the President traveled to Burbank, WA. While en route
    aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing. Following his
    arrival, he participated in a briefing and tour of Ice Harbor Lock and
    Dam. Later, he traveled to Seattle, WA.
    In the afternoon, the President attended a Bush-Cheney luncheon at a
    private residence. Later, he returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Gordon
    England to be Secretary of the Navy.

    August 23

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    The President declared a major disaster in Pennsylvania and ordered
    Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the
    area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on July 21 and
    continuing.
    The President declared an emergency in New York and ordered Federal aid
    to supplement State and local response efforts in the area impacted by a
    statewide power outage on August 14-16.

    August 25

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister
    Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah of Kuwait to the White House on September 10.
    The President announced the recess appointments of Charlotte A.
    Lane and Daniel Pearson as members of the U.S. International Trade Commission.
    The President announced the recess appointment of A. Paul
    Anderson as a Federal Maritime
    Commissioner.
    The President announced the recess appointment of Daniel Pipes as a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S.
    Institute of Peace.
    The President announced the recess appointment of John Paul Woodley,
    Jr., as Assistant Secretary of the Army
    for Civil Works.
    The President announced the recess appointments of David W.
    Fleming, Jay Phillip Greene, and John Richard Petrocik as
    members of the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial
    Fellowship Foundation.
    The President announced the recess appointments of Juanita Alicia
    Vasquez-Gardner and Patrick Lloyd
    McCrory as members of the Board of
    Trustees of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.
    The President announced the recess appointments of Jose A.
    Fourquet, Adolfo A. Franco, and Roger Francisco Noriega
    as members of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation.
    The President announced the recess appointments of Ephraim
    Batambuze and Walter H.
    Kansteiner as members of the Board of
    Directors of the African Development Foundation.

    August 26

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Minneapolis, MN. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had
    a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Atal Bihari
    Vajpayee of India to express his
    condolences and offer assistance concerning the August 25 terrorist
    attacks in Mumbai, India. Upon his arrival in Minneapolis, he met with
    USA Freedom Corps volunteers Edward and Jane
    Bardon.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to St. Louis, MO, where he met
    with American Legion member and volunteer James Mareschal.
    In the evening, the President returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister
    Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands
    to the White House on September 3 for a working breakfast.

    August 27

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    he had a videoconference with senior national security advisers.

    [[Page 1772]]

    In the evening, at the Bush Ranch, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted a
    tour and barbecue for members of the White House press corps.

    August 28

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings.

    August 29

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings.
    The President declared a major disaster in New York and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes on July 21-August 13.

    August 30

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush returned to Washington, DC. Before departing from the
    Texas State Technical College Waco Airport in Waco, TX, they greeted
    members of the Midway All-Stars Little League girls softball team.

    September 1

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Cleveland, OH, where he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer
    Shirley Moore. He then traveled to Richfield,
    OH.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.

    September 2

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    in the Oval Office, he met with Mississippi State officials who recently
    switched to the Republican Party.
    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Federal Reserve Chairman
    Alan Greenspan. Later, in the Oval Office, he
    participated in the presentation of the game football for the opening
    game of the 2003 National Football League season to be held September 4.
    He then met with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
    The White House announced that beginning September 16 the White House
    will be open to tours on an expanded basis to parties through their
    Members of Congress.

    September 3

    In the morning, the President had breakfast and a meeting with Prime
    Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Jakob Gijshert ``Jaap'' de Hoop Scheffer of the Netherlands.
    Later, he had intelligence and FBI briefings.
    Later in the morning, the President met with Secretary of Defense Donald
    H. Rumsfeld.
    In the afternoon, the President met with Speaker of the House of
    Representatives J. Dennis Hastert and
    Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. He then met
    with Republican congressional leaders to discuss the congressional
    agenda.
    The White House announced that the President will meet with Prime
    Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali of Pakistan at the White House on October 1.
    The President announced his intention to nominate William J.
    Hudson to be Ambassador to Tunisia.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Hector Elias
    Morales to be U.S. Alternate Executive
    Director of the Inter-American Development Bank.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Jeffrey Adam
    Rosen to be General Counsel of the
    Department of Transportation.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Susan Krouner
    Sclafani to be Assistant Secretary
    for Vocational and Adult Education and to designate her as Acting
    Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Michael Walter
    Wynne to be Under Secretary of Defense for
    Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
    The President announced his intention to designate Michele Marie
    Leonhart as Acting Deputy Administrator
    of Drug Enforcement.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Bradley Deck
    Belt to be a member of the Social Security
    Advisory Board.
    The President announced his intention to nominate James McBride to be a member of the National Council on the Arts.
    The President announced his intention to appoint the following
    individuals as members of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship
    Board:

        Robert H. Bruininks;
        John S. Butler;
        Shirley M. Green; and
        Thomas T. Lyons.

    [[Page 1773]]

    The President announced his intention to appoint Karen S. Evans as Administrator of the Office of Electronic
    Government, Office of Management and Budget.

    September 4

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    in the Oval Office, he participated in a signing ceremony for the Prison
    Rape Elimination Act of 2003.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Kansas City, MO.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. Later, he
    participated in an interview with journalist Ron Insana from the CNBC television network.

    September 5

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Indianapolis, IN, where he
    met with families and small-business owners.
    In the evening, the President traveled to Camp David, MD.
    The President declared a major disaster in Indiana and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on August 26 and continuing.

    September 6

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    September 7

    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to Washington,
    DC. Later, they attended a White House tee-ball game on the South Lawn.

    September 8

    In the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations with
    President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil to discuss the upcoming World Trade
    Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico; and President
    Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland to
    discuss the situations in Iraq and the Middle East and the war on
    terror. Later, he had intelligence and FBI briefings.
    Later in the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations
    with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India to discuss the upcoming WTO meeting and a
    potential United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq; and
    President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan to
    discuss the WTO meeting.
    Later, in an Oval Office ceremony, the President received diplomatic
    credentials from Ambassadors Mikhail M. Khvostov of Belarus, Abdoulaye Diop of
    Mali, Raul Gangotena Rivadeneira
    of Ecuador, Jose Octavio Bordon of
    Argentina, Rastislav Kacer of the Slovak
    Republic, Evan Jeremy Paki of Papua New
    Guinea, Barbara Joyce Masekela of
    South Africa, Juri Luik of Estonia, and Sir David
    Manning of the United Kingdom.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Nashville, TN. While en
    route aboard Air Force One, he had a telephone conversation with
    President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa to discuss
    the upcoming WTO meeting.
    Upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Brenda
    Wilson. Later, he toured the Tutoring Center
    at Kirkpatrick Elementary School.
    In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    The President announced his designation of Robert D. McCallum,
    Jr., as Acting Deputy Attorney
    General.

    September 9

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    he traveled to Jacksonville, FL, where, upon arrival, he met with USA
    Freedom Corps volunteer Daniel Trifiletti.
    In the afternoon, the President participated in a briefing on
    educational tools available to parents and teachers at Hyde Park
    Elementary School.
    In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Roger Walton Ferguson,
    Jr., to be Vice Chairman of the
    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Ben S.
    Bernanke to be a member of the Board of
    Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the Sixth District.

    September 10

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings and
    then met with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. Later, he met with the Dalai Lama of
    Tibet to discuss Tibetan-Chinese relations.

    [[Page 1774]]

    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Prime Minister Sabah al-
    Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah of
    Kuwait, following their meeting in the Oval Office. Later, he traveled
    to Quantico, VA, where he toured the FBI laboratory.
    In the evening, at the White House, the President hosted a dinner and
    screening of ``Twin Towers,'' a documentary film on the terrorist
    attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

    September 11

    In the morning, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, the
    President and Mrs. Bush attended a prayer service commemorating the
    September 11 terrorist attacks. Later, on the South Lawn, they observed
    a moment of silence with Vice President Dick Cheney and Mrs. Cheney and White House
    staff for victims of the September 11 attacks.
    Later in the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings
    and then met with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
    In the afternoon, the President went to Walter Reed Army Medical Center,
    where he visited U.S. military personnel injured in Iraq and their
    family members. He also presented Purple Heart awards to certain
    personnel.
    The White House announced that the President will host King Abdullah
    II and Queen Rania of
    Jordan at Camp David, MD, on September 18-19.

    September 12

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Fort Stewart, GA. While en route aboard Air Force One, he
    had a telephone conversation with President Nestor Kirchner of Argentina to discuss the International Monetary
    Fund agreement that was reached earlier in the week. He also had a
    telephone conversation with Prime Minister Goran Persson of Sweden to extend his condolences concerning the
    death of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.
    Also en route, he met with Senators Zell Miller
    and Saxby Chambliss and Representatives Jack
    Kingston and Max Burns
    of Georgia.
    In the afternoon, at Fort Stewart, the President presented the
    Presidential Unit Citation to the 3d Infantry Division of the U.S. Army.
    Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to Jackson, MS. Later, he
    traveled to Houston, TX.
    In the evening, the President traveled to Camp David, MD.
    The White House announced that the President will visit the United
    Nations in New York on September 23-24 to address the General Assembly
    on the opening day of the General Debate, and that he will meet with
    U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Foreign
    Minister Julian Hunte of Saint Lucia, who is
    the incoming General Assembly President, and other foreign leaders.
    The White House announced that the President will host President Mwai
    Kibaki of Kenya for a state visit on October 6.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Robert L.
    Crandall, Louis S. Thompson, and Floyd Hall to be members
    of the Amtrak Reform Board.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Gracia M.
    Hillman and Raymundo Martinez
    III to be members of the Election
    Assistance Commission.
    The President announced his intention to nominate David Wayne
    Anderson to be Assistant Secretary of the
    Interior for Indian Affairs.
    The President announced his intention to nominate W. Robert
    Pearson to be Director General of Foreign
    Service, and to appoint him as Chairman of the Board of the Foreign
    Service.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Read Van de Water to be a member of the National Mediation
    Board.
    The President declared a major disaster in Vermont and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    severe storms and flooding on July 21 through August 18.
    The President declared a major disaster in New Hampshire and ordered
    Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area
    struck by severe storms and flooding on July 21 through August 18.

    September 13

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    September 14

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

    September 15

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Monroe,

    [[Page 1775]]

    MI, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Claire
    Jennings. Later, he toured the Detroit
    Edison Powerplant.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Drexel Hill, PA, where, upon
    arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer David Richman.
    In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    The White House announced that the President and Mrs. Bush will welcome
    President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Mrs.
    Putin to Camp David, MD, on September 26-27.

    September 16

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime
    Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom to
    discuss the situation in Iraq. He then had intelligence and FBI
    briefings. Later, he participated in a roundtable interview with
    regional media.
    Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President met with
    musician and activist Bono to discuss U.S. contributions
    to AIDS relief in Africa.
    In the afternoon, in the Roosevelt Room, the President participated in a
    roundtable discussion on the Clear Skies Initiative legislation with
    State, local, and community leaders.
    Later in the afternoon, in the Residence, the President hosted
    Republican Senators.
    The White House announced that the President has invited President
    Nicanor Duarte Frutos of Paraguay to
    meet with him at the White House on September 26.

    September 17

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing and then met
    with the National Security Council. Later, he met with Secretary of
    Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.
    Later in the morning, in the Roosevelt Room, the President had a
    briefing on Hurricane Isabel.
    In the afternoon, the President met with Secretary of State Colin L.
    Powell.
    In the evening, the President traveled to Camp David, MD.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Benjamin A.
    Gilman to be U.S. Representative to the
    General Assembly of the United Nations.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Ann M.
    Corkery and Walid Maalouf to be U.S. Alternate Representatives to the General
    Assembly of the United Nations.
    The President announced his intention to nominate William
    Cabaniss to be Ambassador to the Czech
    Republic.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Roderick R.
    Paige and Louise V. Oliver to be U.S. Representatives to the General Conference of
    the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Bernice
    Phillips to be a member of the Board of
    Directors of the Legal Services Corporation.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Kirk Van Tine to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

    September 18

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush welcomed King Abdullah II and
    Queen Rania of Jordan to Camp David for an
    overnight visit.
    The President declared a major disaster in North Carolina and ordered
    Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area
    struck by Hurricane Isabel on September 18 and continuing.
    The President declared a major disaster in Virginia and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area
    struck by Hurricane Isabel on September 18 and continuing.

    September 19

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    The President declared a major disaster in Maryland and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    Hurricane Isabel on September 18 and continuing.

    September 20

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    The President declared a major disaster in the District of Columbia and
    ordered Federal aid to supplement the District's recovery efforts in the
    area struck by Hurricane Isabel on September 18 and continuing.
    The President declared a major disaster in Delaware and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area

    [[Page 1776]]

    struck by Hurricane Isabel on September 18 and continuing.

    September 21

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

    September 22

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met with Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay
    Khalilzad. He then met with Minister of
    Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing of China to discuss
    the situation in North Korea.
    Later in the morning, the President met with Labor Secretary Elaine L.
    Chao, Housing and Urban Development Secretary
    Mel R. Martinez, Deputy Education Secretary
    Eugene Hickok, Deputy Veterans Affairs
    Secretary Leo S. Mackay, Jr., Assistant
    Attorney General Daniel J. Bryant, Deputy
    Secretary of Health and Human Services Claude A. Allen, USA Freedom Corps Director John Bridgeland, and Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
    Director Harry James ``Jim'' Towey
    to discuss his Faith-Based Initiative.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Richmond, VA, where he
    toured the Temporary Virginia Emergency Operations Center at the
    Virginia State Police Academy. Later, he returned to Washington, DC.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Zalmay
    Khalilzad to be Ambassador to Afghanistan.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Raymond Simon to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and
    Secondary Education.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Cynthia Boich, Dorothy A. Johnson,
    and Henry Lozano to be members of the Board of
    Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

    September 23

    In the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to New York City.
    While en route aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing.
    Later in the morning, at the United Nations Headquarters, the President
    met with U.N. General Assembly President Julian Hunte.
    In the afternoon, at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, the
    President met with President Jacques Chirac
    of France. Later, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, he met separately with
    President Megawati Sukarnoputri of
    Indonesia, King Mohamed VI of Morocco, and
    President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.
    The White House announced that the President will host President Carlo
    Azeglio Ciampi of Italy for a meeting
    and working luncheon on November 14.

    September 24

    In the morning, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the President had an
    intelligence briefing. Later, he had a breakfast meeting with Caribbean
    leaders, including Prime Minister Perry Christie of the Bahamas, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada, President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana, and Prime Minister Kenny Davis
    Anthony of Saint Lucia.
    Later in the morning, the President had separate meetings with President
    John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana, President
    Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, President
    Joaquim Alberto Chissano of
    Mozambique, and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to Washington,
    DC.
    The President declared an emergency in Michigan and ordered Federal aid
    to supplement State and local response efforts in the area impacted by
    that power outage that occurred August 14-17.
    The President declared an emergency in New Jersey and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area impacted
    by the power outage that occurred on August 14-17.
    The President declared an emergency in Ohio and ordered Federal aid to
    supplemental State and local response efforts in the area impacted by
    the power outage that occurred on August 14-17.
    The President declared a major disaster in Delaware and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
    Tropical Storm Henri on September 15.
    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 Hurricane Isabel on September 18 and continuing.

    September 25

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    [[Page 1777]]

    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Vice President Dick
    Cheney.
    The White House announced that the President will make a state visit to
    the United Kingdom on November 18-21.

    September 26

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met separately with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III, Presidential Envoy to Iraq.
    Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President met with
    President Nicanor Duarte Frutos of
    Paraguay.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Camp David,
    MD, where they hosted President Vladimir Putin of Russia and his wife, Lyudmila Putin, for an overnight visit.

    September 27

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    The White House announced that on September 26 the President declared a
    major disaster in Pennsylvania and ordered Federal aid to supplement
    State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Tropical Storms
    Henri and Isabel and related severe storms and flooding on September 15-
    23.

    September 29

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings.
    In the afternoon, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the
    President met with congregational rabbis.

    September 30

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    he traveled to Chicago, IL.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Cincinnati, OH, where, in
    the evening, he attended a Bush-Cheney '04 reception at a private
    residence.
    Later in the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC.

    October 1

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    he met with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.
    Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President met with
    President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia.
    In the afternoon, the President had a briefing at the Department of
    Homeland Security.
    Later in the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President participated
    in a photo opportunity with members of the International Space Station
    Expedition 6 crew and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Mary Kramer to be Ambassador to Barbados and to serve concurrently
    and without additional compensation as Ambassador to St. Kitts and
    Nevis, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St.
    Vincent and the Grenadines.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Charles A.
    Calhoun as Commissioner of the Pecos
    River Commission for New Mexico and Texas.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Maria Pilar
    Aristigueta as a member of the Board
    of Trustees of the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation.
    The President announced his intention to nominate the following
    individuals to be members of the National Commission on Libraries and
    Information Science:

        Jose Antonio Aponte;
        Sandra Frances Ashworth;
        Edward Louis Bertorelli;
        Carol L. Diehl;
        Allison Druin;
        Beth Fitzsimmons;
        Patricia M. Hines;
        Colleen Ellen Huebner;
        Stephen M. Kennedy;
        Herman Lavon Totten;
        Bridget L. Lamont; and
        Mary H. Perdue.

    October 2

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings.
    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Vice President Dick
    Cheney. Later, he met with Secretary of State
    Colin L. Powell.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Edward Baxter
    O'Donnell for the rank of Ambassador
    during his tenure of service as Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues.

    [[Page 1778]]

    The President announced his intention to designate Rita E.
    Hauser as a member of the Intelligence
    Oversight Board, a standing committee of the President's Foreign
    Intelligence Advisory Board.

    October 3

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    he traveled to Milwaukee, WI.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush attended the National Book
    Festival Gala at the Library of Congress.
    The President announced his intention to nominate James B. Comey to be Deputy Attorney General.

    October 4

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    October 6

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, on
    the South Lawn, he participated in a state arrival ceremony for
    President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and his wife,
    Lucy.
    In the afternoon, the President met with U.S. officials returning from
    Iraq to discuss reconstruction efforts there. Later, he met with former
    Senator John C. Danforth, Special Envoy for
    Peace in the Sudan, to discuss peace efforts in that country.
    In the evening, in the Cross Hall, the President and Mrs. Bush
    participated in a photo opportunity with President Kibaki and Mrs. Kibaki. Later, in the
    State Dining Room, they hosted a state dinner for President and Mrs.
    Kibaki.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Jon Robert
    Purnell to be Ambassador to Uzbekistan.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Thomas Riley to be Ambassador to Morocco.
    The President announced his intention to designate Brian Carlton
    Roseboro as Acting Under Secretary of
    the Treasury (Domestic Finance).

    October 7

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Stuart
    Ishimaru to be a member of the Equal
    Employment Opportunity Commission.
    The President announced his intention to appoint the following
    individuals as members of the U.S. Section of the U.S.-Mexico Border
    Health Commission:

        Jose Manual de la Rosa;
        Lawrence Edward Kline;
        Tom G. Lindsey II; and
        Emma Torres.

    October 8

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, the President had a telephone conversation with
    Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger
    of California to congratulate him on his October 7 election victory.
    Also in the afternoon, the President met with Republican Members of
    Congress to discuss proposed legislation on reconstruction aid to Iraq.
    The White House announced that the President will attend the APEC
    Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 20-21, and that he has
    accepted invitations from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to visit Japan on October 17-18, from Prime
    Minister Goh Chok Tong to visit Singapore on
    October 21-22, from President Megawati Sukarnoputri to visit Indonesia on October 22, and from Prime
    Minister John Howard to visit Australia on
    October 22-23.
    The President announced his intention to nominate April Hoxie
    Foley to be First Vice President of the
    Export-Import Bank.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Gary Lee
    Visscher to be a member of the Chemical
    Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
    The President announced his appointment of Kristen Lee
    Silverburg as Deputy Assistant to the
    President for Domestic Policy.
    The President announced his intention to appoint William O. DeWitt,
    Jr., as a member of the President's
    Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.

    October 9

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Portsmouth, NH, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom
    Corps volunteer Cathy Rice.

    [[Page 1779]]

    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Manchester, NH, where,
    upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Robert
    Perkins.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Lexington, KY.
    In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC.

    October 10

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
    In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Vice President Dick
    Cheney. Later, in the Roosevelt Room, he met
    with members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom,
    who presented him with the fourth annual report of the Commission.
    Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to Camp David, MD.

    October 11

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    October 12

    During the day, the President returned to Washington, DC.

    October 13

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    participated in interviews with regional television stations.

    October 14

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing and later met
    with the National Security Council.
    In the afternoon, the President participated in television and radio
    interviews with Asian journalists. He also dropped by a meeting between
    Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Office
    of Management and Budget Director Joshua B. Bolten, and other officials and bipartisan Senators to discuss
    proposed legislation concerning reconstruction aid to Iraq.
    The President announced his designation of the following individuals as
    members of a Presidential delegation to celebrations on October 16-20 at
    the Vatican in Rome, Italy, marking the 25th anniversary of Pope John
    Paul II's pontificate and the beatification
    of Mother Teresa:

        Columba Bush (head of delegation);
        Jim Nicholson;
        Jim Towey;
        Mary Ellen Bork;
        Frances Winfield Bremer;
        Joseph C. Canizaro;
        Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV;
        Raymond L. Flynn;
        Mary Ann Glendon;
        Deal W. Hudson;
        John M. Klink;
        Sister Mary Rose McGeady, DC;
        Peggy Noonan;
        Kate O'Beirne; and
        Gabrielle Reynolds.

    October 15

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Dinuba, CA.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Fresno, CA. Later, he
    traveled to Riverside, CA.
    The President announced the nomination of Robert McFarland to be Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
    Information and Technology.
    The President announced the nomination of Susan Johnson Grant to be Chief Financial Officer for the
    Department of Energy.
    The President announced the nomination of Marguerita Dianne
    Ragsdale to be Ambassador to
    Djibouti.
    The President announced the nomination of Margaret Scobey to be Ambassador to Syria.
    The President announced the nomination of Margaret DeBardeleben
    Tutwiler to be Under
    Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy.
    The President announced the nomination of Drew R. McCoy to be a member of the Board of Trustees of the James
    Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation.
    The President announced his intention to designate Jeffrey E.
    Phillips as Acting Assistant Secretary
    of Veterans Affairs for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.

    October 16

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    met with Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and then traveled with him to San
    Bernardino, CA.
    Later in the morning, the President returned to Riverside. Later, he was
    joined by Mrs. Bush at March Air Reserve Base, and they then traveled to
    Tokyo, Japan, arriving in the afternoon of October 17.

    [[Page 1780]]

    The White House announced that the President will welcome President Ion
    Iliescu of Romania to the White House on October
    28.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Timothy J. Dunn for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure as
    Deputy Permanent Representative of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the
    Organization of American States.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Adam Marc
    Lindemann to be a member of the Advisory
    Board for Cuba Broadcasting.
    The President announced his intention to nominate James C.
    Struble to be Ambassador to Peru.

    October 17

    In the evening, the President met with Prime Minister Junichiro
    Koizumi of Japan at Akasaka Palace. Later,
    also at Akasaka Palace, he and Mrs. Bush had dinner with Prime Minister
    Koizumi.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Stuart
    Holliday to be Alternate Representative of
    the U.S. for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, with the
    rank of Ambassador.

    October 18

    In the morning, at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Tokyo, Japan, the
    President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he and Mrs. Bush traveled
    to Manila, Philippines, where they greeted U.S. Embassy personnel and
    members of the American community at the Embassy.
    In the afternoon, at the Rizal Monument, the President and Mrs. Bush
    participated in a wreath-laying ceremony with President Gloria
    Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines.
    Later, at Malacanang Palace, he and Mrs. Bush participated in a
    welcoming ceremony with President Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband, Jose
    Miguel Arroyo. The two Presidents then
    had a meeting.
    In the evening, in the Ceremonial Hall at Malacanang Palace, the
    President and Mrs. Bush attended a state dinner hosted by President
    Macapagal-Arroyo.

    October 19

    In the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Bangkok,
    Thailand. Later, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, he met with Prime
    Minister Thaksin Chinnawat of Thailand.
    In the afternoon, the President participated in a review of Thai troops
    recently returned from Afghanistan. Later, he and Mrs. Bush toured the
    Grand Palace.
    Later in the afternoon, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, the President
    met with President Hu Jintao of China.
    In the evening, at the Grand Palace, the President and Mrs. Bush
    attended a state dinner hosted by King Phumiphon Adunyadet and Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

    October 20

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, at
    the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, he had a breakfast meeting with
    President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea. He then
    met with President Vicente Fox of Mexico.
    In the afternoon, at the Government House, the President participated in
    the first session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
    Leaders' Retreat. Later, he attended an APEC Business Advisory Council
    reception.
    In the evening, at the Grand Palace, the President and Mrs. Bush and
    other APEC leaders and their spouses had an audience with King Phumiphon
    Adunyadet and Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Later, the President participated in a
    photo opportunity with APEC leaders.
    Later in the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush attended the APEC
    leaders' gala dinner at the Royal Thai Navy Conference Hall and a
    cultural performance at the Royal Thai Navy Institute.
    The President announced his intention to nominate James M.
    Strock to be a member of the U.S. Advisory
    Commission on Public Diplomacy.

    October 21

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in
    the Old Parliament Building, he participated in a photo opportunity with
    APEC leaders and the second session of the APEC Leaders' Retreat.
    In the afternoon, he attended a reception for APEC leaders.
    Later in the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to
    Singapore.
    In the evening, the President greeted U.S. Embassy personnel at the
    Shangri-La Singapore Hotel. Later, at the Istana, he paid a courtesy
    call on President Sellapan Rama Nathan
    of Singapore and his wife, Urmila Nandey.
    Then,

    [[Page 1781]]

    also at the Istana, he met with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Edward
    McPherson to be Under Secretary of
    Education.

    October 22

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush traveled to Bali, Indonesia, where, at Bali International
    Airport, he met with President Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia.
    In the afternoon, at the airport, the President met with religious
    leaders. Later, he and Mrs. Bush traveled to Canberra, Australia.
    The President announced the laureates of the 2002 National Medals of
    Science and National Medals of Technology, which will be presented at a
    White House ceremony on November 6.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Carol Kinsley to be a
    member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and
    Community Service.

    October 23

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush paid a courtesy call on Governor-General Michael
    Jeffery of Australia and his wife,
    Marlena, at Australia's Government House.
    Later in the morning, at Australia's Parliament House, the President met
    with Prime Minister John Howard of Australia.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush participated in a wreath-
    laying ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
    In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Hickam Air Force
    Base on the island of Oahu, HI, crossing the international date line and
    arriving Thursday morning, October 23.
    Upon arriving at Hickam Air Force Base, the President and Mrs. Bush
    greeted Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James
    ``Duke'' Aiona of Hawaii, U.S.
    military leaders, and National Park Service volunteer Hilma
    Chang.
    Later in the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Pearl
    Harbor, where they participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the
    U.S.S. Arizona (BB-39) Memorial and met with eight survivors of the 1941
    Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Later, aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, the
    President participated in a briefing by Adm. Thomas Boulton
    Fargo, USN, combatant commander, U.S.
    Pacific Command. He then toured the U.S.S. Missouri and greeted veterans
    and former Missouri crewmembers. Later, he and Mrs. Bush visited second-
    grade students at Pearl Harbor Elementary school.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Honolulu, HI,
    where, at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel, he attended a Hawaii
    Republican Party reception. Later, he met with delegates of 13 Pacific
    Island nations attending the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders.
    In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush departed for Washington, DC.
    The President announced his intention to nominate James M. Loy to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and to
    designate him as Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

    October 24

    In the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush arrived in Washington, DC.
    Later in the day, they traveled to Camp David, MD.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister
    Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka to
    the White House on November 4.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome President
    Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of
    the Congo to the White House on November 5.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome President
    Rolandas Paksas of Lithuania to the White
    House on December 8.
    The President announced his intention to appoint the following
    individuals as members of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission:

        Ralph F. Archbold;
        Wayne A. Budd;
        John Anderson Fry;
        Charles R. Gerow;
        Judith Rodin; and
        Jeffrey L. Sedgwick.

    The President announced his intention to nominate Edward E.
    Kaufman, Fayza Veronique Boulad
    Rodman, and Steven J.
    Simmons to be members of the Broadcasting
    Board of Governors.
    The President announced his designation of the following individuals as
    members of a Presidential delegation to attend the ceremony
    commemorating the 20th anniversary of the restoration of democracy to
    Grenada in St. George's:

    [[Page 1782]]

        Otto J. Reich (head of delegation);
        Marcia Bernicat;
        Adm. Joseph Metcalf III;
        Langhorne Anthony Motley; and
        Ken Tomlinson.

    October 25

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    October 26

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

    October 27

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Arnold I.
    Havens to be General Counsel for the
    Department of the Treasury.
    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 on October 21 and continuing.

    October 28

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in
    the Oval Office, he met with President Ion Iliescu of Romania.
    In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with economic
    advisers.
    The White House announced that the President will host NATO Secretary
    General Lord Robertson for a meeting and
    working luncheon on November 12.

    October 29

    In the morning, the President had a breakfast meeting with Speaker of
    the House of Representatives J. Dennis Hastert, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to discuss legislative priorities. Later, he had an
    intelligence briefing. He then met with the National Security Council
    and later with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.
    Later in the morning, in Room 472 of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive
    Office Building, the President participated in a roundtable discussion
    on Medicare with Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G.
    Thompson, AARP President James G.
    Parkel, and a group of senior citizens.
    In the afternoon, on the South Steps, the President participated in a
    photo opportunity with White House interns. Later, he traveled to
    Dallas, TX, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer
    Laura Wheat.
    In the evening, the President traveled to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX.

    October 30

    In the morning, the President traveled to Columbus, OH. While en route
    aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing. Upon arrival, he
    met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Leslie Gagne.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to San Antonio, TX, where, upon
    arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Thom Ricks.
    In the evening, the President returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX.

    October 31

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime
    Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to
    discuss reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq. Later, he had an
    intelligence briefing.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Samuel Wright
    Bodman to be Deputy Secretary of the
    Treasury.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Eugene Welch
    Hickok, Jr., to be Deputy Secretary
    of Education.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Brian Carlton
    Roseboro to be Under Secretary of the
    Treasury for Domestic Finance.

    November 1

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Southaven, MS, and then
    to Paducah, KY.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to London, KY, and later to
    Gulfport, MS.
    In the evening, the President returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX.

    November 3

    In the morning, the President traveled to Birmingham, AL. While en route
    aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing. Upon arrival in
    Birmingham, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Jason
    Nabors. Later, he met with small-business
    owners at CraneWorks.

    [[Page 1783]]

    In the afternoon, the President returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Francis Joseph
    Harvey to be Assistant Secretary of
    Defense for Networks and Information Integration.
    The President announced his intention to nominate William Douglas
    Buttrey and Francis Patrick
    Mulvey to be members of the Surface
    Transportation Board.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Gordon Hall
    Mansfield to be Deputy Secretary of
    Veterans Affairs.
    The President announced his intention to nominate David Hossein
    Safavian to be Administrator for
    Federal Procurement Policy at the Office of Management and Budget.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Laurie Susan
    Fulton to be a member of the Board of
    Directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace.

    November 4

    In the morning, the President traveled to Miramar, CA. While en route
    aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing. Upon arrival at
    the Marine Corps Air Station, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer
    Suellen Mayberry.
    Later in the morning, the President, joined by Governor Gray
    Davis and Governor-elect Arnold
    Schwarzenegger of California,
    California Department of Forestry Division Chief Bill Clayton, and Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and
    Response Mike Brown, took an aerial tour of the
    San Diego area affected by wildfires. Later, he participated in a
    walking tour of the Harbison Canyon community damaged by wildfires. He
    then traveled to El Cajon, CA, where, at Gillespie Field, he
    participated in a briefing by area fire chiefs on the wildfires.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    In the evening, the President had separate telephone conversations with
    Governors-elect Haley Barbour of Mississippi
    and Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky to
    congratulate them on their electoral victories earlier in the day.

    November 5

    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
    President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic
    Republic of the Congo. Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with Prime
    Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri
    Lanka to discuss peace efforts in Sri Lanka and free trade.
    In the afternoon, the President met with Polish philosopher and writer
    Leszek Kolakowski to congratulate him on
    winning the John W. Kluge Prize in Human Sciences.

    November 6

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, the President met with Secretary of State Colin L.
    Powell.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Kiron Kanina
    Skinner to be a member of the National
    Security Education Board.

    November 7

    In the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations with
    President Carlos Diego Mesa Gisbert of Bolivia to discuss democracy in Bolivia, President
    Mesa's plans for a national referendum on Bolivian natural gas
    resources, and cooperation in counternarcotics efforts; President Jose
    Maria Aznar of Spain to discuss the
    situation in Iraq and transatlantic relations; and President Aleksander
    Kwasniewski of Poland to express his
    condolences concerning the death of a Polish officer in Iraq on November
    6 and to discuss other issues.
    Later in the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later,
    he traveled to Winston-Salem, NC, where, upon arrival, he met with USA
    Freedom Corps volunteer Brian Koontz.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Camp David, MD.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Linda Morrison
    Combs to be Assistant Secretary of
    Transportation and, upon confirmation, to designate her as Chief
    Financial Officer.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Steven J. Law to be Deputy Secretary of Labor.
    The President announced his intention to nominate J. Robinson West to be a member of the Board of Directors of the
    U.S. Institute of Peace.
    The President declared a major disaster in Washington and ordered
    Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area

    [[Page 1784]]

    struck by severe storms and flooding on October 15-23.

    November 8

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    November 9

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

    November 10

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Little Rock, AR, where, upon arrival, he met with USA
    Freedom Corps volunteer Dr. Michael Quick.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Greer, SC, where, upon
    arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Robin Longino and high school athlete Ben Comen. Later, he traveled to Greenville, SC.
    In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    The White House announced that the President will award the Medal of
    Freedom to NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson in a ceremony at the White House on November 12.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Patrick Marshall
    Hughes to be Assistant Secretary for
    Information Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security.

    November 11

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in an
    Oval Office ceremony, he signed the Military Family Tax Relief Act of
    2003.
    Later in the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Arlington,
    VA, where they participated in a Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at
    the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. In the
    afternoon, they returned to Washington, DC.
    Later in the afternoon, in an Oval Office ceremony, the President signed
    the National Cemetery Expansion Act.

    November 12

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a
    National Security Council meeting. He then met with Secretary of Defense
    Donald H. Rumsfeld and L. Paul Bremer
    III, Presidential Envoy to
    Iraq. Later, in the Oval Office, he participated in a photo opportunity
    with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael O.
    Leavitt and members of Mr. Leavitt's
    family.
    Later in the morning, the President met with NATO Secretary General Lord
    Robertson.
    In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President and Mrs. Bush
    participated in the presentation of the National Medal of Arts awards.

    November 13

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Orlando, FL. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had a
    telephone conversation with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to express his condolences to the families of
    the Italians killed in the suicide bombing in Nasiriyah, Iraq, on
    November 12 and to discuss reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Europe-
    U.S. relations. Upon arrival in Orlando, he met with USA Freedom Corps
    volunteer Matilda Walther.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Fort Myers, FL, where, upon
    arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Mark
    Asperilla.
    In the evening, the President attended a Bush-Cheney `04 reception at a
    private residence. Later, he returned to Washington, DC.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Rhonda Newman
    Keenum to be an Assistant Secretary of
    Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial
    Service.
    The President announced his intention to nominate David Campbell
    Mulford to be Ambassador to India.

    November 14

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in
    the Oval Office, he and Mrs. Bush participated in the presentation of
    the National Humanities Medal awards.
    In the afternoon, in the Residence, the President had lunch with
    President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi of
    Italy. Later, he traveled to Camp David, MD.

    November 15

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime
    Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey
    to express condolences for

    [[Page 1785]]

    the terrorist attacks in Istanbul earlier in the day.

    November 16

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

    November 17

    In the morning, the President had intelligence and FBI briefings. Later,
    he participated in a photo opportunity with 2003 Nobel laureates.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Glyn Townsend
    Davies for the rank of Ambassador
    during his tenure of service as the Political Director for the U.S.
    Presidency of the G-8.
    The President announced his intention to nominate William Douglas
    Buttrey and Francis Patrick
    Mulvey to be members of the Surface
    Transportation Board.
    The President announced his intention to nominate James Curtis
    Oberwetter to be Ambassador to Saudi
    Arabia.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Gay Hart
    Gaines to be a member of the Board of
    Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

    November 18

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush traveled to London, United Kingdom, arriving in the
    evening at Heathrow Airport, where they participated in a greeting with
    Charles, Prince of Wales.
    In the evening, at Buckingham Palace, the President and Mrs. Bush were
    welcomed privately by Queen Elizabeth II
    and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who escorted them to their suite in the palace,
    their residence during their visit to London.

    November 19

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush participated in a welcoming ceremony with Queen Elizabeth
    II and Prince Philip, Duke of
    Edinburgh. Later, in the Bow
    Room of Buckingham Palace, they participated in the presentation of
    delegations and then viewed the royal collection of American memorabilia
    in the Picture Gallery.
    In the afternoon, at the American Embassy, the President and Mrs. Bush
    met with family members of British victims of the September 11, 2001,
    terrorist attacks. Later, the President met with U.S. Embassy employees
    and their family members.
    Later in the afternoon, at Buckingham Palace, the President met
    separately with Conservative Party leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Joey Russell
    George to be Inspector General for Tax
    Administration at the Department of the Treasury.
    The President announced his intention to nominate the following
    individuals to be members of the Board of Directors of the National
    Board for Education Sciences:

        Jonathan Baron;
        Elizabeth Ann Bryan;
        James R. Davis;
        Robert C. Granger;
        Frank Philip Handy;
        Eric Alan Hanushek;
        Caroline M. Hoxby;
        Gerald Lee;
        Roberto Ibarra Lopez;
        Richard James Milgram;
        Sally Epstein Shaywitz;
        Joseph K. Torgesen; and
        Herbert John Walberg.

    The President announced his intention to appoint Sara Gear Boyd, Maria Elena Lagomasino, and Donald L. Pilling as
    members of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
    The President announced his intention to designate James B. Comey as Acting Deputy Attorney General.

    November 20

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, at
    Westminster Abbey, he participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the
    Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, followed by a tour of the abbey. He then
    met with families of British servicemembers who died in Iraq.
    In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush participated in a photo
    opportunity with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the
    United Kingdom and his wife, Cherie, at 10
    Downing St., the Prime Minister's official residence. The President and
    Prime Minister Blair then had a meeting and a working lunch and later
    participated in a roundtable discussion on HIV/AIDS.
    Later in the afternoon, at 10 Downing St., the President and Mrs. Bush
    participated in a visit with Prime Minister Blair
    and his family.

    [[Page 1786]]

    In the evening, at Winfield House, the U.S. Ambassador's residence, the
    President and Mrs. Bush hosted a reciprocal dinner for Queen Elizabeth
    II; Prince Philip, Duke of
    Edinburgh; and Charles,
    Prince of Wales.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Ronald Edward
    Meisburg to be a member of the National
    Labor Relations Board.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Stuart Wadlington
    Holliday to be an Alternate U.S.
    Representative to the Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly
    during his tenure of service as Alternate U.S. Representative for
    Special Political Affairs in the United Nations.

    November 21

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush participated in a farewell ceremony with Queen Elizabeth
    II and Prince Philip, Duke of
    Edinburgh. They then
    traveled to Sedgefield, United Kingdom. While en route aboard Air Force
    One, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister
    Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to
    express condolences for the November 20 terrorist attacks in Istanbul.
    In Sedgefield, the President and Mrs. Bush had tea with Prime
    Minister and Mrs. Blair
    at their home, Myrobella House.
    In the afternoon, at the Dun Cow Inn, the President and Mrs. Bush had
    lunch with Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair and a group of the Prime Minister's constituents.
    Later, the President and Prime Minister Blair met with teachers and
    students and viewed an athletic display at Sedgefield Community College.
    Later in the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush departed for
    Washington, DC, arriving in the evening.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Jaymie Alan
    Durnan to be Assistant Secretary of the
    Army (Installations and Environment).
    The President announced his intention to nominate Lawrence Thomas Di
    Rita to be Assistant Secretary of
    Defense (Public Affairs).
    The President announced his intention to nominate Robert Hurley
    McKinney to be a member of the
    Advisory Board for Cuba Broadcasting.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Sanford
    Gottesman, Diane M. Ruebling, and C. William Swank to
    be members of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment
    Corporation.
    The President declared a major disaster in Puerto Rico and ordered
    Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the
    area struck by severe storms, flooding, mudslides, and landslides on
    November 10 and continuing.
    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 on November 11 and
    continuing.

    November 22

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    November 24

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Colorado Springs, CO. Upon his arrival in the afternoon at
    Peterson Air Force Base, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Diane
    Campbell. He then traveled to Fort Carson,
    CO, where he had lunch with members of the U.S. military.
    Later in the afternoon, the President returned to Peterson Air Force
    Base and met with families of U.S. servicemembers who died in Iraq. He
    then traveled to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX.

    November 25

    In the morning, the President traveled to Las Vegas, NV. While en route
    aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing. Upon arrival, he
    met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Maria Konold-Soto. Later, at Spring Valley Hospital, he met with health
    care professionals and seniors to discuss Medicare and medical liability
    reform.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Phoenix, AZ, where, upon
    arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Maybelle
    Harris. Later, at the Los Olivos Senior
    Center, he met with seniors to discuss Medicare reform.
    In the evening, the President returned to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Dennis C. Shea to be Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban
    Development for Policy, Development, and Research.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Mark J.
    Warshawsky to be Assistant Secretary of
    the Treasury for Economic Policy.

    [[Page 1787]]

    The President announced his intention to nominate Roger W.
    Wallace to be a member of the Board of
    Directors of the Inter-American Foundation.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Jack Edwin
    McGregor and Scott Kevin Walker to be members of the Advisory Board of the St.
    Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
    The President announced the appointment of James R. Wilkinson as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy
    National Security Advisor for Communications.
    The President announced the appointment of Sean McCormack as Special Assistant to the President and Senior
    Director of the National Security Council Press Office.

    November 26

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with interim
    President Nino Burjanadze of Georgia to
    discuss political reforms in Georgia. He then had an intelligence
    briefing.
    In the evening, the President traveled to Baghdad, Iraq, arriving the
    following afternoon.
    The White House announced that the President will welcome Premier Wen
    Jiabao of China to the White House for an official
    visit on December 9.

    November 27

    In the late afternoon, at Baghdad International Airport, the President
    had Thanksgiving dinner with members of the U.S. military stationed in
    Baghdad. Later, he met with four members of the Iraqi Governing Council
    and then senior U.S. military personnel stationed in Baghdad.
    In the evening, the President traveled to the Bush Ranch in Crawford,
    TX, arriving early the next morning.

    November 28

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    November 29

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    November 30

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

    December 1

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    traveled to Detroit, MI, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom
    Corps volunteer Bradley Simmons. He then
    traveled to Dearborn, MI.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Canton, MI. Later, he
    traveled to Newark, NJ, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom
    Corps volunteer Patricia Fields. He then
    traveled to Whippany, NJ.
    In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    The President announced his intention to nominate M. Teel Bivins to be Ambassador to Sweden.

    December 2

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with
    President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to discuss
    peace efforts in the Middle East and the situation in Iraq. Later, he
    had an intelligence briefing.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Pittsburgh, PA, where,
    upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Mila
    Nguyen.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    During the day, the President informed Robert L. Bartley that he would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

    December 3

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, in an Oval Office ceremony, the President signed the
    21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act. Later, he met
    with the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
    In the evening, on the State Floor, the President hosted a holiday
    reception.
    The White House announced that the President will meet with King
    Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House on
    December 4.
    The President announced his intention to nominate B. Francis Saul
    II and Ruth Sharp Altshuler to be members of the Library of Congress Trust
    Fund Board.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Arturo Duran as Commissioner of the U.S. Section of the
    International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico.

    [[Page 1788]]

    The President announced his intention to appoint Victor
    Rodriguez and Bray Bruce Barnes as members of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile
    Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

    December 4

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime
    Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom to
    discuss the situation in Iraq and the NATO Alliance. He then had an
    intelligence briefing.
    In the afternoon, in an Oval Office ceremony, the President received
    diplomatic credentials from Ambassadors Eva Nowotny of Austria, Feturi Elisaia of
    Samoa, Euripides L. Evriviades of
    Cyprus, Abdulaziz Kamilov of Uzbekistan,
    Said Tayeb Jawad of Afghanistan, Salvador
    Stadthagen of Nicaragua, Bayney
    Karran of Guyana, and Mikhailo Reznyk of Ukraine.
    Later in the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush attended the Pageant
    of Peace on the Ellipse.

    December 5

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with
    President Mireya Elisa Moscoso of
    Panama to discuss a possible Panama-U.S. free trade agreement. He then
    had an intelligence briefing.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to Baltimore, MD.
    In the afternoon, the President traveled to Halethorpe, MD. Later, he
    returned to Washington, DC.
    Later in the afternoon, in the Residence, the President participated in
    an interview with People magazine.
    In the evening, on the State Floor, the President hosted a holiday
    dinner.
    The White House announced the members of the President's Task Force on
    Puerto Rico's Status:

        Gilbert G. Gonzalez, Jr.;
        Elizabeth Dial;
        Victor E. Bernson, Jr.;
        Kathleen Leos;
        Theresa Speake;
        Regina Schofield;
        Joshua Filler;
        Frank Jimenez;
        David P. Smith;
        Noel J. Francisco;
        Chris Spear;
        Leo DiBenigno;
        Sam Reid;
        Tony Fratto;
        William McLemore; and
        Ruben Barrales.

    December 6

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    December 8

    In the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations with
    President Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan and Sudan People's Liberation Movement
    Chairman Dr. John Garang to discuss the Sudan
    peace process. Later, he had an intelligence briefing.
    Later in the morning, the President made a surprise drop-by visit during
    Mrs. Bush's interview with Larry King of CNN.
    In the afternoon, the President met with Secretary of the Treasury John
    W. Snow, Postmaster General John E.
    Potter, and members of the President's
    Commission on the U.S. Postal Service to discuss postal reform. Later,
    on the State Floor, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted a Christmas
    reception and program for children of U.S. military personnel.
    In the evening, on the State Floor, the President hosted the
    Congressional Ball.

    December 9

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in
    the Oval Office, he met with Premier Wen Jiabao of
    China. Later in the morning, in the Cabinet Room, the President and
    Premier Wen met with U.S. and Chinese economic officials to discuss
    economic and trade issues.
    In the afternoon, in the Residence, the President had lunch with Premier
    Wen. Later, in Room 450 at the Dwight D.
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building, he dropped by a meeting between
    National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice
    and the U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum to
    discuss the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
    In the evening, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
    the President and Mrs. Bush attended a joint performance by the National
    Symphony Orchestra and the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Lisa Marie
    Kruska to be Assistant Secretary of Labor
    for Public Affairs.

    [[Page 1789]]

    The President announced his intention to nominate Donald Lee Korb to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue
    Service and Assistant General Counsel in the Department of the Treasury.
    The President announced his intention to nominate Robert Scott Jepson,
    Jr., Paul Byron Jones, and Charles Leon Kolbe to be
    members of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Robert A.
    Martinez as a member of the Board of
    Governors of the United Service Organizations, Inc.
    The President declared a major disaster in the U.S. Virgin Islands and
    ordered Federal aid to supplement Territory recovery efforts in the area
    struck by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides on November
    10-16.
    The President declared a major disaster in Virginia and ordered Federal
    aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area
    struck by severe storms and flooding on November 18-19.

    December 10

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a
    National Security Council meeting. Later, he met with Secretary of
    Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.
    During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with
    President Vladimir Putin of Russia,
    Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany,
    and President Jacques Chirac of France, to
    discuss his appointment of James A. Baker III as his personal envoy on the issue of Iraqi debt.

    December 11

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He also had
    separate telephone conversations with outgoing Prime Minister Jean
    Chretien of Canada, to congratulate him on his
    service to the Canadian people; and with Prime Minister Silvio
    Berlusconi of Italy, to discuss the
    situation in Iraq and the President's appointment of James A. Baker
    III as his personal envoy on the issue
    of Iraqi debt.
    Later in the morning, the President traveled to McLean, VA.
    In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC.
    In the evening, the President attended a holiday dinner.
    The President announced his designation of Kirk Van Tine as Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
    The President announced his designation of Neil McPhie as Vice Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board.

    December 12

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing and then met
    with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
    Later, he dropped by a meeting in the Roosevelt Room between Secretary
    of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary of
    Agriculture Ann M. Veneman, Council on
    Environmental Quality Chairman James L. Connaughton, and wildlife conservation leaders.
    In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President greeted winners of
    the 2003 MATHCOUNTS National Competition. Later, on the State Floor, he
    attended a holiday reception for members of the U.S. Secret Service.
    In the evening, on the State Floor, the President attended a holiday
    reception for members of the U.S. Secret Service. Later, he traveled to
    Camp David, MD.

    December 13

    In the morning, 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 early 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. Later, in the Residence, the
    President and Mrs. Bush watched television coverage of the briefing in
    Baghdad by L. Paul Bremer III,
    Presidential Envoy to Iraq, announcing the capture.

    [[Page 1790]]

    Also in the morning, the President had a briefing on the details of the
    capture and had separate telephone conversations with the following
    individuals to discuss the capture: Senate Majority Leader Bill
    Frist; Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; Central Intelligence Agency
    Director George J. Tenet; Adnan
    Pachachi, Acting President of the Governing
    Council of Iraq; 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.
    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--Ce
    ntury
    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 a holiday reception on the State
    Floor.

    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, on the State Floor, the President and Mrs. Bush attended
    a holiday reception for members of the press.

    December 19

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    had a telephone conversation with Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United Nations to exchange holiday greetings. He
    then met with Secretary of Health and

    [[Page 1791]]

    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.
    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 hosted a holiday dinner for 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.

    December 20

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with
    President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal to
    discuss the capture of former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. He then had a telephone conversation with
    Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan
    to discuss the situations in Iraq, North Korea, and Libya, and the
    upcoming visit to Japan of James A. Baker III, the President's personal envoy on the issue of Iraqi
    debt. The President then had an intelligence briefing.
    Later in the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with
    President Hu Jintao of China to discuss the
    situations in Taiwan, Iraq, and North Korea, and Presidential Envoy
    Baker's upcoming visit to China.

    December 22

    In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with
    President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea to discuss
    the situations in Iraq and North Korea and Presidential Envoy
    Baker's upcoming visit to South Korea.
    He then had an intelligence briefing and met with the Homeland Security
    Council. Later, he met with Secretary of Defense Donald H.
    Rumsfeld and then with L. Paul Bremer
    III, Presidential Envoy to
    Iraq, to discuss the situation in Iraq.
    In the afternoon, the President met with rabbis and Jewish community
    leaders in the Roosevelt Room. Later, he and Mrs. Bush traveled to
    Alexandria, VA, and then returned to Washington, DC.
    Later in the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted a Hanukkah
    reception on the State Floor.
    In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush went to Camp David, MD.

    December 23

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    The President announced his intention to appoint Eloise
    Anderson as a member of the Board of
    Directors of the Student Loan Marketing Association.

    December 24

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    had telephone conversations with members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

    December 25

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.
    During the day, the President celebrated Christmas with family members.

    December 26

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    and Mrs. Bush traveled to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX.
    The President announced the recess appointment of Albert Casey as a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service.
    The President announced the recess appointment of Bradley D. Belt as a member of the Social Security Advisory Board.
    The President announced the recess appointment of Raymond Simon as Assistant Secretary of Education for Elementary
    and Secondary Education.
    The President announced the recess appointments of Gay Hart
    Gaines and Claudia Puig as members of the Board of Directors of the
    Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
    The President announced the recess appointment of Fayza Veronique Boulad
    Rodman as a member of the
    Broadcasting Board of Governors.
    The President announced the recess appointments of Cynthia Boich, Dorothy A. Johnson,

    [[Page 1792]]

    and Henry Lozano as members of the Board of
    Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
    The President announced the recess appointment of Ronald E.
    Meisburg as a member of the National
    Labor Relations Board.
    The President announced the recess appointment of Clark Kent
    Ervin as Inspector General at the Department
    of Homeland Security.
    The President announced the recess appointment of Robert Lerner as Commissioner of Education Statistics at the
    Department of Education.

    December 27

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    December 28

    During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with
    Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman
    concerning the recent incidence of bovine spongiform encephalitis (also
    known as mad cow disease) in Washington State.

    December 29

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

    December 30

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he
    participated in an interview with author Ken Walsh.

    December 31

    In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.