For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 27, 2003
Press Gaggle by Ari Fleischer
Aboard Air Force One En route San Francisco, California
10:45 A.M. EDT
MR. FLEISCHER: Good morning. Okay, let me give you a couple
items. You have the statement on Senator Thurmond, so I won't repeat
that, you already have it on the record, it's been distributed on the
ground electronically and otherwise.
The President today is announcing that he will appoint Harriet
Miers to replace Josh Bolten as Deputy Chief of Staff. We're all very
thrilled for Harriet, thrilled for Josh - now been confirmed by the
Senate. And the exact dates of Josh being sworn-in as OMB Director and
the exact dates of Harriet assuming Josh's duties are to be
determined. But Harriet will replace Josh.
Q Is there going to be a statement that's released on the
ground, with, like, a little bio of her and that sort of thing?
MR. FLEISCHER: Let me see if that's in the pipeline or not. I
just wanted to let you know about it.
Q The spelling, the spelling of Harriet Miers.
MR. DICKENS: H-a-r-r-i-e-t, M-i-e-r-s.
MR. FLEISCHER: And when we get to San Francisco, the police in San
Francisco have been advised that he will expect large, very large
numbers of protestors.
Let me give you the week head.
The President will spend the weekend at his ranch in Crawford,
Texas. On Monday morning, the President will travel to Miami, Florida,
where he will make remarks to seniors, on Medicare. And then attend a
Bush-Cheney '04 luncheon. From there, the President will travel to
Tampa, Florida. He will attend a Bush-Cheney '04 reception there,
before returning to the White House Monday evening.
Tuesday morning the President will make remarks on education reform
and parental options at a school in Washington, D.C. That afternoon,
the President will participate in the Presidential re-enlistment of
military service members in the Rose Garden.
There are no public events on Wednesday or Thursday. Friday, the
President will travel to Dayton, Ohio, on July 4th, where he will make
remarks at the 4th of July Celebration 100th Anniversary of Flight.
Also next week, "Ask the White House" will feature two new guests
who have previously not appeared on "Ask the White House." They are,
on Tuesday, July 1st, at 1:30 p.m., First Lady Mrs. Bush. And on
Wednesday, July 2nd, at 1:30 p.m., National Security Advisor Dr.
Condoleezza Rice. Coming next week on an "Ask the White House" near
you.
Q When are you doing it, Ari?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm doing mine on Bastille Day, July 14th.
(Laughter.) My final day.
Q Is that right?
MR. FLEISCHER: Yes. Also next week, briefings - there will be no
briefing on Thursday. We're anticipating the President is going to
have no events - I don't think he has any public events Thursday, is
what I just said.
Q News conference?
MR. FLEISCHER: And no briefing on Thursday. I would not leap to
that conclusion, if I were you. We're trying to give everybody a
happy, early July 4th. We don't want to make you work late the night
of July 3rd.
Q I didn't hear any announcements of any pre-Africa briefings
next week.
MR. FLEISCHER: Oh, yes, you can anticipate that. I'm sure the
National Security Council will be doing the normal scheduling of Dr.
Rice. The President will have his usual meetings with foreign
reporters..
Q Interviews -
MR. FLEISCHER: The President's events will be Thursday. And, of
course, we'll deal with the whole transcript issue and all of that.
Q You mean, like, the foreign journalists?
MR. FLEISCHER: Yes. Dr. Rice will be an NSC call about what day.
To use an NSC word, her modalities will be determined by
modality-meister McCormack.
Q On the protests in San Francisco, are those diverting - I
mean, the motorcade is only going, what, five minutes, so it's not
affecting his travels or route or anything like that?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I would never talk about Presidential
travels. That's always a security matter. This is not really new,
there have been large protests before.
Q Does he have a message for the protestors?
MR. FLEISCHER: It's a free country.
Q The White House told the police department, is that - I'm
sorry, I missed what you said at the top.
MR. FLEISCHER: The police department has informed us - which is
always - the Secret Service works very closely, obviously, you see them
on the sides of the road with the local police. And they communicate
about what to expect. The San Francisco Police Department - LA, as
well, because we do expect rather large crowds. I don't think it will
be our usual size protest. San Francisco, there's - police have been
notified by the organizers to expect an actually very large crowd. And
in Los Angeles --
Q Do you have any numbers?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I'm going to let the San Francisco Police
Department do - I don't think the White House should be giving out a
number, because I can't vouch for it.
And in Los Angeles, as well, they're expecting sizeable crowds -
not as large as San Francisco, but probably in both cities it will be
far, far larger than we've experienced on recent trips.
Q That said, is the White House doing anything different
because of that?
MR. FLEISCHER: I never discuss security matters. It's San
Francisco.
Q When was the President's last trip to San Francisco? Did
he campaign there as governor?
MR. FLEISCHER: He was in the San Francisco area, certainly. We'd
have to take a look at the briefing material and see when San
Francisco, itself, was. The President was in - we'll just take a look
and try to get you an answer.
Q It seems like we went somewhere near San Francisco.
MR. FLEISCHER: That's what I was just saying. I remember last
August, we came down from Portland and then we did several stops in
California.
Q Is the number, $27 million to be raised in June, is that
accurate, Ari?
MR. FLEISCHER: You need to talk to the campaign.
Q -- the number, though? And there's some criticism that,
you know, it's so early, there's not really a need to come out with
these kinds of numbers this quickly, except to get a report in through
the end of June that will be impressive and perhaps depress Democratic
fundraising. Is there any truth to that?
MR. FLEISCHER: This is - as you all know, when I announced that
the President was going to travel and do these fundraisers I was asked,
why is the President traveling now? And if you look at the precedents
in previous administrations, both Democratic and Republican, this is
really when Presidents begin their fundraising efforts. So this
follows along -
Q -- money this early?
MR. FLEISCHER: The point is that this is the time that Presidents
in both parties traditionally do begin their fundraising activities.
It just seems odd that people would object to the fact that the
President has a lot of supporters. The amount of money the President
raises will be determined by the amount of support that the American
people see fit to give him.
People can argue why is the President popular, but the fact of the
matter is, the President is popular and he enjoys support and the
amount of money he raises will be dependent on the views and wishes of
his supporters - just as the Democrat money will be raised in
accordance with the views and wishes of Democratic supporters. We both
play by the same rules.
Q Are the campaign people going to have numbers on the
ground, do you expect?
MR. FLEISCHER: Yes.
Q Is the President doing anything about the California
crisis, the budget crisis? Is he working with Gray Davis or anybody
there?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, of course, that's a state matter. It is in
any state, the issues involving budgets is the core of what states do
and it's a state matter.
Q What about the question of state budget deficits? Is there
anything coming up - the President, you know, beyond the budget
process, is there anything he's planning to do, if he'll address that
in the coming weeks?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the best solution for the fiscal issues in
the states is for the national economy to grow, which leads to higher
revenues and more jobs. And that is what the President is focused on,
that's what his plan is aimed at doing. And we'll continue to track
the economic data, watch the trends. The forecast continues to predict
increased higher growth, which is what this is all about.
Q -- Medicare on Monday, now that perhaps by the time we land
we will have bills out of both Houses. Is the event focused on trying
to lean one way or another, trying to influence the conference
process? What does he want to do with this event?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, we already have bills out of both Houses
now. The House and Senate -
Q By the time we took off, you mean?
MR. FLEISCHER: The House passed it about 2:30 a.m., in the
morning. The House passed it 216-215; and the Senate passed it - there
were 21 "no" votes.
The point is, this is a national priority. The President believes
deeply in the importance of getting prescription drugs to seniors, to
giving seniors more choices and more options, to creating a modernized
Medicare that includes a role for private plans. So the President will
constantly push for this because nothing is set in stone. No one
should take this for granted. It requires ongoing work and ongoing
effort, and that's what the President said this morning in the Rose
Garden.
Q Is he going to seek to really influence the process one way
or another now that they have to reconcile their two versions?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think what's going to come next is, typically in
any type of conference, the conference will begin with a voluminous
document that has all the points that are similar between the House and
Senate bills, and all the points that are different. And then you can
expect a process where the House and Senate staff and members will walk
through all these areas, trying to narrow differences.
And that the White House will stay very deeply involved in this
process. The White House has been involved. Certainly, conference is
the key place now for the most important decisions to be made.
Secretary Tommy Thompson has been deeply involved in this effort, as
well as White House staff.
Q Which does the President favor, the House or Senate
version?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President favors joining together of the two
versions to get a plan on his desk that he can sign that has choices
and options for seniors, and an important role for private sector
plans.
Q Well, the statements put out, the Senate - the White House
statement on the Senate version said it was: largely consistent with
my framework. And the House statement: it was broadly reflected of
the reforms outlined. What's the difference?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, that's because there are different provisions
in both the House and Senate bill that -
Q -- statements?
MR. FLEISCHER: That the President didn't get everything that he
wanted in either the House or Senate bill, but he got much of what he
wanted. And so the President is acknowledging that the House and
Senate are making very good progress, moving forward. Certainly, this
has never happened before. What happened yesterday is worth pausing
and noting, in that neither the House nor the Senate, either in
Democratic control or Republican control, has ever previously passed a
prescription drug benefit for seniors. Previously, the House had done
it, but the Senate had not. So it is a very important marker that took
place yesterday on the way to getting the job done.
Along that way there are complex issues that will get ironed out at
the conference. The President will be deeply involved in that through
his staff. And the President will, as necessary, have meetings. He
made phone calls to House members yesterday on the result - obviously,
an extraordinarily close vote.
Q Are there any provisions in either one of the two bills
that if they remain in the final version would keep him from signing
it?
MR. FLEISCHER: This is the time to talk about bringing them
together and getting it done, not to talk about what will stop it from
getting it done. This has been a hopeful and a good process so far.
And that's how the President looks at it. I refer you to the SAPS. If
you want to get into the specific policy issues on here, you have the
SAPS for both the House version and the Senate version. If you want, I
can walk through some of these issues, they're very technical. But
it's public, you have it.
Q So, Ari, are you saying there is no poison pill in either
of these bills?
MR. FLEISCHER: This is no time to be, in the President's judgment,
looking at it from that point of view. His point of view is exactly
what he expressed in the Rose Garden this morning: that the House and
Senate have made tremendous progress; seniors deserve prescription
drugs, choices and options; we're on the verge of getting it done,
let's finish the job.
Q Can you elaborate about the President's phone calls? How
many, where he was when he made them?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President made calls into the night, as late as
8:30 p.m., last night, to wavering members. It was a close vote.
Q Which wavering members?
MR. FLEISCHER: We never release that, as courtesy to the members
to preserve their ability to waver to and from.
Q And how many?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think it was six, or so.
Q Did he -
MR. FLEISCHER: No, the vote was at 2:30 a.m., in the morning.
(Laughter.)
Q How many of the six voted his way?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I would have to tell you who he called in
order to answer that question.
Q You could just say, you could just give us a win
percentage.
Q How effective was his -
MR. FLEISCHER: Let's just say the vote was won by one vote. It
was a nail-biter; 216-215.
Q How did you do on the 19 wavering conservative Republicans
you had in the other day?
MR. FLEISCHER: I haven't looked it up.
Q When he went to bed, was he confident it would pass?
That's awfully close.
MR. FLEISCHER: I think he went to sleep with his fingers crossed.
(Laughter.)
Q Ari, on Iraq. The body count does grow, seemingly by the
day. Is there any reaction from the President on that? Is there any
thought to changing plans or ideas about how we're going about what
we're doing there?
MR. FLEISCHER: The killings have taken place because there are
still loyalists to Saddam Hussein whose interest is killing people.
And this is why \the security operation is so important and this is why
Ambassador Bremer and the DOD have placed such a focus on security
inside Iraq.
But it's just as indicated yesterday, this President is determined
to do exactly what he promised to do, which is help to stabilize Iraq.
And Iraq is growing, in many places, more stable over time. There is
violence in pockets of Iraq. The President mourns the loss of every
American, every Briton who was killed. But he's determined to see this
mission through and he will.
Q On the Ari-month-ahead, how did you select July 14th as
your final day? What special plans do you have for the briefing?
MR. FLEISCHER: I was a French minor, and so the notion of doing it
on Bastille Day does have special appeal. (Laughter.)
No, it's because of the trip to Africa. I wanted to go on the
trip. So when I told the President I was leaving, the dates we talked
about were after the Africa trip. So the trip is the 7th to the 12th,
get back I think late Saturday night; Sunday, then come in Monday, do
one final briefing and do hope for a brief, momentary honeymoon, easy,
nice, softball questions, Helen behaving herself, hopefully.
(Laughter.)
Q So there was no veiled reference to white wine swilling?
MR. FLEISCHER: That will not be a veiled reference, that will be
actual behavior beginning Tuesday. (Laughter.)
Q What are the chances of the President going to Strom
Thurmond's funeral?
MR. FLEISCHER: The arrangements are currently being looked at by
the family, as well as by members of the Senate. It's much too early
for any determinations to be made, because they're just now starting to
look at what they're going to do.
Q When you say that, are you talking about when the funeral
would be, or are you talking about the President's attendance?
MR. FLEISCHER: When the memorial service might be, when the
funeral might be. The family does not have answers yet, the Senate
does not have answers yet.
Q But has the President expressed an interest in going?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm going to leave it there. Of course, the
President has a trip out of the country, so there are just a lot of
arrangements that require being looked at - of course, the Senator died
last night - that are being looked at. But there are no conclusions
reached. People are aware of what the President's travel schedule is.
Q It sounds like a strong possibility, if it could be
arranged with his schedule.
MR. FLEISCHER: I didn't indicate that. I didn't indicate anything
one way or another. I just said, he just died so people are now just
looking at the arrangements. We'll let you know, of course; but it's
too soon to say.
END 11:02 A.M. EDT
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