Pool Reports of December 10, 2021

WH Pool Report 1

Good morning from the White House on National Press Club Election Day, where your pooler has been tested and ready to go ahead.

Here's today's schedule, and a reminder that the president will be a guest on Jimmy Fallon at 11:30 p.m. tonight.

9:00 AM THE PRESIDENT receives the President's Daily Brief
Closed Press

10:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time

11:00 AM THE PRESIDENT, THE FIRST LADY, THE VICE PRESIDENT, and THE SECOND GENTLEMAN attend the memorial service of Senator Robert J. Dole; THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks
Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
In-Town Travel Pool Coverage (Gather 10:30 AM – Palm Room Doors)

1:45 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers closing remarks at the virtual Summit for Democracy
South Court Auditorium
In-House Pool and Pre-Credentialed Media (Gather 1:30 PM – Stakeout Location) [RSVP here by 10:00 AM]

2:00 PM Out-of-Town Pool Call Time

4:00 PM Supplemental Pool Call Time

5:45 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart the WhiteHouse en route Wilmington, Delaware
South Lawn
Open Press and Pooled for TV (Gather 5:35 PM – Palm Room Doors)

6:40 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Out-of-Town Pool Coverage

Briefing Schedule

12:30 PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki

WH Pool Report 2 - preparing for departure

We've assembled at the Palm Room doors for the trip to the late Sen. Bob Dole's funeral at the National Cathedral. The ceremony itself will be televised, but I will send color and highlights.

WH Pool Report 3 - on our way

The motorcade has departed and we're heading to Sen. Dole's funeral. We did not see the president enter his vehicle.

WH Pool Report 4 - arrival at National Cathedral

We are viewing the service from a balcony. A choir sang as we entered her cathedral and now a hush as a bell rang.

WH pool report 5 - highlights from service

Senator Dole's casket was carried in by members of the armed services.

The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of the cathedral, welcomed the attendants by calling Senator Dole "one of the greatest of the greatest generation."

President Biden sat with first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.

In his tribute to Sen. Dole, whom he served with in the Senate, President Biden began by talking of the senator's heroism during World War II and talked about his courage, goodness and grit.

"God, what courage Bob Dole had," Biden said.

Please check against transcript.

"I found Bob to be a man of principle. pragmatism and enormous integrity," he said.

Biden also discussed Dole's willingness to cross party lines on issues like Social Security and gave him credit for the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.

" He never forgot the people who sent him to Washington'" and "lived by a code of honor" and "was a man of his word," Biden said.

While Dole "could be partisan," Biden said, "he was a patriot."

"Taps is now sounding for this giant of our time," he said.

"I salute you, my friend."

WH pool report 6 - guests

From the White House.

In attendance for Senator Bob Dole's memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral, along with the President, the First Lady, the Vice President, and the Second Gentleman:

• Former President Bill Clinton
• Former Vice President Dan Quayle
• Former Vice President Dick Cheney
• Former Vice President Mike Pence
• Cabinet Secretaries, including:
• Secretary Lloyd Austin
• Secretary Denis McDonough
• Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
• Secretary Marty Walsh
• Secretary Pete Buttigieg
• Ambassador Katherine Tai
• General Mark Milley

pool report 7 - briefing delayed

The White House says the briefing will begin when the pool returns.

WH pool report 8 - returning to the White House

After the president, former Sens. Pat Roberts (R) and Tom Daschle (D).also spoke, as did Dole's daughter, Robin.

We are heading back to the vans.

WH pool report 9 - briefing further delayed

White House now says the briefing won't take place until after the president's closing remarks to his Democracy Summit.

WH pool report 10 - back at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

After an uneventful trip, we're back at the White House. Next up is the Democracy Summit, followed by the White House press briefing

WH Pool Report 11 - Summit for Democracy

No rest for the weary. We're in the South Court Auditorium awaiting the president. He'll be speaking from behind a podium to a camera. There are no conference attendees present.

WH Pool Report 12 - 2 minute warning for Biden remarks

The speech will being live streamed at www.whitehouse.gov.

While waiting for the president to speak, we heard, "Prestige and Progress," by Stuart Crombie.

WH Pool Report 13 - Biden begins soeaking

He is standing by himself behind a podium with the presidential seal. The walls have the words. "Summit for Democracy " with its logo.

WH Pool Report 14 - Biden finishes

In his speech, he called for passage of voting legislation in Congress. He also answered questions after his speech.

WH Pool Report 15 - Biden takes questions

Check.against transcript

He declined to comment on the Supreme Court Texas decision, saying he hadn't read it yet.

On inflation, he blamed it on supply chain woes, not government spending and said his BBB bill would lower inflation by lowering the costs of things like child care.

He said inflation was "a real bump in the road."

WH Pool Report 16 - more Biden quotes

On BBB bill "It's reducing costs for ordinary Americans."

He said the rest of the economy was doing well, but with infllation, the focus was "all on the downside."

"Inflation is affecting people's lives."

He said it was a "supply chain problem" as COVID had an impact on producing products.

WH Pool Report 17 -- two minute warning to briefing

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

Pool Report 18 - briefing underway

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

WH Pool Report 19 -- briefing ends

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

WH Pool Report 20 - more Biden comments

Thanks to Geoff Earle and Otter, a partial recording of Biden's Q&A. It's not a full transcript because some words were indecipherable.

There was no good broadcast recording because as Biden started to take questions, music started blaring.

"Every other aspect of the economy is racing ahead, doing incredibly well. We've never had this kind of growth in 60 years."

"But inflation is affecting people's lives."

"What's inflation all about? They're paying more for things they need than they had to pay before. That's the bottom line."

Build Back Better will reduce costs of child care, health care costs.

"The reason why people think is going to, why economists think it's going to, in fact, diminish the impact on prices is because it's reducing costs for ordinary people."

"Downside is prices have gone up because of supply chain concerns."

Will see gas prices go down.

"It's a real bump in the road. It does affect families. You walk into a grocery store and you're paying more for whatever you're purchasing."

Government spending? "That's not the reason for inflation. The reason for inflation that we have a supply chain problem that is really severe."

Pool never heard a question that apparently was about Joe Manchin -- someone had drowned it out asking a question that was not answered -- but Biden said he would meet with him next week. That's what Jen Psaki said at the briefing today, referencing that exchange that we could not hear.

WH Pool Report 20 - lunch lid until 5 pm

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

WH Pool Report 21 -- video of Biden's Q&A

If you want the entire Biden Q&A, it's on C-SPAN at https://www.c-span.org/video/?516679-1/president-biden-closing-remarks-s...

In-Town (Supplemental) Pool Report #22: Gathering for departure

Good evening, I'm tapping in as pooler for POTUS's departure, which is still scheduled for 5:45pm. Pool is gathering ahead of departure.

In-Town (Supplemental) Pool Report #23: Departure

POTUS and FLOTUS exited the White House residence at 5:48pm, holding hands and masked. They waved at the pool but did not stop to respond to shouted questions and boarded M1 at 5:49pm. They took off at 5:53pm.

Traveling with the President and the First Lady on Marine One:
· Ron Klain, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
· Joshua Geltzer, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Homeland Security Advisor
· Stephen Goepfert, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Handing off to out of town pool, have a great weekend.

Out Of Town Pool Report #1: Arrival in Delaware

Good evening from Delaware. I'll be your print pooler this weekend.

Marine One landed in Brandywine Creek State Park at 6:45pm.

POTUS and FLOTUS disembarked at 6:47pm and proceeded directly to the motorcade

Motorcade began rolling at 6:49pm.

It is a mostly clear evening with light cloud and a less-than-balmy temperature of 41 degrees.

Pool was COVID-tested this morning in D.C.

Out of town pool report #2: arrival and lid

Motorcade proceed without incident or notable sights, arriving at 7:00pm at the Biden residence, where a lid was immediately called.

Enjoy your Friday night, everyone.