Pool Reports by Erin Logan, Los Angeles Times
* Note: The out-of-town reporter continued the numbering sequence started on December 17 and which continued through December 18.
| Sent: | Reports: |
| December 19, 2023 09:35 |
Out of Town Pool Report #20: motorcade rolling At 9:34am en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base, per the WH Daily Guidance. Your pooler did not see POTUS enter his vehicle. |
| December 19, 2023 09:50 |
Out of Town Pool Report #21: motorcade arrival, M1 departure POTUS' motorcade arrived to Delaware Air National Guard Base at 9:42. POTUS emerged from his vehicle at 9:44 and entered M1, which had wheels up at 9:50. Per the daily guidance, he is en route to the White House. From the WH: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base: Jen O'Malley Dillon, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to the South Lawn: Jen O'Malley Dillon, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff That's all from me. I am handing it off to in-town pool. |
Pool Reports below by Aurelia End, Agence France-Presse
| Sent: | Reports: |
| December 19, 2023 08:43 |
In-town pool report #1 - Call time now 9:45 Good morning. I will be your pooler today. Call time is now 9:45 AM. |
| December 19, 2023 10:51 |
In-town pool #2 - WH arrival, no gaggle M1 was wheels down at 10:41 AM POTUS exited at 10:43 wearing a dark blue coat and his signature Aviator sunglasses. He waved but did not answer shouted questions, he only stopped briefly and told the reporters that he had to go to the funeral of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. He then entered the residence. |
| December 19, 2023 11:00 |
In-town pool #3 - En route to National Cathedral At 10:55 AM the motorcade is en route to the National Cathedral where the president will deliver remarks at a memorial service for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Your pooler did not see POTUS enter his car. Adding that before rushing to the vans we spotted the president walking along the colonnade. Per the WH: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the National Cathedral: Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs |
| December 19, 2023 11:09 |
In-town pool #4 - National Cathedral The motorcade reached the cathedral at 11:04 after an uneventful ride. The pool van peeled off the motorcade on arrival and your pooler did not see the President enter the building. His remarks will stream on the WH website. |
| December 19, 2023 11:26 |
In-town pool #5 - service starts The service started at 11:16 AM with the choir singing "Jesu, joy of man's desiring" The pool is stationed on a balcony with pillars partially obstructing the view. On a screen showing the service, your pooler caught a glimpse of the president sitting in the front row. |
| December 19, 2023 11:38 |
In-town pool #6 - 2 min, attendees 2 min warning at 11:35 am The WH shares this list of attendees Attendees |
| December 19, 2023 11:50 |
In-town pool #7 - Remarks over The president started speaking at 11:37 AM and concluded his remarks at 11:45 AM. |
| December 19, 2023 12:30 |
In-town pool report #7a - Quotes While the memorial service at the National Cathedral continues, sharing these quotes from the president's remarks in case useful. As always please check against transcript. "One need not agree with all her decisions in order to recognize that her principles were deeply held and of the highest order and that her desire for civility was genuine." Sandra Day O'Connor "helped empower generations of women in every part of American life, including the Court itself, helping to open doors, secure freedoms, and prove that a woman cannot only do anything a man can do, but many times do it a hell of a lot -- a heck of a lot better. Excuse my language father" "She knew no person is an island. In the fabric of our nation, we're all inextricably linked. And for America to thrive, America must see themselves not as enemies, but as partners in the great work of deciding our collective destiny. That's the essence of our national experience. The sacred cause of democracy she devoted her life to, one that we must continue" |
| December 19, 2023 13:30 |
In-town pool # 8 - Briefing time update The WH shares that the briefing will start when the president returns. The service is over, the motorcade is ready to roll. |
| December 19, 2023 13:34 |
In-town pool #9 - Leaving cathedral At 1:31 pm the motorcade is rolling back to the White House. Your pooler saw the president as he was leaving the front pew at the end of the memorial service, but did not see him enter his car. |
| December 19, 2023 13:45 |
In-town pool #10 - Back at WH At 1:41 pm the mororcade reached the WH. We did not see the president exit the Beast. |
| December 19, 2023 14:05 |
In-town pool #11 - 2 min to press briefing 2 min warning given at 2:02 pm |
| December 19, 2023 14:07 |
In-town pool #12 - Briefing starts The press briefing started at 2:04 pm |
| December 19, 2023 15:01 |
In-town pool #13 - Briefing ends The briefing concluded at 2:59 pm |
| December 19, 2023 16:22 |
In-town pool #14 - Rolling to campaign recepion At 4:17 PM the motorcade left the White House grounds and we are now rolling to a campaign reception in Bethesda. The WH shares this: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to a campaign reception in Bethesda, Maryland: Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President |
| December 19, 2023 16:58 |
In town pool #15 - Arrival at campaign reception After an uneventful ride the motorcade came to a halt at 4:48 pm at a private residence in Bethesda, on a residential street lined with tall trees. Your pooler did not see the President enter the house. A dozen of people were waiting nearby and cheered when the motorcade arrived. We are now holding in the vans. Onpassing: On behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign: The President is attending a campaign reception in Bethesda, Maryland. Speaking Program |
| December 19, 2023 18:09 |
In town pool #16 - Remarks at fundraiser The pool was led to a tent set up in the garden of the residence where approx 120 guests - among them Steny Hoyer - were seated on white chairs, facing a lectern flanked by two national flags. Risa Bender, who is hosting the event, spoke first and mentioned the "frightening prospect of Donald Trump becoming president again" Gov. Moore was next. "you will not find a more enthusiastic supporter of Joe Biden than me", he said before touting Biden's economic agenda. "This election is not about the danger of electing Donald Trump. It's about the promise of re electing Joe Biden." The president started speaking at 5:36 pm. Here are a few quotes and as always please check against transcript. He started by remarks about the Middle East and Israel's "responsibility" to "distinguish" between Hamas fighters and civilians and to "minimize civilian deaths" The president again mentioned his support for the "two state solution" He then touted his achievements before turning to democracy. The president said that the "future of American democracy" is at stake and added that the "biggest threat" Donald Trump poses is to democracy. He mentioned Donald Trump "embracing his old pal" Vladimir Putin last weekend. "There is a lot of agreement between Moscow and Mar a Lago" "The language he uses reminds us of the language coming out of Germany" in the 30's He concluded at 5:51 and at 5:57 pm the motorcade was rolling. Will share more quotes later. |
| December 19, 2023 19:07 |
In town pool #16a - Quotes from campaign reception Here are more comprehensive quotes. Again, check against transcript. On the Middle East, the president said that "Hamas has no regard, none whatsoever" for the security of civilians, and is "holding a significant number of hostages" "But from the beginning, I said from the beginning, those added burdens do not lessen Israel responsibility to distinguish between the Palestinian people and Hamas, to take care of minimizing civilian deaths" On Trump "The greatest threat Trump poses is to our democracy" "This weekend Trump was embracing his old pal Putin. Trump even quoted him this weekend. That's no surprise. After all there's a lot of agreement between Moscow and Mar-a-Lago" "The language he uses reminds us of the language coming out of Germany in the 30s. He has called those who oppose him 'vermin' and again this weekend he talked about the blood of our country being poisoned. Even conservative Republicans have spoken out" |
| December 19, 2023 18:34 |
In town pool #17 - Back at the White House At 6:28 pm the motorcade was back at the White House. |
| December 19, 2023 18:45 |
In town pool #18 - Lid We have a lid at 6:41 pm. Have a good evening |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of December 19, 2023 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/368831