Pool Reports of December 23, 2022

WH pool report #1 - check in/call time moved back

Good morning from a rainy Washington D.C.

FYI: Pool's 9 a.m. call time has been moved back to 11 a.m.

All that is on POTUS' schedule today is a visit by him and FLOTUS to Children's National Hospital:

Here is background material on the visit from the White House:

Background from the White House: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden Visit Children's National Hospital

On Friday, December 23, the President and the First Lady will visit Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. to meet with pediatric patients and their families and thank the doctors, nurses, and staff supporting patients this holiday season. The visit continues the annual tradition of First Ladies visiting Children's National to celebrate the holidays with children and their families. In December 2021, President Biden and Dr. Biden made a holiday visit to Children's National. Last year's visit by President Biden marked the first time a sitting President made a holiday visit to Children's National. Today marks Dr. Biden's third visit to Children's National as First Lady.

Upon arrival, the President and the First Lady will greet with hospital leadership and Emergency Department (ED) staff. This greet will be closed press.

After, the President and the First Lady will host a book reading of The Snowy Day with a group of pediatric patients. Patients will also participate virtually from their hospital room. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the publishing of Ezra Jack Keats's book The Snowy Day.

Finally, the President and the First Lady will visit children and families in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), and thank staff. This portion of the visit will be closed press.

4:00 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart the White House en route Children's National Hospital
South Grounds
In-Town Travel Pool (Gather 3:40 PM – Palm Room Doors)

4:15 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive at Children's National Hospital
Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
In-Town Travel Pool

5:05 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY make a holiday visit to Children's National Hospital
Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
In-Town Travel Pool

5:45 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart Children's National Hospital en route the White House
Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
In-Town Travel Pool

6:00 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive at the White House
South Grounds
In-Town Travel Pool

Please reach out if you need anything.

WH pool report #2 - call time pushed back

Pool's call time has been pushed back again to 1:30 pm.

WH pool report #3 - POTUS spotting

As the pool headed to the vans on the South Lawn driveway at 3:49 pm, POTUS came out of the Oval Office and walked down the Rose Garden sidewalk with a man the pool could not immediately identify.

POTUS was not wearing a coat on this chilly day. He walked into the Palm Room as pool moved to South Lawn driveway.

Pool is now holding in the motorcade ahead of the Bidens' trip to Children's National Hospital.

WH pool report #4 - rolling to Children's National Hospital

Motorcade is rolling to Children's National Hospital at 4:15 pm.

Pool caught a brief glimpse of POTUS and FLOTUS getting into the Beast. FLOTUS is wearing a bright purple coat.

Note: The man President Biden was walking with in the Rose Garden was Steve Ricchetti (hat tip to AP's Darlene Superville).

WH pool report #5 - arrival at Children's National Hospital

Motorcade arrived at Children's National Hospital at 4:26 pm.

Pool did not see the Bidens enter the hospital and is holding in the room where the book reading will take place.

This will air on White House Live: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

From the White House:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Ashley Williams, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations
Travis Dredd, Special Assistant to the President & Trip Director
Vanessa Valdivia, Special Assistant to the President & Press Secretary for the First Lady
Emilie Simons, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Press Secretary

And including again the background on this visit that I sent in first pool report of the day:

Background from the White House: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden Visit Children's National Hospital

On Friday, December 23, the President and the First Lady will visit Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. to meet with pediatric patients and their families and thank the doctors, nurses, and staff supporting patients this holiday season. The visit continues the annual tradition of First Ladies visiting Children's National to celebrate the holidays with children and their families. In December 2021, President Biden and Dr. Biden made a holiday visit to Children's National. Last year's visit by President Biden marked the first time a sitting President made a holiday visit to Children's National. Today marks Dr. Biden's third visit to Children's National as First Lady.

Upon arrival, the President and the First Lady will greet with hospital leadership and Emergency Department (ED) staff. This greet will be closed press.

After, the President and the First Lady will host a book reading of The Snowy Day with a group of pediatric patients. Patients will also participate virtually from their hospital room. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the publishing of Ezra Jack Keats's book The Snowy Day.

Finally, the President and the First Lady will visit children and families in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), and thank staff. This portion of the visit will be closed press.

WH pool report #6 - 2 min warning

Two minute warning to the program.

Reminder it's airing on White House Live: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

From the White House:

The President and the First Lady were greeted upon arrival at Children's National Hospital by:

Dr. Kurt Newman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children's National Hospital
Mary Anne Hilliard, Chief Legal Officer and Acting Chief Operating Officer of Children's National Hospital
Linda Talley, Chief Nursing Officer of Children's National Hospital

Participating in a photoline with the President and the First Lady at Children's National Hospital:

Hospital staff, patients, and their parents

WH pool report #7 - event details

POTUS and FLOTUS were escorted in the room at 4:51 pm by 5-year-old Miles Barnes (in a green suit) and 10-year-old Aubrey Klinger (in a green dress).

FLOTUS was seated on a red chair in front of a giant Christmas tree. POTUS was on a green cushion chair to her left. Presents and poinsettias surround them.

Both Bidens are wearing face masks as is everyone in the room.

Dr. Biden read The Snowy Day. POTUS helped hold the book up so the kids could see the pictures while Dr. Biden read from it.

"We had a little snow today," she noted before starting the reading.

After she read the story, Dr. Biden thanked everyone for coming and listening to her read while the president held the book.

"That's my job," POTUS said.

He told the crowd the Bidens have spent a lot of time in children's hospitals. "It's going to be okay," he said.

He also addressed a very young girl on her mom's lap (she is 21 months old her mom told your pooler later). "You are so cute, little tyke. You can tell she's working it," he said.

"See you guys," POTUS said as the Bidens left at 4:58 pm.

As always please check the transcript.

The room is festive with three Christmas trees, stacks of presents and rows of poinsettias.

There appear to be about 20 kids in the room and they have adults with them. Two of the children are in wheelchairs. There are also hospital staff present.

The program is being streamed into hospital rooms.

From the White House:

The President and the First Lady host a book reading of The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.

Escorts
Aubrey Klinger (age 10)
Miles Barnes (age 5)

Attendees
Hospital staff, patients, and their parents

Pool is holding in vans as POTUS and FLOTUS greet patients and take photos.

WH pool report #8 - leaving Children's National Hospital

The motorcade is rolling from Children's National Hospital at 5:38 pm.

Pool did not see POTUS and FLOTUS get in the Beast.

Here is a link to the media kit from Children's National Hospital with information about the patients the Bidens visited. Their comms person said they would also be posting pics they took of the Bidens' visit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QE6c7n-M5MHeFN7gi7myV28UCLqt7b9P

From the White House:

The President and the First Lady participate in a greet with:

Dr. Yves d'Udekem, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Children's National Hospital
Lucy Burrell, Nurse Manager for the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Children's National Hospital
Dr. Annette Ansong, Medical Director of Outpatient Cardiology at Children's National Hospital
Dr. Ricardo Munoz, Chief of Cardiac Critical Medicine at Children's National Hospital
Patients and their families

WH pool report #9 - arrival at White House

Motorcade arrived back at White House at 5:47 pm.

Pool did not see the Bidens exit the Beast.

WH pool #10 - travel photo lid

At 5:52 pm we have a travel photo lid.

Stay warm, keep safe and happy holidays!