Pool Reports by Ken Thomas, The Walll Street Journal
| Sent: | Reports: |
| February 28, 2023 10:33 |
In-town Pool Report #1 Good morning. I will be your in-town pooler today. President Biden will be traveling to Virginia Beach, Va., around lunchtime. Principal Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route. Here's the public schedule - please email me with any questions. 12:40 PM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews 1:00 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Virginia Beach, Virginia 1:45 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Virginia Beach, Virginia 3:00 PM THE PRESIDENT discusses his plan to protect Americans' access to affordable health care, and highlights how Congressional Republicans would raise health care costs – including for seniors, and cause millions of people to lose their coverage 4:25 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Virginia Beach, Virginia en route to Joint Base Andrews 5:15 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at Joint Base Andrews 5:35 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House |
| February 28, 2023 12:37 |
In-town Pool Report #2 - Gathering We are now gathering for President Biden's departure from the South Lawn. |
| February 28, 2023 13:03 |
In-town Pool #3 - Departure - No questions President Biden emerged from the Oval Office at 12:56 p.m. on a sunny, slightly overcast day. He was wearing a blue suit and his trademark aviator sunglasses and carried a white note card. He walked along the pathway outside the Oval and across the South Lawn without stopping to take shouted questions from reporters. The president then boarded Marine One and was followed by a group of White House aides, including Bruce Reed, Emmy Ruiz and Ashley Williams. Marine One was wheels up at 1:02 p.m. |
| February 28, 2023 17:55 |
In-town Pool #4 - Return to the White House Marine One landed on the South Lawn at 5:49 p.m. President Biden exited the presidential helicopter, walked along the South Lawn and did not stop to take questions from reporters. "See you tomorrow, he said with a smile, offering a wave with his left hand. He entered the White House residence at 5:52 p.m. |
| February 28, 2023 18:09 |
In-town Pool #5 - Lid The White House declared a lid at 6:08 p.m. Have a good night. |
Pool Reports below by Christian Datoc, Washington Examiner
| Sent: | Reports: |
| February 28, 2023 11:50 |
Travel pool report #1 — JBA Good morning from Joint Base Andrews, where it's a supremely pleasant 51 degrees. POTUS is scheduled to depart for Virginia Beach in just over an hour, and he'll deliver health care-focused remarks at the Kempsville Recreation Center later this afternoon. More to follow, and, as always, feel free to ping me directly with any questions. |
| February 28, 2023 13:10 |
Travel pool report #2 — JBA greeter Passing along from WH Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews: Colonel Matthew Jones, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing |
| February 28, 2023 13:18 |
Travel pool report #3 — POTUS arrival M1 touched down on the JBA tarmac at 1:13pm ET. POTUS, sporting a navy suit and light blue tie, hopped off at 1:15, greeted Col. Jones, and quickly scooted up the steps of AF1 without answering questions from the press. We'll be wheels up shortly for the 20-30 minute flight to Naval Air Station Oceana. Principal deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton will gaggle en route. Follow along here: |
| February 28, 2023 13:20 |
Travel pool report #4 — travelers Passing along from WH Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route Naval Air Station Oceana: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| February 28, 2023 13:54 |
Travel pool report #5 — wheels down AF1 touched down at 1:53pm after a short and slightly-turbulent flight. For those keeping score at home, the cabin tv's were tuned to CNN. Dalton gaggled for just over 12 minutes. Otter link tk in case the White House stream cut out at all. Pool is preparing to disembark and load into the 'cade. More to follow… |
| February 28, 2023 14:13 |
Travel pool report #6 — oscar mike POTUS, now wearing trademark aviators, exited AF1 at 2:04pm and briefly spoke with tarmac greeters (names coming from WH) before walking over to visit with gathered supporters and military families for 7 minutes. Pool is asking WH for more details on the crowd, and photo coming in future report. Pool loaded just minutes later, and we're rolling as of , with an anticipated travel time of roughly 20 minutes. As promised, audio/transcript of todays gaggle: https://otter.ai/u/2jegHBGhvulETpZ1eHqEFZG2Soo More to follow… |
| February 28, 2023 14:22 |
Travel pool report #7 — greeters and photos Biden's tarmac meet-n-greet: https://twitter.com/tocradio/status/1630648080675504128?s=46&t=A1e2vTyqb... And passing along from WH Greeting the President upon arrival at Naval Air Station Oceana: Bobby Dyer, Mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| February 28, 2023 14:36 |
Travel pool report #8 — site arrival Pool pulled up to the Kempsville Recreation Center at 2:35pm. Some color from the drive: A small smattering of onlookers waved and filmed the motorcade as it pulled out of Oceana, and again as we pulled within 2 miles of the destination. Your poolers spotted one sign, reading "Trump 2024: Make the Liberals Cry Again," in the neighborhood adjoining the rec center Pool van 3 also snagged a great view of the Mount Trashmore Park roughly two-thirds of the way through the ride, which if you haven't seen it, is certainly something: https://www.google.com/search?q=trashmore+park&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari Pool is walking to the media center ahead of Biden's remarks, where we'll hold for another 20-25 minutes before POTUS takes the stage. More to follow… |
| February 28, 2023 14:57 |
Travel pool #9 — photo line & room color The president is currently taking part in a photoline ahead of his remarks (participants below). Pool was situated in the media filing center in the Kempsville gym around 2:40pm. It's a big room, but it's very full (photos to come) — the White House estimated some 600 people were in attendance, with a significant number standing along the perimeter and behind the seated crowd. Typical campaign-style music is playing while the crowd chatters eagerly. A sampling of the playlist (so far)... Kool & the Gang — Celebration Junior Senior — Move Your Feet Pharrell — Happy Stevie Wonder — Sir Duke The Wanted — Glad You Came ___ Passing along from WH: Participating in a photoline with the President: Bobby Dyer, Mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia More to follow... |
| February 28, 2023 14:58 |
Travel pool report #10 — run of show Passing along from WH: In attendance for the President's remarks at Kempsville Recreation Center on his plan to protect Americans' access to affordable health care, and highlighting how Congressional Republicans would raise health care costs – including for seniors – and cause millions of people to lose their coverage: Health care providers and local community leaders and members Speaking Program |
| February 28, 2023 15:03 |
Travel pool report #11 — 2 min warning ... at 3:00pm ET |
| February 28, 2023 15:08 |
Travel pool report #12 — POTUS speaking Biden took the stage and began his remarks at 3:07pm. Follow along here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=VOFhAh7gJ7c |
| February 28, 2023 15:38 |
Travel pool report #13 — Biden wraps & the scene POTUS finished speaking at 3:36pm. Pool is preparing to head back to the vans, though the president isn't scheduled to return AF1 for roughly one hour. A glimpse at the room: https://twitter.com/TocRadio/status/1630663348839653414 More to follow... |
| February 28, 2023 16:00 |
Travel pool report #14 — back to the vans Quick update: POTUS was seen visiting with attendees for over 20 minutes following his remarks, and pool was ushered out of the gym and back to the vans while he was still pressing the flesh. More to follow… |
| February 28, 2023 16:21 |
Travel pool report 15a — rolling *** apologies for double sending, but service is poor Pool did not catch a glimpse of POTUS loading back into the Beast, but the motorcade is rolling again as of 4:14pm More to follow… |
| February 28, 2023 16:38 |
Travel pool report #16 — back on base The motorcade arrived back at Oceana at 4:36pm, and pool is waiting under wing to see if POTUS takes any questions Waving onlookers stood on both sides of the road approaching the air station, but once again, no one in pool van 3 spotted any political signs among the gathered crowds… something of an oddity these days. More to follow… |
| February 28, 2023 16:42 |
Travel pool report #17 — no questions/wheels up POTUS exited the Beast, saluted service members, and walked up the AF1 steps at 4:38pm without stopping to take questions. We'll be wheels up for JBA shortly. More to follow… |
| February 28, 2023 17:25 |
Travel pool report #18 — wheels down, JBA AF1 touched down at JBA at 5:23pm. Pool will soon head underwing to see if POTUS will take questions before departing via M1 More to follow… |
| February 28, 2023 17:39 |
Travel pool report #19 — M1 liftoff POTUS exited AF1 at 5:34pm and walked to M1 without taking questions before taxing for liftoff off at 5:38pm Handing back to in-town pool, but first, one last note… WH has supplied the following when asked about the people in the handshake pen at Naval Air Station Oceana: Upon arrival at Naval Air Station Oceana this afternoon, the President greeted with military service members and friends and family of the United States Secret Service, White House Military Office, and White House staff. |
| February 28, 2023 17:40 |
Travel pool report #20 — M1 travelers Your pooler lied just now… one final, FINAL note from WH: Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route the White House: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of February 28, 2023 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/359885