Pool Reports by Todd J. Gillman, The Dallas Morning News
| Sent: | Reports: |
| July 19, 2023 09:47 |
Pool report #1/brunch lid We have a brunch lid until 12:45pm. |
| July 19, 2023 12:47 |
pool report #2/briefing moved to 1:30 PM The press briefing, previously scheduled for 1 PM, will begin at 1:30 PM. |
| July 19, 2023 13:37 |
pool report #3/ briefing about to begin 2 minute warning. |
| July 19, 2023 15:17 |
pool report #4/pool in State Dining room Awaiting POTUS Oh and for the record, the briefing ran about 47 minutes. |
| July 19, 2023 15:24 |
Pool report #5/POTUS remarks soon Cabinet members and others are seated at a long table in the State Dining Room. POTUS' lectern is in a corner, facing a large screen behind which photographers are set up. There are two empty seats at the table. Those are reserved for Brainard and Vilsack. POTUS is expected to speak and then leave. Pool will also leave at that point. Attendees are talking quietly among themselves as we wait. As are poolers. In attendance for the President's meeting of the Competition Council: Attendees Speaking Program |
| July 19, 2023 15:27 |
Pool report #6/2 minute warning For POTUS |
| July 19, 2023 15:31 |
Pool report #7/POTUS speaking Note the remarks to the Competition Council are streaming at whitehouse.gov/live |
| July 19, 2023 15:49 |
Pool report #8/question ignored on soldier in North Korea POTUS spoke for about 6 minutes. At that point, POTUS was working the table, chatting and shaking hands with members of his Competition Council as the questions were shouted and then as the pool was shooed from the State Dining Room. In his remarks, President Biden boasted about jobs growth etc. as evidence that "Bidenomics" works. He promised an assortment of improved protections. "Folks are tired of being played for suckers," he said. Vilsack then spoke for about 4 minutes, about steps to protect farmers and consumers from price gouging and a variety of anti-competitive pressures. "That's why USDA is proud to support President Biden's ...Executive Order to stem the tide of increasing consolidation and promote competition in America's food and agricultural markets. This is going to help lower food costs for American families, while also giving farmers and ranchers more and better options. Today we're excited to announce the launch of the historic agricultural competition in partnership with 32 bipartisan state attorneys general ...[to] crack down on anti competitive and anti consumer practices that raise prices at the grocery store and deprive farmers of a fair return." I commend antitrust wonks to the video for full quotes. |
| July 19, 2023 18:00 |
pool report #9/gathering for picnic Pool and press has been called to the Palm Room doors for the South Lawn/Congressional Picnic. |
| July 19, 2023 18:48 |
Pool report #10/Congressional Picnic Scroll down for official guest list. Spotted Sen. Coons in a chat near the beverage tent at the back of the lawn. Sen. Stabenow walked past the press pen. Bunch of House members spotted. Mostly Democrats but it's a big lawn. Capito is here. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is here, near the beverage tent closest to the Rose Garden. Hail to the Chief began at 6:15pm. President and Dr. Biden came to the podium with Vice President Harris. Open press so you probably already have counted heads if you care. Several hundred people in a range of dress from Congress-business with and without ties to beach appropriate shorts. Matt Gaetz has on a tie and a pale pink suit, buttoned. The president gave shoutouts to Pelosi and Jeffries. And to McCarthy: "I don't want to hurt his reputation but I actually like him." More remarks, ending with a paean to old fashioned DC comity: "You know, for all the disagreements we have, you gotta remember at the end of the day we're friends. That's how it's always been. You gotta be friends with each other. I mean, I think we're getting there." Harris spoke very briefly: "Thank you all. Your role of leadership and sacrifice that the families make really does make a difference in terms of the good work that we do together for the sake of our country." The menu included several options: "Adam's Italian submarine sandwich," or cold buttermilk fried chicken, or Asian barbecue steak salad, or Caprese salad on herb foccacia, or watermelon and feta salad. Each option was available on big tables under tents, in plastic boxes. Ice cream bars for dessert. The center of the lawn is fenced off so POTUS and VP are inside the pen. VP worked the fence on the West Wing side. The Bidens shmoozed on the East Wing side. All way too far from the press to see who they were talking with. The band played and sang "I like soul with a capital S." Most of 10-top round tables were all or nearly empty. Some people sat and ate. Lots more stood and visited. Tables are in lines of red/white or blue/white checkers. A few younger kids are at the volleyball net on the Washington Monument side of the lawn. The ball occasionally made it into the press pen. After the brief speeches Raskin stopped by to chat with reporters. Asked about Israel President Herzog's speech: "Whoever wrote it, it was a great speech." On Hunter Biden: "We can celebrate the fact that we live in a country where the sin of the President can be prosecuted, fairly.... If Donald Trump were President [and his son was prosecuted] he would be screaming from the rooftops 'witch hunt.'" At 6:43 POTUS is still down at the far end of his pen ( close to the building) schmoozing. VP has made it to that side but closer to the press pen, working her way back to the White House. And this just in from the press office: Joining the President, the First Lady, and the Vice President for the White House Congressional Picnic: Attorney General Merrick Garland, Department of Justice Members of Congress expected to attend:
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| July 19, 2023 19:43 |
Pool report #11/Still picnicking The sun has dipped below the EEOB and we have passed the one hour mark since President Biden began shaking hands and schmoozing at the Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn. He just finally made it to the East Wing corner of his pen, closest to the press pen. He took a selfie for someone then shifted to the West Wing side, still close to the press (like 50 feet). Guests have swarmed around him as the band plays "Walking in Memphis." Murkowski was playing corn hole for a while. Volleyball game ongoing. Leftovers are being distributed to the press still on hand so it would be accurate to say that some of the press picnicked tonight. |
| July 19, 2023 20:14 |
pool report #12/lid and Congressional Picnic ends At 8:05 pm the President walked into the residence. The pool was never close to him. Poolers and other diehard members of the press were passing through the Rose Garden as the Marine Band played its last notes. The crowd at the Congressional Picnic had definitely thinned out by then but there were still plenty of folks still on the South Lawn. Were deals cut tonight? New friendships forged across the aisle? No idea. But it was a lovely evening. We have a lid. |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of July 19, 2023 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/363879