Pool Reports by John T. Bennett, CQ Roll Call
| Sent: | Reports: |
| March 17, 2024 11:43 |
In-town pool report #1 - March 17 Good morning from the White House, where the North Lawn fountain is green on this St. Patrick's Day (photo at link below). The in-town pool has gathered at the Palm Room doors for the St. Patrick's Day brunch with POTUS and Catholic leaders. More TK. https://x.com/bennettjohnt/status/1769365676785803348?s=46&t=PI2tN3Fuqgd60HoxtHhOOQ |
| March 17, 2024 12:03 |
In-town pool report #2 - March 17 President Biden entered the East Room at 11:56 a.m., accompanied by Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadka. Invited guests were seated around round tables with green and white table cloths, as servers poured coffee amid the chit-chat. Guests gave the duo a standing ovation. Biden is speaking at the presidential lectern, shamrocks pinned to his dark blue suit, with a green-and-white checkered necktie. POTUS welcomed the guests, saying the day is not so much about culture but "about faith." "We're all created equal," Biden said. "We have a duty to make it better," he said of the world. He said let Ireland continue to be a refuge for those in need. He quipped that there was no woman in the Biden household who was older than any man in the household. Guests laughed. "Thank you all for being here. Happy St. Patrick's Day," POTUS said to applause. More TK, including fuller quotes. |
| March 17, 2024 12:05 |
In-town pool report #3 - March 17 From the White House:
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| March 17, 2024 12:32 |
In-town pool report #4 (no news/brunch quotes) — March 17 No news from the brunch. POTUS did not discuss any hot-button issues. President Biden moved from the lectern to the head table at 12:04 p.m., seated there with Irish Taoiseach Varadka and other guests. POTUS was chatting and sharing laughs with his tablemates when the pool was escorted out of the East Room at 12:06 p.m. Your pooler will tweet a picture of Biden at the table, via the below link. Irish music played as the pool exited the room. https://twitter.com/BennettJohnT Here are more complete POTUS quotes from the East Room brunch with Catholic leaders: "This has always been a special day in the Biden household. It's not just about heritage, it really is about faith. "My dad used to have an expression. My dad would say, 'Joey ... a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It's about dignity and respect ..." We all cannot merely "wish for it to be better, we have a duty to make it better," POTUS said of the world. After asking his sister, Valerie Biden, to stand up (to applause from invited guests), President Biden quipped: "No woman in the Biden household was as old as any man in the household." POTUS recalled another family motto, this one from his mother: "Joey ... as long as you're alive you have an obligation to strive." "Let Ireland become a global voice of liberty, equality and peace, and continue the work of Catholic organizations represented here today. The Catholic church has always stepped into people's suffering to meet their needs, including for shelter, health care, education ..." He thanked Catholic organizations for the work they do inside the United States and around the world. Please check all quotes against video and/or a transcript. The only other public event on President Biden's schedule, as of now, is a 5 p.m. St. Patrick Day's reception, also in the East Room. More TK. |
| March 17, 2024 12:39 |
In-town pool report #4b (lunch lid) — March 17 The White House has called a lunch lid until 4 p.m. (***Note: Any press members who need to pre-set for the 5 p.m. reception in the East Room, that will occur at 3 p.m.***) |
| March 17, 2024 17:10 |
In-town pool report #5 (gathering again) - March 17 The in-town pool has gathered for a second time today at the Palm Room doors, this time for the St. Patrick's Day reception in the East Room. Your pooler notes this event will be live-streamed at the below link. |
| March 17, 2024 17:29 |
In-town pool report #6 (reception starts) - March 17 The pool was escorted into the East Room at 5:12 p.m. POTUS and Irish Taoiseach Varadka entered at the opposite end of the room at 5:25 p.m. The duo stepped onto a stage with American and Irish flags, as well as the familiar presidential lectern. POTUS joked that "when St Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday, the next day is a holiday." Biden wished everyone a happy St. Patrick's Day, "whether you're Irish or wish you were Irish." He also said the no matter if one hails from a red or blue state, they're all "green" today. POTUS said the Taoiseach has had "a great visit." On the Belfast agreement, he said Northern Ireland represents the strength of that pact. The tables from this morning's brunch had been removed, and invited guests, many holding pints of Guinness as they chatted before POTUS arrived. One server we spotted was passing out cookies in the shape of shamrocks, with dark green icing. The press was positioned in the back of the room, with guests' backs mostly to us, making it tough to spot any luminaries. Your pooler can confirm the fountain on the South Lawn also is spouting green water into the air. POTUS is still speaking. Reminder: The event is being live-streamed at the link below. |
| March 17, 2024 17:38 |
In-town pool report #7 (POTUS/Russia/Gaza) - March 17 No major news, but President Biden did address the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in Gaza. POTUS wrapped his remarks at 5:35 p.m. The US and Ireland "stand together in Russia's brutal war in Ukraine. You can clap for that," POTUS told the crowd. They did so, with gusto. Some hooted. POTUS noted many in Ireland who have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Biden expressed his support for the same, and again called for a two-state solution. He called such an outcome the "only path to peace and security." More TK. |
| March 17, 2024 17:50 |
In-town pool report #7b - March 17 From the White House: The President is hosting Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach of Ireland for a St. Patrick's Day celebration in the East Room. Attendees Secretary Denis McDonough, Department of Veterans Affairs |
| March 17, 2024 19:21 |
In-town pool report #7 (addendum) - March 17 The White House passes along the below, which provides full quotes that were included in the first pool report #7. It was difficult to hear POTUS in the rectangular set-up of the large room, and your pooler had an equally difficult time upon audio playback. Please see the below. POTUS: "And our countries stand -- stand proudly for liberty and against tyranny. We stand together and oppose Russia's brutal war of aggression in Ukraine. You can clap for that, please. (Applause.) We've got to get this done. "And the Taoiseach and I agree about the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and get the ceasefire deal -- (applause) -- to get a ceasefire deal that brings our -- brings the hostages home, and move toward a two-state solution, which is the only path -- the only path for lasting peace and security." This starts at the 44:40 mark here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4wRQQbR2nA |
| March 17, 2024 18:04 |
In-town pool report #8 (Taoiseach on Gaza/Israel) - March 17 The Taoiseach spoke second, wrapping his remarks at 5:43 p.m., then he and POTUS posed on stage together for pictures, both smiling. As the pool was led out of the East Room a minute later, the duo was walking off the stage on the opposite end of the room. The Taoiseach used a sizable portion of his remarks to address the conflict in Gaza, saying the "Irish people are deeply troubled about the catastrophe that's unfolding before our … eyes." "I'm going to cover … why the Irish have such empathy for the Palestinian people. And the answer is simple: We see our history in their eyes. [It is] a story of displacement, of dispossession … of forced emigration, discrimination, and now hunger." The Taoiseach told President Biden that is why "we support your work and that of your administration to secure a humanitarian ceasefire. … The people of Gaza desperately need food, medicine and shelter, and most especially, they need the bombs to stop. This has to stop on both sides. The hostages brought home and humanitarian relief allowed in." Addressing Biden again, the Taoiseach said, "As you said, the only secure future lies in two states, peaceful and sovereign, side-by-side. And [Ireland] stands ready to recognize a Palestinian state, with like minded partners … We also see Israel's history reflected in our eyes." As always, please check quotes against video and/or transcript. |
| March 17, 2024 18:26 |
In-town pool report #9 (lid) - March 17 The White House called a travel/photo lid at 6:24 p.m. Happy St. Patrick's Day, folks. |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of March 17, 2024 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/370927