Pool Reports by Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor
| Sent: | Reports: |
| November 19, 2023 13:51 |
Travel Pool Report #1 – Rolling to DANG Hello from another sunny day in Wilmington! Pool joined the president's motorcade at the end of the road near his house at 1:50 pm. Rolling now to Delaware Air National Guard Base. From the White House: Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations |
| November 19, 2023 14:02 |
Travel Pool Report #2 – DANG The president's motorcade arrived at DANG at 1:59 pm. POTUS and FLOTUS boarded Air Force One at 2:00. The President was wearing a blue suit and sunglasses, and he saluted before climbing the steps. The First Lady was wearing a pink jacket and white skirt. One reporter shouted a question about the youth vote and it's unclear if the president heard. Lifting off shortly for Norfolk Naval Station, where POTUS and FLOTUS will first kick off an advance screening of "Wonka" and later will participate in a Friendsgiving dinner with service members. Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Air Force One en route to Naval Station Norfolk: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations |
| November 19, 2023 15:02 |
Travel Pool Report #3 – Arrival in Norfolk Air Force One took off from DANG at 2:11 pm. AF1 touched down at Norfolk Naval Station at 2:45 pm. POTUS and FLOTUS descended the steps together at 2:56. The president saluted a member of the military, and he and the first lady shook hands with the line of greeters. One person gave the President a baseball cap with a seal on it, which he put on his head. He and the first lady spoke with two of the greeters for for a minute or two after the other greeters had stepped away. POTUS and FLOTUS stepped into the motorcade at 3:00. A reporter shouted, "Mr. President when will more hostages get out?" Pool was too far away to hear what the president said but radio pooler says the president responded: "I'm not in a position to tell you that." Motorcade is rolling at 3:01. From the White House: Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Naval Station Norfolk: Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03) |
| November 19, 2023 15:18 |
Travel Pool Report #4 – arrival at Joint Forces College People (including some young kids sitting on a road block) waved as the the motorcade passed. People stood on the street filming with their phones. The motorcade came to a stop at the Joint Forces College at 3:14 pm. Pool did not see the president step out of the motorcade. From the White House: The President and the First Lady are kicking off an advance screening of "Wonka," an upcoming film provided by Warner Bros. Discovery, for military servicemembers and their families. The movie screening event is also supported by the USO. Attendees Speaking Program |
| November 19, 2023 15:31 |
Travel Pool Report #5 – Wonka and Remarks The president and first lady entered the Joint Forces Staff College Auditorium at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads at 3:21 to applause after they were introduced by Ashley Burrets, USS Gerald Ford, Navy Spouse. The First Lady spoke first, mentioning Beau Biden and his service, then thanking the families present in the audience. POTUS took the microphone at 3:24 and introduced himself as "Jill's husband" to some laughs and applause. POTUS and FLOTUS left the stage at 3:26 after waving and saying happy thanksgiving. The President and First Lady walked out of the building at 3:29 pm together, but pool did not see them enter their car, which was behind a tent. The auditorium was mostly full and there were many kids. The remarks were streamed on the White House website here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mgVwjwba8nQ The motorcade started rolling at 3:30pm. |
| November 19, 2023 15:44 |
Travel Pool Report #6 – Arrival at Hangar for Friendsgiving At 3:41 pm the motorcade pulled up to the hangar at Naval Station Norfolk where the Friendsgiving dinner will be held. Pool didn't see the President. |
| November 19, 2023 16:17 |
Travel Pool Report #7 – Friendsgiving The President and the First Lady walked into the hanger under the American flag and between two helicopters at 4:01 pm. FLOTUS spoke first, noting that the former First Lady Roselyn Carter passed away today. "She was well known for her efforts on mental health and caregiving and women's rights." (Check recording) POTUS was introduced by Sibrena Sears and began speaking at 4:04. He invited everyone to sit down, and spoke while walking back and forth a bit. He referenced his son's service in Iraq in the army ("excuse the reference to the army"), saying that the holidays were difficult during that time. Check recording for direct quotes. He leaned over to speak to a young child at the end. And thanked everyone and passed over the mic at 4:08 to the chaplain. POTUS and FLOTUS stood with their heads bowed during the prayer. After the prayer, POTUS and FLOTUS walked over to stand behind a buffet table and serve food to attendees. Both removed their jackets and put on aprons. Color: The Friendsgiving dinner is set up in a large hanger. Attendees are seated around round tables with dark red table cloths, white chairs, and flower arrangements in the center. Some people are in uniform. There are buffet tables set up along the edges of the room. There's a really large American flag hanging on one wall and banners that read 'Happy Thanksgiving.' A band is playing and a few young kids are dancing in their seats. The event is live streamed here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mgVwjwba8nQ From the White House: The President and the First Lady are participating in a Friendsgiving dinner with servicemembers and military families from the USSS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USSS Gerald R. Ford, as part of the White House's Joining Forces Initiative, co-hosted by the USO and Robert Irvine Foundation. Attendees Speaking Program |
| November 19, 2023 16:46 |
Travel Pool Report #8 – serving food At 4:46, the President and First Lady are still serving food, standing on either side of Chef Robert Irvine. The President is serving mashed potatoes and the First Lady is serving sweet potato casserole. The President chatted with a member of the military as he served her mashed potatoes, and then they took a photo together. Many other people took selfies with him, and with FLOTUS. At several points, both the president and Dr. Biden posed (along with the server standing between them) for a photo with a woman holding a baby. Your pooler is too far away to hear the president and first lady. The president often leaned down slightly to talk with children as he served them mashed potatoes. Both POTUS and FLOTUS were wearing aprons with the presidential seal on the front. FLOTUS laughed after a child said something to her and appeared to serve just a little bit of marshmallow topping from the sweet potato casserole. The menu, per the White House: ROBERT IRVINE FOUNDATION FRIENDSGIVING DINNER Seasonal Salad Salad of Autumn Greens Carving Stations Slow Roasted Bourbon Brined Turkey carved action station served with giblet gravy & cranberry-orange compote Traditional Holiday Sides Mashed potatoes Holiday Dessert Display Pumpkin Pie & Pecan Pie |
| November 19, 2023 16:57 |
Travel Pool Report #9 – Longer quote on hostages and link to photo Pool has confirmed more of what POTUS said in response to a question earlier this afternoon when landing in Norfolk about when the hostages would get out: He said, "I'm not in a position to tell you that… I want to make sure they're out and then I'll tell you…" Also, here's a link to a tweet with a photo from the Friendsgiving: https://x.com/sophiemhills/status/1726358552078364708?s=46&t=4XsJER0Vl3T-ZfYXom0D-A |
| November 19, 2023 17:14 |
Travel Pool Report #10 – Posing for photos At 5:05 pm, the President and First Lady stopped serving, replaced their aprons with their jackets and moved to the back of the room. An announcement came over the speakers inviting children to join POTUS and FLOTUS for a photo. At 5:10, the President and First Lady joined the group of children posing under the large American flag. At 5:12 pm. pool exited the hangar and did not see the President. (There are over 400 attendees). |
| November 19, 2023 17:17 |
Travel Pool Report #11 – Motorcade rolling Motorcade is rolling at 5:17 pm. |
| November 19, 2023 17:30 |
Travel Pool Report #12 – Departure The motorcade stopped in front of AF1 at 5:22pm and the president and first lady stepped out of the motorcade. They shook hands and spoke with some greeters. FLOTUS hugged one woman. There were two couples, with two of the people in uniform. The President and First Lady spoke with them, standing in a small circle. The President hugged one woman before coming over to speak to the press about former First Lady Carter. "They're really an incredible family, because they brought so much grace to the office." Complete quotes coming when we land — no service once boarding the small plane. It's unclear whether the President heard a shouted question about former First Lady Carter. POTUS and FLOTUS boarded the plane at 5:28 pm. We are wheels up for JBA shortly. |
| November 19, 2023 17:32 |
Travel Pool Report #13 – greeters From the WH: Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Naval Station Norfolk: Admiral Daryl Caudle, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command |
| November 19, 2023 17:36 |
Travel Pool Report #14 – link to recording Link to otter recording of POTUS' remarks. Will send quotes when land.
Note |
| November 19, 2023 18:08 |
Travel Pool Report #14a – Quotes Below are POTUS' comments just before taking off in Norfolk, in response to a question about his reaction to the news of former First Lady Carter's passing. Please check the quotes against the recording — here's a link to a better recording: https://otter.ai/u/oDuAVdCFC_efw8Po5v2cddYdgtU "You know, they're really an incredible family, because they brought so much grace to the office." "It's one thing if you're … putting on the show while you're president" "He did the same thing for people after he was President when he was retired — not for money, for just help." "He was an incredible guy, he still is" "I talked to the family today, not the family, the family spokesman today, and I was told that all the family, all the children and grandchildren, are with Jimmy Carter" "I was the first person to endorse him as a U.S. senator when he ran. But he had this great integrity, he still does, and she did too. Imagine, they were together, what 77 years?" |
| November 19, 2023 18:24 |
Travel Pool Report #15 – JBA arrival AF1 was wheels up from Norfolk Naval Station at 5:36 pm and landed at Joint Base Andrews at 6:05. POTUS and FLOTUS descended the steps at 6:15. The president saluted and he and the First Lady walked to Marine One and stepped onboard at 6:17. M1 lifted off at 6:23. Handing off to the in town pool now. Night, all! From the White House: Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to the White House: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations |
Pool Reports below by Lissandra Villa de Petrzelka, The Boston Globe
| Sent: | Reports: |
| November 19, 2023 18:41 |
In-town pool report #1: return to White House Marine One landed at the White House at 6:34 p.m. EST. POTUS stepped off at 6:37 p.m. EST and waited for FLOTUS. They walked together to the White House and each waved in direction of reporters, but did not come over to speak to press. They entered the White House at 6:38 p.m. EST. |
| November 19, 2023 18:43 |
In-town pool report #2: Lid We got a lid at 6:39 p.m. EST. Have a great rest of the weekend! |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of November 19, 2023 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/367909