White House Gaggle

By Amanda Johnson
Schedule

The President spoke on the telephone with President Moscoso of Panama about the U.S. commitment to free trade in the Hemisphere and with Panama. He then had his usual briefings, and recorded his weekly radio address, which is about the economy. Today the President will attend a Bush-Cheney 2004 luncheon in Maryland and will then travel to the Home Depot in Lansdowne, Maryland to have a conversation on the economy with employers and employees. The President will return to the White House for an interview with People Magazine, and has a holiday reception tonight with friends and family. The State Department Briefing is at 1pm and on Ask the White House today is the Chairman of the President’s economic advisors.

Cuba

Today at the White House, Secretary Powell and Secretary Martinez will co-chair the first meeting of the Commission for the Assistance to a Free Cuba. The commission will look at additional ways that the U.S. government can help Cuba become a representative democracy and have a free market economy.

Iraq

Press Secretary Scott McClellan announced today that the President has appointed James A. Baker as his personal envoy on the issue of Iraqi debt. Secretary Baker will report directly to President Bush and begin to work with other world governments to restructure Iraq’s official debt. McClellan said that Baker was chosen because of his "vast political experience" as Secretary of State during the first Persian Gulf War and Secretary of the Treasury. He said Secretary Baker had "unique qualifications". Secretary Baker will have an office at the White House if he needs it but will most likely travel extensively. McClellan said that this appointment came at the request of the Iraqi governing council for additional assistance.

Economy

When asked about the new economic numbers that came out today, McClellan said that the economy is continuing to gain strength and that the President’s job growth plan is working. He pointed out that 328,000 jobs were added in the last four months. He was then asked about the continuing decline in manufacturing jobs, to which he replied that there is still work to be done.

Space Exploration

When asked about space exploration, McClellan declined to speculate on any economic impact that further manned space travel would have and said he had answered all the questions at yesterday’s briefing.