White House Gaggle

By Gregory Gorman
July 20, 2005

President’s Schedule

The President had coffee in the White House residence with Judge John Roberts this morning before his usual briefings. Following coffee, the President met with the NCAA 2005 Women’s Basketball Champion Baylor Bears in the Rose Garden. The President will then depart for the port of Baltimore where he will participate in a Customs and Border protection demonstration and make remarks on the Patriot Act. This afternoon the President will meet with some Republican members of the House to discuss CAFTA followed by a photo opportunity with Colombian leaders in honor of Colombian Independence Day. Later, President Bush will meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan.

Selling the Supreme Court Nominee

Press Secretary Scott McClellan said that Supreme Court nominee Judge Roberts will go to Capitol Hill today to meet with Senators in advance of his confirmation hearings. McClellan said that he will be making "courtesy visits". McClellan was asked if the President reached out to Congress in advance of his nomination announcement on Tuesday. McClellan responded that the President spoke with the Senate leadership as well as with the ranking members of the Judiciary Committee last night at about 7:30 to inform them of his choice for Supreme Court nominee. McClellan responded to a question about how much the President intends to sell his candidate by answering that John Roberts is the President’s nominee. "He is going to be very involved. He has reached out to Senators and he hopes that the process will be dignified and civil".

John Roberts’ Philosophy

McClellan commented that John Roberts is a distinguished lawyer and judge and that he has served honorably on the "second highest Court in the land", the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. McClellan said that the American people want someone on the Supreme Court who is impartial and fair. He pointed out that Judge Roberts is highly qualified and that he has been widely praised by Republicans and Democrats alike. According to McClellan, the President chose someone who has a good judicial temperament and who will uphold the law, not make law from the bench. McClellan also admitted that Judge Roberts has a conservative judicial philosophy but that President Bush "made his decision to nominate Judge Roberts based on who he thinks is the best person for the job".

CIA Leak

McClellan was asked if the President is allowing his loyalty for Karl Rove to extend to shielding his friend instead of dealing with the issue of the CIA leak. McClellan responded that he had already answered these questions and that the President is focused on his second term agenda.