White House Gaggle

By Ellen Ratner
July 13, 2005

Briefer: Scott McClellan

President’s Schedule:

The President will meet today with his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room. The Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, will be on "At the White House".

Nomination of John Bolton:

The President continues to believe that John Bolton should be given an up or down vote on the floor of The Senate.

Supreme Court Nominee:

Asked if the President is planning any meetings with potential nominees,
Scott answered that if he wants to share more information on that process
then he will. Scott said the President wants to be respectful of that
process. Scott will not get into discussing specific nominees and he said
the President will be narrowing the list down at which point he will be
sitting down with potential nominees. Asked about the possibility that people over 60 may not be nominated, Scott said he has not heard the President saying anything about it and that it was getting into speculation. The President spoke with Senator Byrd yesterday and the White House has had consultations with 60 members of the Senate. Scott said consultations will continue. Asked about the Right and the Attorney General as a potential nominee, Scott said the President has expressed his views and thinks that Alberto Gonzalez makes a great Attorney General.

Karl Rove:

Karl Rove will be in the Cabinet meeting today and Scott said he did not have anything to add to what "we’ve been round and round in the last couple of days". Asked whether he has retained an attorney, he said that was addressed yesterday.

Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board:

When asked whether the head of the FIAB will recuse himself because of conflicts of interest, Scott answered that he would recuse himself if there is any conflict and that is what would be expected by the White House.