White House Gaggle

By Lovisa Frost
White House Gaggle
October 31, 2005

President’s schedule

At 8 am this morning, the President announced his nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr., to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Following the announcement, the President had his usual intelligence briefings.

At 9 am, President Bush called with President Lula da Silva of Brazil to discuss the upcoming meeting in Brazil later this week. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said President Lula expressed his appreciation to President Bush for the US effort to move the WTO agriculture negotiations forward. President Bush welcomes President Berlusconi of Italy to the White House at 11:05 am. They will meet in the Oval office, followed by a working lunch in the residence. This afternoon, the President has time set aside for policy meetings.

Judge Samuel A. Alito

McClellan said that both Harriet Miers and Andrew Card were at Camp David with the President over the weekend when the nomination was being discussed. McClellan explains that Andrew Card spoke with Judge Alito two or three times toward the end of last week. The President then called Judge Alito around 12:40pm on Friday. This morning, the President and Judge Alito met in the Oval Office at 7 am, for 20 min. At that time President Bush formally offered him the nomination.

McClellan says, "The President was very much focused on Judge Alito after Harriet Miers announced her withdrawal." Judge Alito had been previously interviewed as a potential candidate to fill Justice O’Connor’s vacancy. At that time the President and Judge Alito had a lengthy discussion so the President is very familiar with Judge Alito’s record. McClellan adds that the President knows Alito’s distinguished record of accomplishments and his judicial temperament.

A reporter recalled to McClellan that the President thought Harriet Miers was the best for the job, and asked, "Does that mean that Judge Alito is second best?" McClellan answered, "Not at all. He is someone who is exceptionally well qualifies to serve on our nation’s highest court; someone who has served for 29 years as a public servant; someone who has a lengthy record on the bench; and someone who is well versed in constitutional law. We believe that the Senate can move forward promptly with the confirmation hearings."

McClellan had this to say about the failed Miers’ confirmation: "As we expressed to you all, the culture of today’s confirmation process makes it very difficult for someone who comes from the outside of the courts and not much of a constitution record to go through that process."

McClellan lauds Alito as someone who has a distinguished record of strictly interpreting our constitution and our laws. He says: "(Alito) is someone who believes strongly in applying the law. He’s got a record of looking at the facts and then applying the law. That’s what the American people want."

Italy
In anticipation of President Berlusconi’s visit to the White House, McClellan expressed President Bush’s gratitude towards Italy, saying, "Italy is one of our closest allies and strongest partners in the war on terrorism. We appreciate all the contribution made by Italy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans."