ONE WEEK EARLIER:
"CJ! CJ!
"Quiet down and I will give you the information you want."
As usual, the briefing room got quiet as the Press Secretary took control. The regular White House reporters respected CJ Cregg to tell them what was going on when she could. And to leak them information whenever it served the White House purposes. All in all, it was a love-hate relationship.
"Okay. Carol is handing out the details of the President's trip next week. It starts with departure Saturday night from Andrews, landing at Heathrow at 1 pm Sunday afternoon starting his three-day State Visit to the United Kingdom. A cocktail party will be held Sunday night at the American Embassy for one hundred and fifty invited guests, mainly American and British CEOs based in the United Kingdom. Then, on Monday, President Bartlet and the Prime Minister will have private talks at Number 10 Downing Street. That night, he and Mrs. Bartlet will be guests of honor of the Queen and Prince Philip for a State Dinner at Buckingham Palace. There will be no press allowed at this event. However, pictures will be released later. On Tuesday, the President and Mrs. Bartlet will be guests of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales at his country home, Highgrove, for lunch. Again, there will be no press. His Royal Highness's staff will release pictures later.
They will depart midday Wednesday for the G-8 Conference in Paris. Thursday is the first working session of the G-8 and an informal dinner will be held that night with just the leaders and their spouses. On Friday, there will be more working sessions while the spouses will be given opportunities for sightseeing, if desired. Mrs. Bartlet has chosen to visit the Louvre museum and the Centre Chirugical Ambroise-Pare, a leading French center for treating pediatric cancer.
That night, the G-8 leaders and their spouses will attend a white-tie gala at the Palace of Versailles. Press will be restricted to arrivals only. On Saturday, the President and First Lady will helicopter to Normandy and pay tribute to the thousands of American soldiers buried at the American cemetery there. There will be a wreath laying ceremony.
Afterward, the President, First Lady, the Chief of Staff, and the Senior Staff will have a private tour of the town, the museum and the beaches before leaving. The press will be bused there and the details are included in the packet Carol is handing out. When you return to Paris, you will be taken directly to Air Force One for wheels up at 9 pm Paris time. And, as you know, since most you have traveled with the President before, all times are subject to change.
That's all courtesy of Claudia Jean's Tour Guide Service. Full lid."