Digest of Other White House Announcements

The following list includes the President’s public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this issue.

August 9

In the morning, at the Westin Beijing Chaoyang hotel in Beijing, China, the President had an intelligence briefing. He was then briefed by Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James F. Jeffrey and National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley on the situation in Georgia. Later, he traveled to the Chaoyang Park Olympic Beach Volleyball Venue, where he attended a U.S. men’s and women’s Olympic beach volleyball teams practice.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to the Fengtai Olympic Softball Field, where he attended a U.S. Olympic softball team practice.

In the afternoon, the President returned to the Westin hotel. Later, he and Mrs. Bush traveled to the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, where they attended a reception with chief executive officer sponsors of the 2008 U.S. summer Olympic team. They then returned to the Westin hotel.

In the evening, the President had separate telephone conversations with President Dmitry A. Medvedev of Russia and President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia to discuss the situation in Georgia. He and Mrs. Bush then traveled to the Wukesong Culture and Sports Center—Basketball Gymnasium, where they attended the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball game against the Czech Republic. Later, they returned to the Westin hotel.

August 10

In the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to the Beijing Kuanjie Protestant Christian Church. Later, they traveled to the National Aquatics Center, where they attended various men’s and women’s Olympic swimming events.

In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to the Zhongnanhai compound. They then participated in a social lunch with President Hu Jintao of China and his wife, Liu Yongqing. Later, they returned to the Westin Beijing Chaoyang hotel.

During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, in his capacity as President of the European Council, to discuss the situation in Georgia.

In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, where they had dinner. Later, they traveled to the Wukeson Culture and Sports Center—Basketball Gymnasium, where they attended the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball game against China. They then returned to the Westin hotel.

August 11

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then traveled to the International Broadcasting Center. Later, he traveled to the National Aquatics Center, where he was joined by Mrs. Bush.

Later in the morning, the President met with members of the U.S. Olympic swim team. He and Mrs. Bush then attended various men’s and women’s Olympic swimming events. Later, they returned to the Westin Beijing Chaoyang hotel.

In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to the Wukesong Culture and Sports Center—Baseball Stadium, where they attended a practice game between the U.S. and Chinese Olympic baseball teams. Later, they returned to Washington, DC, crossing the international dateline. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom, President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania, and President Lech Kaczynski of Poland to discuss the situation in Georgia.

Later in the afternoon, in the Situation Room, the President met with the National Security Council to discuss the situation in Georgia.

In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia to discuss the situation in Georgia.

The President declared a major disaster in New Hampshire and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on July 24.

August 12

In the morning, the President was updated on the situation in Georgia by National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley. He then had a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Later, he had an intelligence briefing.

Later in the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany to discuss the situation in Georgia.

The President announced his intention to nominate the following individuals as members of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences: Elizabeth Ann Bryan; Robert C. Granger; Caroline M. Hoxby; Douglas J. Besharov; Lynn S. Fuchs; Paul E. Peterson; John L. Winn; and Patrick J. Wolf.

The President announced his intention to appoint Elsa A. Murano as a member of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development.

The President announced his intention to appoint the following individuals as members of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation: Jean N. Case (and uponappointment to redesignate her Chair); Raymond G. Chambers; Bo Derek; Evern Cooper Epps; Janine L. Gauntt; Kasey K. Kahne; Mary Beth King; Mary J. Myers; Michelle Nunn; Kelly Perdew; Corinne B. Roberts; Michael W. Smith (and upon appointment to redesignate him Vice Chair); Jordin Sparks; Wendy M. Spencer; Roxanne Spillett; Hope Taft; Daniel C. Wuerffel; and Mark G. Yudof.

August 13

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he had separate telephone conversations with President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, in his capacity as President of the European Council, to discuss the situation in Georgia. Then, in Room 231 of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, he and Mrs. Bush participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Secretary of War Suite.

In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President participated in a photo opportunity with 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Sameer Mishra.

August 14

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing, in which he was updated on the situation in Georgia. He then had separate telephone conversations with President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania and President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine to discuss the situation in Georgia. Later, he traveled to Central Intelligence Agency Headquarters in Langley, VA, where he participated in separate briefings on the war on terror and the situation in Georgia.

In the afternoon, the President had lunch with Central Intelligence Agency employees. He then returned to Washington, DC.

The President declared a major disaster in New Mexico and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on July 26 and continuing.

August 15

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then had a telephone conversation with President Toomas Ilves of Estonia to discuss the situation in Georgia. Later, he traveled to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX.

The President announced his intention to appoint the follow individuals as U.S. Commissioners on the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean: Rick Gaffney; William H. Gibbsons-Fly; Paul M. Krampe; Jane C. Luxton; and Peter Young.

The President announced his intention to designate Santanu "Sandy" K. Baruah as Acting Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

The President declared a major disaster in Vermont and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, a tornado, and flooding on July 18.