February 28: Pool Report #1

Sent: Sun Feb 28 10:00:06 2010
Subject: Pool report # 1
Prepared by: Houston Chronicle

Pool report #1
Feb. 28, 2010

President Barack Obama met with wounded members of the military and
got a routine physical today at the National Naval Medical Center in
Bethesda, Md.

The president arrived by helicopter at the facility at about 6:40 a.m.

His physical was performed by Dr. Jeff Kuhlman, a navy captain and
head of the White House medical unit, said Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Some preliminary testing had taken place earlier, and the physical
lasted about an hour and a half.

Kuhlman reccomended Obama get his next physical in August 2011, when
he turns 50, Gibbs said.

Obama also visited 12 service members who were injured in Iraq or
Afghanistan, he said.

Obama left the hospital a little before 9:30 a.m.

February 27: Pool Report #6

February 27, 2010
White House Pool Report #6
Sent: 1:58PM
Prepared By: The Hill

POTUS emerged from the Oval at 1:47, walked to the end of the path on a sunny day, wearing jacket and no tie. Statement should be coming from the WH, check quotes against transcript.

POTUS called the earthquake in Chile "devastating," with early indications that hundreds have been killed. Said the U.S. is standing by and ready to assist with "rescue and recovery efforts" if asked by Chilean government. Said he called Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to let her know the U.S. is standing by.

Said he met with his national security team, and steps are being taken "to protect our own people," including tsunami warnings for Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa. POTUS added later that residents on the West Coast should also be alert.

Told residents in those areas: "The most important thing you can do is carefully heed the instructions of your state and local officials."

Said "we can't control nature," but we must be prepared.

Also, note from this morning's basketball game. VPOTUS also attended. Told his granddaughter is also on the team.

February 25: Pool Report #2

February 25, 2010
White House Pool Report #2
Sent: 10:10 AM
Prepared By: USA Today

Walk from White House to Blair House

President Obama and Vice President Biden, surrounded by agents and others, emerged from the White House gate at 9:58 AM.

President: "Hi, guys." Waves to pool. Biden waves, too.
Reporter: Comment to make?
President: "Looking forward to listening."
Reporter: Do you have a Plan B?
President: (Keeps walking, doesn't respond for a moment, then says) "I've always got plans."

They went into the tent set up on Jackson Place to the side entrance of the Blair House complex.

February 25: Pool Report #1

February 25, 2010
White House Pool Report #1
Sent: 9:52AM
Prepared By: Gannett News Service

Pool in place at 9:20 a.m. in the Garden Room of the Blair House.

Although it is the largest room in the Blair House, the assembled guests will be seated tightly elbow to elbow around a square of tables approximately 25 by 25 feet around. There is a distinctive chandelier suspended in the middle of the room. The president will be seated in front of a fireplace. The wall is decorated with a fresco painting in muted colors of an outdoor scene.

It is a small room with vaulted ceiling, distinctive chandelier. Windows were shuttered.

Name tags laid out for all the dignitaries, seated very closely to each other along tables formed into a square about 25 by 25 feet. Note pads and pencils provided to each, as well as a glass of water.

President will be seated in front of a fireplace.

Guests began arriving shortly after 9:30 a.m. with Reps. Henry Waxman and John Dingell among the first to take a seat. By 9:50 a.m. most had been seated. All the men wearing dark suits.

February 24: Pool Report #2

February 24, 2010
White House Pool Report #2
Sent: 2:07PM
Prepared By: Financial Times

We arrived back at the WH at 13:39, entered through the north-west gate.

Just to clarify about the speech - the president took no questions from the audience, just chatted for a few minutes afterwards.

No further events on the schedule for coverage today, but no lid yet.

February 24: Pool Report #1

February 24
White House Pool Report #1
Sent: 1:46PM
Prepared By: Financial Times

The president's motorcade left the White House at 12:53pm for an uneventful journey along the side of Lafayette Park and across the few blocks to the St Regis Hotel, where Potus is addressing the Business Roundtable. Remarks have already been sent so I'll just give you the colour:

The speech started on time at 1 o'clock in the Astor ballroom, where about 100 CEO members of the BRT were seated in rows. The president stood in front of a BRT logo backdrop. Gary Locke, commerce secretary, and Valerie Jarrett were in the audience. Your pooler counted only two other women among the sea of dark suits in the main seating area.

Potus was introduced by Ivan Seidenberg, chairman/CEO of Verizon and head of the BRT. Delivered speech pretty much exactly as prepared. The CEOs sat impassively throughout, although they managed a small murmur when the president said: "Which brings me to everybody’s favorite topic: taxes. You’ll notice I saved the best for last."
Back to straight faces by the time he said he couldn't give millionaires and billionaires tax cuts.

Speech finished at 13:39. The president went to the front row and started shaking hands, mingled for a few minutes, as your pool was ushered out.

Now waiting to head back to the WH.