A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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April 4, 2003 - Big day! US army captures Iraq International Airport. I testify before the House Government Reform Committee on the subject of Project BioShield. Mark McClellan testifies with me. The House (Shays, Waxman, Chairman Case generally support the concept of BioShield, but have some concerns such as with the "permanent" and indefinite Appropriations Authority. After the Hearing I, together with Julie Gerberding and Tom Ridge, brief President Bush, Laura Bush, VP Cheney, and the senior White House Staff on SARS and Smallpox vaccine program. We bring executive order to the POTUS on quarantine for SARS and he signs it. At meeting are Josh Bolten, Karl Rove, Ari Fleischer, Richard Falkenrath, Adm Steve Abbott,, etc. POTUS and VP as usual very warm and complimentary to me and to Julie. After the meeting, I spoke with Josh Bolten and volunteered to go to Iraq for the President if the Iraqis use biological, chemical or radiological weapons on our troops. I offered this to allow a public appreciation of the link (my being a civilian health authority) between Iraq and the danger of bioterrorism against the USA civilian population.
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April 5-9, 2003 - Incredibly busy. I have testified at >6 Congressional Hearings over the past few days on SARS, Appropriations, AIDS, Biodefense, etc. SARS is spreading. Have been on many network TV shows discussing SARS - CNN (several different shows), Good Morning America, News Hour, CNBC, etc. Iraq is falling; Bagdad occupied by US troops.
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April 10, 2003 - Wonderful day. Went with Chris ( my father, Denise and Jack Scorce were also there) to Ellis Island to receive the Ellis Island Family Heritage Award. Other awardees included Yogi Berra, Bob Hope, Cicely Tyson, Abie Abraham (hero of the Bataan Death March). It was a wonderful ceremony with a fantastic video of my history including the ship's manifest with my grandfather Antonio Fauci's name.
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April 11 - 18, 2003 - Iraq war over as troops occupy essentially all of Iraq. Saddam missing as is most of Iraqi leadership. Much attention now focusing on SARS. Cases now at 3400 with 175 deaths. Much media interest. For example, on April 17 alone I appeared on Channel 5 News, Diane Rehm Show, Charley Rose, CNN's Aaron Brown, and CNN International in addition to several print media.
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2003-04-19 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
April 19, 2003 - Just an unrelated historical note to put all of this in perspective. My daughters are doing marvelously well in school and sports. All 3 are virtual straight As (an occasional A-). Megan and Ali excel in gym and Jenny is doing extremely well in multiple varsity sports. She clearly is the best varsity diver at NCS. She is on the first ill . Heis team varsity for cross-country and just this year (junior year) has taken up crew. She loves it and is a starter on the varsity 4 person lightweight boat. Thus far, they are 3 for 3 in meets; I saw a meet at the Georgetown Harbor today.
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April 20-28, 2003 - War is essentially over. Still no weapons of mass desctruction. Still doing an incredible amount of press. Did This Week with George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, 27th April.
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April 29, 2003 - Amazing day!!! Spoke at a Republican leadership lunch at the Senate together with VP Cheney. We were there to promote S-15 (the legislation for BioShield). I was extremely warmly received by the Senators with many complements from Sens. Frist, Hatch, Stevens. I presented my thing and then the VP got up and praised me for my leadership on Project BioShield and made a few comments on the threats. We (Ginger Loper and I) next took the WH limo to the WH for the President's ceremony on the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, aimed at drumming up support for the legislation for the plan's funding. The ceremony was supposed to be in the Rose Garden, but was moved to the East Room because of weather. The President was wonderful to me, specifically winking and saying "Hello Tony" as he was scanning the crowd. He then made the comment in his speech to the group that he wanted to specifically thank me for all of my work on behalf of mankind. After the ceremony, he specifically came down to greet people and put his arm around my shoulder and thanked me again for all that I have done. It was a terrific day. April 30-May 1, 2003 - Much effort on my part in working the Congress (briefing Senators and Congressmen and staff) in support of Project BioShield. Clearly the reluctance on the part of the Congress has to do with not wanting to give up the control of the "purse" to a mandatory and indefinite appropriations authority.
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May 2, 2003 - Did "Field Hearing" in Harrisburg, PA for Sen. Specter on SARS. He is running for re-election and clearly wanted to impress his constituents. It worked.
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May 3, 2003 - Great evening. I received the "Golden Plate Award" of the Academy of Achievement. It was a Gala affair at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. I was on a panel chaired by Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" during the day and had a black tie dinner in the evening. Other awardees were Jose Carreras (did not show), Hillary Clinton, Sen. Tom Daschle, Bob Dylan, author and Washington Post columnist Thomas Friedman, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Graham (CEO of Washington Post), Baroness Susan Greenfield, Dr. Robert Sanger, Leonard Lauder (CEO of Estee Lauder), Trent Lott, John McCain, Simon Peres, Franklin Raines, Justice Antonin Scalia, Robert Strauss, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Alvaro Uribe Velez, President of Columbia. The banquet was attended by all of the Glitterati including President Clinton who was the hit of the night, dancing away like crazy . It was a wonderful time with incredible entertainment including Patti Austen, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Chuck Berry who drove the house down. article on me in The Financial Times with full ally syndicated Parade Magazine of The x the May 3 to 13, 2003 - Spending almost full time working with White House on trying to shape the BioShield Legislation with the Senate and House. I have daily been briefing senators (such as Sen. Byrd) and staff of the House as well as members such as Henry Waxman, Chris Cox, Fred Upton, etc. on why they should support the President's (Sen. Judd Gregg's) Bill. Congress is reluctant to make the purchase authority "Mandatory, permanent, and indefinite" It seems now that we are winning the battle for mandatory, but it is going to be tough to get permanent and indefinite. We will have to settle for a cap according to the budget resolution and a sunset at 10 years. People at the White House that I am working closely with are Ginger Loper, Candi Wolff, Carol Kuntz, Ken Bernard, Chris Cox, Mike Allen et al. Also, during this time I gave the Commencement Address at Emory in front of 14,000 people and received an honorary degree.