Diary Prequel Package — page 128

Sept .7, 2005 - Still major disaster in New Orleans, Mississsippi, Alabama. Likely major repercussions about lack of ppreparedness on the part of State, local, and Federal government in not heading warnings for years that the levees could not withstand a category 4 or greater hurricane. In fact, the levees caved in and N.O. was flooded 80%. Sept. 9, 2005 - Briefed Pres. Bush today in the Roosevelt Room on update in Pandemic Influenza Preparedness. This was in follow-up of our previous meeting on July 29. I was with Sec. Leavitt, Julie Gerberding, Bruce Gellin. On the White House side was the POTUS, VP Cheney, Scooter Libby, Josh Bolten, Scott McClellan, Andy Card, Attorney General Alfred Gonzales, Harriet Meiers, Robert Zoellig from DoS, and others. The POTUS was very engaging. Half- jokingly he said that "Tony will have to fix this problem for us with his research..." Another good and productive briefing of the POTUS. Mention was made about not repeating the errors of Hurricane Katrina response. Sept. 14, 2005 - Briefed Carol Kuntz today on the DHHS $7 to 9 billion supplemental budget request for FY2006 for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness. She wanted my opionion so that she could transmit this to the Vice President who wants to know what I think of the feasibility of the request Sept. 15, 2005 - Accompanied Sec. Leavitt and Bruce Gellin and Julie Gerberding to brief 3 cabinet secretaries today on Pandemic Flu. Briefed Sec. of VA Jim Nicholson, EPA Administrator Steve Johnson and Treasury Secretary Snow. Got an e-mail from Fran Townsend of HSC who mentioned that the President has mentioned that he always feels more comfortable when he knows that I am working on important health problems (see visit to the POTUS on Sept. 9). Sept. 19, 2005 - Again, accompanied Sec. Leavitt, bruce Gellin, Julie Gerberding and Bill Raub to brief Sec of Agriculture Johanns and Admininstrator of USAID Andrew Natsios on plans for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness. Sept. 23, 2005 - Had very interesting and enjoyable evening at a reception at the home of Mark and Nicole Wallace in honor of Kristin Silverberg in celebration of her confirmation (a couple of months ago) as Assistant Secretary for International organizations in DoS as well as her birthday. Present among many others were a number of White House personnel such as Michael Gerson, Josh Bolten, Michael Allen, Randy Tobias (DoS), etc. Interesting part of the evening were the in depth and intense discussions that I had with Josh Bolten and Mike Gerson about the difficulties in funding the POTUS's planned programs over the next few years given the fact that Hurricane Katrina will cost over $100 Billion and Hurricane Rita is still percolating in the Gulf of Mexico. Important dilemmas - Do you let the deficit explode? Do you cut domestic programs (difficult to do since the amount would be trivial compared to what is needed)? Do you defund the war in Iraq (impossible)? Do you abandon all or (as I suggested) part of the Tax Cut program? Very enjoyable and interesting evening. The Wallace's live on