Diary Prequel Package — page 138

Nov. 26-30, 2005 - Media continues for me with Lou Dobbs, CNN Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room), WTOP radio, CBS News, etc. regarding bird flu. The preparation of DHHS for the States Flu Summit on Dec. 5 is a major mess. Laura Lawlor somehow has taken over the preparation and it seems that no one knows what we are supposed to do. MOL has taken a major interest in a 75 city tour of himself, Julie, me and perhaps others to tell the States of their "responsibility" to be prepared locally for a pandemic flu. Every time this subject comes up, the States push back by saying that they have no money and the Federal Government is giving them an unfunded mandate. What I see is a clear example of a Secretary who is a good person who has gotten too personally involved in an issue and who is doing some of the planning off the top of his head and as a result there really is no one truly in charge of making sure something is done correctly. Everyone on his staff (John Ogwanobi, Suzy DeFrancis, Kerry Weems, etc.) is afraid to say that the 50 states tour is likely to be a disaster. They are like a Greek Chorus telling him in this case that it is a good idea. They do not know what the goal is or even why they are doing it. I strongly suspect that Suzy DeFrancis deep-down thinks that this is a campaign swing and , frankly, MOL does also to some degree. I have told Stewart Simonson and Bruce Gellin that I feel it would be a disaster. I do not want to be a part of it and have asked Stewart to tell Rich McKeown this. Rich is the most sensible one there and so hopefully I can get out of most or all of the tour. They want me for my credibility, but this is local and state public health stuff, which is not my area. Also, I am hearing that the White House knows how disorganized they are and are getting anxious The attacks in the press on Stewart Simonson seem to be winding down, but Sarah Luecke of the WSJ will be coming out with a big article. I have spoken to her and hopefully she will give a balanced story. Dec. 1, 2005 - World AIDS day. I was invited by the White House to be a Principal at the POTUS Speech (EEOB 450). As with last year, the POTUS specifically recognized me as being in the audience for all of the work that I have done in AIDS. Peter Mugyenyi from Uganda was there as was an AIDS mother from South Africa and her 2 children who had benefited from the PEPFAR program.. Had coffee with Julie Gerberding after the ceremony at Starbuck's on Pennsylvania Avenue and she feels exactly the way I do about the States Summit and the "tour" (see above). Dec. 2, 2005 - Had pre-Table Top preparation at HHS with MOL, Julie Gerberding, Stewart Simonson, Bill Raub, Bruce Gellin, Jesse Goodman, Rich McKeon and the entire DHHS staff. I have concern over these exercise since they are unrealistic and always make everyone look bad. I tried to interject some common sense into the discussions, but there were too many people who were acting like they knew what they were talking about. I generally do not like those "group" briefings of the Secretary since everyone trials to look smart and few people have a clue of what is going on. That evening, went to an incredible affair at the Kennedy Center with Christine. It was the Grand Opening of the Family Theater sponsored by the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Series for Artistic Excellence. After the show which included extraordinary superstars, we had dinner on the stage of the Eisenhower Theater!!. It was incredibly elegant and all the Washington Glitterati were there. At my table with Chris was David