Diary Prequel Package — page 139

Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group, Super-Attorney Bob Barnett, UNICEF President Ann Veneman, Former Sen. John Breaux (D-La), Rita Braver (producer for CBS). At the dinner were every media and politico you could imagine. The dinner was amazing and we all had a great time. Dec. 5, 2005 - Big meeting ("Summit") at the Grand Hyatt in DC to roll out the plan to visit all 50 states to talk up pandemic flu preparedness. Present were health officers of the big cities and all the states. Presentations by MOL, Julie Gerberding, me and the usual cast of characters. I am very anxious since MOL wants to take me with him on the tour to visit 75 locations in all 50 states to talk up preparedness. I just do not have time for this. Stewart Simonson and even Rich McKeown are aware of this and are trying to get me out of it. However, MOL is so enamored of me that he wants me with him. Dec. 6, 2005 - Strange article (Profile of me) on the front page of the Wall Street Journal by Bernie Wysocki. It made it look like I have 100s of millions of dollars of biodefense money that I dole out at my whim to contractors. The article was very likely (almost certainly) instigated by the lobbyists from BioPort (AVA anthrax vaccine) and from Hollis Eden (countermeasures for rad/nuc) who want contract money and did not get it. The article was extremely confusing since it mixed up what we do (research) and what HHS does (procure via BioShield). Also, it made it look like there was no peer review and that I just hand out money to the "Fauci Club". Dec. 16, 2005 Paradoxically, mostly favorable responses to the WSJ article. Most people interpreted it as indicating that I was a powerful player. Publicity dying down about bird flu around holidays. MOL went on the first of the State trips to Minnesota. With the help of Rich McKeown, I got out of the trip. Julie Gerberding went and feels as I do that these series of trips will be a waste of time for us. Article came out in WSJ by Sarah Lueck on Stewart Simonson with major quote by me defending him. It was a fair article and will likely reverse the trend of bad press that he has been getting as being the "Michael Brown of Public Health preparedness". Went to the VP's mansion for a Christmas Party on Dec. 15 and then went to Lessons and Carols at the National Cathedral right afterwards. Took Stewart Simonson and his parents (who are in town for the holidays). Dec. 16-31, 2005 - Reasonably calm. Still doing press regularly related to pandemic flu. On Dec. 27, 28, 29 did Today Show, Good Morning America, and CNN "The Situation Room", respectively. Bush popularity polls going up slightly after a terrible year related to Iraq, prison abuses, Valerie Plume leak (Scooter Libby, Karl Rove), Katrina, etc. POTUS speaking more to the press and admitting more that certain things have not gone well. Am still trying to be low profile in requirement to travel with MOL on his 50 State tour. Dec. 27-28, 2005 - Drove up to NYC with Chris and the girls to do Christmas sightseeing and to visit my father who does not travel down to DC/VA for the holidays the way he used to do years ago. Had a great time. Went to Bryant Park around 42nd Street and 5 Avenue (near NY Public Library and saw the Kenneth Cole tented exhibit in