Diary Prequel Package — page 141

Washington, D.C. Bureau of ABC News (particularly George Stephanopoulos's people) on bird flu. Mar. 7, 2006 - Gave laudatio remarks at a reception in the Dirksen (430) Building at 6:00 PM (beautiful crisp Winter day) in honor of Peter Piot who was celebrating 12 years at UNAIDS. I reflected about his early days at Projet SIDA in Kinshasa, Zaire with Tom Quinn and Jonathan Mann. Also, honored at the reception was Michael Iskowitz, formerly Sen. Kennedy's Staffer, former White House AIDS Deputy Coordinator and recently at AIDS Action. He is entering a private consulting arena. Met and spoke with Sen. Hillary Clinton who recognized me specifically in her remarks. Mar. 8, 2006 - Took quick trip to NYC to brief the NY Bureau of ABC News with David Westin (President) hosting me. Afterwards, rushed back to DC to do a teleconference with the officials from all of the DC area (MD and VA) school officials from private high schools. Mar. 12, 2006 - Had tea at the Four Seasons with members of the Mothers to Mothers to be (M2M2B) an African Program founded by Dr. Mitchell Besser (Rich Besser's brother) and involving HIV-infected South African women who have delivered babies (some infected, others not) and who now work with other mothers to be who are HIV-infected to educate them, empower them and help them live a positive life. They are visiting the USA at the request of First Lady Laura Bush stemming from her trip last year to Africa where she met these women. The Mothers Program is partially funded by PEPFAR. I will Chair a panel discussion at Georgetown tomorrow where the women will discuss their work. March 13, 2006 - Presentations at the White House (East Room) with Laura Bush and Randy Tobias followed by brunch in the State Dining Room. Mrs. Bush thanked me for serving as the Panel Chair. Had good conversations with Kristen Silverberg, Randy Tobias, Michael Gerson, Carol Thompson and other White House folks. After the presentations at the White House we went to Georgetown (Healy Building - Gaston Hall) for the panel discussion. It was a beautiful sunny an unseasonably hot (84F) day for March 13. Other members of the Program were Gene Falk and Robin Smalley. Mar. 21, 2006 - First day of Spring 2006. Had phone conversation with Carol Kuntz today and she was concerned that there have been "policy time" briefings with the POTUS regarding pandemic flu involving Sec. Leavitt where she thought that I should definitely have been included. The POTUS asked some questions that Rajeev Vankaaya and Leavitt could not answer that Carol knew for sure that I would have been able to answer. Carol asked whether I was having a problem with HHS. I told her not at all, but I did mention to her my suspicion that HHS is trying to shed all of the light on Leavitt (probably because of his political aspirations) and having him share the spotlight with me or Julie Gerberding is something that makes HHS nervous. We continually see this when press ask for me and HHS diverts them to Leavitt when we ask them for clearance for me. Welcome to Washington!!