Diary Prequel Package — page 164

future trials with Ad vectors such as upcoming PAVE 100 trial - ethical issues. Stay tuned. On evening of Nov. 8 gave Keynote After Dinner talk to the Association of Independent Schools of Great Washington (AISGW). Kathy and Dan Jamieson were there as were heads of schools and senior officials for the DC/VA/MD independent schools. Talk went very well - "Our Responsibilities as World Citizens: Looking Through the Lens of Global Health". I spoke at The Potomac School in Virgina. Hugh crowd. Nov. 14, 2007 - Attended 60th Anniversary Gala for Meet the Press (invited by Tim Russert. Held at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. in the new Newseum Building. Another affair of all the glitterati of the Washington, D.C. press and politicians - John McLaughlin, David Gregory, Norah O'Donnell, Fred Fielding, Ben Bradlee, Mike Gerson, Sen. Kennedy, Kerry, Former Sen. McGovern, Tom Ricks (Washington Post), Al Hunt, Dana Perino, Dana Priest, etc. etc. Elegant affair, good food, plenty of cheer. Nov. 30, 2007 - Chris an I attended a Holiday Dinner Party at the White House hosted by the President and First Lady. I had been at several Holiday receptions at the White House around Christmas Time, but this was the first time that I attended a Holiday Dinner. There were about 75 - 100 people in attendance. Wonderful affair! The POTUS and First Lady circulated freely with guests as we had cocktails in the foyer adjourning the East Room. Spent several minutes talking with the POTUS and First Lady separately. He and she had just finished an AIDS event in Mount Airy to commemorate World AIDS Day (Dec. 1 - tomorrow). The POTUS had a large 50 foot red AIDS Ribbon hung from the front portico of the White House and he was excited about pointing it out to me. The POTUS in his usual generous way with me kept introducing me to people at the reception as one of the world's greatest scientist who will get us an AIDS vaccine. Again, as usual, he was very warm and friendly with me. Dinner was elegant - pumpkin soup, lamb, fine wines and champagne. The evening was crystal clear and cold (around 40 F). After dinner we had Christmas carols by the Army Choir and a trumpet and piano medley of Holiday Songs by 2 young black men from New Orleans (?names). Nov. 30 - Dec. 9, 2007 - Pre-Iowa caucus heating up with Obama closing the gap with Hillary Clinton who is front-runner. Romney and Giuliani neck in neck on the Republican side. Despite the fact that election is 1 year away, election politics is dominating the news. The "surge" in troops in Iraq appears to be working in cutting down the violence, but this is still a tenuous situation. Latest NIE states that Iran (contrary to what was previously thought) has halted their nuclear weapons programs. Life in DC as active and political as ever. Dec. 9, 2007 - Invited by Catherine and Wayne Reynolds to attend a small private dinner with Chris at Café Milano's restaurant for Holiday Cheer. Amazing night. About 15 people in the private Placido Domingo Room of Café Milano. Attending among others was VP and Mrs. Cheney, Bill Marriott, Sen. Thad Cochrane and his girlfriend, Elias and Nadia Zerhouni, Chris Wallace (Fox News), Alma Wildenhorn, John and Debbie Dingell,