Diary Prequel Package — page 69

discussed the need to establish a BAT team or biological anti-terrorist team to be available to the President for advice and service in the event of a catastrophic attack. Present was among many others: Julie Gerberding, David Franz, Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, Josh Lederberg, Richard Danzig, Bill Patrick. Entire attendee list is in my files. Jan. 13 or 14, 2003 - Meeting in the West Wing (Ward Room) of the White House with Kristen Silverberg, Ken Bernard, Carol Kuntz, Amy Jensen, Sally Canfield (DHS), Jim Capretta, Tom Reilly, Richard Falkenrath, Stewart Simonson and others from WH communications to continue to fashion the precise language of the Project Bioshield (authorities, Procurement, FDA regs) in preparation for getting this into the President's State of the Union (SOTU) address . We wrangled a bit about the precise language. We will meet again in 2 days to finalize it. Jan. 17, 2003 - Another meeting at the White House in Andy Card's office (he was not there). Met with all of the above (Jan. 13/14) plus Patrick Aylward and minus Amy Jensen, Jim Capretta, and Richard Falkenrath to continue discussion. We went over comments regarding draft legislation and discussed the role-out for the SOTU address. Also, the WH has decided that soon after the address (around Feb. 3) the President will role out Project Bioshield more formally at an event likely at DHHS or at NIH. I will be there and then will be called upon to do a lot of briefings of the Press and Congress. Jan. 22, 2003 - Just heard from Ken Bernard at the WH that the President has decided to include Project Bioshield in the SOTU address. Also, he plans to visit the NIH on Feb. 3 to roll out the plan. Jan. 23, 2003 - Another important meeting in the White House with the same people as on Jan. 17 plus Amy Jensen, Ginger Loper. Putting the final touches on the 3 Bills (a) Permanent and indefinite authority, b) Special FDA authorization of products in emergency, and c) my special authorities. Also, discussed plans for President's visit to NIH. After the meeting, went to see Josh Bolten to get a feel for what the President would like to do during his visit. Josh invited Kristen Silverberg and I into his office to meet and talk with Mr. Sandy...... (Ambassador to China) and Bo Derek. We discussed AIDS in China and then Josh and I went out of the room and talked about what the Pres. Might want to do. Apparently he likes to observe technical things, but does not like to "sit down and be a prop". Went back to EEOB to a going away party for Seth Carus and Noreen Hynes. It appears that Elias Zerhouni is getting uneasy and insecure about my dealings in Biot, particularly with the WH connection. When I dutifully told him today that the Pres was coming to NIH, he said that he really needed to become more visible in the arena of Biodefense. Jan. 24, 2003 - More activity back and forth with Gary Edson, Jay Lefkowitz and me on the AIDS issue. It is still alive. They now want me to bring back Peter Mugyenyi from Uganda to meet with Mitch Daniels (and me).