Subject: RE: less prescriptive read out....
From: "Dan Pfeiffer" <[email-masked]>
To: "Stephanie Cutter" <[email-masked]>, [email-masked], [email-masked], "Robert Gibbs" <[email-masked]>, "Anita Dunn" <[email-masked]>, "Jason Furman" <[email-masked]>, "Dan Tarullo" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:30:19 -0600

Looks good to me. Defer to Rahm/Podesta on the protocol/etiquette of the sentence in parenthesis

________________________________

From: Stephanie Cutter
Sent: Mon 11/10/2008 3:27 PM
To: [email-masked]'; [email-masked]'; Robert Gibbs; Dan Pfeiffer; Anita Dunn; Jason Furman; 'Dan Tarullo'
Subject: less prescriptive read out....

Here's a new draft of a less prescriptive read out - the sentence in parenthesis can be cut if needed.   Further below is the white house statement.   I suggest cutting the sentence on the economy (we can do that on background) so that our statement doesn't look less gracious than theirs.   

 "President-elect Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama were very warmly received today at the White House by President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.   Upon arriving, President-elect Obama and President Bush proceeded to the Oval Office, where they had a productive and friendly meeting that lasted for XX minutes.    They had a broad discussion about the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation's many critical economic and security challenges.   [Specifically, President-elect Obama stressed the need for immediate action on the economy, including the financial crisis facing the auto industry.]    President-elect Obama thanked President Bush for his commitment to a smooth transition, and for his and First Lady Laura Bush's gracious hospitality in welcoming the Obama's to the White House."  

 

White House

The President and the President-elect had a long meeting, described by the President as good, constructive, relaxed and friendly.  They spoke about both domestic and international issues, though since it was a private meeting the White House will decline to comment on specifics.  The President also showed President-elect Obama the living quarters, including the office the President uses, the Lincoln Bedroom, and the rooms for the Obamas' two young daughters.  The President enjoyed his visit with the President-elect, and he again pledged a smooth transition to the next administration.