Subject: Re: DRAFT: Opening Statement
From: Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
To: Jennifer Palmieri <[email-masked]>, Phil Barnett <[email-masked]>, "Kendall, David" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "Turner, Katherine" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:38:11 -0400

Jen, that's correct.  Should we revisit that decision?  (I'm attaching a
revised statement for the record changing 10 committees to 7 Congressional
investigations).

Also attaching here an updated oral opening statement for Thursday with
some new "this is political" language that folks should review.

On Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 6:41 PM, Jennifer Palmieri <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> Know I missed discussions today - but this seems dangerous.  If I
> understand this correctly - we are literally submitting her testimony from
> two years ago?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 20, 2015, at 6:22 PM, Phil Barnett <[email-masked]> wrote:
>
> The introductory text has this line:  "As you know, what happened in
> Benghazi has been scrutinized by a non-partisan accountability review
> board, more than 10 congressional committees, multiple news organizations,
> and law enforcement and intelligence agencies."
>
> I think we would be safer if we changed "more than 10 congressional
> committees" to "seven prior congressional investigations."
>
> Phil
>
> On Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 5:58 PM, Dan Schwerin <
> [email-masked]> wrote:
>
>> After further discussions, I believe the latest plan for this "statement
>> for the record" is to submit the verbatim text of her 1/23/13 opening
>> statement but not the Hard Choices chapter.  I'm attaching that here and
>> please take another look at the introductory text.
>> Thanks
>> Dan
>>
>> On Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 1:08 PM, Kendall, David <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>>> Can we get this out by end of afternoon?
>>>
>>> *From*: Cheryl Mills [mailto:[email-masked]]
>>> *Sent*: Monday, October 19, 2015 10:46 PM
>>> *To*: Mandy Grunwald <[email-masked]>
>>> *Cc*: Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>; Kendall, David;
>>> [email-masked] <[email-masked]>; Turner,
>>> Katherine; [email-masked] <[email-masked]>;
>>> [email-masked] <[email-masked]>;
>>> [email-masked] <[email-masked]>; [email-masked]
>>> <[email-masked]>; [email-masked] <
>>> [email-masked]>; [email-masked] <
>>> [email-masked]>; [email-masked] <
>>> [email-masked]>; [email-masked] <
>>> [email-masked]>; [email-masked] <
>>> [email-masked]>; [email-masked] <
>>> [email-masked]>; [email-masked] <[email-masked]>
>>> *Subject*: Re: DRAFT: Opening Statement
>>>
>>> I would do both
>>>
>>> On Mon, Oct 19, 2015 at 10:44 PM, Mandy Grunwald <[email-masked]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Seems odd to put the tributes to the four guys into this statement,
>>>> since it is mostly the repackaged testimony.  We can't overdo the tributes
>>>> to them and I think they should be done in person.
>>>>
>>>> Thx
>>>>
>>>> Mandy Grunwald
>>>> Grunwald Communications
>>>> 202 973-9400
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Oct 19, 2015, at 8:33 PM, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> And here is a potential statement for the record, repackaging her
>>>> previous testimony and book chapter.  I included pretty much the entire
>>>> chapter, because I'm not sure what the benefit is in cutting it down, but
>>>> happy to do that if others think that's better.
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Oct 19, 2015 at 7:03 PM, Dan Schwerin <
>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Here is a revised opening statement that now includes grace notes
>>>>> about the four victims and a reference to the excerpts of previous
>>>>> testimony submitted for the record.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, Oct 18, 2015 at 10:57 PM, Dan Schwerin <
>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Here is another updated draft, which I am going to share with HRC as
>>>>>> well.
>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Oct 18, 2015 at 2:05 PM, Kendall, David <[email-masked]>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I like it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My one question: in the 6th graf, before "At this point . . .",
>>>>>>> should the following be inserted--"After previously testifying about this
>>>>>>> matter in both the Senate and the House,"?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *From*: Dan Schwerin [mailto:[email-masked]]
>>>>>>> *Sent*: Sunday, October 18, 2015 01:40 PM
>>>>>>> *To*: Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>; Turner,
>>>>>>> Katherine; Mandy Grunwald <[email-masked]>; Jennifer Palmieri <
>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Kendall, David; John Podesta <
>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Adrienne Elrod <[email-masked]>;
>>>>>>> Philippe Reines <[email-masked]>; Sara Latham <
>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Cheryl Mills <[email-masked]>;
>>>>>>> Heather Samuelson <[email-masked]>; Brian Fallon <
>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Huma Abedin <[email-masked]>;
>>>>>>> Phil Schiliro <[email-masked]>; Phil Barnett <
>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Matt Siegler <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>> *Subject*: Re: DRAFT: Opening Statement
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Flagging this draft again in hopes folks can take a look.
>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Sat, Oct 17, 2015 at 3:31 PM, Dan Schwerin <
>>>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Here's a revised opening statement based on our discussion this
>>>>>>>> morning.
>>>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Sat, Oct 17, 2015 at 10:23 AM, Jake Sullivan <
>>>>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> This is a big line of Gowdy questioning.  How did you strike
>>>>>>>>> balance?  Elsewhere you so close up shop when things get dangerous.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Oct 17, 2015, at 10:22 AM, Turner, Katherine <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> One further thought on the current draft:  we might consider
>>>>>>>>> softening the “Chris did not believe retreat was an option – and neither do
>>>>>>>>> I” line.  I don’t think we want to suggest that there was a commitment to
>>>>>>>>> be there at any and all costs; but rather, that the known risks were being
>>>>>>>>> balanced with the reasons for being there, regular assessments of this
>>>>>>>>> balance were made, and that the people on the ground were best-positioned
>>>>>>>>> to contribute to those assessments.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Katherine Turner*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Williams & Connolly LLP*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 725 Twelfth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> (P) 202-434-5487 | (F) 202-434-5029
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked] | www.wc.com/kturner
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *From:* Dan Schwerin [mailto:[email-masked]
>>>>>>>>> <[email-masked]>]
>>>>>>>>> *Sent:* Friday, October 16, 2015 8:07 PM
>>>>>>>>> *To:* Mandy Grunwald; Jennifer Palmieri; Kendall, David; Jake
>>>>>>>>> Sullivan; John Podesta; Adrienne Elrod; Philippe Reines; Sara Latham;
>>>>>>>>> Cheryl Mills; Heather Samuelson; Turner, Katherine; Brian Fallon; Huma
>>>>>>>>> Abedin; Phil Schiliro; Phil Barnett; Matt Siegler
>>>>>>>>> *Subject:* Re: DRAFT: Opening Statement
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> A few more edits after talking with Phil S
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Oct 16, 2015 at 7:42 PM, Dan Schwerin <
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Here are some modest revisions. Am going to send this over to HRC
>>>>>>>>> so she can start thinking about it as well.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks all.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Oct 16, 2015 at 7:00 PM, Dan Schwerin <
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> That "backs of dead Americans" line is stolen from Hard Choices,
>>>>>>>>> so maybe a good idea to tweak slightly anyhow. I'll play with some
>>>>>>>>> alternatives.  If folks have other concerns before I send on to HRC, please
>>>>>>>>> let me know.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Oct 16, 2015 at 6:13 PM, Mandy Grunwald <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I also think it's strong.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I don't mind the "backs of dead Americans" because we need a bit
>>>>>>>>> of moral outrage.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I suppose we can dial the language back, but the sense of outrage
>>>>>>>>> should remain.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Mandy Grunwald*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Grunwald Communications*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *202 973-9400 <202%20973-9400>*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>> From: Jennifer Palmieri <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>> To: Kendall, David <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>> Cc: Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>; Jake Sullivan <
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; John Podesta <
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Adrienne Elrod <[email-masked]>;
>>>>>>>>> Mandy Grunwald <[email-masked]>; Philippe Reines <
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Sara Latham <[email-masked]>;
>>>>>>>>> Cheryl Mills <[email-masked]>; Heather Samuelson <
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Turner, Katherine <[email-masked]>;
>>>>>>>>> Brian Fallon <[email-masked]>; Huma Abedin <
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]>; Phil Schiliro <[email-masked]>;
>>>>>>>>> Phil Barnett <[email-masked]>; Matt Siegler <
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Fri, Oct 16, 2015 6:04 pm
>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: DRAFT: Opening Statement
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I think it is good.  Imagine the clip they will use is the
>>>>>>>>> partisan slugfest sentence.  I don't love "backs of dead Americans" in that
>>>>>>>>> sentence.  I think that is too graphic and splashes back on her as
>>>>>>>>> appearing to exploit their deaths.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Oct 16, 2015, at 3:40 PM, Kendall, David <[email-masked]>
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I like it.  Just two thoughts.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> We twice call the ARB “independent”—I’d prefer to call it
>>>>>>>>> “non-partisan” as we do once in the draft.  *Hard Choices* did
>>>>>>>>> not call it “independent”, and since it’s appointed by and responsible to
>>>>>>>>> the Secretary, I think we open an avenue of attack by calling it
>>>>>>>>> “independent”.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Can we get some more numbers into the early “diplomacy is
>>>>>>>>> dangerous” discussion?  Sixty-six American diplomatic personnel and over a
>>>>>>>>> hundred contractors and locally employed staff killed since the 1970’s (or
>>>>>>>>> whatever the numbers are).  I recognize we have some numbers on page 3
>>>>>>>>> (Beirut bombing, 1998 attacks).
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *David E. Kendall*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Williams & Connolly LLP*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 725 Twelfth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> (P) 202-434-5145 | (F) 202-434-5029
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> [email-masked] | www.wc.com/dkendall
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *From:* Dan Schwerin [mailto:[email-masked]
>>>>>>>>> <[email-masked]>]
>>>>>>>>> *Sent:* Friday, October 16, 2015 2:31 PM
>>>>>>>>> *To:* Jake Sullivan; John Podesta; Adrienne Elrod; Mandy
>>>>>>>>> Grunwald; Philippe Reines; Sara Latham; Cheryl Mills; Heather Samuelson;
>>>>>>>>> Kendall, David; Turner, Katherine; Brian Fallon; Jennifer Palmieri; Huma
>>>>>>>>> Abedin; Phil Schiliro; Phil Barnett; Matt Siegler
>>>>>>>>> *Subject:* DRAFT: Opening Statement
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Here is a draft of HRC's opening statement based on our discussion
>>>>>>>>> today.  As Cheryl mentioned, we'd love to get this to HRC for a first read
>>>>>>>>> tonight or tomorrow, so quick feedback would be great.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> This message and any attachments are intended only for the
>>>>>>>>> addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential.
>>>>>>>>> If you have received this message in error, please do not read, use, copy,
>>>>>>>>> distribute, or disclose the contents of the message and any attachments.
>>>>>>>>> Instead, please delete the message and any attachments and notify the
>>>>>>>>> sender immediately. Thank you.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> <2015-10-19 Statement for the Record - 8pm.docx>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>