White House Press Pool Reports filed by Yoojin during President Obama’s 2011 summer vacation on Martha’s Vineyard.
In reverse chronological order. All these were published on Martha’s Vineyard Times website.
August 23, 2011
7:18 pm, Tuesday
After all the activities of the day, POTUS is back at the Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark. The motorcade returned at 6:54 pm, and full lid was set at 7:14.
– Yoojin Cho, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
6:46 pm, Tuesday
After spending about four hours and 40 minutes on the course, POTUS left Farm Neck Golf Club at 6:38 pm.
In the motorcade, the pool received a statement from principal deputy press secretary Josh Earnest: “The president didn’t feel the earthquake today.”
– Yoojin Cho, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
4:31 pm, Tuesday
Janice Haynes and Joan Hawkins Burden wrote on the Martha’s Vineyard Times Facebook page they felt the quake in West Tisbury and Vineyard Haven, respectively. Some people like Helene Brown in West Tisbury and Audra Myerberg in Edgartown said they didn’t feel anything.
At 2:50 p.m. EDT this afternoon, the President led a conference call with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards with the Department of Interior Dr. David Applegate, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Greg Jaczko, Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Heidi Avery, and Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough to discuss the earthquake and status of critical infrastructure. The President was told that there are no initial reports of major infrastructure damage, including at airports and nuclear facilities and that there were currently no requests for assistance. The President asked for regular updates on the situation. The President also was provided an update on preparations for Hurricane Irene by Secretary Napolitano and Administrator Fugate.
– Yoojin Cho, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
2:51 pm, Tuesday
Just before 2 pm, the pool ran out to the course to see POTUS, Eric Whitaker, Marvin Nicholson and Vernon Jordan wrap up the first hole at Farm Neck.
At 2 pm, POTUS missed a putt from several feet, tapped it but missed, then picked up the ball and moved on. He was wearing a black polo. Whitaker in orange polo; Nicholson in blue; and Jordan in red.
Pool is now holding at the club, getting updates on the earthquake aftermath. The quake was centered in Mineral, Virginia, west of Washington D.C., that reportedly was felt in New York, in Boston, and here on the Vineyard as well.
– Yoojin Cho, Martha’s Vineyard Times
2:02 pm, Tuesday
Pool left the holding location at 1:24 pm and a WH official said POTUS had just left the beach.
Despite the fall-like morning, now the sun’s out, making the day a perfect beach day on the Island, or in this case for POTUS, a great day for golfing.
The motorcade cut through Manuel F. Correllus State Forest and drove down Barnes Road, arriving at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs at 1:35 pm.
The parking lot is packed with visitors also trying to take advantage of this warm afternoon. A WH official said today’s golfing partners are Eric Whitaker, Marvin Nicholson and lawyer Vernon Jordan.
Pool is waiting in the lot, hoping to catch a glimpse of POTUS.
– Yoojin Cho, Martha’s Vineyard Times
12:52 pm, Tuesday
The pool arrived at its holding location at noon.
They are at a private beach in Edgartown, on the south side of the Island. This is the same beach the Obamas visited Sunday, spending about three hours there.
The pool did not get a glimpse of the president, the first lady and the girls on their way to the beach. Similar to Sunday, the pool is once again waiting on a gravel cul-de-sac in a couple of vans.
We are eating lunch here while POTUS and the family enjoy some beach time.
Below is information on Libya from Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest:
Readout of the President’s Call with President Sarkozy of France
The President and French President Sarkozy spoke today about the situation in Libya and continued their close consultations about the global economic situation and recent developments in financial markets. With regard to Libya, they agreed that Qadhafi and the remnants of his regime needed to accept that their time is up and relinquish power once and for all, and they welcomed the progress that has been made by the Libyan people in pursuing an end to the Qadhafi regime. At the same time, they agreed to continue to work with allies and partners in the international community to protect the people of Libya and to support a peaceful transition to democracy. President Sarkozy joined the President in urging the Transitional National Council to continue demonstrating its leadership by respecting the rights of the people of Libya, avoiding civilian casualties, protecting the institutions of the Libyan state, and pursuing a transition to democracy that is just and inclusive for all of the people of Libya.
The two Presidents also discussed the global economic situation, the Eurozone crisis and recent market developments. They agreed on the importance of concerted action, including through the G20, to address these challenges and to spur growth and job creation in the global economy.
–Yoojin Cho, Martha’s Vineyard Times
12:05 pm, Tuesday
Already a busy morning for POTUS. John Brennan briefed him on Hurricane Irene and FEMA assistance before he started the bike ride with the family – statement from WH sent in earlier report – and at 10:49 the motorcade left the farm again.
And it’s lunch time at the beach with the whole family. WH official said the First Family is at the same private beach in Edgartown that they came to two days ago.
–Yoojin Cho, Martha’s Vineyard Times
11:34 am, Tuesday
Statement from Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest:
This morning at the Blue Heron Farm, John Brennan gave the President his daily national security briefing including an update on Hurricane Irene and how FEMA is supporting territorial response activities in Puerto Rico as well as the Virgin Islands where the effects of the storm have already been felt. He also updated him on the steps FEMA has taken in coordination with states that could feel the impact of the storm later this week.
In addition, Brian Deese briefed the President on developments in global and US financial markets, recent economic data releases and on policy work being done by his economic team in advance of his post-Labor Day address.
–Yoojin Cho, Martha’s Vineyard Times
11:22 am, Tuesday
Short ride to our set up location. The pool turned left on to Old County Road from Edgartown-West Tisbury Road and set up by the trail at 10:25. At 10:59, FLOTUS and Sasha biked past us, both wearing white T-shirts.
Shortly after, at 11:03, POTUS and Malia came around the corner. POTUS greeted the pool and a small crowd with “Hello everybody.” Bikers and joggers who were passing by us had stopped along the route once they realized the pool was waiting for the Obamas.
POTUS was wearing a black polo shirt and a pair of dark jeans and Malia was wearing purple shorts and a pink top.
The First Family is biking in Manuel F. Correllus State Forest in West Tisbury. The pool is now back in the van.
–Yoojin Cho, Martha’s Vineyard Times
10:22 am, Tuesday
Motorcade is leaving Blue Heron Farm at 10:17 am. Destination unknown. The First Family is going biking, but the pool is taking a different route to get there and try to see POTUS and FLOTUS during their bike ride.
– Yoojin Cho, Martha’s Vineyard Times
