*EPF503 01/26/01
White House Report, Friday, January 26, 2001
(Blair, India, first week in office, White House life) (620)

Britain's Prime Minister Blair to meet in U.S. With Bush

President Bush will hold a working meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair next month, the White House announced January 26.

Blair and his wife Cherie will meet with the President and First Lady Laura Bush February 23 and 24 at the White House and at Camp David, the presidential retreat in the nearby Maryland mountains, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer announced.

"The United States and the United Kingdom share a broad agenda of common interests and values in Europe and beyond, and the President looks forward to reviewing ways in which we can intensify cooperation in pursuit of common goals. The President and Mrs. Bush look forward to hosting the Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair at Camp David," the White House said in a statement.

Earlier in the week, the White House announced that Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chretien will meet with Bush at the White House on February 5, and Bush will meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox on February 16 at Fox's ranch in Mexico.

BUSH STATEMENT ON INDIA EARTHQUAKE

"I am saddened by the news of the tragic earthquake centered in India's Gujarat state this morning," President Bush said in a statement released early January 26 by the White House. "I extend my condolences, and those of the American people, to the families of the many victims in the cities and villages of Gujarat and elsewhere. Earthquakes know no political boundaries. I send condolences to the people affected in neighboring Pakistan, as well. We stand ready to assist, as needed and as desired by the governments," the statement said.

SUMMARY OF FIRST WEEK IN OFFICE

White House Press Secretary Fleischer characterized the first week in office of the Bush administration as "very strong." Bush "has shown leadership, decisiveness. He's energized as a result of it," Fleischer told reporters January 26.

"But the real tests are going to come ... down the road," Fleischer said. "We're aware of that. This is week one. There are many weeks to go, many months to go. And we have to let the Congress, with all respect for the Congress, take up the legislation and move it forward as they see fit, and work with the Congress at that time. It's a little early. But it's an encouraging beginning."

Since his January 20 inauguration as President, Bush has met at the White House with 90 members of Congress, including 29 Democrats, Fleischer said. He's had twelve of his nominees confirmed by the Senate, he's introduced his education pacakage to Congress, and he has spoken by phone with twelve foreign leaders, the most recent call being to Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

BUSH SETTLING IN TO LIFE AT WHITE HOUSE

Fleischer said Bush "is settling in very nicely," at the White House and "is enjoying" life in the White House.

"He expresses appreciation for the staff of the White House. He told me how just professional and courteous they are," Fleischer said.

Asked about the President's daily schedule, Fleischer said "He's establishing a routine. He's up usually at about 5:45, he gets into the Oval Office typically between 7:00 in the morning and 7:15 in the morning. So his routine is established."

He leaves the Oval Office each evening around six p.m., and sometimes has meetings in the mansion afterwards.

Bush walks his two dogs in the evening and he runs almost every day inside on exercise equipment set up at the White House, Fleischer added.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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