As we proceeded down the jet way, I could see the President, Mrs. Bush and their daughter Jenna preparing to move from the Distinguished Visitor lounge at Andrews Air Force Base.

The plan to meet the Holy Father was to walk down the red carpet towards the plane as he moved down the jet way. It all worked perfectly and the President and Mrs. Bush introduced him to delegation. As the Holy Father descended steps the crowd erupted in a cheering roar and then there was almost stillness as if everyone realized this was an historic moment. As a person who has been fortunate to lead a movement in my prior and private capacity life, I could feel the mood and the adoration of the crowd. Hardly any of us had a dry eye! It was very moving.

Wednesday morning started very early for the Protocol department. Our team headed by Bryan Langley was very involved along with the White House staff and advance teams to prepare for the South Lawn Ceremony at the White House. The morning was sunny and weather looked really good and we all breathed a sigh of relief. My day started with early morning television interviews including Fox News Channel's Fox and Friends and CNN International.

Later that morning as we entered the White House grounds the more than 10,000 participants and guests were entered the grounds of the South Lawn. The various teams involved in the event were all rehearsing, finalizing last minute details and walking through movements and scenarios…..all but Secret Service who were, as always, well positioned in very strategic places.

When I first arrived at the White House, I participated in a walk-thru of the exact path the Holy Father would take as he entered in his motorcade to the White House Grounds. Also participating in the walk-thru were members of the Vatican Embassy, the members of the Archdiocese of Washington and the great assembly of delegates from the Holy See. Before the ceremony began, there was a diplomatic reception with Secretary Rice, Cabinet members and leaders of the House and the Senate for the Delegation of the Holy See.

Outside on the White House Lawn the crowd grew and the bands played. The Holy Father arrived by motorcade to the circular drive on the South Lawn at the White House and was met by President and Mrs. Bush. President Bush escorted His Holiness to the reviewing platform and the program began. The crowd cheered and erupted into a chorus of Happy Birthday, as Wednesday was the 81st birthday of the Holy Father. The program was dignified and moving. There was a 21-Gun Salute, the National Anthem of the Holy See, the National Anthem of the United States, a Musical Troop review, a beautiful musical rendition of The Lord's Prayer and remarks by President Bush and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Battle Hymn of the Republic was sung and the crowd joined in by waving their U.S. and Vatican flags.

After the ceremony, we re-entered the White House where the Holy Father was introduced to the entire U.S. and Catholic delegation and took pictures. Then President and Mrs. Bush had a birthday cake for him and we all sang Happy Birthday.

The President then walked the Holy Father to the Oval Office for a meeting between the two leaders.

At the conclusion of the meeting as we watched the Holy Father get into his Popemobile, we broke out in smiles and satisfaction that this portion of the visit went as well as could humanly be done.

The ceremony, the day, and the words of the speeches were harmonious and full of hope and inspired us all.

This successful visit is due to the hard-working staff in the Protocol Office and I would like to recognize each one who has been involved with the visit. Many thanks to Bryan Langley, Tanya Turner, Dean Lewis, Ray Martinez, Charity Wallace, Tiffany Divis, Matthew Wendel, Jessie Johnson, Christine Hathaway, Penny Price, Jennifer Nicholson, Yale Scott, Katy Ballenger Mitarai, Walter Rhinehart, Thomas Rathburn and Emery Webb.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pope_benedict_visit/ 2008-04-17T19:56:00-05:00 This blog entry is written by Nancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State.

Accra, Ghana
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

The morning we arrived in Accra, we went to the Osu Castle where the Chief of Protocol and I led the introductions of our respective delegations and Presidents. After a meeting and Press conference, we attended a lunch at the residence of Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater. President Bush and The First Lady were joined by the Peace Corps volunteers that are so essential to providing development and assistance to the Ghanaian people year-round. Ghana was the first country in the world to welcome Peace Corps volunteers in 1961, and since then, they have worked together to further support its commitment to democracy.

After lunch we went to the United States Agency for International Development West Africa Trade Hub. At the Hub, 30 tribal chiefs from 10 regions visited with their delegations, and entertained the President and Mrs. Bush. Their dress was all individually beautiful and colorful. We had the opportunity to view the exhibits of the products made through the support of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the program President Bush supported and worked to reauthorize in 2002. Products such as soap, woven baskets, and wood carvings, were some of the many sold for export, and to companies such as Target and Walmart.

The umbrellas shading the Chieftans were extraordinarily colorful. I was taken back by the beauty and intricacy of all the products, so uniquely and carefully handmade. Without the benefit of factory production, the scale and amount of products is limited, but the beauty and quality prevails.

In a lengthy conversation with Sue Brown, the United States Deputy Chief of Mission, I learned that the average per capita income was $1,400, up from $600 in 2005, and that the level of education was improving. However, there is a scarcity of teachers since so many left the country and a real need for more educational programs continues. I also asked her about the health awareness and the diet of the average Ghanaian.

That afternoon, Mrs. Bush and I visited The Maamobi Polyclinic, a primary health clinic focused on Malaria control, the education for nutrition, and for the care of mothers and children. The 2007 American Idol Winner and advocate for combating malaria, Jordin Sparks, gave an impressive performance of our national anthem. At the polyclinic, we had a demonstration of retreating bed nets, encouraging people to take part in what can be a simple solution. The insecticide-treated bed nets have shown to be effective, since the mosquitoes that cause malaria seem to bite primarily at night. The use of the bed nets is especially important for pregnant women and children.

President Bush participated in a Tee Ball Game at the Ghana International School and shortly after met with President Kufour. President Bush announced his new initiative to provide $350 million dollars over a five-year span to combat Neglected Tropical Diseases, such as hookworm and river blindness. President Kufour was very grateful for the support.

In the evening, we went to the elegant State dinner that President Kufour and Mrs. Kufour held for us. The setting was very memorable and many of the men and women were dressed in their colorful National dress. Ghanaian President Kufour wore his as well. The music was what is called Highlife, a mixture of Jazz and African rhythm. President Kufour gave a wonderful toast to President Bush, where he expressed his gratitude and dedicated the new highway that will be funded from the Millenium Challenge as the George Bush Motorway. Dancing and celebration followed. Our visit was appreciated very much and even at night when leaving the reception, the streets were lined with Ghanaians waving flags and inviting us back.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

The next morning was the realization that our trip was soon coming to an end. We were ending our 5-country journey with a visit to Monrovia and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. I had met her a few months ago when she came to meet with President Bush and was awarded the National Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award a President can give. This is the fourth time she and President Bush have met, proving their desire to only build stronger relationships.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/behind_the_scenes_president_ghana/ 2008-02-21T16:52:00-05:00 This blog entry is written by Nancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State.

Monrovia, Liberia

We arrived in Liberia, although it was a very short trip, only 5 hours.

That afternoon we had the honor of participating in a Youth Development Roundtable with President Johnson-Sirleaf, along with Vice President Joseph Boakai’s wife, Mrs. Karyumu Boakai, United States Ambassador Donald Booth’s wife, Mrs. Anita Booth, and local adults who have personally been affected by the war and have worked with Liberian youth.

The participants were very inspiring. Second Lieutenant Geraldine George is only one of 36 women in the new armed forces of Liberia that the Government started training in 2006. She was a first year law student but followed the call to serve her country. Esther Davis was abducted at 14 by militia soldiers who attacked her village. She was taken into a women’s unit and taught to cook, load ammunition, and shoot. She then took part in the violence during the civil war. She registered with the organization, THINK, which connects schools, teachers, and students from around the world to build knowledge together, and she studies cosmetology and now is currently in 7th grade. Another inspiring individual was Moses Aware, who has been awarded as a top musician in Liberia, and was a refugee with his family in Cote d'lvoire. He uses his experiences to encourage other young people to avoid violence and HIV infection.

Like Geraldine, Esther, and Moses, all of the participants were outstanding. Their stories are of courage and hope. The oppression of war and violence denied so many an education. Mrs. Bush encouraged parents to ensure education for their children, and for those adults who were denied education, to go back and get the education and skills they deserve. The United States has supplied development funds, and support for civil society to overcome the lack of infrastructure. Many of the facilities are run by generators, and power supplies and water are grave problems.

President Johnson-Sirleaf, the first woman ever elected to lead an African nation, is very well respected for her abilities to lead and keep the development going forward. She is a strong advocate to re-build the Liberian economy as she travels the world seeking support and investment. This is a challenging transformation in Liberia, and one which will require continued will, courage, and investment.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/behind_the_scenes_presdient_bush_visits_liberia/ 2008-02-21T16:04:00-05:00 This blog entry is written by Nancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State.

Kigali, Rwanda

Upon arrival to Kigali, we were welcomed by President Kagame, and Indemuka dancers. The ceremonial dance is performed for visitors and marriages. The Intore Dance Troupe also performed a dance for us, which has been preserved since the fall of the monarchy. It is performed by males, wearing long yellow wigs, and acting as warriors returning from victory.

From there, we headed to the Kigali Memorial Centre, a memorial for the hundreds of thousands of victims of the Rwandan Genocide. It was opened in April, 2004, on the 10th Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide. Today, 258,000 are buried there, and mass graves are still being discovered daily. The exhibition was a troubling reminder of how hatred allowed such atrocities to continue unchallenged. Within just 100 days, approximately 800,000 lives were taken, and 85% of the Tutsi population had been eliminated. The leadership in Rwanda has made steps to overcome violence and hardship. People are hard at work attempting to rebuild. The economy is re-emerging, and justice and reconciliation are priorities. It was clear this will take a great deal of leadership.

That afternoon we dedicated the new United States Embassy in Rwanda and were greeted by 21 Ambassadors resident in Kigali, representing their governments. This Embassy will be a home away from home for all Americans wishing to visit Rwanda.

President Bush and President Kagame discussed the progress of foreign and domestic investments on the Rwandan economy. In particular, the coffee and IT industries are blossoming. Rwanda is becoming a more attractive place for U.S. businesses to invest. Currently, U.S. companies like Starbucks, Macys, and Costco have investments in Rwanda.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/behind_the_scenes_president_bush_in_rwanda/ 2008-02-19T20:31:00-05:00 This blog entry is written by Nancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

After a intense and interesting visit in Tanzania, we were sent off by a very spirited and moving Departure Ceremony. The meetings between President Kikwete and President Bush went very well. Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Kikwete, dressed in her khanga decorated with President Bush’s picture on it, followed their spouses down the red carpet. The band was playing uplifting music, the Tanzanian people were waving American flags, and expressing their gratitude for both the President’s, and the United States support of their country and the issues that affect them. After the President and Mrs. Bush boarded Air Force One to depart, President Kikwete and his wife walked back on the red carpet and took part in the ceremony by dancing. It was an interesting visit and great to see President Kikwete’s national pride in the success of his people.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/behind_the_scenes_president_tanzania/ 2008-02-19T15:16:00-05:00 This blog entry is written by Nancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State.

Arusha, Tanzania

On Monday we arrived in Arusha, Tanzania and went directly to Meru District Hospital. The streets were lined with many supporters who are very appreciative of what President Bush has done for their people.

The Meru District Hospital was founded in 1968 as a rural health center and upgraded to a hospital in 1986. The hospital is a President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) partner that participates in all related health facility-based programs. The Reproductive and Child Health Clinic provides prenatal and postnatal services, vaccinations, and an outpatient department for women and children. The clinic treats approximately 1,300 malaria cases per month and provides prenatal care to approximately 550 women per month. The facility issues approximately 225 bed net vouchers to pregnant women per month. The clinic also provides voluntary HIV counseling and testing, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission services (PMTCT), and HIV/AIDS care and treatment services.

To date, more than 3 million bed net vouchers have been distributed in Tanzania, roughly 1.9 million from PMI. The vouchers allow recipients to purchase bed nets from private retailers at a 75 percent discount. This hospital has almost 40,000 patients come through yearly. USAID senior project manager, fifty-three-year-old Patrick Swai, said mothers and children are given vaccinations, checked for Malaria and AIDS, and has been told that cancer screening is to be added soon. We brought bed nets with us today and President and Mrs. Bush passed them out.

We then visited the A to Z textile mill where we were briefed on the creation of the bed nets. The new nets last longer – up to five to seven years and this program has been very successful here. The President announced new steps in the bed net campaign. Within the next six months, the United States and Tanzania, in partnership with the World Bank and the Global Fund, will begin distributing 5.2 million free bed nets. This ambitious nationwide program will provide enough nets to protect every child between the ages of one and five in Tanzania.

We could see Mount Kilimanjaro from where we were. It is called Killy by the young people. The farms are small and carefully tended and one can only imagine the hopes and dreams of the farmers as their survival is based on this years crops. The weather because of the altitude is cooler than Dar se Salaam and along the road new hotels seem to be opening as well as tourist sites.

We then traveled to the Maasai Girls School where President and Mrs. Bush gave books to the students. Once again the roads are lined with children, mothers and many young boys.

When we arrived at the school we were entertained by the Maasai Tribe. The girls sang to us and thanked President Bush for the support to learn and be educated. They sang their praise and said education is the opportunity they need not to have to marry at this age.

Sister Mary Vertucci started this school 1998. She challenged us to make sure the school remains culturally acceptable and the men become supportive. Being educated and being a wife are not mutually exclusive.

Check out this article from Reuters about the school:
http://features.us.reuters.com/cover/news/L29314810.html

]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/president_bush_arusha/ 2008-02-18T17:30:00-05:00 This blog entry is written by Nancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State.

Tanzania, Africa (First Day)

We boarded plane in Benin and departed for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. President Jakaya Kikwete and Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda were there to greet us along with U.S. Ambassador Mark Green and his wife Sue.

The President and Mrs. Bush received an enthusiastic welcome here. The malaria programs and the Millennium Challenge Account grant program have made President and Mrs. Bush very popular. There was a large crowd gathered at the airport and many of the women wore dresses made of fabric with President Bush’s picture. Even Mrs. Kikwete, the First Lady of Tanzania was wearing this type of dress.

At the arrival ceremony we were greeted with dancers performing dressed in khanga and vitenge. The dancers represented more than five tribes and the dancing was fascinating and celebratory. The streets were lined for miles with probably a hundred thousand of Tanzanians. The Tanzanian Chief of Protocol told me that this was the first time in recent history that an American President has come to Dar es Salaam. On the way to hotel there was a giant billboard thanking President Bush for the AIDS programs.

Dinner that night hosted by President Kikwete and was very interesting. The food was all local and delicious - Tanzanian shrimp followed by squash soup, chicken and beef and vegetables and bananas cooked slowly. There weren’t any sweets as I was told the Tanzanians don't have big taste for sweet food. The food was seasonal and my dinner partner told me very natural.

Tanzania is slightly smaller than New Mexico and Texas combined and the mainland is adjoined by Zanzibar with the executive capital being Dar es Salaam and the legislative capital is Dodoma. The mainland population is approximately thirty-nine million and one million in Zanzibar. The official language is Kiswahili and English as a sub-language. The African population consists of more than 120 ethnic groups of which five of them have more than a million each and more than eighty percent of the population lives in rural areas. Although much of Zanzibar’s population came from the mainland, one group descended from early Persian settlers.

Tanzania has rich evidence of fossil remains of some of humanities earliest ancestors. Some even suggest that East Africa may have been the site of human origin. The interior of the country is believed to have been settled by ethnic groups using a click tongue language similar to that old Southern Africans Bushmen and Hottentots. Only remnants of theses early tribes exist today.

The coastal area first felt the impact of foreign influence as early as the 8th century. By the 13th century, traders and immigrants came from Persia (which we now know as Iran) and India. European influence and exploration followed Vasco De Gama explored the East African coast in 1498 and in 1506 the Portuguese claimed control of the entire coast. This was followed by German Colonial interests and British spheres of influence.

Zanzibar’s spices attracted traders from all over the world as far away as the U.S. and our consulate was establishes on the Island in 1837. It was made a British protectorate in 1890 and remained unchanged until the late 19th century until after WWII. The first elections were held in 1957 and Zanzibar received its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963 as a constitutional monarchy under the sultan. In 1964, after a rebellion against the sultan Tanganyka united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

Significant measures have been taken to liberalize the economy along market lines. Overall real economic growth has averaged about four percent a year and is much better than previous years but not enough to improve the lives of the average Tanzanians. However, Ambassador Mark Green is confident that the economy is moving in the right direction. Political stability of recent years is an encouraging factor. He is very optimisitc about the future of the country.

The main industrial activities are small and medium size businesses specializing in food and dairy products. The hope is that in terms of mineral resources and an effort to reduce debt, and build upon an untapped tourism industry, Tanzania can host a more vibrant economy. Tourism is also a promising sector for Zanzibar with a number of new hotels and resorts which have been built o the island. The beautiful weather, green grass and palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze suggest a very prosperous tourist environment.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/president_bush_tanzania/ 2008-02-17T17:11:00-05:00 This blog entry is written by Nancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State.

Benin, Africa

As part of my official duties as Chief of Protocol, I travel with the President on Official Trips oversees and ensure all aspects of the protocol portion of the trip are successful. Our first stop was in Benin after a nine hour and forty-five minute flight.

When we landed, President and Mrs. Bush were greeted by President Yayi Boni who, before becoming President of Benin was a former West African Bank Director. Upon arrival, President Bush was presented with the Grand Cross of the National Order of Benin. Watch the video.

After he and the President Yayi Boni held two meetings and then headed over the to US Embassy where President Bush greeted and met with about one hundred US State Department employees serving in Benin.

We were only in Benin for a few hours and then we jumped back on the plane and headed to Tanzania. The President travels at a quick pace and we do our best to keep up with him.

Our relations with Benin have been strong since the nineties and their embrace of democracy. The United States government assists them with long term resource development through USAID. The Peace Corps also has a very active program here with over 110 volunteers and is considered one of the most successful in Africa. And through the Millennium Challenge Account, there is a $300 million dollar grant in place to increase investment and private sector activity. President Bush launched the Millennium Challenge Account as a new model to support governments that commit to rule justly, invest in people, and encourage economic freedom. To date, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has signed seven compacts with African countries totaling $2.4 billion to fight poverty through economic growth. We got to see first hand this American generosity put to good use.
I want to thank Ambassador Gayleatha Brown for making this stop of our trip so successful.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/president_bush_benin/ 2008-02-16T15:30:00-05:00 This blog entry is written by Nancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State.

It's been just over a week since I returned from accompanying President Bush on his historic voyage to the Middle East. Although the road ahead is long, I'm encouraged by what might be possible to achieve -- with a lot of work and cooperation on all sides.

It was an extremely busy trip. Tel Aviv was our first stop on January 9. The Israeli welcoming ceremony was very colorful, complete with red carpet and "The Star-Spangled Banner” playing in the background. President Bush met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres on this first day.

The President also met with the family of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is still recovering from his stroke in 2006. On January 10, the President met with both Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

At Jerusalem's King David Hotel, I met with Quartet Representative Tony Blair, who is hard at work advancing the cause of Middle East Peace.

There were also visits to historic landmarks that were truly poignant. On January 11 in Bethlehem, we visited the Church of the Nativity, built on ground where Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was born. We also visited the Mount of the Beatitudes in Capernaum, where Jesus is believed to have delivered his Sermon on the Mount.

Holocaust Memorial

As someone who has lost relatives in the Holocaust, the most emotional visit was to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes Remembrance Authority. It is a memorial to the six million men, women and children of Jewish heritage who lost their lives during this tragedy. Yad Vashem contains the world's largest archive and library of material on the Holocaust, including 68 million pages of documents and nearly 300,000 photographs.

This was my second visit to Yad Vashem -- but it was no less moving for me.

We also visited the Children's Memorial, where Yad Vashem's director, Avner Shalev presented President Bush with a very special gift: the first replica of Carol Deutsch's Illustrated Bible. Deutsch created these precious illustrations while hiding in Belgium. Tragically, he was turned over to authorities and sent to Buchenwald, where he died in 1944.

Heading East

On January 12, we flew east to Kuwait. At Camp Arifjan, the President greeted U.S. troops, and thanked them for their hard work and noble sacrifices. They are indeed brave.

Later, in Kuwait City, I joined The President as he spoke at length with Kuwaiti female leaders about their hopes for their nation and the democratic process. They thanked the President for supporting women's empowerment policies, which are helping more women in the Arab world meet their educational and career goals. Many of the women thanked the President for Mrs. Bush's visit on her breast cancer awareness trip. They said they were hopeful that this commitment would continue.

A day later, we arrived in Bahrain's capital of Manama, again to an outstanding welcoming ceremony. The President and King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa were found to be in an especially jovial mood.

Later that same day, in Abu Dhabi, our hosts greeted us with what would only be the first of a series of meals. Our closing dinner was actually held in a secluded part of the desert. Due to unexpected rains, the meal took place in tents, with a large fire nearby to add warmth.

Guided by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan, the President actively took part in a falconry demonstration.

Also in Abu Dhabi, the President delivered a powerful speech on "a great new era” dawning in the Middle East, and how his Administration will continue to support freedom for people around the world.

The pace of the trip intensified the next day. The President made stops in Dubai, where he spoke with young student leaders from the Dubai School of Government. We also enjoyed a children's dance performance, and the President posed with the young performers.

In Riyadh, the President and I both met with Dr. Samia Al-Amoudi after a roundtable discussion with Saudi entrepreneurs. We talked about building democratic institutions that will empower women and prepare them for entering the workforce.

Our last stop was Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, where President Bush met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. For me, it was a happy reunion. I last spoke to President Mubarak during a White House visit with President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan.

The President has announced that he will return to the region in May. It means that once again, all sides will be striving to build the foundations of peace and progress.