2001 US press briefings
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
1:38 P.M. EST
MR. FLEISCHER: Two personnel announcements from the President today. The President intends to nominate Carlos Ramirez to be Commissioner of the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission for the United States and Mexico. And the President intends to nominate Robin L. Higgins, to be Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs.
Q What office is running this baseball program? Is it the faith-based group, as reported? And who is paying for the diamond?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, we're not going to build a diamond. We're going to drop bases, the White House will be dropping bases down on the South Lawn.
Q Bleachers?
MR. FLEISCHER: The White House already has bleachers that have been used for previous events on the South Lawn. They remain in storage, they'll be brought out for this. The South Lawn has been home to many event over recent years. President Clinton used it to have a carnival on the South Lawn. There is, of course, the picnic for reporters on the South Lawn, which will be similarly followed by tee-ball on the South Lawn.
Q Will they carve out base bands so it will look like a diamond? Or it will be like a --
MR. FLEISCHER: No, they'll be running on the grass. They'll be running on the grass.
Q How often, how many games, how do you pick the teams? What are the logistics here?
MR. FLEISCHER: The teams will be selected by the Little League officials in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the Little League organization, the official Little League organization. The games will be on a periodic basis, maybe some of them about monthly, along those lines.
The President is very much looking forward to it; Mrs. Bush is, as well. And all the moms with kids and dads with kids are looking forward to this.
Q Local teams or from anywhere around the country?
MR. FLEISCHER: It will be local.
Q And who is running it? What office here is organizing it on the White House end?
MR. FLEISCHER: It's going to be a combination of the Office of Communications and it's the office of -- let me remind you, it's community and faith-based, and this is part of their community outreach. This really is not the faith-based side of the office, it's the community side of that office.
Q Ari, is it assumed that the President and First Lady will attend all of these games?
MR. FLEISCHER: I can't commit that they'll attend all, but they will be attending. The first game, particularly.
Q Does the President view himself as the commissioner of tee-ball? (Laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: I'll have to ask him about that. I hadn't thought about that yet. I know he is looking forward to it. Since he can't throw out the first pitch, placing the first tee.
Q When is the first game?
MR. FLEISCHER: April or May. We're still working on the exact date.
Q And will Cabinet Secretaries and staff be coaches?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think you can anticipate there's going to be a healthy amount of participation from the White House, from Cabinet Secretaries. I mean, there's just a whole lot of fun to be had with this in a good, welcoming way. We'll have to decide who gets to sing the National Anthem.
Q Mark Knoller. (Laughter.)
Q Are you serious when you say that, Ari, or no?
MR. FLEISCHER: We're working out all the details of exactly how it's going to work out, but there's no end to how much fun this can be for the families who come. And we anticipate -- you know, about 15 kids on a team, so that's 30 kids, generally. And then they'll have their parents with them and maybe some grandparents. It won't be opened up to everybody, but it's going to be opened up to their immediate families.
And the President is doing this because he thinks it's going to be a wonderful event locally for the tee-ball teams in the region and, as I indicated earlier, for part of the national pastime at a young age.
Q An outreach to inner-city kids, by any chance?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President does anticipate inviting and welcoming to the South Lawn children from disadvantaged areas and bringing them to that beautiful lawn to play tee-ball.
Q Has the President, in his current capacity or previous capacity as the owner of the Texas Rangers, stated a preference for a major league franchise in Washington?
MR. FLEISCHER: He talked with Mayor Williams about that when the Mayor came to visit earlier, and I think the President would welcome that if that was possible, if it could happen. The agreement of all of the owners is, of course, required, but I think the President would welcome that.