ABC News' The Note
W A S H I N G T O N, July 1, 2004—
-- NOTED NOW
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NEWS SUMMARY
At the halfway point of a politically critical 36-hour news cycle, we think it is important to take stock of lessons learned, and figure out how to apply them.
Lesson: On any given day in this election year, events in Iraq have the potential to overshadow things here at home.
Applied: Will the White House try to limit Kerry's veepstakes' bounce by conveniently unfurling some Iraqi development in the same time frame?*************************************************************************************************
Lesson: Just because Matt Drudge says "jump!," you people don't have to respond by saying "Yes, sir, high how, sir, and may we land, sir?!?"
Applied: Please don't call and e-mail us for confirmation every time Drudge runs something; his 37.8% accuracy rate and quirky sensibilities (that's a euphemism) can have a disproportionate impact on the election, if y'all let that happen.
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Lesson: In order, the three most intense and emotionally laden relationships that can exist between human beings are (i) landlord-tenant; (ii) mother-daughter; and (iii) United States Senator and big city mayor from the same party and the same state, in the midst of labor battles and on the eve of a big convention.
Applied: Calling Jack Corrigan and John Sasso — hey, fellas, 120 years of combined experience should maybe yield a solution, no?
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Lesson: Don't write anything down.
Applied: Will the Washington Post 's exclusive story on the Bush campaign ratcheting up its instructions to churchgoers about engaging in political activity get picked up by other media?
******************************************************************************************************Lesson: Googling monkeys make mistakes.
Applied: Through lazy metaphor making, yesterday's Note might have given some readers the idea that Lee Kamlet and Walter Mondale didn't enjoy their professional association in the mid-1980s. Nothing could be farther from the truth, and The Note regrets leaving that impression.
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President Bush at 2:30 pm ET participates in the swearing-in ceremony of former Senator Danforth as the new U.N. ambassador, and at 4:00 pm ET Bush speaks on the 40th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the White House.
At 1:30 pm ET Vice President Cheney is in New Orleans to deliver his first speech about Iraq since the handover. He is later in Georgia for a fundraiser for congressional candidate Calder Clay.
Senator Kerry departs Pittsburgh for Washington today and has no scheduled public events.
This morning the latest manufacturing, construction, and mortgage rates reports are released. Don't forget tomorrow's state-by-state jobs numbers for June.
Veepstakes:
Yesterday morning, top political aides to at least several candidates who are thought to be leading contenders were contacted by a member of Jim Johnson's vice presidential search team and asked to provide detailed contact information for their principles, as well as their schedules over the next 10 days.
Several sources close to the process tell ABC News that the campaign has plans to introduce the country to Kerry's pick by the middle of next week. Advance teams have scouted out a half dozen locations in states like Missouri, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Iowa. Tuesday, July 6 will probably not bring the official announcement speech; Kerry has two, long-planned addresses in Indiana and Washington. Wednesday, July 7 is wide open.
We know who has been hired as chief of staff to the incoming vice presidential team, but, we are keeping it to ourselves for now — but you know who you are, and expect a call from us as soon as we get this Note thing published today.
Schedules and contacts have been requested of Senator John Edwards, Rep. Dick Gephardt, Gov. Tom Vilsack, and a few others, according to Democrats who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Democrats quasi-close to the process also believe that former Defense Secretary William Cohen, former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware and Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana might remain prospects, although, alltogethernow — nononebutJohnKerryknowsforsure.
The flurry of activity yesterday prompted a common veepstakes ritual — a reverse wave of phone calls — from sources to reporters, seeking their own clues. The loop of those in the know at this point was described yesterday as being fewer than 10 people, including Senator Kerry, his campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill, Johnson, one or two close friends of Kerry's, and a very few select other aides who are involved in briefing the Secret Service and advance teams.
After the announcement itself, it's expected that the presumptive vice presidential nominee will campaign with Kerry and attend a few fundraisers — and then take a few days off to organize their lives for the next (8?) years.
Other Democrats and Kerry campaign officials say that nothing has been set in stone and that Kerry would well decide to postpone an announcement for a week — or even until the week before the convention.
In the Boston Globe , Glen Johnson and Pat Healy add these details:
--"The campaign has also reserved a second charter jet and added support staff in its campaign travel office to facilitate travel for the running mate and his entourage, according to Kerry campaign aides." LINK
--"Kerry has asked a select few of his closest supporters to reserve Tuesday and Wednesday to travel with the campaign, which would allow for a barnstorming tour by the Democratic duo in advance of a gala fund-raiser next Thursday in New York City."
The Des Moines Register Notes that Gov. Tom Vilsack argued with Republican legislative leaders over proposals regarding tax cuts and business issues yesterday. LINK
USA Today 's Jill Lawrence Notes a new poll suggests Democrats are more concerned with beating Bush than whom John Kerry picks to help him do it. "But his choice could affect how the ticket plays with independents and moderates." LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush v. Kerry:
The Wall Street Journal 's John Harwood reports a new Wall Street Journal /NBC poll shows "midway through a dismal election year, President Bush finds the underpinnings of his political support badly eroded. But they haven't collapsed."
"A new Wall Street Journal /NBC News poll documents the toll that months of setbacks have taken on the president's standing. A majority of Americans say that the Iraq war has increased terrorist threats, not reduced them, and that the U.S. economy is headed for long-term trouble. More voters want Mr. Bush defeated than want him re-elected."
"By the end of the Democratic convention late this month, Bush advisers say, the traditional 'bounce' will leave Mr. Kerry with a national lead of 10 percentage points or more. Then, they argue, the president will begin to climb back — initially because convention bounces tend to wear off at the rate of one percentage point a week and later from favorable publicity for Mr. Bush's own convention a month later. At that session in New York, just days before the third anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Mr. Bush will have the chance to fill in the blanks for voters about his second-term agenda, which is expected to include overhauling Social Security and expanding health-care coverage."
Note well those two issues: Social Security and health care coverage expansion. If Harwood is right (and when isn't he???) that is one of the most key things in any newspaper in America today.
Tad Devine, call Peter Hart: "'John Kerry's numbers … are really stagnant,' Mr. Hart says, with even many members of his own party reserving judgment about his candidacy."
That is about as close to a "to be sure" paragraph as Harwood gets.
The San Francisco Chronicle Notes the impact shock jock Howard Stern could have on the outcome of the election. "A recent study by pollster Mark Penn for the New Democrat Network calls the outspoken radio personality a possible secret weapon for Kerry because of his influence over a loyal army of as many as 8 million to 10 million listeners, one-third of them independent voters, who tune in daily on more than four dozen stations across the country — many in such battleground states as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Florida." LINK
"Howard Stern said Wednesday that he'll "work like a dog" to urge his millions of listeners to vote as a bloc for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry," Notes USA Today 's Peter Johnson. LINKThe New York Times ' Michael Erard writes about those crazy online political videogames and the campaign staffers behind them. LINKThe Los Angeles Times' Nick Anderson also has an Internet oriented piece, writing about how that medium is a place where the harder punches can run wild. LINK
Calvin Woodward of the AP asserts Bush and Kerry are not giving voters a clear choice on the their positions on Iraq. "Not since Vietnam has a presidential campaign been so caught up in foreign policy, but the crisp choice from that time — for or against a war — is missing now. Iraq, issue-watchers say, has staged its own invasion of sorts, a reciprocal shock and awe on the American political landscape. The candidates talk about many other things, but affordable-college plans and job programs just aren't holding a candle to the tumult abroad." LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:
Vice President Cheney delivers a campaign speech in New Orleans and attends a congressional fundraiser for Calder Clay in Macon, Ga. ABC's Karen Travers has been told by an official in the Vice President's office that this will be a new speech, and since it is his first major speech since the handover in Iraq, it will be big on foreign policy.
As Vice President Cheney emerges from the shadows to become more active and visible in the Bush-Cheney '04 re-election campaign, Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times Notes that "oddly, both Democrats and Republicans are happy about it." LINK
Wallsten looks at the strategies of both parties when it comes to Cheney's role in the campaign — "a gamble for both sides," as the campaign sends Cheney out on the road this weekend on a bus tour and as Democrats use the Vice President to rally their supporters in the party's efforts to defeat President Bush.
The biggest news in Alan Cooperman's story on BC04's plan to motivate religious voters is somewhat buried:
"A spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service, Frank Keith, said, 'It would be inappropriate for the IRS, based on a limited set of facts and circumstances, to render a judgment about whether the activities in this document would or would not endanger a church's tax-exempt status.'" LINK"He pointed out, however, that the IRS on June 10 sent a strongly worded letter to both the Republican and Democratic national committees, reminding them that tax-exempt charitable groups 'are prohibited from directly or indirectly participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.'"
Democrats walk a fine line here — while attempting to use churches for political activity outrages many of them legitimately, they are wary of being perceived as anti-religious — and also worry that some of their own, less-than-fully-vetted political action will come to the fore.
That said, the story suggests that the campaign is coming close to the barrier, particularly if pastors sanction activity that indirectly benefits BC04. But they're not there yet.
The Washington Post 's Thomas Edsall reports on the RNC's "Super Rangers," a new elite group of 62 fundraisers "who have replaced the high-dollar corporate, union and wealthy donors of the past." LINK
Edsall runs down the different titles (and the dollar amounts they have to raise) for these high-level fundraisers: The DNC has "Trustees" ($250,000) and "Patriots" ($100,000); BC04 has "Rangers" ($200,000) and "Pioneers" ($100,000); and Senator Kerry has "vice chairs" ($100,000) and "co-chairs" ($50,000).
The Washington Post 's David Broder examines the alliance between President Bush and British Prime Minister Blair, which "both supporters and opponents of Blair's government, consider the strangest and most politically provocative personal alliance in the world." LINKThe New York Times ' Maureen Dowd Notes "the president acted as if Iraq was in control, but our forces can't come home because Iraq's still out of control." LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Senator John Kerry:
ABC's Dan Harris reports that Senator John Kerry's campaign will announce today that they've raised $175 million since the cycle began, including $30 million in June. The campaign says that $100 million came from grassroots donors. The average donation is about $100. Bank of America, who processes JohnKerry.com credit card requests, was allegedly overwhelmed with contributions yesterday and had to shut down for seven minutes due to an overload.
We wonder: what's behind the latest spike in donations? Fahrenheit 9/11? Mary Beth Cahill's wonderful solicitation e-mails? Moveon.org synergy?
Patrick Healy of the Boston Globe reminds us that "The Massachusetts senator has climbed back a long way from December, when he loaned himself $6.4 million by taking out a mortgage on his Louisburg Square townhouse when his fund-raising was badly lagging. Kerry." That loan is still outstanding. LINK
Note to Patrick: where did you get your Bush 2000 fundraising total figure from? And nice shot at Birnbaum!!!!
"A Catholic lawyer has filed heresy charges against Senator John Kerry with the Archdiocese of Boston, accusing the Democratic presidential candidate of bringing "most serious scandal to the American public" by receiving Holy Communion as a pro-choice Catholic," the Washington Times reports. "The 18-page document was sent to the archdiocese June 14, but released to the public only yesterday by Marc Balestrieri, a Los Angeles-based canon lawyer and an assistant judge with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' tribunal, an ecclesiastical court." LINKWriting on Slate, Steven Waldman thinks Kerry is taking a "dubious approach to religion," and says that "if Kerry's uncomfortable with religion then he's uncomfortable with Americans." LINK
Nedra Pickler reports Kerry says he is against-state laws that give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants — a stance that won't help him with some of the Hispanic activists he is courting for votes. LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Maria La Ganga reports, "In comments to the Spanish-language network Telemundo late Tuesday, [Kerry] said he thought granting licenses to those in the country illegally violated the spirit of the law." LINK
What a difference four years makes. Four years ago, the League of Conservation Voters endorsed Al Gore but didn't have a grassroots field program. Wasn't necessary, they thought. This year, they've already knocked on 100,000 doors in Florida, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin.
The Boston Globe 's Bryan Bender breaks down a fact sheet released by the Kerry campaign yesterday attacking the Bush Administration on its handling of the war. "The move demonstrated the Kerry campaign's increasing willingness to engage Bush on what had been the president's perceived strength, his handling of national security." LINK
The Wall Street Journal 's editorial page says NAY to wanting a peek at the Kerry/Thorne divorce records buy AYE to THK's tax returns. And their notion of her releasing past returns now is one that makes sense to many clear-thinking watchdogs.
The New York Times ' Jodi Wilgoren analyzes the campaign's new ad called "Pilot", which began running in New Mexico on Wednesday. LINKThe Democrat-controlled Massachusetts House green lighted a bill stripping Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of the power to appoint John Kerry's Senate seat successor if Kerry is elected president. Steve LeBlanc of the AP reports the bill would require a special election within 160 days of vacancy and the would serve the rest of Kerry's term, ending in 2008. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: the battlegrounds:
Due in part to reductions in the federal budget, New Hampshire officials are being forced to examine their Social Security offerings, the state's single largest social service program. LINK
The former head of a Republican consulting group pleaded guilty yesterday to jamming Democratic telephone lines in several New Hampshire cities during the 2002 general election which included the closely watched U.S. Senate race between outgoing Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and then-Congressman (and winner) John Sununu. LINK
Get the down low on all the "interesting people" the Bush and Kerry campaigns will be bringing to New Hampshire in the next few weeks, which potentially include Wesley Clark, Karl Rove, Tommy Thompson, and Jim Tobin. LINK
In Santa Fe, New Mexico, business interests are preparing for the next round in their legal fight to overturn Santa Fe's minimum-wage ordinance. LINK"GOP or Democrat? Voters saying 'nunya'" reads an article detailing how one quarter of the 38,621 new voters registered in New Mexico signed up without as neither Democrats nor Republicans nor Greens, according to the New Mexico Secretary of State's Office. LINKA petition signed by 244,587 people in the bid for a fall ballot measure to ban same-sex unions set records as the most signatures ever collected for a single ballot measure in Oregon. LINK
This Fourth of July holiday weekend brings Pennsylvania residents an extra dosage of American
Politics:
Vice President Dick Cheney campaigns in Oakland on Sunday and Senator John Kerry rallies with supporters Monday at a barbecue in Fox Chapel. LINKThe Associated Press reports there is shock in Maine today after a newly released poll said Senator Kerry is neck-and-neck with the president among likely voters. Surveys taken in the spring showed Kerry with a 10-13 point lead over Bush in the state that Vice President Gore narrowly won in 2000. LINKBy participating in the conference call attacking Kerry from his office in the state Capitol, Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn's natural resources adviser "might have crossed ethical lines," reports the Reno Gazette-Journal. Guinn's spokesman admitted the call fell into a "gray area," but insists there was nothing unethical. LINK
The Yucca debate continues in Nevada, with the government scheduled to make 1.2 million documents related to the project publicly available today. "To dramatize the immense volume of papers, the department said the documents, if stacked in one pile, would be as tall as an 18-story building," reports the Associated Press. LINK
With an economy that is stronger that its neighbors, Washington State is in a period of slight population growth. LINK
Dow Chemical's plant in South Charleston, W. Va. laid off more workers on Wednesday, according to an unconfirmed report in the Charleston Gazette. LINK
Employees at Charleston's Goodrich factory will be returning to work today after a 17-day strike ended yesterday. LINK
The Canton Repository continues its slow roll-out of the results of its Stark County poll, with today's numbers showing health care is an important issue to the battleground county's voters, but that opposition to gay marriage runs high among residents as well. LINK
At the same time, the Repository ed board takes its readers to task for having an overly gloomy view of the region's economy. Yes, recently announced plant closures will mean the loss of 1,700+ jobs, but the editorial Notes that a new nonprofit partnership plans to build an industrial park in Canton that could eventually attract 2,000 jobs to the area. LINK
Down the road in Barberton, Ohio, workers at the Decker Family Development Center made a last ditch attempt this week to keep the social assistance agency from closing its doors — but the $3.00 in lottery winnings was not enough to prevent the center's closure. LINK
As if Ohioans needed more confirmation of their importance in the election: the Cincinnati Enquirer says today that Americans Coming Together has spent more money ($1.1 million) in Ohio than in any other state, along with deploying more than 700 workers in the Buckeye State. (The Note can't help but wonder what these figures would look like sans felons . . . ) LINK
The executive director of the Ohio Head Start Association warned Cleveland residents yesterday that the anti-poverty program is "under attack." LINK
The Wheeling News-Register reports that Vice President Cheney will get a two-fer in his weekend stop in the West Virginia city, with many Southern Ohio residents expected to cross the Ohio River to attend the Vice President's speech at Wheeling Park High School. LINK
Fahrenheit 9/11:
While we wait for the first Spidey numbers, the Arizona Republic's Connie Cone Sexton muses that Fahrenheit 9/11 will have staying power over Spider-Man 2's likely huge box office numbers: "Spider-Man 2's opening may slightly cool the Fahrenheit frenzy, but the pending election should keep the political film a top ticket." LINKPeople will need a movie to see when "Spider-Man 2" is sold out after all — although there is "De-Lovely," right?
In the meantime, we can't help it: did everybody notice the 3 (!) possible future villains dropped into Spider-Man?
"Fahrenheit" will become the first imported documentary into China, the People's Daily Online reports. LINKBack in this country, read today's Los Angeles Times letters to the editors for a good collection of the passions incited by the movie. LINK
Florida Rep. Corrine Brown, featured in "Fahrenheit" saying the "Senate is missing" as she and other black congressional members objected to President Bush's election victory, is using the movie as a campaign tool: "She has hit the road for screenings that double as campaign fund-raisers, including a $25-a-head showing tonight at 6 at the Universal Cineplex," reports the Orlando Sentinel's Scott Maxwell. LINK
And she was in the great Gainesville, Fla. last night. LINK
The Washington Post 's Richard Cohen writes that "the stunning box-office success of 'Fahrenheit 9/11' is not, as proclaimed, a sure sign that Bush is on his way out but is instead a warning to the Democrats to keep the loony left at a safe distance." LINKElsewhere, papers continue to have mostly positive color about local screenings, including this tidbit in the Allentown Morning Call: '"We've turned more than 100 people away from every show,' said Scott Snyder, managing director of Allentown's 19th Street Theatre, which added an unscheduled fourth show on Sunday and will show the film through July 18." LINK
AP's David German reports the success of "Fahrenheit" has increased distributors' and theater owners' interest in documentaries. LINKAnd somebody should run those CMAG numbers about where the film's TV ads are running — there was some pricey network morning show time bought in at least some of the nation today.
Nader-Camejo '04
On July 9, NPR will host a 90-minute debate between Ralph Nader and Howard Dean at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, which will air on the show "Justice Talking." Chances are there won't be a lot of love in the room. LINK
The AP reports Nader says it will be a discussion of how to re-invigorate our democracy. LINKIn a must-read roundup of all things Nader for the past week, the New York Times ' Janofsy and Kershaw chronicle the campaign happenings of Ralph Nader, the candidate who never "met a third party he did not like." Ballot access heavyweight Richard Winger and former Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan come to Nader's rescue explaining it isn't uncommon and or "unexpected" for Nader to seek support from more than one party. Nader tells The Times "'there's no quid pro quo' with the Reform Party or any other that would require him to alter his views." LINK
Also Note, Citizens for a Sound Economy-Wisconsin plans to urge Republicans to sign Naders petitions as they did in Oregon. Nader says the Dems are up to "dirty tricks" to keep him off ballots and by infiltrating his nominating convention with Democrats who poses as petition signers last weekend, in Oregon .
The Nader campaign is still working on verifying petitions gathered that night, before submitting them to the country elections office, which is the next step.
ABC News confirms Moses Ross of the Multnomah County Democratic Party sent an e-mail to Dems in the Portland area asking them to attend Nader's rally. Ross say "the gloves came off" when he learned conservative groups were making calls for Nader.
DNC message man Jano Cabrera (he of the fancy new title!!), tells The Times "We are aware that different state parties are challenging the validity of signatures Ralph Nader has gathered. While we support these efforts, we have not been asked to provide any resources or asked to participate by any state parties."
Yesterday, as expected, the political watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission Citizens for a Sound Economy and the Oregon Family Council, also naming the Nader and Bush campaigns in the complaint.
The Boston Globe reports billionaire and Bushie Richard J. Egan and his relatives are bankrolling Ralph Nader. Anne E. Kornblut reports this action reflects "a more sophisticated strategy by Republicans to draw support away from Democratic challenger John F. Kerry by bolstering his third-party rival."
"Egan, cofounder of EMC Corp. in Hopkinton, has given Nader the maximum $2,000 allowed under the law, according to federal elections documents that also show a $4,000 contribution to Nader from Egan's son and daughter-in-law, John R. and Pamela C. Egan. An independent campaign finance watchdog group lists the Egan-Managed Capital company — another family business in Massachusetts — as among the biggest contributors to the Nader campaign." LINK
Republicans fire at Florida Democrats who say they will scrutinize Nader's bid to secure a spot on Florida's presidential ballot. FLGOPers say it's ''beyond the bounds of hypocrisy.'' The Miami Herald reports, "Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox said the party only wants to make sure that Nader legitimately qualifies for the Florida ballot. But the examination mirrors efforts across the country that Naderites say are designed to trip up the independent candidate as he tries to secure a spot on ballots across the United States — a daunting effort complicated by the Green Party rebuff of Nader over the weekend." LINK
Norman Soloman slams Nader in the Baltimore Sun. LINK
Politics:
The Washington Post 's Brian Faler reports "the federal government is giving millions of dollars in farm subsidies to people who should not receive them, thanks to vague government regulations and insufficient oversight, according to congressional investigators." LINKThe Wall Street Journal 's Tom Herman says that if same-sex marriage were legal, the Treasury would take in several hundred million additional dollars.
"[The] Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a lower-court redistricting plan for the Georgia legislature that benefited Republicans," reports the New York Times ' David Rosenbaum. LINKCampaign ad junkies should definitely check this out. LINK
The conventions:
Senator Teddy Kennedy — a peace-maker. Well, it seems that's his latest role in the now-public feud between Senator John Kerry and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. Menino has become outspoken in recent days about Senator Kerry's decision not to speak at the U.S. Conference of Mayors earlier this week, and was upset about Kerry's idea to maybe not accept the nomination at the convention LINK
"'We're trying to work well every day with the mayor, but he appears to have his own issues that he chooses to deal with in his own way,' said one Kerry adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity."
Way to tamp things down, anonymous Kerry adviser!!!!
The New York Post 's Stephan Friedman writes up Mayor Menino's caustic remarks to the Boston Herald with the headline "BOSTON BOSS BLASTS KERRY." LINKSimilarly, the New York Daily News' Derek Rose has this headline: "Beans! Boston mayor sez of Kerry." LINKAdrian Walker's column in the Boston Globe today explains that Gov. Bill Richardson, who doubles as the chairman of the Democratic National Convention, had asked local Boston Latino groups to organize a party in his honor for the convention, which they have done, but there's no money. LINK
The economy
The economy:
The New York Times ' Gretchen Morgenson writes that after voting to raise interest rates, "the nation will see how well Mr. Greenspan, the Federal Reserve chairman, plays the game of catch-up." LINKSteven Ratner writes in the New York Times that "the question is not whether rates will continue to go up, but how far and how fast." LINKThe New York Times ' ed board agrees and contemplates the presidential calendar in all of this. LINKThe Los Angeles Times' Janet Hook looks at the Fed's decision through a 41/42 lens.
Morning show wrap:
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TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET): —8:30 am: The Labor Department releases the weekly jobless claims report—9:00 am: Democratic Platform Committee Chair Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones holds a conversation to gather testimony about education for the Democratic platform at John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio —9:45 am: Off-camera press gaggle by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan—10:00 am: The Department of Labor releases its manufacturing survey for June —10:00 am: The Commerce Department releases its construction spending report for May—11:00 am: Freddie Mac releases its weekly mortgage rates report—10:00 am: The National Right to Life Committee begins its annual convention with a tribute to former President Ronald Reagan at the Hyatt-Regency, Arlington, Va.—10:30 am: Homeland Security Department Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Officer Daniel Sutherland participates in a discussion about homeland security and civil liberties at the Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C.—12:45 pm: On-camera press briefing by Press Secretary McClellan—1:00 pm: Platform Committee Chair Rep. Tubbs Jones holds a conversation to gather testimony about economy and labor, University Heights, Ohio—1:30 pm: Vice President Cheney delivers a major speech about the war in Iraq at the National D-Day Museum, New Orleans, La.—2:00 pm: National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Sen. George Allen discusses his plan to strengthen the Republican majority in the Senate at the NRSC, Washington, D.C.—2:00 pm: Former President Bill Clinton signs copies of his memoir "My Life" at Barbara's Bookstore, Chicago, Ill. —2:30 pm: President Bush participates in the swearing-in at the White House of John Danforth as United States Ambassador to the United Nations—3:45 pm: Sen. John Kerry departs the Pittsburgh airport en route to Washington, D.C.—4:00 pm: President Bush speaks in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the White House—4:30 pm: The Federal Reserve releases its weekly reports on aggregate reserves and the monetary base—6:30 pm: Vice President Cheney speaks at a reception for Congressional candidate Calder Clay, Macon, Ga.—6:30 pm: Platform Committee Chair Rep. Tubbs Jones holds a conversation to gather testimony about health care and stem cell research, University Heights, Ohio