WORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE
was not dispatched
by the President's communications
director until minutes before Kip Carson was to step
to the podium and address the White House press corps.
The President, along with his most inner-circle of
staffers within the West Wing, came directly into
the overflowing room of reporters from the Yellow Oval,
a room located on the second floor of the residence portion
of the White House.
It was in the Yellow Oval
that the President informed his confidants that "in
about five minutes from now, I will inform the American
people, and I guess the entire world, that I
will not be seeking a second term as President of the
United States." There was complete silence, as the
magnitude of this unexpected announcement sunk in. As
they had arrived in the Yellow Oval and recognized the
select nature of the group, everyone in the room
anticipated that the President would be saying
something that was certainly extremely important, and
perhaps even urgent. But no one was expecting
this - especially in the absence of Karen, who has
always, without fail, been present when there was a major announcement to be made to the inner circle.
The
President informed them that there would be no
reconsideration of his decision, "l have deliberated
the matter for nearly a year now. The Party is in good
hands, and the numbers say the Party should retain the
White House. We've done some phenomenal work. If
things go as planned, all of you will transition into
the same positions, or better, with the next
president." There was one question asked, that was by
Jasmine Warren, the President's press secretary, who
concluded that the President's transition comment
suggested that Karen might seek the Democratic
nomination. To that, the President responded, "I better
let her answer that. Right now, however, she
is in California with our family. She did ask that I let
all of you know how much you mean to all of us, to
our family."
The span of time between the President's
arrival to the lectern and his departure lasted two
minutes and forty nine seconds - just long enough for
President Kip Carson to inform the nation in front of a
pool of cameras, a bank of microphones, and the
remaining White House staff members (who had been
summoned into the conference room) that the country
had experienced an upswing of success and that for
nearly three years he had given the nation his best.
The President informed the nation that the next
thirteen months would also see him give his very best,
however, "l believe that at this time four years of absolute
dedication and unyielding effort on behalf of the American
people can surpass what one may be able to accomplish in eight.
Therefore, having given you that kind of effort, I find it
necessary to let others, who share that same love and unyielding
dedication for our America and its people, know of my intention
not to seek a second term in office."