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SCOTT MCCLELLAN: . . . Then the President will, this evening in Pennsylvania, attend a family-style picnic and softball game. I think the softball game is, I believe, between the Pennsylvania Young Republicans and Pennsylvania College Republicans.

Q. Is he playing?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don’t think he’s playing; I don’t think he’s participating in it.

Q. Does he have money on the game? Is he betting on the game at all? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Next question. That was Ken Herman. I think they can figure it out, who — (laughter.)

. . .

Q. Is it true the President thinks the American Legion is the one with the designated hitter? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Ken Herman again.

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Q. Can I ask you a separate question about something else? Basically — I don’t know if you saw the University of Maryland poll that shows one in seven people think we went to war under false pretenses. That poll and others –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Haven’t seen the poll.

Q. Ask the campaign. (Laughter.)

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Q. Hey, Scott, was the President surprised, as I was, to learn –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Next to last question.

Q. — Puerto Rico has its own teams? (Laughter.) Against the United States? Can you explain that?

MR. McCLELLAN: That was new to you?

Q. Yes, it was.

MR. McCLELLAN: When you found out the basketball game, huh?

Q. Who was he cheering for, the U.S. or Puerto Rico? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: There’s no question on that one. But no, I mean, look, all the swimmers, Michael Phelps and Aaron Peirsol and Amanda Beard, and the gymnasts — you know, Paul Hamm and Carly Patterson — I mean, that’s all been very inspiring to watch.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: …And when we arrive in Pensacola, Florida, the President will make remarks at a rally there. From there we go to Niceville, Florida — so something for everybody in the press corps to keep in mind, this is Niceville. (Laughter.)

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Q. Thank you, Scott. Last week, the Protocol Office of the State Department listed a lot of gifts to the President and their family. Especially huge were the gifts from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, well over $100,000. First of all, does the President and his family get to use these gifts, and are they considered a bribe? Do they affect policy in any way? (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: No, they — absolutely not, Connie. And I don’t know what’s happened with those gifts. I’ll try to check into it.

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Q. Hey, you.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Hey, you.

Q. So, are you guys going to Iowa because Kerry is going there? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: The President’s schedule is something that we set and determine based on where we feel it’s best to go. It’s not based on the Senator’s schedule.

Q. Does the President like it when he’s at the same place? Or would you rather be in a different place when Kerry is –

MR. McCLELLAN: The President is focusing on his record and his agenda for the American people. . .

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SECRETARY CARD: Well, the 9/11 Commission recommended that there be a — that this position be Cabinet-level in pay, but not necessarily a member of the Cabinet. In fact, when I asked both Lee Hamilton and Tom Kean about this, they said, we never recommended that it be made a member of the Cabinet. They recommended that it be Cabinet-level pay. And that’s level one pay, for people who understand how the federal government pays people. People who work at the White House are not paid level one. We’re paid at the highest level, level two. And so they –

Q. How much? (Laughter.)

DR. RICE: Public record.

SECRETARY CARD: — $150,000 or something like that. (Laughter.)

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Q. Mr. Card, what is the background of a person that you would suggest to fill this new position? Would it be an academic, a former military man, somebody from Congress? What are the qualifications that you would look for in a National Intelligence Director?

SECRETARY CARD: The most important thing would be to have the confidence of the President of the United States, so that that person would be able to come to the President and speak with great candor and offer unvarnished advice and counsel, as the analysis was reviewed and presented, for the President to make tough policy decisions. So, number one, I would say, with the confidence of the President of the United States.

Beyond that, I think that the President would look to have someone who has an understanding of the intelligence community and the various entities that make up the intelligence community and the executive branch of government — and there are many of them — and also have an understanding of the — kind of the government process, the budget process and how Congress would work and how the government has to function as kind of one voice representing the President’s direction for the country, and his obligation — and remember, the oath that he took is the paramount responsibility that he has to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. That’s meaning to preserve and protect our opportunity to participate in this great land.

Q. Do you have anyone in mind?

SECRETARY CARD: Helen. Helen, I didn’t even think about you. (Laughter.)

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