Sam's gonna make some changes.
Are you going to clear them with me?
Probably not. [to the recorder] Write this. Eleven months ago, a 1,200-pound spacecraft blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Eighteen hours ago...18 hours, do I have that right? It's going to be noon Eastern time.
Eighteen hours ago, it landed on the planet Mars. You, me, and 60,000 of your fellow students across the country, along with astroscientists and engineers from the Jet Propulsion Lab in Southern California, NASA Houston, and right here at the White House are going to be to the first to see what it sees, and to chronicle the extraordinary voyage of an unmanned ship called 'Galileo V.'
[to C.J.] He said it right.
[to Leo, about a Russian warhead explosion:] Leo, at the time the SS-19 exploded, it was being drained of its liquid hydrogen in an attempt by deserting soldiers to – wait for it...
Steal the warhead! [to the Russian Ambassador ] When were you gonna tell us about that? You realize how dangerous–
RARussian Ambassador
Mr. President, you shouldn't be concerned with the welfare of the Russian people.
Well, I am concerned with the welfare of the Russian people, but that's not what they pay me for. You guys fall asleep at the switch in Minsk, and I've got a whole hemisphere hiding under the bed. How do you not tell us this is going on? How do you not ask us for help?
RARussian Ambassador
We'll not need help finding the leaders of the black market network–
Yeah, thanks. We're sending in NATO inspectors.
RARussian Ambassador
Leo and I were just discussing the terms.
The terms are we're sending in NATO or he's taking a walk to the press room.
[to the Russian Ambassador] Get your foreign minister on the phone. [pauses] I honestly don't know from where you guys get the nerve.
RARussian Ambassador
From a long, hard winter, Mr. President.
We have at our disposal a captive audience of schoolchildren. Some of them don't go to the blackboard or raise their hand cause they think they're going to be wrong. I think you should say to these kids, "You think you get it wrong sometimes, you should come down here and see how the big boys do it." I think you should tell them you haven't given up hope, and that it may turn up, but in the meantime, you want NASA to put its best people in the room, and you want them to start building Galileo VI. Some of them will laugh and most of them won't care, but for some they might honestly see that it's about going to the blackboard and raising your hand.
You're from NASA Public Affairs?
You mind if I give it a polish?
No, it's great. You mind if I change it?
I'd prefer if you didn't.
The Public Affairs has cleared the text. If it's gonna be changed, I'd prefer that the President change it.
See, that's kind of what he pays me to do, so...
Look, I don't want to step on your toes. You don't want to step on mine. We're both writers.
Yes, I suppose, if you broaden the definition to those who can't spell.
...
[reads] "Good morning! I'm speaking to you live from the West Wing of the White House. Today we have a very unique opportunity to take part live in an extremely historic event which..." Whoa, boy...
[waves and smiles] How you doing, Mr. President?
I did, sir. I'm Scott Tate from NASA Public Affairs.
[gets up and shakes his hand] Scott. "Unique" means "one of a kind." Something can't be very unique, nor can it be extremely historic.
While we're at it, do we have to use the word "live" twice in the first two sentences like we just cracked the technology?
We're also broadcasting in living color, right?
Sam's gonna make some changes.
Are you going to clear them with me?
Probably not. [to the recorder] Write this. Eleven months ago, a 1,200-pound spacecraft blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Eighteen hours ago...18 hours, do I have that right? It's going to be noon Eastern time.
Eighteen hours ago, it landed on the planet Mars. You, me, and 60,000 of your fellow students across the country, along with astroscientists and engineers from the Jet Propulsion Lab in Southern California, NASA Houston, and right here at the White House are going to be to the first to see what it sees, and to chronicle the extraordinary voyage of an unmanned ship called 'Galileo V.'
[to C.J.] He said it right.
