Who wrote this intro?
I did.
You're from NASA Public Affairs?
Yep.
You mind if I give it a polish?
Is there a problem?
No, it's great. You mind if I change it?
I'd prefer if you didn't.
Just the same...
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.
Excuse me?
...
Can I see the intro?
It's up on the Prompter.
[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?
Who wrote this intro?
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?
Look...
We're also broadcasting in living color, right?
Sam?
Yeah.
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.
Yep.
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.
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