Date: August 6, 2012
Hi Josi & Melissa:
Surprise! You're the lucky ones who get to handle the Joe situation. Between the two of you, I'm sure you'll keep the communication clean. The next several days are going to be hell -- I won't lie -- but you can handle it.
Here's the deal. Joe's team is sharing the exclusive with NYT tonight, and they're posting the story at midnight EST. All of tonight's news programs are going to have a field day, but none of them have confirmation. I'm handling incoming calls and emails now, but you'll both take things over first-thing tomorrow morning.
Joe's definitely not happy with Barack, for too many reasons to count, but I worked out a deal with his press team: they've agreed not to go into specifics. Doing so will screw up our re-election efforts, and we're already waging an uphill battle. Joe's "choosing to spend time with family and will pursue other philanthropic interests." Nobody will buy it, but that's what we have to work with. Be prepared.
Barack would like to meet with the three of us at around 6:45ish. He knows that you've both been working on the crisis plan, and he'd like to hear each version. Together, we'll make final decisions this evening and move ahead right away.
I'll meet you outside the Oval Office at 6:42.
Jay
The Joe Biden stepping down scenario is the most interesting curveball assignment in PRFP. (Mock) crises may take many shapes and forms. Few are more daunting when the number two leader of a world superpower steps down right before the election.
ReplyDeleteYou have to consider that, in this situation, eyes from all four corners of the globe will be following the Biden affair closely. The challenge is getting ahead of this crisis within the first 24 hours, and communicating with all the relevant audiences: The American people, the media and press, Democratic voters, Congress, and world leaders; especially the heads of powerful or strategically important foreign countries.
In real life, if the White House ever faced a dilemma like this, its crisis team would have a big platoon of writers, analysts, PR experts and spokespeople working with the President on tailoring the right message to the right audiences.