[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - FIRST LADY BUSH RAFTS GRAND CANYON]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - FIRST LADY BUSH RAFTS GRAND CANYON
Date: 	Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:45:08 -0600
From: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Reply-To: 	<riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	riverwire at rrfw.org



RRFW Riverwire – FIRST LADY BUSH RAFTS GRAND CANYON

First Lady to Raft Colorado River

By Arizona Daily Sun Staff

06/21/2005

First lady Laura Bush will visit northern Arizona today on an 
unannounced trip to the Grand Canyon. [Mrs.] Bush is planning a rafting 
trip on the Colorado River with friends and will later hike out, several 
sources said.

Secret Service agents were spotted around the park last week. Local law 
enforcement agencies will be providing any additional security and 
transportation needs the first lady might have.

The Park Service, superintendent of the Grand Canyon and Bush's media 
staff would neither confirm nor deny any visit, nor would the White 
House provide Bush's public schedule for the coming week.

Park employees have been told not to acknowledge that they know anything 
about the visit. There are no public events planned at the Grand Canyon, 
the White House said.

The first lady has rafted the Grand Canyon before with childhood 
friends, according to published reports. During a talk on national parks 
in 2003, Bush was asked a question about whether business activity in 
national parks was increasing.

She responded with a specific opinion on the canyon's policy.

"I know that certainly the Grand Canyon is very, very strict, if you go 
on a river trip through the Colorado River and hike out, on the number 
of outfitters that can be there," she said.