Schaumburg TownshipSTRO Treasurer and Deputy Committeeman goes to Washington
"STRO Treasurer and Deputy Committeeman Joe Folisi has known Karl Rove (Assistant to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor) since they were involved in College Republicans more than 30 years ago. So when Karl was leaving the White House to return to Texas, the President invited Joe to a farewell White House reception for Karl. Bill Anderson, STRO member and precinct captain, was able to go along as Joe's guest.
The reception took place on the State Floor of the White House and there were about 200 guests. The President and Mrs. Bush were there as well as several other key members of the administration. Joe and Bill were also invited to Karl's home for brunch the following day. They have several stories to tell about their excellent White House adventure so corner them after a STRO meeting and get some of the inside details.
The White House, from the lawn!
President Bush and Secretary of State Condi Rice entering the East Room. President Bush addressed the guests.
The East Room is where the President often has a press conference with foreign heads of state visiting the U.S. Josh Bolton, Chief of Staff,
and Karl Rove also addressed the guests.
Joe with Secretary of State Condi Rice. Several other dignitaries and friends of Karl were also at the reception.
Joe and Bill in the Red Room. The Green Room and Blue Room were also some of the many rooms
on the State Floor which were open to the reception guests. Food and drinks and wonderful deserts were plentiful.
The President and Mrs. Bush were leaving for Camp David so Joe and Bill got to see the President and Mrs. Bush
walk to Marine One and see the helicopter take off. In this photo the President is doing his standard wave to the on-lookers
Joe and Karl in the State Room at the White House. This is the room where official state dinners take place.
It is relatively small and the capacity for a full state dinner is only 140.
Bill and Joe with Karl at his home in Washington.
Karl is an avid reader (about 150 books a year) and is a great story teller.
