Miller's Big Secret

Charles Babington and Peter Baker write in The Washington Post: "John Glover Roberts Jr. was sworn in yesterday as the 17th chief justice of the United States, enabling President Bush to put his stamp on the Supreme Court for decades to come, even as he prepares to name a second nominee to the nine-member court."

Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Elisabeth Bumiller write: " 'The Senate has confirmed a man with an astute mind and a kind heart,' Mr. Bush said . . . moments before Judge Roberts took the oath in the White House East Room, which was overflowing with a standing-room-only crowd of cabinet members, senators, seven Supreme Court justices and members of the Roberts family. . . .

"Mr. Bush teared up momentarily during the ceremony. The occasion was not without slip-ups and humor. Chief Justice Roberts, in a rare case of misspeaking, referred to the Capitol as 'the home of the executive branch,' while Mr. Bush provoked laughter when he referred to Chief Justice Roberts's son, Jack, who had gamboled about near the president's lectern in a previous White House appearance, as 'a fellow who's comfortable with the cameras.' "

Here is the transcript of the swearing-in ceremony yesterday afternoon.

Here is the transcript of yesterday's mid-day press briefing.

Spokesman Scott McClellan described the celebrating at the White House as the Senate voted.

"Judge Roberts arrived at the White House a little while ago. He came here to watch with White House staff the vote, in the Roosevelt Room. The President was wrapping up a meeting in the Oval Office, and he stepped outside of the Oval Office at the beginning of the vote to catch a little bit of the vote, in the Oval Office. And then after seeing some of the initial votes taking place, he went over to the Roosevelt Room, joined Judge Roberts, Senator Thompson, and other White House staff that was there -- I think all of the Counsel Office or most of the Counsel's Office was in there, as well, probably about 25 to 30 White House staffers -- and proceeded to continue watching the vote.

"When the vote went over 50 senators, the whole room in the Roosevelt Room broke out into applause for Judge Roberts, who nodded and expressed his appreciation in a very humble way. And then the President shook his hand and congratulated him. They watched a few more votes, but then they went over to the Oval Office, along with Senator Thompson and a few others. And they've been visiting in the Oval Office."

Poll Watch

All those trips down to the Gulf Coast appear to have had the desired effect.

Richard Benedetto writes in USA TODAY: "President Bush's response to Hurricane Rita won overwhelming approval in a USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll, a marked contrast to his low marks on handling Hurricane Katrina.

"Overall, 71% of those polled said they approve of Bush's response to Rita, which included presidential trips to the region before, during and after the storm. . . .

"The approval of his handling of Rita also affected his overall job-approval rating.