[Cementjungle]

Well, what I was thinking, is when the phone (or cellphone) rings, I pick it up, and I’m talking. There’s no record. So, someone else ... probably the cowboy hat Representative ... had to immediately react, whip out her phone, and record her side of the conversation, or maybe both if speakerphone functionality was activated.

I believe these calls from presidents are per-arranged. I sincerely doubt any president sits around trying to call people when there's no assurance they're home/answering.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Re calls being pre-arranged:

Yeah, silly me. Mine aren’t.

[TigersEye]

I believe these calls from presidents are per-arranged. I sincerely doubt any president sits around trying to call people when there's no assurance they're home/answering.

Very true. There are other good reasons for pre-arranging calls from a POTUS. It might be too shocking to get a cold call from a POTUS and the recipient might go 'deer-in-the-headlights' or get hysterical (think Publisher's Clearing House winner) or simply not believe it is the POTUS and hang up. It also gives the recipient time to get other grieving family members together as they might appreciate being present as well.