Week Four

Presidential Archive    2/18 – 2/24/09

By Linnie Frank Bailey

The President completed his first month in office with poll numbers showing most Americans support his ambitious plans to jolt the country out of recession.  Legislation signed by the President during his first month included:

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Signed: Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009 

Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act

Signed: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009

Digital Television (DTV) Delay Act

Signed: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Signed: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

The week ended with President Obama laying out his plans for future economic stability in a major prime-time speech to a joint session of Congress.  While insisting the road ahead is hard, the President inspired the country to join him in meeting the challenges we face.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Housing Plan Rolled Out in Phoenix

President Obama unveiled his housing plan—the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan—in Arizona, the home state of his Presidential opponent John McCain. Arizona is one of many states hard hit by the mortgage crisis. It is estimated that Obama’s plan could directly help up to 9 million American homeowners facing foreclosure.

The President stressed that all homeowners will benefit from the plan because “in the end, all of us are paying a price for this home mortgage crisis. And all of us will pay an even steeper price if we allow this crisis to continue to deepen, but if we act boldly and swiftly to arrest this downward spiral, every American will benefit.”  He laid out key elements of the plan including, refinancing help for some homeowners who receive their mortgages through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; incentives for lenders to modify the terms of sub-prime loans at risk of default and foreclosure; and, steps to keep mortgage rates low for millions of middle class families looking to secure new mortgages.

"The plan I’m announcing focuses on rescuing families who have played by the rules and acted responsibly," the President said, "by refinancing loans for millions of families in traditional mortgages who are underwater or close to it; by modifying loans for families stuck in sub-prime mortgages they can’t afford as a result of skyrocketing interest rates or personal misfortune; and by taking broader steps to keep mortgage rates low so that families can secure loans with affordable monthly payments."

First Lady Opens White House to DC Schoolchildren

“Did you know that African American slaves helped to build this house?” First Lady Michelle Obama asked a group of 180 DC-area 6th and 7th graders on a visit to the White House.  The event, celebrating African American History Month, was hosted by the First Lady, with daughters Sasha and Malia sitting in the front row.

Mrs. Obama stressed the openness of the White House stating, “As the President and First Lady, Barack and I are just the caretakers of this house. We're just borrowing it for a little bit,” she stressed. “And while we live here, we're your neighbors. And we want you to feel welcome at the White House, which really is the people's house that belongs to all of us. So just remember that, okay?”

The First Lady encouraged the children to succeed and look to good role models. She highlighted the example of the White House's Director of the Executive Residence and Chief Usher, Rear Admiral Stephen W. Rochon, and then introduced the group Sweet Honey In The Rock, who performed for the guests.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The President’s First Foreign Trip

President Obama took his first foreign trip as President to Ottawa, Canada. He met with Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Leader of the Official Opposition Michael Ignatieff, as well as US Embassy employees and their families. After a successful meeting and press conference with the Prime Minister, the President visited a local store, cheered on by the throngs of Canadians who had come out to greet him.

Leon Panetta Becomes CIA Director

Vice President Joe Biden led the swearing-in of the President’s pick for CIA Director—Leon Panetta, stating, “He has the experience, the independence and the judgment to lead this agency, and to help it depart dramatically from the legacy of the last eight years.”

The First Lady Visits the Agriculture Department

First Lady Michelle Obama continued her federal agency tour with a visit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. About 300 employees rose to their feet in applause as she walked out on stage. Mrs. Obama presented a plant for a community garden that the USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is starting. The seedling she brought came from the Jackson magnolia tree, which sits on the south portico of the White House. The tree was planted 180 years ago by President Andrew Jackson in honor of his wife Rachel, who passed away before he moved to the White House. This was the First Lady’s fourth visit to a federal agency, following earlier stops to the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Interior.

Friday, February 20, 2009

President Meets With Mayors

“You're on the front lines,” President Obama told a gathering of 85 mayors from America’s top cities. During a question and answer session all parties agreed with Obama’s assessment that mayors “are familiar with the pain that comes with making cuts that are broad and deep.” He went on to outline the importance of the newly signed Stimulus Bill in providing assistance to cities and states. He also stressed the need for vigilance in making sure the money from the act is spent efficiently and wisely, stating, "We can't tolerate business as usual -- not in Washington, not in our state capitals, not in our cities and towns."

Remembering the Gulf Coast

"We must ensure that the failures of the past are never repeated," President Obama said as he announced the extension of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding and his decision to send two cabinet members to the region. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan are heading to the Gulf Coast and New Orleans in early March to evaluate firsthand the progress that's been made and assess the region's needs.

“The residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast who are helping rebuild are heroes who believe in their communities and they are succeeding despite the fact that they have not always received the support they deserve from the Federal government,” the President said. “This executive order is a first step of a sustained commitment by my Administration to rebuild now, stronger than ever.”

This August will mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Michelle Obama Visits Transportation Department

In her fifth visit to a federal agency, First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Department of Transportation.  As with her other agency stops, she explained it as a small gesture to introduce herself as a new resident of the city, and to thank federal workers for their service. With each visit, Mrs. Obama is met with thrilled federal employees and heavy applause.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Obama’s Host First Formal Dinner

President and Mrs. Obama hosted their first formal White House dinner, entertaining the country's governors at the National Governors Association Dinner. According to the Presidential website whitehouse.gov:

“After mingling in the main hall to jazz played by a small Marine music ensemble, the governors gathered in the State Dining Room. The President and First Lady, glamorously dressed in a sparkly black strapless gown and multi-strand necklace of pearls and diamonds, entered last to a greeting of applause.

The President gave a toast to the governors for their work—they’re “where the rubber hits the road,” he said—before dining on Wagyu beef, scallops, creamed spinach and huckleberry cobbler. The event’s formality grew more relaxed when guests made their way to the East Room, cleared out to form a dance floor, for a concert by Earth, Wind & Fire.”

Monday, February 23, 2009

Southern Governors May Turn Down Stimulus Money

A group of Southern Republican governors, led by probable 2012 Presidential candidate Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, say they will turn down some of the money from the economic stimulus package because they don't believe it will stimulate the economy. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour have also said they may not take the stimulus package's unemployment money. They oppose expanding eligibility for unemployment, because they believe it would increase employer taxes.

Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina questioned the motives of the Southern governors. Noting the large number of blacks in their states, he said their opposition to stimulus money is a “slap in the face to African-Americans.”

Darfur a Priority for Administration

President Obama and Vice President Biden met with actor and activist George Clooney to discuss the situation in Darfur where after six years of fighting, it is estimated that 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.7 million have been displaced. Bringing relief to the battered region of Darfur is a top priority for the administration, the President and Vice President assured Mr. Clooney.

Deficit Cut in Half by 2013

President Obama unveiled his plans to cut the massive deficit in half by the end of his first term, stating, “This will not be easy. It will require us to make difficult decisions and face challenges we've long neglected, but I refuse to leave our children with a debt that they cannot repay -- and that means taking responsibility right now, in this administration, for getting our spending under control.”

The President made these comments during an unprecedented summit—open to the press- in which he took questions from guests which included members of Congress and leaders of the business and non-profit communities. He started with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who emphasized the need to cut excess from defense spending -- citing as an example reports that the two-year-old plan to overhaul the fleet of Marine One helicopters had gone significantly over-budget. Not missing a beat, the President stated that he had already given an order to investigate the matter and joked that he was happy with the current helicopter.

The administration also announced that $15 billion of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be available in two days—a week after the act was signed into law.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

President Addresses Congress

With polls indicating support from large majorities of Americans, President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress tonight.  In the prime-time speech, given to members of Congress, but also meant for the American populace, the President reiterated the ‘long road ahead’ to turn the country’s economic crisis around.  He assured the American people of our ability to rise to the challenge as he outlined his plans for economic recovery.

On Thursday, the President is set to unveil his first budget proposal.

Week Three

Presidential Archive 2/11 – 2/17/09

By Linnie Frank Bailey

In his first major act as President, Obama shepherded his Stimulus Bill through Congress this week, and signed the bill—called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—into law. The bill had strong opposition from Congressional Republicans, although the public, as well as revenue-strapped Governors and Mayors from both parties, tended to support the legislation.

The Administration suggested this needed stimulus package was only the first step in solving America’s economic challenges.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

First Lady Advises College Students

First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to students at Howard University in D.C. She told them it is okay to be in college and not sure where your life is heading. She stated, "The question that I hate most that we ask of young people is, 'What are you going to be when you grow up?' And the truth is, I still don't know, and I'm 45 years old," she said. "All I know is that it's important for you to be true to yourselves, not to worry too much about what other people are going to think or make of your choices, because everyone will question what you do and tell you you should've done it the other way."

Negotiations Continued on Stimulus Bill

Democrats and Republicans, House members and Senators, continued their fight over provisions in the President’s Stimulus Bill—with Republicans wanting more tax cuts, and Democrats wanting to keep spending programs intact. Despite some contentious sessions, they eventually brought the House and Senate versions of the bill into accord.

"I want to thank the Democrats and Republicans in Congress who came together around a hard-fought compromise that will save or create more than 3.5 million jobs and get our economy back on track," the President said in an official statement.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Celebrating “The Great Emancipator”

Marking the 200^th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, President Obama, who has stated his admiration of the 16^th President, participated in several commemorative activities.

In the morning, he spoke at the Lincoln bicentennial celebration on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and later that evening he addressed the 102nd Abraham Lincoln Association Annual Banquet Dinner. The previous night he appeared at the Re-Opening of Ford’s Theatre, the site of the April 14, 1865, assassination of President Lincoln

At the Lincoln Memorial celebration, the 44th President commended Lincoln stating, “And so even as we meet here today, in a moment when we are far less divided than in Lincoln's day, but when we are once again debating the critical issues of our time -- and debating them sometimes fiercely -- let us remember that we are doing so as servants of the same flag, as representatives of the same people, and as stakeholders in a common future. That is the most fitting tribute we can pay -- the most lasting monument we can build -- to that most remarkable of men, Abraham Lincoln.”

Commerce Secretary Nominee Withdraws

President Obama’s choice for commerce secretary, Senator Judd Gregg, withdrew his nomination on Thursday, saying there were “irresolvable conflicts” between him and the administration. At a news conference after his statement was released, Gregg said it had become clear that he had made a mistake in accepting the president’s offer to join the cabinet. “That was my mistake, not his,” the senator said, adding that he admired President Obama and the team he has assembled. “Bottom line,” he concluded, “this is simply a bridge too far for me.”

White House spokesmen seemed surprised at the sudden withdrawal. Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, issued a statement that Mr. Gregg had “reached out to the president and offered his name for secretary of commerce.”

“He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda,” Mr. Gibbs said. “Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways.”

The president selected Mr. Gregg after his first choice for commerce secretary, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, withdrew from consideration because of a federal investigation into state contracts.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Congress Passes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Nearing midnight, the Senate passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Three Republican Senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, were among the sixty votes required for passage. Earlier in the day, the House of Representatives passed the same version by a vote of 246-183.

The bill was then sent to President Obama to be signed into law.

Monday, February 16, 2009

The First Family returned from a weekend visit to their home in Chicago, during which the President and First Lady shared a Valentine’s Day meal at a local restaurant. This was the family’s first trip home since the President assumed office.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The Bill Becomes Law, with a Website to Track Spending

President Barack Obama signed into law the $787 billion rescue plan designed to spur consumer spending and create millions of jobs. With the economy still in a tailspin, Obama chose the Rocky Mountain state to sign what has been called the most sweeping economic overhaul plan put forth in decades.

The setting was the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. It was chosen to underscore the investments the new law will make in "green" energy-related jobs.

Simultaneously, the administration launched Recovery.gov, billed as: “a website that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going…..the money is being distributed by Federal agencies, and soon you'll be able to see where it's going -- to which states, to which congressional districts, even to which Federal contractors.”

The website is a first for the American public and continues the deft use of technological innovations by the Obama staff.

Week Two

Presidential Archive 2/3 – 2/10/09

By Linnie Frank Bailey

After starting his first week in office by offering an olive branch to Republicans, the President took a more forceful approach this past week to assure passage of his stimulus bill. He took his case directly to the people and the bill passed the Senate with only three Republican votes.

President Obama suffered a setback with the withdrawal of Tom Daschle to head his healthcare effort, however he admitted to his mistake and moved forward noting, “I don't want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards -- one for powerful people and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes.” A new nominee has not yet been announced.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Third Republican Added to Cabinet

President Obama nominated the third Republican to his cabinet -- Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. The President called Gregg a “master of reaching across the aisle” in announcing him as his choice to lead the Commerce Department today. Gregg joins Secretary Ray LaHood (Transportation) and Secretary Robert Gates for a total of three Republicans in the cabinet.

First African-American Attorney General

Eric Holder was sworn in as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States, becoming the first African-American to hold the position.

Daschle Withdraws

Former Sen. Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services, after controversy over unpaid taxes and relationships with healthcare corporations. Daschle, the former Senate majority leader, apologized for failing to pay his taxes in full. He said earlier he was “deeply embarrassed” for a series of errors that included failing to report $15,000 in charitable donations, unreported car service and more than $80,000 in unreported income from consulting. (Daschle recently filed amended tax returns and paid more than $140,000 in back taxes and interest for 2005-2007.) Daschle's resignation came hours after Nancy Killefer's withdrawal as Obama's chief performance officer, a new post in the administration. It was reported that Ms. Killefer’s withdrawal also involved tax issues.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Out and About in DC

The President and the First Lady made an unannounced visit to a class of second graders at the Capital City Public Charter School. “We were just tired of being in the White House,” the President joked to the students. After reading a book to the students, the President fielded questions from them about life in the White House.

New Caps on Executive Compensation

President Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner issued imposing new restrictions on executive compensation at firms taking money from the government – including a 500K salary cap. The action is not retroactive for firms previously receiving bailout money.

First Lady Visits HUD

First Lady Michelle Obama began her visits to Federal agencies with an appearance at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Workers were reported to be inspired by her visit and speech. She also planned to drop in on the Department of the Interior, which has not received a First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt.

Health Care for Uninsured Children

President Obama signed his second major piece of legislation into law to expand health care coverage to 4 million uninsured children. “In a decent society, there are certain obligations that are not subject to tradeoffs or negotiation,” he said at a signing ceremony in the White House East Room. “Health care for our children is one of those obligations.”

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Washington Post Op-Ed

The Washington Post ran an op-ed by President Obama entitled: The Action Americans Need. The piece was an argument for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

First Flights on Presidential Helicopter and Airplane

President Obama took his first flights aboard Marine One and Air Force One, on his way to the House Democratic Issues Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Faith-based Partnerships.

The President attended the National Prayer Breakfast where he stated, “Instead of driving us apart, our very beliefs can bring us together.”

After the breakfast he announced an executive order establishing the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and talked about the role faith-based and secular community organizations will play in our economic recovery.

"People trust them. Communities rely on them. And we will help them," he said.

The President named Joshua DuBois to lead the office, and also announced the creation of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships -- a group of 25 religious and secular leaders, listed below.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Town Hall in Elkhart, Indiana

The President held a town hall in this Indiana town which has been hard hit by the economic downturn. Elkhart has seen its unemployment rate more than triple over the past year -- from 4.7% in December 2007 to 15.3% this past December. The President used this occasion to push the stimulus bill.

The First Press Conference

President Obama held his first press conference, in the East Room of the White House. The topic—the economic status of the country and the need for the Stimulus bill passage. The President stated, “the single most important part of this Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is the fact that it will save or create up to 4 million jobs. Because that is what America needs most right now.” He reminded critics of the bill, including Senate Republicans who are pushing for more tax cuts, “we learned very clearly and conclusively over the last eight years, tax cuts alone cannot solve all our economic problems – especially tax cuts that are targeted to the wealthiest few Americans. We have tried that strategy time and time again, and it has only helped lead us to the crisis we face right now.” 

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Town Hall in Ft. Myers, Florida

The President visited another town hard hit by the bad economy. He listened to personal stories of job loss and homelessness and promised to try to help struggling Americans.

Senate Passes Stimulus Bill

The Senate voted to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Three Republican Senators joined Democrats in passing the bill. Now, lawmakers must reconcile the House and Senate versions of the bill before President Obama can sign it.