Obama Watch: Week of May 10
The Obamas' give speeches at HBCUs | celebrate Mom's day | and have busy week ahead. See photos!
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Celebrating Mothers - First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a Mother’s Day tea on Friday held in the White House’s State Dining Room. In attendance were former first lady Rosalynn Carter and granddaughter, Sarah Carter; President Richard Nixon's daughter Tricia Nixon Cox; and President Dwight D. Eisenhower's granddaughters Susan and Anne Eisenhower, along with young women who participate in Mrs. Obama's mentoring program, spouses and mothers of service members, and Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Jill.
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Praising Her Mom - Mrs. Obama also paid tribute to her mother, Marian Robinson. “There’s no way that I could ever fully measure all that my own mommy has done for me,” she told guests. “This woman who tries to take absolutely no credit for who I am, for some reason. She is my rock.” (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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Date Night - On Friday, the president took First Lady Michelle out to eat at Komi, a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant in Dupont Circle in D.C. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Malia’s Soccer Game - President Obama walks his oldest daughter, Malia, to her soccer game at a field in northwest D.C. on Saturday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Mrs. Obama’s Address - Last Saturday, Mrs. Obama gave the commencement address at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a historically Black institution. The school opened in 1873, with just seven students, who mostly couldn’t read. "Even today ... I know that for some of you this journey has not been easy," Obama said. "Like me, you wanted something more, right? Just like those (original) seven students."
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Case in Point - During her address, she reflected on the inspirational story of Quinna Childress of Newport, who graduated Saturday with a 3.935 grade-point average in biology and plans to attend medical school. Childress was homeless at age 16, a high school student living out of a car who worked nights and weekends as a nurse's aide. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
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Cheering Graduates - The First Lady cheered graduating seniors at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, Ark., as the school's chancellor Lawrence A. Davis, right, looks on. Mrs. Obama gave her commencement speech in front of 270 graduates.
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Obama Addresses Hampton Grads - On Sunday, the president addressed nearly 1,100 graduates of Hampton University, an HBCU in Virginia. More than 12,000 people were in attendance. During his speech, he championed the role of education in helping them face uncertainties in the economy as they go out and find jobs. "The good news is, all of you are ahead of the curve," Obama told the graduates. "All those checks you wrote to Hampton will pay off."
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Grads Cheer Obama - Ryan Brown of Deptford, NJ, and other business majors cheer President Barack Obama following his addresses to the nearly 1,100 graduates of Hampton University. Of those receiving degrees, 866 were undergraduate degrees, 111 were graduate degrees and 95 were professional degrees. Of those receiving undergraduate degrees were 866, graduate degrees 111, professional degrees 95. There were 496 undergraduates who graduated with honorees. This was the school’s 140th Commencement Ceremony. (AP Photo
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Honorary Degree - After his speech, the president received an honorary Doctor of Law degree. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Calling Out to Grads - The president calls out to the recent Hampton graduates after commencement ceremonies. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
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Supreme Nominee - Monday morning, President Obama, alongside Vice President Biden announced current Solicitor General Elena Kagan as his nominee for the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Paul Stevens. If Kagan is confirmed she would be the fourth woman ever to serve on the court.
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BP Oil Spill - The president will meet with Cabinet members and senior staff in the Situation Room to discuss efforts by British Petroleum to stop the oil leak currently devastating the Gulf coast. In addition they will talk about ways to stop the spill from spreading and how to ease damage done to the environment as well as businesses and communities.
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Meetings - Obama will attend meetings on Tuesday.
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Obesity Taskforce Report - On Tuesday morning, the first lady along with Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes will release the findings of the Childhood Obesity Task Force report. The president ordered the 90-day review close to the launch of the Let’s Move! initiative in February. BET News will be on site to cover.
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