Obama Watch: Week of July 19

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BP Oil Spill - One of the biggest events this year was the BP Oil Spill that began after an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April. Between that time and the time when the leak was finally capped in July, President Obama met with BP officials and citizens living the gulf to try to alleviate the effect of the spill. On July 16, President Obama made a statement on the capping of the BP well in White House’s Rose Garden. The cap stopped oil from releasing into the Gulf. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Obama on Oil Cap - A day after the news broke, President Obama makes a statement on the capping of the BP well in the Gulf on Friday in the White House’s Rose Garden. The cap has temporarily stopped oil from releasing into the Gulf. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Heading to Andrews - Following the conference, the First Family walked to Marine One on the White House South Lawn on their way to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Heading to Andrews - Following the conference, the First Family walked to Marine One on the White House South Lawn on their way to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Off to Maine - Here, while at Andrews, they walk toward Air Force One accompanied by Air Force Col. Lee dePalo and his wife. The Obamas traveled to Maine for the weekend. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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Off to Maine - Here, while at Andrews, they walk toward Air Force One accompanied by Air Force Col. Lee dePalo and his wife. The Obamas traveled to Maine for the weekend. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

They’ve Arrived - The president walks with daughters Malia and Sasha after arriving at Maine’s Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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They’ve Arrived - The president walks with daughters Malia and Sasha after arriving at Maine’s Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Cadillac Mountain - Sasha spreads her arms as she and the rest of the Obama family visit Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Cadillac Mountain - Sasha spreads her arms as she and the rest of the Obama family visit Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Ice Cream Stop - Obama holds a coconut ice cream cone after visiting Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in Bar Harbor. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Ice Cream Stop - Obama holds a coconut ice cream cone after visiting Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in Bar Harbor. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Greeting Other Travelers - The president stops to great other visitors at Cadillac Mountain. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Greeting Other Travelers - The president stops to great other visitors at Cadillac Mountain. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Boat Tour - Here, the Obamas return from their boat tour of Frenchman Bay in Bar Harbor. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Boat Tour - Here, the Obamas return from their boat tour of Frenchman Bay in Bar Harbor. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Enjoying the View - On Saturday, the First Family visits Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Bar Harbor. Here, they stand with Coast Guard Station Chief Tim Chase.(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Enjoying the View - On Saturday, the First Family visits Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Bar Harbor. Here, they stand with Coast Guard Station Chief Tim Chase.(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Walking Bo - Of course Bo, the First Dog, accompanied the Obamas on the trip. Here, they are all greeted by Tim Chase while visiting the lighthouse. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Walking Bo - Of course Bo, the First Dog, accompanied the Obamas on the trip. Here, they are all greeted by Tim Chase while visiting the lighthouse. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Leaving Maine - On Sunday, the president, first lady, Malia and Sasha board Air Force One at Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport in Trenton, Maine to head back to D.C. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Leaving Maine - On Sunday, the president, first lady, Malia and Sasha board Air Force One at Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport in Trenton, Maine to head back to D.C. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Back in D.C. - After an active weekend in Maine, the Obamas arrive on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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Back in D.C. - After an active weekend in Maine, the Obamas arrive on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Happy Birthday, Mandela! - The president released a statement Sunday congratulating South African icon Nelson Mandela on his 92nd birthday. “We are grateful to continue to be blessed with his extraordinary vision, leadership and spirit. And we strive to build upon his example of tolerance, compassion and reconciliation.”

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Happy Birthday, Mandela! - The president released a statement Sunday congratulating South African icon Nelson Mandela on his 92nd birthday. “We are grateful to continue to be blessed with his extraordinary vision, leadership and spirit. And we strive to build upon his example of tolerance, compassion and reconciliation.”

Discussing Unemployment - On Monday, the president, flanked by unemployed American citizens, talked about unemployment insurance and the economy in the White House’s Rose Garden. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Discussing Unemployment - On Monday, the president, flanked by unemployed American citizens, talked about unemployment insurance and the economy in the White House’s Rose Garden. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Congratulating WNBA Champs - Obama welcomed members of the 2009 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury to the White House Monday afternoon to congratulate them on their accomplishment. Here, he holds up a team jersey while posing in the State Dining Room. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Congratulating WNBA Champs - Obama welcomed members of the 2009 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury to the White House Monday afternoon to congratulate them on their accomplishment. Here, he holds up a team jersey while posing in the State Dining Room. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Broadway at the White House - Monday evening, the president and Mrs. Obama hosted a White House Music Series event featuring tunes from Broadway in the East Room.

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Broadway at the White House - Monday evening, the president and Mrs. Obama hosted a White House Music Series event featuring tunes from Broadway in the East Room.

All Smiles - Malia Obama smiles as she takes her seat for a White House Music Series event saluting Broadway.

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All Smiles - Malia Obama smiles as she takes her seat for a White House Music Series event saluting Broadway.

Meeting with Cameron - President Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron will hold a bilateral meeting on Tuesday, which will be followed by a press conference at the White House.

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Meeting with Cameron - President Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron will hold a bilateral meeting on Tuesday, which will be followed by a press conference at the White House.

Let’s Move! Event - On Tuesday, the first lady will announce a joint Let’s Move initiative with Major League Baseball and its players association. Following a press conference with baseball officials at Camden Yards in Baltimore, the players will hold a baseball clinic on the field for 50 young local baseball players.

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Let’s Move! Event - On Tuesday, the first lady will announce a joint Let’s Move initiative with Major League Baseball and its players association. Following a press conference with baseball officials at Camden Yards in Baltimore, the players will hold a baseball clinic on the field for 50 young local baseball players.

First Pitch - Later, the first lady will throw out the first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays game. Here, she participates in the baseball clinic.

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First Pitch - Later, the first lady will throw out the first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays game. Here, she participates in the baseball clinic.

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Bill Signing - On Wednesday, Obama will sign the Wall Street Reform Bill at the Ronald Reagan Building.

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Bill Signing - On Wednesday, Obama will sign the Wall Street Reform Bill at the Ronald Reagan Building.

Michelle Obama Will Headline NAACP Convention - The first lady will speak at this year’s NAACP Convention in Kansas City in July. The NAACP had invited President Barack Obama to address the convention, which will be held July 10-15, but the president will be in Kansas City on July 8 — two days before the convention — for a fundraiser for Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan.

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National Design Awards - The first lady will host recipients of the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum award at an annual luncheon at the White House. The awards were launched back in 2000 by the White House to honor design in different disciplines.

White House Meetings - The President will hold meetings at the White House on Friday.

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White House Meetings - The president will attend meetings at the White House on Thursday and Friday.

Michelle Obama: January 17 - Our First Lady turns 48.

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Trip to Mississippi - The first lady will head out to Pascagoula, Miss. on Friday to serve as sponsor and as the main speaker at the christening of the U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter “Stratton.” The ship was named after Dorothy C. Stratton, who was the first woman to serve as the Coast Guard’s commissioned officer.