Obama Watch: Week of August 30
Obama visits New Orleans on Katrina anniversary plus the Oval Office gets a new look. See photos!
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Katrina Anniversary - On Sunday, the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the president and first lady traveled to New Orleans where the president delivered a speech at Xavier University. During his remarks, he recognized the sacrifice and loss of many, while praising the city for its resiliency. "Five years ago, many questioned whether people could ever return to this city. Today, New Orleans is one of the fastest growing cities in America,” he said.
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Home Visit - The President also took time out during his trip to New Orleans to speak with resident Maude Smith and her grandson David Robichaux Jr., 9, in her Columbia Parc Development home. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Speaking About the Economy - On Monday afternoon, the president made a statement about the economy in the Rose Garden in front of reporters.
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Tackling Rumors - During an interview with NBC Nightly News that aired this week, Obama fought back against rumors about his religion, and also commented on the “birthers” who believe he’s not a U.S. citizen. “I can’t spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead,” he said. He blamed a campaign of misinformation, mainly online, for the misconceptions.
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Greeting Troops - On Tuesday, President Obama arrived at Briggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Rudy Gutierrez)
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Talking to Troops - Later on, the president spoke to members of the military at Fort Bliss in El Paso Texas. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais).
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Handshakes All Around - Here, the president greets members of the military at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Tuesday following his speech. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Primetime Speech - In the evening, Obama will address the nation from the Oval Office about the troop withdrawal from Iraq. The United States ends its combat mission in Iraq Tuesday. The remaining troops, less than 50,000, will work against terrorism in the nation. By December 31, 2011, in accordance with an agreement with the Iraqi government, all U.S. forces will leave Iraq.
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Oval Office Redesign - Viewers of the president’s speech might also notice the Oval Office’s brand new look – one that pays homage to Martin Luther King Jr. and four previous presidents. In the time that the Obamas were away on vacation, workers installed new wallpaper, a new rug, new sofas, lamps and a coffee table. In this combination of photos, President Obama's Oval Office is shown on Dec. 29, 2009, left, and after renovations on Aug. 31, 2010. (AP Photo)
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The Resolute Desk - Over the recent administrations, Presidents Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush have always made some type of change or redesign to the room while they were in office. But the famous “Resolute desk,” which first made an appearance in the White House in 1880, has remained. In this redesign, Obama has also kept the desk, a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes from Britain’s Queen Victoria, in the Oval Office.
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Bilateral Meetings - On Wednesday, the president will hold bilateral meetings and dine with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The group is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the following day.