Category: September 2011

I welcome the release of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal from detention in Iran and am very pleased that they are being reunited with their loved ones.  The tireless advocacy of their families over these two years has won my admiration, and is now coming to an end with Josh and Shane back in their…

Last week, I held a Cabinet meeting where I directed agency heads to do more to cut waste in their departments. Today, we saw reports of excessive spending on catering for government conferences. These reports are troubling and reinforce why the President and I launched the Campaign to Cut Waste, a government-wide initiative to reduce…

Gotham Hall New York, New York Tuesday, September 20, 2011 8:40 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA:  Hi!  Thank you all so much.  Rest yourselves, because we need you rested because you’re going to have to work really hard.  (Laughter.)  I want to thank Mayor Booker for that very kind introduction and for his leadership.  He has…

United Nations New York, New York 10:12 A.M. EDT PRESIDENT OBAMA: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen: It is a great honor for me to be here today. I would like to talk to you about a subject that is at the heart of the United Nations — the pursuit of…

United Nations New York, New York 11:01 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I want to welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu both to the United States and to New York.  As I just said in the speech that I gave before the U.N. General Assembly, the bonds between the United States and Israel are unbreakable.  And the…

United Nations New York, New York 12:20 P.M. EDT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I want to welcome Prime Minister Noda and his delegation to New York City and to the United States.  As all of you are aware, we have an extraordinary alliance with Japan.  They are one of our closest friends, our closest allies.  We have…

Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers New York, New York 2:43 P.M. EDT PRESIDENT CLINTON:  For three years, now, and every year he has been in the White House, President Obama has come to CGI.  He believes in what we’re trying to do.  In his former life, he was a walking NGO.  (Laughter.)  He also…

1:54 P.M. EDT SECRETARY GENERAL BAN:  President Obama, Excellencies, distinguished heads of state and government, Your Highnesses, Your Majesties, distinguished ministers, ladies and gentlemen: Welcome to the United Nations. Welcome to our common house. We are off to a flying start today, I must say. Thank you, President Obama, for your inspiring oratory, and more, for its…

Waldorf Astoria Hotel New York, New York 3:55 P.M. EDT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Let me welcome Prime Minister Cameron to the United States and New York.  Obviously, there is an extraordinary special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom, and I am very fortunate that over the last year or two, David and I…

Waldorf Astoria Hotel New York, New York 4:53 P.M. EDT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  On the anniversary of September 11th, President Sarkozy gave a speech at our embassy in Paris, and he reminded the people of France, but also the world, of the extraordinary friendship that had developed, in part, because of the great sacrifices that our…