Category: 2013

THE PRESIDENT:  Merry Christmas, everybody!  Well, this show is always a great way to get in the holiday spirit.  Every year, I rehearse my own little act, just in case.  But it seems like, yet again, they couldn’t find space to squeeze me into the program.  (Laughter.)  You are lucky I’m not singing. First of…

This afternoon President Obama spoke by phone with Mrs. Graça Machel to express the condolences of the Obama family and the American people on the passing of her husband, Nelson Mandela.  The President thanked Mrs. Machel for the profound influence that Nelson Mandela has had on him, and underscored the power of President Mandela’s example…

The War Memorial of Korea Seoul, Republic of Korea THE VICE PRESIDENT:  It’s a great honor to be here.  I was thanking the director for keeping alive the memory of some of these brave Americans who gave their lives for the freedom of the Korean people.  And I was surprisingly moved by looking down at…

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  And I’m so late you probably thought you were going to hear from the 48th Vice President of the United States.   (Laughter.)  I apologize.  I always, when I’m late at home, always blame it on the President.  But I can’t do that today, and I apologize for…

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  Welcome to the White House.  Now, normally we just have one Hanukkah reception, but this year we are hosting two because we have so many friends to celebrate with we had to do it twice.  And I’ll be welcoming a whole other group this evening.  Don’t tell them, though, but you’re…

THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening, everybody. (Applause.)  Welcome to the White House and Happy Hanukkah.  I should say that normally we just have one Hanukkah reception, but this year we’re hosting two.  We have so many friends to celebrate with we had to do it twice.  I welcomed a whole other group this afternoon.  But I…

“People everywhere long for the freedom to determine their destiny; the dignity that comes with work; the comfort that comes with faith; and the justice that exists when governments serve their people — and not the other way around. The United States of America will always stand up for these aspirations, for our own people…

The United States and China have a robust economic relationship, and as the world’s two largest economies, we have a stake in each other’s success and prosperity.  Building on President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping’s shared commitment to create a new model of major country relations, Vice President Joe Biden discussed with President Xi…

Building on President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping’s shared commitment to building a new model of major country relations, both countries affirm their commitment to practical cooperation for the benefit of our two economies and to address global economic challenges.  The United States and China reached the following outcomes on energy and climate change,…

The United States economy continues to recover from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and while substantial progress has been made, more work remains to boost economic growth and speed job creation. Despite ten consecutive quarters of GDP growth and 7.8 million private sector jobs added since early 2010, the unemployment rate is…