Category: May 2014

11:15 A.M. EDT SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I’ll just say a few things and then take your questions.  So in the President’s speech today he was focused on defining, as we come out of a period dominated by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, what the next phase of our foreign policy is, both as it…

Dr. Maya Angelou wrote that “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. However, if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” Few people lived with more courage and taught us more about the lessons of our history than she did.  Through her own life and through our country’s struggle for civil rights—through the…

Villanova University Commencement Villanova, Pennsylvania Father Donohue, thank you for that honor. Thank you, Dr. Hicks, for that very kind introduction. Good afternoon, everyone! It’s wonderful to be here at Villanova to celebrate such an important day with each one of you and your families. To my fellow teachers: congratulations on finishing another successful year.…

East Room 12:13 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House Science Fair!  (Applause.)  I love this event.  (Laughter.)  This is one of my favorite things all year long. Before I begin, I want to recognize some people who are here today who really worked hard not only to make our Science Fair happen,…

Highlights New Commitments to Help More Girls and Boys Succeed in STEM WASHINGTON, DC — President Obama will host the 2014 White House Science Fair today and celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. This year’s Fair will include a specific focus…

President Obama called President-elect Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine today to congratulate him on his victory and offer the full support of the United States as he seeks to unify and move his country forward.  The President stressed the importance of quickly implementing the reforms necessary for Ukraine to bring the country together and to develop…

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States and Afghanistan have partnered together to respond to threats to international peace and security and to help the Afghan people chart a secure, democratic, and prosperous future.  Since President Obama took office in 2009, we have pursued a focused strategy, alongside our NATO allies and…

Rose Garden 2:46 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  As you know, this weekend, I traveled to Afghanistan to thank our men and women in uniform and our deployed civilians, on behalf of a grateful nation, for the extraordinary sacrifices they make on behalf of our security.  I was also able to meet with…

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order (the “order”) terminating the prohibitions contained in section 1 of Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, as amended by Executive Order 13364 of November…

EXECUTIVE ORDER – – – – – – – ENDING IMMUNITIES GRANTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR IRAQ AND CERTAIN OTHER IRAQI PROPERTY AND INTERESTS IN PROPERTY PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 13303, AS AMENDED By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including…