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After many years of being prohibited from travel outside of Cuba, Yoani Sanchez, a respected advocate for the freedom of information and winner of the State Department’s International Women of Courage Award, is visiting the United States. Today we welcomed her to the White House to meet with White House staff, including Special Assistant to…

MRS. OBAMA:  Hello!  (Applause.)  Good afternoon — morning.  It’s still morning.  How is everyone?  You all, rest yourselves.  (Laughter.)  I hear we’ve been keeping you pretty busy, right? Well, I’m really thrilled to be here.  I am just delighted to have the opportunity to stop by and say hello, and to add my thanks to…

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it is a great pleasure to welcome back Taoiseach Kenny to the Oval Office, to the White House and his entire delegation.  Obviously, we cherish this opportunity once a year to reaffirm the incredible bond between the United States and Ireland.  This year, it also gives us an excuse to stretch out…

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Please, everybody, have a seat. To our host, Speaker Boehner, to the distinguished members of the House and the Senate, thank you all for having me here today.  Obviously, we are thrilled to have the Taoiseach back, and his lovely wife and his delegation. But before…

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  (Applause.)  Good evening, everybody. AUDIENCE:  Good evening. THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to St. Patrick’s Week here at the White House — not just today, we get a week. I want to welcome back our good friend Taoiseach Kenny and his wonderful wife Fionnuala.  We are so glad that they are here, and…

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Shalom.  (Applause.)  President Peres, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and most of all, to the people of Israel, thank you for this incredibly warm welcome.  This is my third visit to Israel so let me just say tov lihiyot shuv ba’aretz.  (Applause.) I’m so honored to be here as you prepare to celebrate the 65th…

Today, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon announced that Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall will be moving to a new position on the National Security Staff as the White House Coordinator for Defense Policy, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Arms Control.  She will take up her duties…

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war, Michelle and I join our fellow Americans in paying tribute to all who served and sacrificed in one of our nation’s longest wars.   We salute the courage and resolve of more than 1.5 million service members and civilians who during multiple tours…

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Hampshire and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 8-10, 2013. Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key Administration post: • Cathy Russell – Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, Department of State “Cathy is a longtime advocate for justice and fairness and has worked on preventing violence against women here in America and around…