Category: October 2009

11:20 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: It is an extraordinary privilege to be here today. And let me begin by acknowledging this distinguished group gathered on the platform: our extraordinary Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; Majority Leader Harry Reid; Republican leader Mitch McConnell; majority leader Steny Hoyer; Republican leader John Boehner; Senator John Kerry; Representative…

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please, everybody be seated. Good afternoon. I have often said that meeting our greatest challenges would require not only changing policies in Washington but changing the way business is done in Washington; that it would require a government that’s more efficient and effective and less influenced by lobbyists and parochial politics.…

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much, everybody. Thank you so much, and welcome to the White House. There are several people here that I want to just make mention of because they helped to make today possible. We’ve got Attorney General Eric Holder. (Applause.) A champion of this legislation, and a great Speaker of the…

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Virginia! (Applause.) Thank you, Virginia! It’s good to be back in Norfolk. It’s good to be back in Virginia. AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) I am so proud to stand up here with two Virginia leaders, two men who wake up every single day thinking…

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Please, have a seat. Thank you so much. Thank you. Some special acknowledgments. First of all, I don’t think people quite understand, Nancy Pelosi is not simply the first woman Speaker of the House — I think she’s going to go down as one of…

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Hello, everybody! Hello, hello, hello! Hello, Miami! Thank you, guys. This is a pretty enthusiastic crowd here. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you, man! THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) What did Bill Nelson say to you all to get you — (applause?) All right, I can tell this is…

The President will tour a research laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology an institution that has been developing cutting edge clean energy technology. Dr. Susan Hockfield, MIT President, and Dr. Ernie Moniz, Director of the MIT Energy Initiative, will lead the President on the tour of the laboratories, where he will visit stations displaying…

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Please, have a seat. Thank you. Thank you, MIT. (Applause.) I am — I am hugely honored to be here. It’s always been a dream of mine to visit the most prestigious school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Applause.) Hold on a second — certainly the most prestigious school in this…

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Boston! (Applause.) It is good to be back in Massachusetts. (Applause.) It’s good to see some familiar faces — some folks I haven’t seen before, I’m glad about that too. In addition to this outstanding team behind me, I know that my great friend, Congressman Mike Capuano is in the house, so…