Category: Oct 2015

FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA ANNOUNCES NEW PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AS PART OF HER REACH HIGHER INITIATIVE Monday, October 19 Washington, DC * 11:00AM ET – The First Lady will deliver remarks in the East Room to announce a new public awareness campaign to reach students as part of her Reach Higher initiative. Reach Higher aims to encourage every…

Vice President Biden hosted Republic of Korea (ROK) President Park Geun-hye for a lunch meeting today at the Naval Observatory.   The Vice President and President Park reviewed recent progress within the U.S.-ROK alliance – bilaterally, regionally, and globally.  The two discussed the importance of strong regional relations and close coordination on common strategic interests.  The…

Via Telephone 11:55 A.M. EDT MR. PRICE:  Good morning, everyone, and thanks for joining the call today as we wanted to convene a group to discuss the announcement the President made this morning regarding Afghanistan. First, some ground rules. This call will be on the record, but it will be embargoed until the conclusion of…

Roosevelt Room 11:04 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  Last December — more than 13 years after our nation was attacked by al Qaeda on 9/11 — America’s combat mission in Afghanistan came to a responsible end.  That milestone was achieved thanks to the courage and the skill of our military, our intelligence, and civilian…

East Room 4:45 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Buenas tardes.  (Applause.)  Bienvenidos a la Casa Blanca!  (Applause.)  Everybody, please give Diane a big round of applause for sharing your inspiring story — she did great.  (Applause.)  We are so very proud of her and all the young people who are here today.  I also want to…

WASHINGTON, DC – On November 12, 2015, President Barack Obama will award Captain Florent A. Groberg, U.S. Army (Ret), the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.  Captain Groberg will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as a Personal Security Detachment Commander for Task Force Mountain Warrior, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat…

I want to offer my heartfelt gratitude to Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Ramsey for his nearly five decades of leadership and service with some of this nation’s largest law enforcement agencies. From Chicago to DC to Philadelphia, Commissioner Ramsey has always supported our women and men in uniform and the communities they bravely serve and protect…

Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes will travel to Laos October 16-18 and to Burma October 18-20. In Laos, Mr. Rhodes will meet with senior government officials in Vientiane, where he will mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Lao diplomatic relations, discuss growing U.S.-Lao cooperation, and address how to further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in advance…

East Room 11:17 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA:  What’s going on?  Just hanging out at the White House, huh?  (Laughter.)  Did you make it in okay? AUDIENCE:  Yes. MRS. OBAMA:  Security didn’t stop you or anything?  You brought your IDs, everything is okay?  You excited? AUDIENCE:  Yes! MRS. OBAMA:  So are we, so are we.  Well,…

East Room 7:47 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Well, good evening, everybody. AUDIENCE:  Good evening. THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House.  You all look very sharp.  (Laughter.) Tonight, we honor the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities with a celebration of one of our most precious gifts:  American creativity.…