All posts in category First Ladies

History Buzz April 16, 2012: Darlene Clark Hine: First Lady Michelle Obama, Paradox, African American Studies Professor & Historian Says

HISTORY BUZZ: HISTORY NEWS RECAP

History Buzz

HISTORY BUZZ: HISTORY NEWS RECAP

Darlene Clark Hine: First Lady Michelle Obama, paradox, African American Studies Professor & Historian Says

Source: WaPo, 4-16-12

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive to welcome Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha Cameron to the White House prior to a state dinner. (Susan Walsh – AP) Northwestern University.

“Michelle Obama is a genuine paradox,” said Michel, a professor of African American studies and history at Hine’s lecture, part of a black studies conference at the university last week, argued that the first lady is a “transformative, liberationist” figure — despite her interest in domestic issues and the long list of magazine cover stories focused on topics such as Obama’s approach to motherhood or the importance of healthful eating.

“I caution: Let us not be distracted by a first lady draped in gowns, gracing the covers of women’s magazine’s from ‘Essence’ to ‘Vogue’ or a first lady on her knees planting a White House garden or a first lady jumping double-dutch rope with an array of young girls,” Hine said. “Rather let us appreciate the paradox.”

“What you think you see and know of her may not be all that is important to know about her,” Hine said in an interview after her lecture. “People see her as these labels – black and woman – and they see her acting in domestic ways – focused on home, hearth and family – as if there is no political agenda.”

“She is using the politics of self-development, neighborliness, and that will lead the the future election of just and humane individuals,” Hine said. “The lives you save today will make the changes that you suggest to them in the future.”

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by bonniekgoodman on April 16, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in First Ladies, First Lady Michelle Obama, History Quotes
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on April 16, 2012

http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/history-buzz-april-16-2012-darlene-clark-hine-first-lady-michelle-obama-paradox-african-american-studies-professor-historian-says/

Full Text February 13, 2012: First Lady Michelle Obama’s CNN Op-ed for Let’s Move! 2nd Anniversary “Changing the Conversation on Healthy Eating”

POLITICAL SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS

OBAMA PRESIDENCY & THE 112TH CONGRESS:

POLITICAL QUOTES & SPEECHES

Michelle Obama: Changing the Conversation on Healthy Eating

Source: WH, 2-13-12

First Lady Michelle Obama Olive Garden Dinner

First Lady Michelle Obama holds a roundtable dinner discussion at an Olive Garden restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas, Feb. 9, 2012. Mrs. Obama met with the parents to hear their ideas on how Let’s Move! can continue to support families across the country. In September 2011, Darden, the world’s largest full service restaurant company which owns Olive Garden, made a commitment to improve their kids menus by offering a fruit or vegetable and low-fat milk with every meal, as well as reduce total calories and sodium across their menus. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

Back when we first launched Let’s Move! — a nationwide initiative to end our childhood obesity epidemic — in the back of my mind, I wondered whether it was really possible to make a difference.

I knew how serious this problem is. Nearly one in three of our children are overweight or obese, at risk for illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer that cost our economy billions of dollars each year to treat.

I also knew the conventional wisdom on this issue. There’s the assumption that kids don’t like healthy food, so why try to feed it to them? There’s the belief that healthy food doesn’t sell as well, so companies will never change the products they offer. And there’s the sense that this problem is so big and entrenched that no matter what we do, we’ll never be able to solve it.

But over the past two years, we have seen a new conversation in this country about how we live and eat and how that affects the health and well-being of our kids. Since we launched Let’s Move!, people from every corner of this country who care about our children’s futures have stepped up and proved the conventional wisdom wrong.

Read the entire op-ed from the First Lady at CNN.com

More from the Let’s Move tour:
Michelle Obama: If You Are Doing Great Work, Tell Me About It
Michelle Obama Judges “Top Chef”
On the Road with Let’s Move
Watch: Behind the Scenes on the Let’s Move Tour
Two Years of Healthy Changes for Our Nation’s Kids
View a slideshow from the tour

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by bonniekgoodman on February 13, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in First Ladies, First Lady Michelle Obama, Let's Move Initiative, Political Speeches & Documents
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on February 13, 2012

http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/full-text-february-13-2012-first-lady-michelle-obama-cnn-op-ed-for-lets-move-2nd-anniversary-changing-the-conversation-on-healthy-eating/

Full Text February 2, 2012: First Lady Michelle Obama Talks About Being a Mentor in More Magazine Black History Month Interview

POLITICAL SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS

OBAMA PRESIDENCY & THE 112TH CONGRESS:

POLITICAL QUOTES & SPEECHES

Michelle Obama Talks About Being a Mentor

Source: WH, 2-2-12
First Lady Michelle Obama at Girls Mentoring eventFirst Lady Michelle Obama drops by the Girls Mentoring November activity in room 430 of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Nov. 29, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

February is Black History Month, and his year’s theme, “Black Women in American Culture and History,” honors African American women and the many roles they’ve played in the shaping of our nation.

And in an interview with More magazine, First Lady Michelle Obama talks candidly about one of the roles that matters most to her, one that has been a part of her life since she was in high school, one that can have a crucial influence in shaping the next generation of American women and one she urges others to embrace: Mentor.

Mrs. Obama discusses the impact mentors have had in her life, and also what being a mentor has meant to her (one of the first people she mentored as a lawyer in Chicago was a fellow graduate of Harvard Law School named Barack Obama: “I made sure that he met the partners that he was working with; I had to take him out to lunch a couple of times” she tells the magazine).

And for the first time, the First Lady discusses a program she launched shortly after moving into the White House, a mentoring program she designed “to open a secret door for others that hadn’t been opened for me,” by pairing disadvantaged girls with some of the powerful women in the land. She tells the magazine:

“I wanted [the students] to experience this notion that if you can walk [through] the doors of the White House once a month and sit down with the first lady and her chief of staff and some other senior officials, and they’re talking to you and you get used to hearing your voice in the space, then it becomes not a big deal.”

And so her program pairs teenage girls with “this wonderful array of women who come from different backgrounds,” she says. “They’re senior leaders in President Obama’s administration, and they all have a story, right? They all have a set of challenges and struggles.” Those stories, Obama believes, are best told in person, over time, creating the kind of enduring bond the social media generation sorely lacks. “Even though our children are connecting in ways we never imagined,” she told a national summit on mentoring not long ago, “you’ve got an entire generation of young people truly in desperate need of a friend. Someone they can trust, an example they can follow.”

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by bonniekgoodman on February 2, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in First Ladies
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on February 2, 2012

http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/full-text-february-2-2012-first-lady-michelle-obama-talks-about-being-a-mentor-more-magazine-black-history-month-interview/

Full Text January 25, 2012: First Lady Michelle Obama’s Remarks at U.S. Department of Agriculture’s New School Lunch Nutrition Standards Announcement at Parklawn Elementary School

POLITICAL SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS

OBAMA PRESIDENCY & THE 112TH CONGRESS:

Healthy Changes on the Menu for School Lunches

Source: WH, 1-25-12

First Lady Michelle Obama has lunch with Parklawn Elementary School students
First Lady Michelle Obama joins children for lunch at Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandria, Va., Jan. 25, 2012. Mrs. Obama was joined by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and celebrity cook Rachael Ray for a Let’s Move! event celebrating the school’s food service employees serving healthy meals that meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new and improved nutrition standards for school lunches. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today introduced new rules that mean America’s school children will soon be eating healthier lunches in the cafeteria.

The new USDA guidelines, which implement important provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, substantially increase the amount of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on the menu, while reducing saturated fat, trans fats and sodium, and set calorie limits based on the age of children being served. The standards make the same kinds of practical changes that many parents are already encouraging at home, and that are a key pillar of Let’s Move, the First Lady’s initiative that is focused on improving child nutrition and reducing childhood obesity.

Speaking at the Parklawn elementary school in Alexandria, VA, Mrs Obama praised parents for their contribution to the movement to improve the food served in schools:

When we send our kids to school, we have a right to expect that they won’t be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we’re trying to keep from them when they’re at home.  We have a right to expect that the food they get at school is the same kind of food that we want to serve at our own kitchen tables.

After the press conference, the First Lady and Secretary Vilsack joined students for a healthy lunch of turkey tacos, black bean and corn salad and fresh fruit, prepared by celebrity chef Rachael Ray.

 POLITICAL QUOTES & SPEECHES

Remarks by the First Lady in School Lunch Standards Announcement

Parklawn Elementary School
Alexandria, Virginia

11:32 A.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, everyone.  Please, sit, rest.  This is exciting.  It is such a pleasure to be here today.  This is an exciting day.

I want to start by thanking Secretary Vilsack, not just for that very kind introduction but for his outstanding work as Secretary of Agriculture.  He has been just a major proponent on so many issues that are near and dear to me, and we wouldn’t be here without his efforts and the efforts of his entire agency.  So, thank you, sir.

I’d also like to thank Principal Akroyd and Jen Fitzgerald for their terrific work and for hosting us here today at Parklawn Elementary School.  Go, Panthers!  (Laughter.)  I hear you’re the “purring Panthers.”  (Laughter.)  It’s very, very good — very good.  We are so happy to be here and so proud of you all.

And I want to recognize all of the educators, the administrators, the food service workers and the advocates who are here today for everything that you do, every day, on behalf of our kids.  This is a great celebration for us all.

And of course, I want to give a special hello to Rachael Ray, who’s a special guest here.  I know she’s hard at work getting lunch ready, and I am hungry — (laughter) — so I’m looking forward to it.  But she has been a true advocate on this issue for quite some time, and we’re just thrilled that she’s here with us today.

And finally, I want to thank all of the parents who are here today — because, I just want to be clear that we can’t make any mistake about it — this movement to improve the food in our schools is happening in large part because of all of you, the parents.  It’s happening because you all stood up.  It’s happening because you all spoke out and you asked for something better for our kids.

Because, as parents, we all know that if left to their own devices, many of our kids would eat candy for breakfast, they’d follow it up with a few French fries for lunch and cookies and chips for snacks, and then they’d come home for a big chocolate sundae for dinner, right?  (Laughter.)  And we know that it is our responsibility, as adults, to make sure they don’t do that.  So it’s our responsibility to make sure that they get basic nutrition that they need to stay healthy.

And that’s why so many of us try so very hard to prepare decent meals at home, and to limit how much junk food they get at home, and to ensure that they have a reasonably balanced diet.   And when we’re putting forth this kind of effort at home — and many of us are, and it’s difficult to do every single day — it’s always a challenge, particularly with tough economic times and not enough time in the day — but when we’re putting forth these efforts, when we’re doing what we’re supposed to do at home, the last thing we want is to have all these hard efforts, all this hard work undone in the school cafeteria.

When we send our kids to school, we have a right to expect that they won’t be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we’re trying to keep from them when they’re at home.  We have a right to expect that the food they get at school is the same kind of food that we want to serve at our own kitchen tables.

And let’s be clear, this isn’t just about our kids’ health. Studies have shown that our kids’ eating habits can actually affect their academic performance as well.  And I’m sure that comes as no surprise to the educators here today.  Anyone who works with kids knows that they need something other than chips and soda in their stomachs if they’re going to focus on math and science, right?  Kids can’t be expected to sit still and concentrate when they’re on a sugar high, or when they’re stuffed with salty, greasy food — or when they’re hungry.

And that brings me to another important point.  For many kids whose families are struggling, school meals can be their main — or only — source of nutrition for the entire day.  So when we serve higher-quality food in our schools, we’re not just fighting childhood obesity; we’re taking the important steps that are needed to fight child hunger as well.

And that’s why so many schools across this country have been working so hard to improve the food that they serve to our kids in school.  In fact, there are many schools that have been meeting these new standards for years, long before this legislation was passed.  Thousands more have made significant improvements, offering their students a whole array of healthy — and tasty, mind you — new options.

For example, right here at Parklawn and in schools throughout this district, you all are doing some wonderful things, serving baked chicken tenders instead of frying them — small things; replacing white rice with brown rice.  You’re offering all kinds of veggie side dishes, everything from succotash to broccoli, exposing kids to a whole array of wonderful tastes and flavors.

And we’re seeing changes like these in schools all across the country, of all sizes — rural, urban and suburban.  And I’m not just talking about schools in well-off areas with plenty of resources.  I’m talking about schools like F.S. Ervin — it’s an elementary school in Pine Hall [sic], Alabama.  Now, Pine Hall [sic] is a little-bitty town, rural town, with a population under 1,000 and an average household income of less than $26,000.  But they have made some important changes to their school menu already — things like replacing canned vegetables with fresh or frozen ones, moving in more whole grains, offering plenty of fresh fruit, and even baking their French fries instead of frying them.  These are small changes.

And plenty of schools like F.S. Ervin are getting creative in this way.  There are schools around the country that are holding taste tests and recipe contests to get kids really involved in the whole change — give kids a competition and they’ll get involved.  There are schools that are partnering with farmers and with chefs in their communities, and that’s making a difference.  They’re making these small, daily changes — simple things like replacing whole milk with skim milk — changes that add up over time and it can make a real difference in the life of our kids.

And again and again, schools are finding that when they actually offer these healthier options, kids aren’t just willing to try them, they actually like them.  That’s the thing, that’s the surprising thing.  I’ve been to so many schools across the country where parents see their kids eating fresh vegetables off the vine, kids they say would never try anything, but that’s the beauty of children — they change.  They change much easier than we do, and when we give them an opportunity to try something new, they embrace it oftentimes, and they come back for more.

So while budgets are tight right now, there are schools across the country that are showing that it doesn’t take a whole lot of money or resources to give our kids the nutrition they deserve.  What it does take, however, is effort.  What it does take is imagination.  What it does take is a commitment to our children’s futures.

So today, I am asking parents and educators and food service workers across this country to embrace this effort on behalf of our children.  Embrace it.  Because we all know that we are some of the best role models for our kids.  We are the first and best role models.  And if kids are like mine, if I’m excited about something, they’re excited about it — right?  If we as adults embrace it, the kids will follow suit.  They’re looking to us to figure out how to make this happen.  So if we get pumped up about this effort, get excited, get creative, the kids will follow suit and they will do it with vigor and vim, and they’ll be out there out front in a way that we would never expect.

So I want to thank you all once again for all that you do every day on behalf of our children.  I’m excited to be here.  This is a great day, a wonderful accomplishment.  And it’s just exciting to be able to highlight the work that’s being done here at Parklawn.

So now, as I mentioned, I’m a little hungry.  (Laughter.)  I understand that I get to hang out with the kids, have a little lunch.  And it’s turkey tacos!  Sounds really good.  So with that, I want to thank you all for being here, and we’re going to have some lunch.

Thank you all.  (Applause.)

END
11:42 A.M. EST

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by bonniekgoodman on January 25, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in First Ladies, First Lady Michelle Obama, Let's Move Initiative, Political Speeches & Documents, President Barack Obama
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on January 25, 2012

http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/full-text-january-25-2012-first-lady-michelle-obama-remarks-u-s-department-of-agriculture-new-school-lunch-nutrition-standards-announcement/

White House Recap December 30, 2011: The Obama Presidency’s 2011 Year in Review

WHITE HOUSE RECAP

WHITE HOUSE RECAP: 2011

West Wing Week

Source: WH, 12-30-11

Come take a look back at the President’s third year in office as we highlight behind-the-scenes footage and some of our favorite presidential moments. That’s January 1st to December 31st or, “Best of the West (Wing Week).”

Watch the Video

West Wing Week

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by bonniekgoodman on December 30, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Domestic Policy, Economy, First Ladies, Foreign Policy, President Barack Obama, White House Recap
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on December 30, 2011

http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/white-house-recap-december-30-2011-the-obama-presidency-2011-year-in-review/

Full Text December 24, 2011: President Barack Obama’s Weekly Address with First Lady Michelle Obama Thanking the Troops for their Services and Christmas & Holiday Greetings

POLITICAL SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS

OBAMA PRESIDENCY & THE 112TH CONGRESS:

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama tape a holiday message

The President and First Lady tape a holiday message in the Roosevelt Room, White House Photo, Lawrence Jackson, 12/16/11

Weekly Address: The President and First Lady Thank our Troops for their Service as we Celebrate the Holiday Season

Source: WH, 12-24-11
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama offer a special holiday tribute to some of the strongest, bravest, and most resilient members of our American family – the men and women who wear our country’s uniform and the families who support them:

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

POLITICAL QUOTES & SPEECHES

WEEKLY ADDRESS: The President and First Lady Thank our Troops for their Service as we Celebrate the Holiday Season

In this week’s address, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama came together to wish the American people a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and thanked our troops, military families, and veterans for their service and sacrifice. President Obama and Michelle Obama encouraged everyone to visit JoiningForces.gov to find ways to give back to our brave men and women in uniform and their families during the holiday season as we work together in the spirit of service.

Remarks of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
December 24, 2011

THE PRESIDENT: Hi everyone. As you gather with family and friends this weekend, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and I – and of course Bo – want to wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

THE FIRST LADY:  This is such a wonderful time of year.

It’s a time to honor the story of love and redemption that began 2,000 years ago … a time to see the world through a child’s eyes and rediscover the magic all around us … and a time to give thanks for the gifts that bless us every single day.

This holiday season at the White House, we wanted to show our thanks with a special holiday tribute to some of the strongest, bravest, and most resilient members of our American family – the men and women who wear our country’s uniform and the families who support them.

THE PRESIDENT: For many military families, the best gift this year is a simple one – welcoming a loved one back for the holidays. You see, after nearly nine years, our war in Iraq is over.  Our troops are coming home.  And across America, military families are being reunited.

So let’s take a moment to give thanks for their service; for their families’ service; for our veterans’ service.  And let’s say a prayer for all our troops standing post all over the world, especially our brave men and women in Afghanistan who are serving, even as we speak, in harm’s way to protect the freedoms and security we hold dear.

THE FIRST LADY: Our veterans, troops, and military families sacrifice so much for us.

So this holiday season, let’s make sure that all of them know just how much we appreciate everything they do.

Let’s ask ourselves, “How can I give back? How can my family serve them as well as they’ve served us”

One way you can get started is to visit JoiningForces.gov to find out how you can get involved in your community.

THE PRESIDENT: Giving of ourselves; service to others – that’s what this season is all about. For my family and millions of Americans, that’s what Christmas is all about. It reminds us that part of what it means to love God is to love one another, to be our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper. But that belief is not just at the center of our Christian faith, it’s shared by Americans of all faiths and backgrounds. It’s why so many of us, every year, volunteer our time to help those most in need; especially our hungry and our homeless.

So whatever you believe, wherever you’re from, let’s remember the spirit of service that connects us all this season – as Americans.  Each of us can do our part to serve our communities and our country, not just today, but every day.

THE FIRST LADY: So from our family to yours, Merry Christmas.

THE PRESIDENT:  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everybody.

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by bonniekgoodman on December 24, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Afghanistan War, Christmas, First Ladies, Iraq War, Political Speeches & Documents, President Barack Obama, US Military & Troops
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on December 24, 2011

http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/full-text-december-24-2011-president-barack-obama-weekly-address-first-lady-michelle-obama-thanking-troops-services-christmas-holiday-greetings/

Full Text December 16, 2011: First Lady Michelle Obama’s Speech at “Toys for Tots” Drive

POLITICAL SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS

OBAMA PRESIDENCY & THE 112TH CONGRESS:

First Lady Michelle Obama Delivers Toys for Tots Donations

First Lady at Toys for Tots EventFirst Lady Michelle Obama sorts toys after she delivers toys and gifts donated by White House staff to the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Campaign at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., Dec. 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

This afternoon, First Lady Michelle Obama visited Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling to deliver hundreds of toys that White House staff donated to Toys for Tots, an annual holiday toy drive organized by the Marines. She thanked volunteers and military families for their hard work and dedication to the 60-year old program.

This is hard work.  It takes people who take time out of their own families, time to come, shop, sort toys, make sure things get out.  I mean, this doesn’t happen automatically; it happens because people give up time, precious time with their families to make this happen.  So this wouldn’t be possible without all of the volunteers.  So I want to extend a very big thank you to all of you, especially all of our troops and all of our military families who have led this effort this year, and who lead it every year.

Mrs. Obama made military families a focus of this year’s White House holiday celebration, and today she thanked them for all they do for our nation–and still finding the time and energy to run programs like Toys for Tots.

At the White House, we’re paying tribute to our military this holiday season. All over the White House there are signs of your strength and your sacrifice and your courage. At the White House, we’re showcasing the stories and the pictures of our fallen heroes.  We’re giving guests an opportunity to send a thank-you note to troops overseas. And once again, we collected hundreds of toys from White House staff, which I’ve had the honor of bringing here today.

She also encouraged everyone to do their part, no matter how big or small.

You don’t have to live in the White House. You don’t have to spend a fortune. You don’t have to be an expert in military life to be a part of this effort and to lift families up. You just have to be willing to give just a little bit back to your community and to your country.

For more information:

POLITICAL QUOTES & SPEECHES

First Lady’s Remarks at “Toys for Tots” Drive

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

1:09 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thanks so much.  (Applause.)  Well, good afternoon, everyone.  And thank you, General Osman, for not just that very kind and generous introduction but for all that you do for “Toys for Tots” and for this country.

As he said, this is my third year doing this, and every year, truly, I look forward to coming by and seeing folks come together to make the holidays just a little bit brighter for their neighbors.

This is my last official visit.  This is a way to cap off my holiday season.  This is my last official visit before I get my kids out of here and we actually spend some time together as a family.  And this is a great way for me, personally, to end the season — being with all of you and doing what we can for kids who don’t have the fortune of — the good fortune of having people who can provide a wonderful Christmas.

But it’s also important for people to know what this tradition is and how it started.  It’s been going on for more than 60 years, and it started with a simple idea.  It was a Marine’s wife who fashioned a handmade doll, and then asked her husband to donate that doll to children in need for the holidays.  This was 60 years ago.  But that Marine couldn’t find a place to donate the doll, because no such organization existed.

So this couple decided to do something about it.  And that’s really what military families do.  I’ll share a story with you:  This morning, I was laying in bed with Malia, before they were getting ready for school, and she asked me what I was going to do today, and I said I’m doing “Toys for Tots,” and she said, that’s really a great program.  And she said, how did it start?  And I said, you know, Marines started it.  And most people don’t realize that, because “Toys for Tots” has become a national organization, a national brand; so many people adopt it, they forget that this is something that’s done by military families.  And Malia said, you know what?  It is so impressive that given all military families have to do anyway, that on top of what they do, they’re doing this as well.  And I’m like, look, if a 13-year-old can get it and understand that that’s who our military families are, then we all should get it as a country.  And it was a very powerful example of just how valuable and just how constant our military families — how selfless they are.

So soon enough, this toy drive turned into the national organization that we now know today as “Toys for Tots.”

So today, we’re here to continue that tradition.  And we couldn’t do it without all of the volunteers, all of the donors who work so hard during the holiday season.  This is hard work.  It takes people who take time out of their own families, time to come, shop, sort toys, make sure things get out.  I mean, this doesn’t happen automatically; it happens because people give up time, precious time with their families to make this happen.  So this wouldn’t be possible without all of the volunteers.  So I want to extend a very big thank you to all of you, especially all of our troops and all of our military families who have led this effort this year, and who lead it every year.  You all have given so much to our country, as Malia has recognized, and then you keep giving more to your neighbors and the broader community.  And it is truly inspiring.

“Toys for Tots,” my relationship that I’ve had with military families all across the country, folks like you is one of the reasons why Jill Biden and I started “Joining Forces,” which is our major campaign to rally all Americans to honor, recognize, and support our veterans and military families.  And we’ve had wonderful success with this program, and it hasn’t been difficult at all.  People have been stepping up in ways big and small — businesses making a point to hire veterans and military spouses; local schools partnering to reach out to military kids.

America is behind our families, and a lot of it is because of this kind of work that you do every single day.  And it has been a true honor and a gift for me to get to know many of these families and to be able to champion your work to the rest of the country.  And “Toys for Tots” is just another one of those examples, and that’s why it’s so important for me to be involved this year, and to make sure that the White House is involved.

And this year is no different.  At the White House, we’re paying tribute to our military this holiday season.  All over the White House there are signs of your strength and your sacrifice and your courage.  At the White House, we’re showcasing the stories and the pictures of our fallen heroes.  We’re giving guests an opportunity to send a thank-you note to troops overseas.  And once again, we collected hundreds of toys from White House staff, which I’ve had the honor of bringing here today.

We had a 27 percent increase from last year.  That’s good, but we can do more.  We will be doing more next year.  So hopefully we’re doing our part.

But one of the important mottos of “Joining Forces” is that everyone can do something.  That’s what Jill and I are saying.  You don’t have to live in the White House.  You don’t have to spend a fortune.  You don’t have to be an expert in military life to be a part of this effort and to lift families up.  You just have to be willing to give just a little bit back to your community and to your country.  And that’s the spirit that led the Marine and his wife to start “Toys for Tots” all those years ago, and it’s what will make this year’s drive successful once again.

Now before I go and we start getting to work, I just want to remind everyone out there who is watching this event that it is not too late to donate.  You can donate through the holiday season, and this year is like no other.  The demand increases even as giving increases.  There are more and more families that need support and help, so it is not too late.  So anybody who is watching this, any of our press who are writing about this, it is still important to nudge our neighbors; to say, give, give, give.  We need people to bring in toys like never before.

And I always point out that we always like to get those cute little gifts for the little kids — the stuffed animals, the little dolls, all the fun games.  But I always urge people to remember the older children, because these toys are going to families and there are kids from infants all the way into their teen years.  And we’re encouraging people to donate clothes, to get those fun games that you might think an average teen would get — think of somebody 11 to 14.  Many of you have kids; you know what these kids are into.  Those are the kind of toys that oftentimes we’re short on, so I urge people to keep the age spread in mind as they go out and pick up gifts.

And once you do that, you can still go to toysfortots.org to donate or to find a drop-off location.  So there is still time.  There is still a huge demand.  So anybody out there who has an extra toy — even wonderful, homemade gifts can be nice for some of these children.  So, again, it doesn’t take much.

But there are families — millions of families who are in need, millions of families who rely on this gift to make their holiday season special for their children, and there are so many of us who are blessed, who have the fortune, the good fortune to be doing well this holiday season.  And it’s up to us to dig deep and to make sure we take care of our neighbors out there who may be struggling.

So hopefully people will hear this message and they’ll go out and they’ll make this year’s drive the most successful ever.

I want to congratulate once again the Marines for their hard work.  I want to thank all the families once again for all that you do.  I hope you all get some rest, you get an opportunity to enjoy your holiday season.  We are so grateful and thankful to all of you.  God bless you all, and happy holidays.

And now I get to do a little work.  I’m going to do some toy sorting.  I assume I will get some instructions on what I’m to do, but we’re going to get to work.  So, you all, thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END
1:19 P.M. EST

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by bonniekgoodman on December 16, 2011  •  Permalink
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Political Buzz December 15, 2011: First Look: New Obama Family Portrait

POLITICAL BUZZ

OBAMA PRESIDENCY & THE 112TH CONGRESS:

First Look: New Obama Family Portrait

Source: WH, 12-15-11

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, right, sit for a family portrait in the Oval Office, Dec. 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The White House photo office today released a new official portrait of the First Family, which was taken by Pete Souza in the Oval Office on Sunday December 11, 2011 after the family returned to the White House after church services. The previous official portrait, below, was taken in the Green Room in 2009 by Annie Leibovitz.

First Family Official PortraitThe Official Portrait of the First Family. October 23, 2009. (by Annie Leibovitz)
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on December 15, 2011

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Full Text December 12, 2011: First Lady Michelle Obama Visits Patients at Children’s National Medical Center

POLITICAL SPEECHES & DOCUMENTS

OBAMA PRESIDENCY & THE 112TH CONGRESS:

First Lady Michelle Obama Visits Patients at Children’s National Medical Center

Source: WH, 12-12-11
First Lady reads Twas the Night Before ChristmasFirst Lady Michelle Obama reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas” during a Christmas holiday program with children, parents and staff at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2011. Participants included 19 year-old patient Ashley Riemer, right, Bo, the Obama family dog, and Santa Claus. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Today, First Lady Michelle Obama visited patients at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., a tradition that dates back more than 60 years to First Lady Bess Truman. After touring the neonatal intensive care nursery and another unit at the hospital, Mrs. Obama settled in with Santa Claus and First Dog Bo to read T’was the Night Before Christmas to a group of children gathered in the hospital’s atrium.

After story time, the First Lady answered some questions about the Obama family’s Christmas Eve traditions (enjoying a big meal with extended family in Hawaii and waiting for Santa to arrive), her favorite Christmas movie (“It’s a Wonderful Life”), and what she’s getting the President for Christmas (it’s a surprise, of course!).

Bo at Children's National Medical CenterFirst Lady Michelle Obama and Bo, the Obama family dog, greet audience members at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2011. Mrs Obama visited and read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” during a Christmas holiday program with children, parents and staff. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

POLITICAL QUOTES & SPEECHES

 

Remarks by the First Lady at Children’s National Medical Center

Washington, D.C.

2:53 P.M. EST

DR. NEWMAN:  Now, I’m Kurt Newman.  I’m the President and CEO here.  And we’re just thrilled to have Mrs. Obama with us.  We just had a wonderful tour to see a lot of the babies up in the neonatal intensive care nursery and on the intestinal rehab unit, and we talked to lots of doctors, nurses, patients.  So we’re thrilled to have her here today, with Santa Claus and Bo, to read a story about Christmas.

MRS. OBAMA:  All right, we ready?  Can everybody hear me?

AUDIENCE:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, first of all, how’s everybody doing?

AUDIENCE:  Good.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yeah?  Is it exciting?  Christmas is coming.  How many people have done their letters to Santa?  You got to get on it, you got to get on it.  (Laughter.)  You got to get your letters done.

All right, I’m going to read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”.  How many people have heard that?  Good, good.  So you can help out, where possible, okay?  And I’ll try to show some of the pictures as well.  I had the honor of reading this with guess who?  Kermit the Frog.  Me and Kermit, reading it — it was very exciting.

Hey — hey, you, little one — (laughter) — what’s going on?  What are you talking — are you scaring her?  All right, you guys good?  All right.

Okay, we’re going to read.  Okay, folks, sit, sit.  Are you ready?  Okay.

(Begins reading.)

All right, this is the night before Christmas — it’s, like, Christmas Eve.  Santa is coming; a lot of excitement.

(Continues reading.)

What do you think he was looking for?

AUDIENCE:  Santa.

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, let’s see.  You think it was — what was going on, Santa?  We’ll see, we’ll see.  All right.

(Continues reading.)

Do we know their names?  Do you want to say them with me, if we can?

Now, Dasher!  Now, Dancer!  Now, Prancer and Vixen!  On, Comet!  On, Cupid!  On, Donner and Blitzen!  To the top of the porch!  To the top of the the wall!  Now dash away, dash away, dash away, all!

CHILD:  Santa!  That looks like you!

MRS. OBAMA:  It does look like you.

SANTA:  Thank you.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Yeah, good one, goon one.  Now, which reindeer is missing?

AUDIENCE:  Rudolph.

MRS. OBAMA:  That’s right, where is Rudolph in this story?

SANTA:  He comes later.

MRS. OBAMA:  He’s later?  Later?

(Continues reading.)
He’s coming!  He’s coming into your house — (laughter) — with stuff.  How exciting!  What does he have?

(Continues reading.)

Way to go, Santa.  (Laughter.)  He cleaned up for you guys.  He got rid of the soot.

(Continues reading.)

SANTA:  Ho, ho, ho!

MRS. OBAMA:  Like a bowl full of jelly.  (Laughter.)

Way to go.  Way to be on cue, Santa.  (Laughter.)

SANTA:  Ho, ho, ho!

MRS. OBAMA:  (Continues reading.)

He’s busy, putting stuff under the tree.  It’s coming.  Christmas is coming!  It’s so exciting!  Oh, my goodness.

(Continues reading.)

He’s got to go to a lot of houses.  How do you do it?  (Laughter.)

SANTA:  — secrets.

MRS. OBAMA:  It’s a miracle.  No secrets.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle.  And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.  But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight:  Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

AUDIENCE:  A good night.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yay!  (Applause.)

That’s a good Christmas song.  Okay, so we have time for some questions, my favorite part of this experience.  Because the questions are very interesting.

HOSPITAL STAFF PERSON:  Boys and girls, do you have some questions for the First Lady?

MRS. OBAMA:  We’ve got — I see one little red, beautiful red dress.  You feel like telling me your name?

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Ellington.

MRS. OBAMA:  Ellington.  Ooh, beautiful name.  What’s your name?

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  My name is Addison.

MRS. OBAMA:  Addison and Ellington.  will you speak for the both of you?  Thank you.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  What does your family do on Christmas Eve?

MRS. OBAMA:  What does my family do on Christmas Eve?  Well, we have a tradition.  My husband grew up in Hawaii, right?  That’s where his family is And that’s hometown for us.  And we’ve gone there every year for 20 years.  So every year, we go to Hawaii.  And by the time Christmas Eve comes around, we put out the cookies for Santa.  We usually have a fun Christmas Eve dinner, and all the kids get around — they’re playing, they’re really excited, and they don’t go to bed right away because they’re too excited, and then we have to make them go to bed.  It’s a big hassle.  And then we wait for Santa.  It’s pretty simple.

What do you guys do on Christmas Eve?  What are you going to do on Christmas Eve?

Q    On Christmas Eve, we light the tree and –

MRS. OBAMA:  Wait for Santa.

Q    We light the tree, we eat dinner –

MRS. OBAMA:  Eat dinner.

Q    — we go to bed.  Most of the time my sisters and I are always awake until around 10, just waiting.

MRS. OBAMA:  Just waiting, can’t sleep.  The anticipation.

Q    And most of the time we see my dad going down the hallway.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Thanks, Ellington.  And Addision.  Thanks for the question.

Any other questions?  We’ve got people with mics.  Oh, here we go.  Here’s one over here.  What’s your name, sweetie?

Q    Alex.

MRS. OBAMA:  Alex.  Hey, Alex.  What’s happening?

Q    What does your family like to eat on Christmas?

MRS. OBAMA:  What do we like to eat on Christmas?  Sometimes we have turkey, sometimes we have steak.  The girls love –

Q    Ew!

MRS. OBAMA:  Ew?  (Laughter.)

Q    Steak?

MRS. OBAMA:  Steak.

Q    Ew!

MRS. OBAMA:  You don’t like steak?

Q    We don’t eat any –

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, we only have steak.  (Laughter.)  And we — and our girls love macaroni and cheese.

Q    Oh, me, too.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, that’s big on the menu.  Got to have a little macaroni and cheese.  But we have lots of vegetables.

Q    So do we.

MRS. OBAMA:  What kind of vegetables?  String beans?  We have string beans.

Q    Carrots.

MRS. OBAMA:  Carrots.  Carrots are good.  What other good vegetables?

Q    Broccoli.

MRS. OBAMA:  Broccoli, that’s our favorite.  We have a lot of broccoli.  What about you, Addison?

Q    — salad.

MRS. OBAMA:  Salad.  So we have lots of vegetables that go with our food.

Q    And spinach.

MRS. OBAMA:  And spinach!  All right, so you know, with your dinner, having a little meat and having some vegetables, be a good thing.  We do it at our house, okay?  And then we have dessert.  And we have pie.  Lots of pie.  The President loves pie.  (Laughter.)  All kinds of pie.  Okay?

Q    Do you like pie?

MRS. OBAMA:  What?

Q    Blueberry pie?

MRS. OBAMA:  Blueberry pie.  What other kind of pies?

Q    All of them.

MRS. OBAMA:  What?

Q    All of them.

MRS. OBAMA:  All of them — all of the pies.

MODERATOR:  All right, Mrs. Obama, we have one over here for you.  Right over here.

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, okay.

Q    What is your favorite Christmas movie?

MRS. OBAMA:  What’s my favorite Christmas movie?  Oh, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  Yes, that’s my — well, yes, that’s considered a Christmas movie.  “It’s a Wonderful Life” — have you seen that movie?

Q    No.

MRS. OBAMA:  It’s an old black-and-white movie — yes, I know.  It’s just — (laughter.)  All right, so that’s the old people’s movie.  Let me think of a current move that you’d be familiar with.  What’s a good Christmas movie?

Q    “The Polar Express?”

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, I love — well, that’s not a movie.  I love “Charlie Brown Christmas,” but that’s not a movie.  But my favorite holiday movie of all time is “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and you should get it because it’s about a man who thinks he’s not useful in the world.  And he’s got this beautiful family, and something happens and he wishes that he weren’t there, and a little angel comes down and grants his wish, and he sees what would happen in the world if he wasn’t there.  And even though he doesn’t think his life is significant, he sees that the whole town falls apart.  And then he wakes up and realizes that he’s got “A Wonderful Life.”  My favorite story.  (Laughter.)  It’s very sad.

HOSPITAL STAFF PERSON:  Okay, we have another question.

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, I’m sorry.  I was getting into that a little too much.  Where is the other question?  Okay, what’s your name?

Q    Ebony.

MRS. OBAMA:  Ebony.  Hi.  I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t sing.  If my kids were here, they’d be embarrassed.  But they’re not so don’t tell them.  (Laughter.)

Q    What is your favorite Christmas story?

MRS. OBAMA:  My favorite Christmas story?  I like “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  That’s a good one.  I always read that one.  That’s one of my favorites.

Yes.  All right, any other questions?  Who do we have?  All right.  Right here.  What’s your name?

Q    Dionne.

MRS. OBAMA:  Dale?

Q    Dionne.

MRS. OBAMA:  Dionne.

Q    What do you personally give the President for Christmas?

MRS. OBAMA:  What — say that again?

Q    What do you give the President for Christmas?

MRS. OBAMA:  For Christmas?  Well, again, we go through this every year.  I’m not going to say because it’s going to be reported in the paper and it won’t be a surprise.  (Laughter.)  Because he will read it.  And he’ll say, Oh, that’s what you’re getting me.  So you know I try to get him stuff that he likes to do, sports stuff, clothes.  But the truth is, we generally — we always say we’re not going to give each other gifts because the gift is the love that we have for each other.  Yes, that’s a good thing.  (Applause.)  But then he usually gets me something.  And them I’m like, we weren’t supposed to get each other stuff. so I got him something but I’m not going to say.  All right?  That make sense?  Last year one of the kids suggested that I get him a hot tub.  (Laughter.)  Remember that?  We didn’t get him a hot tub.  (Laughter.)

All right, young lady.

Q    What did you ask Santa for this year?

MRS. OBAMA:  What did I ask Santa for this year?  I haven’t done my ask FOR Santa.

Q    You got to get on that!

MRS. OBAMA:  I got to get on it.  (Laughter.)  It’s true.  But what I really, really want is for all kids to grow up with the chance to be healthy and happy, and to live a good life, and to get a good education, and to grow up and be anything they want to be.  And if every child could have just that simple gift out of life, that would be a wonderful Christmas present for me.

I try to do it for my girls, and I know there are some kids that don’t have the support and the love that they need, and I wish every kid had the same kind of support and love that I know many of you have, because you are fortunate enough to be here and be surrounded by people who care about you.  I just want that for all kids all over the world.  (Applause.)

All right, we’ve got this young lady in the maroon turtleneck.  Yes, you had your hand up.

What’s your name?

Q    Veronica.

MRS. OBAMA:  Nice to see you.

Q    Do you all have parties — do you have like a Christmas party at the White House?

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, do we.  (Laughter.)  We have — my staff is — we open the house right — the day after Thanksgiving the big tree comes, and volunteers come from all over the country and they decorate the White House.  And they decorate for about four days.  We’ve got tons of Christmas trees, beautiful decorations.  This year we’ve done a tree for Gold Star families, which are families who have lost a loved one who is serving in the military.  And the big tree is in dedication to Blue Star families, and those are families who have a loved one serving in the military.

So it was a very special time decorating, because a lot of these families came to help decorate.  Once they finish, we open up the house, and we’ll have over 85,000 people who will come through the White House.  and we have holiday parties.  We have almost two every day for two weeks.  So, yes, we have holiday parties.  And the President and I are at every holiday party, and we shake almost every hand or take a picture, and we usually do them twice a day.  So, yes, we have a few people that come over.

Q    Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA:  What’s your name?

Q    Cameron.

MRS. OBAMA:  Camera?

Q    Cameron.

MRS. OBAMA:  I’m like, Camera?  (Laughter.)  Cameron — hey, Cameron.

Q    I was just wondering, how does Santa know which chimney to go down?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, that’s — would you like to handle that one, Santa?

SANTA:    I always go for the biggest one.  The bigger –

Q    The biggest?

SANTA:  — the easier is to get in there.

Q    Oh, well, you’re pretty skinny around now, man.  (Laughter.)

SANTA:  Yes.  I still have a few more weeks to get –

MRS. OBAMA:  He’s got time.

SANTA:  I got time.

MRS. OBAMA:  You can do a lot in a couple of weeks.  (Laughter.)

HOSPITAL STAFF PERSON:  Great.  Well, thanks for those wonderful questions.

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, thank you, guys.

HOSPITAL STAFF PERSON:  Mrs. Obama, on behalf of Children’s National, thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedule to be with us.  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, my pleasure.  My pleasure.  (Applause.)

END 3:11 P.M. EST

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by bonniekgoodman on December 12, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on December 12, 2011

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Political Buzz November 30, 2011: First Lady Michelle Obama Unveils with First Dog Bo the 2011 White House Christmas Theme Shine, Give, Share Honoring Military Families

POLITICAL BUZZ

By Bonnie K. Goodman

Ms. Goodman is the Editor of History Musings. She has a BA in History & Art History & a Masters in Library and Information Studies from McGill University, and has done graduate work in history at Concordia University. Ms. Goodman has also contributed the overviews, and chronologies in History of American Presidential Elections, 1789-2008, 4th edition, edited by Gil Troy, Fred L. Israel, and Arthur Meier Schlesinger to be published by Facts on File, Inc. in late 2011.

IN FOCUS: FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA UNVEILS WITH FIRST DOG BO THE 2011 WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS THEME SHINE, GIVE, SHARE HONORING MILITARY FAMILIES

Bo, the Obama family dog, made from plastic garbage bags, is seen in the Library of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, as the Christmas holiday decorations, whose theme is 'Shine, Give, Share' were previewed.

Bo, the Obama family dog, made from plastic garbage bags, is seen in the Library of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, as the Christmas holiday decorations, whose theme is “Shine, Give, Share” were previewed. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

White House Holiday Decoration Preview with the First Lady

Source: WH, 11-30-11

First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed military families to the White House today for the first peek at this year’s holiday decorations. After speaking to parents, spouses, and children of service members in the East Room, she invited kids down to the State Dining Room to decorate cookies and make Christmas tree ornaments.

The theme for this year’s holiday is “Shine, Share, Give,” celebrating the countless ways we can lift up those around us, put our best self forward in the spirit of the season, spend time with friends and family, celebrate the joy of giving to others, and share our blessings with all.  The decorations in every room of the house, hung with care by volunteers from 37 states, reflect the theme, using shiny stars, metallic garland, and twinkling lights and also by inviting visitors to give thanks to the military for their service.

Each room of the White House is uniquely decorated for the holidays. After arriving through the East Visitor Entrance, visitors are invited to write thank you notes to service members in the East Landing and view the Gold Star Families Tree, decorated by families whose loved ones gave their lives in service to our nation.  In the Entrance Hall on the State Floor, crystal snowflakes hang from the ceiling above visitors as they walk toward the Blue Room, home to the official White House Christmas Tree, also decorated in honor of military families. The East Room has been transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with four trees and garland and tree branches in every window.  A 400-pound gingerbread, marzipan, and white chocolate White House—an exact replica, complete with tiny furniture, art, and chandeliers—sits in the State Dining Room.

And, a very special four-legged member of the Obama family is represented in nearly every room. Bo can be found in nearly every room, from small ornaments to life-size topiaries made from everyday materials like felt, buttons, candy and even trash bags!

Read more about the White House Holiday decorations and this year’s theme

Shine, Give, Share

The theme for this 2011 holiday season is “Shine, Give, Share,” which offers an opportunity to pay tribute to our troops, veterans, and their families throughout the White House. This year, the official tour features 37 Christmas trees, 30 are natural trees and 7 are made from paper, felt or aluminum; a gingerbread model of the White House made of 400 pounds of gingerbread, white chocolate and marzipan plus 5 different representations of First Dog Bo Obama. Volunteers from 36 states plus the District of Columbia worked for days to get everything ready.

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Blue Room

The centerpiece of the Blue Room is the official White House Christmas tree—a breathtaking 18-foot-6-inch balsam fir from Neshkoro, Wisconsin—which honors our men and women in uniform and features holiday cards created by military children. Collected from United States military installations around the world, these thoughtful and poignant cards celebrate their parents serving in uniform. Medals, badges, and patches from all of the military branches are displayed on ornaments, historic military images are displayed with volunteer-made pinecone frames and ribbons inspired by the Armed Forces colors represent the brave women and men who protect our Nation and defend our freedom.

Share a holiday message with our troops:

Share Your Message

blue room holiday photo

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Download the White House Holiday Tour Book

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Gold Star Tree

The Gold Star Families Tree pays tribute to those who gave their lives in service to our Nation and to the families who continue to carry their proud legacy forward. Photos of these fallen heroes and messages from their loved ones honor their courageous service, and remind us of the great sacrifices made for our freedom. Visitors can write notes to service members showing their thanks and visiting Gold Star Families will have the opportunity to inscribe a ceramic gold star with a personalized note to decorate the tree. Honoring Gold Star Families in this fashion was the First Lady’s idea, and the tree was decorated by Gold Star families who volunteered their time this holiday season.

gold star tree photos

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See some special moments from White House Holidays through the years

First Family Slideshow First Family’s Pets Slideshow Obama Family Slideshow Simple Gift Blog Post

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Deck the Halls with Bo Obama

This year the White House Holiday décor includes a bounty of Bos! The tour route features 5 Bo topiaries made from various materials like felt (35 yards of wool felt used), buttons (318 buttons in total), pom poms (750 pom poms used), candy (12 marshmallows, 1911 pieces of licorice), and even trash bags (6,850 feet worth)! Including Bo ornaments and other small Bos, you can find Bo in almost every room!

Shine, Give, Share: The Obama White House’s theme for this 2011 holiday season is “Shine, Give, Share,” which offers an opportunity to pay tribute to our troops, veterans, and their families throughout the White House. This year, the official tour features 37 Christmas trees, 30 are natural trees and 7 are made from paper, felt or aluminum; a gingerbread model of the White House made of 400 pounds of gingerbread, white chocolate and marzipan plus 5 different representations of First Dog Bo Obama. Volunteers from 36 states plus the District of Columbia worked for days to get everything ready. — WH

‘Shine, Give, Share’: Christmas Decorations at the White House — PICTURES – National Journal, 11-30-11

  • White House Holiday Decoration Preview with the First Lady: First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed military families to the White House today for the first peek at this year’s holiday decorations. After speaking to parents, spouses, and children of service members in the East Room, she invited kids down…. – The White House, 11-30-11
  • Holiday decorations unveiled to military families: …First lady Michelle Obama welcomed military families to the first viewing of the 2011 decorations on Wednesday. “Shine, Give, Share” is the theme for the Obama family’s third Christmas in the mansion. The theme translates throughout the public viewing space from gold foil leaf trimming to shiny quartz ornaments.
    Several decorations honor military families including a Gold Star Families Tree with ceramic gold ornaments carrying personalized messages by families. Tour visitors can also create handwritten notes for the troops… – AP, 11-30-11
  • White House decks the halls for Christmas: Amid the festive sparkle of 37 Christmas trees and a 400-pound gingerbread White House, Michelle Obama honored military families as she unveiled her 2011 holiday decor. The “Shine, Give, Share” theme was reflected in the East Room’s shimmering quartz … – WaPo, 11-30-11
  • Military families, first dog showcased in Christmas decorations at White House: First dog Bo is upstaging the Christmas decorations at the White House this holiday season. The Obamas’ Portuguese water dog is in almost every room of the public tour, ranging from a miniature licorice and marshmallow version to a felt … – WaPo, 11-30-11
  • The White House decking the halls: First Lady Michelle Obama showed off the newly-decked halls of the White House on Wednesday to a select group of special guests. Family members of military servicemen and women joined Mrs. Obama and her staff to preview this year’s … – CNN, 11-30-11
  • Holiday decorations unveiled to military families: First dog Bo is upstaging the Christmas decorations at the White House this holiday season. The Obamas’ Portuguese water dog is in almost every room of the public tour, ranging from a miniature licorice and marshmallow version…. – CBS News, 11-30-11
  • Bo stars at showcase of White House holiday decorations: The first family’s pet dog, Bo, starred Wednesday at a preliminary viewing of holiday decorations at the White House for military families. First lady Michelle Obama opened the White House to Gold and Blue Star military families … – MSNBC, 11-30-11
  • Bo is Christmas star in White House decor: Amid the festive sparkle of 37 Christmas trees and a 400-pound gingerbread White House, Michelle Obama honored military families as she unveiled her 2011 holiday decor. The “Shine, Give, Share” theme was reflected in the East Room’s shimmering quartz … – WaPo, 11-30-11
  • White House Christmas decor includes military tribute: “Shine, Give, Share” is the theme for Christmas at the White House, whose doors flung open Wednesday to the first wave of guests given the chance to ogle its fragrant, fanciful holiday finery, including no fewer … – LAT, 11-30-11
  • Michelle Obama hosts military families at holiday unveiling: First dog Bo is upstaging the Christmas decorations at the White House this holiday season. First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes children to begin festivities after welcoming military families who would be the first to view the 2011 White House… – USA Today, 11-30-11
  • Obamas Showcase First Pup Bo for Christmas: “Where’s Waldo” Fans will love the Obama’s Christmas decorations this year. Because in nearly every room, the first family has sneaked in a version of the first pup Bo.
    From a nine-and-a-half-inch depiction made of 318 buttons, a candy Bo made of 12 marshmallows and almost 2,000 pieces of licorice, a black and white Bo made of about 7,000 feet of trash bags and a four-and-a- half-foot tall pup made out of 35 yards of wool felt, it’s obvious Bo is the star of this year’s White House Christmas…. – US News, 11-30-11
  • Christmas At The White House: ‘Where’s Bo?’: While the official theme of this year’s White House Christmas is “Shine, Give, Share,” the real star of the Obama’s third holiday season at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is First Dog Bo. “It’s sort of a ‘where’s Bo?’” First Lady Michelle Obama explained at a White House holiday event with military families today. “You’ve got to find the Bo in every room, because he’s hidden everywhere.” … ABC News, 11-30-11
  • Michelle Obama, and Bo, show off White House holiday decor: First lady Michelle Obama and her dog Bo welcomed military families to the White House on Wednesday, the first visitors to see this year’s White House holiday decorations. As usual, the decorations are impressive…. – USA Today, 11-30-11
  • White House Christmas display salutes military: “Shine, Give, Share” is the theme for Christmas at the White House, whose doors flung open Wednesday to the first wave of guests allowed to ogle its fragrant, fanciful holiday finery, including no fewer … – Chicago Tribune, 11-30-11
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by bonniekgoodman on November 30, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in First Ladies, National & Religious Holidays, Political Buzz, President Barack Obama, US Military & Troops
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on November 30, 2011

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Rick Perlstein: Betty Ford, Pioneer

HISTORY BUZZ: HISTORY NEWS RECAP

History Buzz

Source: NYT, 7-11-11

Vivienne Flesher

THE obituaries for Betty Ford, who died Friday at the age of 93, were filled with colorful stories about an incongruous life: former Martha Graham dancer, dispenser of scandalous comments to the media, alcohol and drug addict. So colorful, in fact, that they may crowd out her historical importance — which may well have been greater than those of her husband, President Gerald R. Ford.

Though she was never an elected official, industry titan or religious leader, few Americans changed people’s lives so dramatically for the better. I learned it for myself in the most unlikely of places: a Ford family estate sale in 2007….READ MORE

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by bonniekgoodman on July 12, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on July 12, 2011

http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/rick-perlstein-betty-ford-pioneer/

Political Headlines July 9, 2011: Remembering First Lady Betty Ford, 1918-2011

POLITICAL HEADLINES

By Bonnie K. Goodman

Ms. Goodman is the Editor of History Musings. She has a BA in History & Art History & a Masters in Library and Information Studies from McGill University, and has done graduate work in history at Concordia University.

The Fords embrace in the Oval Office, December, 6, 1974.

Betty and Gerald Ford in the Oval Office
The Fords embrace in the Oval Office, December, 6, 1974.

(Photo: Gerald R. Ford Library)

FORMER FIRST LADY BETTY FORD: 1918-2011

IN FOCUS

Betty Ford dies at the age of 93: Betty Ford, 93, a self-proclaimed “ordinary” woman who never cared for political life but made a liberating adventure out of her 30 months as first lady, died Friday.

THE HEADLINES….

  • Former first lady Betty Ford dies at 93: Betty Ford, wife of former President Gerald Ford and the founder of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction, has died at age 93…. – WaPo, 7-8-11
  • Betty Ford: A free spirit who became an inspiration to millions: Former first lady Betty Ford’s triumph over drug and alcohol addiction became a beacon of hope for addicts and the inspiration for her Betty Ford Center in California. Mrs. Ford passed on Friday…. – CS Monitor, 7-9-11
  • Former first lady Betty Ford dies at 93: Betty Ford, the former first lady whose triumph over drug and alcohol addiction became a beacon of hope for addicts and the inspiration for her Betty Ford Center in California, died at age 93, a family friend said late Friday.
    Her death Friday was confirmed to The Associated Press by Marty Allen, chairman emeritus of the Ford Foundation. Family spokeswoman Barbara Lewandrowski said later that the former first lady died at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. Other details of her death were not immediately available. Ford’s husband, Gerald, died in December 2006.
    Betty Ford had undergone surgery for an undisclosed ailment in April 2007. During and after her years in the White House, 1974 to 1977, Mrs. Ford won acclaim for her candor, wit and courage as she fought breast cancer, severe arthritis and the twin addictions of drugs and alcohol. She also pressed for abortion rights and women’s rights…. – AP, 7-9-11
  • Betty Ford 1918-2011 Betty Ford, Former First Lady, Dies at 93: Betty Ford, the outspoken and much-admired wife of President Gerald R. Ford who overcame alcoholism and an addiction to pills and helped found one of the best-known rehabilitation centers in the nation, died Friday in Palm Springs, Calif. She was 93. Her death was confirmed by Chris Chase, Mrs. Ford’s biographer.
    The news of her death at Eisenhower Medical Center brought statements of condolence from President Obama, former Presidents George Bush, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, and Nancy Reagan, the former first lady.
    Few first ladies have been as popular as Betty Ford, and it was her frankness and lack of pretense that made her so. She spoke often in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, endorsed legalized abortion, discussed premarital sex and revealed that she intended to share a bed with her husband in the White House.
    When her husband’s voice failed him the morning after he was defeated by Jimmy Carter in 1976, it was she who read the official concession statement with smiling grace. And when Mr. Ford died in December 2006, it was Mrs. Ford who announced his death. The six days of national mourning returned her to a spotlight she had tried to avoid in her later years, living in Rancho Mirage, Calif., a golf community southeast of Palm Springs, and tending to her clinic there, the Betty Ford Center…. – NYT, 7-9-11
  • Snyder: Betty Ford was “outstanding Michigander”: Gov. Rick Snyder says the state is mourning the loss of former first lady Betty Ford, a woman he calls an “extraordinary woman” and an “outstanding Michigander.” In a statement Friday, Snyder said Ford was “a shining example of how one person can truly make a difference.” The governor says he and his wife, Sue, extend their sympathies to the Ford family.
    Ford family spokeswoman Barbara Lewandrowski says Ford’s body will be sent to Michigan from California for burial alongside former President Gerald Ford, who is buried at his namesake library in Grand Rapids…. – AP, 7-9-11
  • Private memorial for Betty Ford will be Tuesday in Palm Desert: Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will be among those delivering eulogies for the wife of the nation’s 38th president.
    A private memorial for former First Lady Betty Ford will be held in Palm Desert on Tuesday, with a eulogy to be delivered by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, before her remains are flown to Michigan and laid to rest beside her husband, a family representative said Saturday.
    Ford, 93, died of natural causes Friday afternoon, surrounded by family members at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. She had been hospitalized with a brief illness but, contrary to some news reports, did not suffer a stroke, said Greg Willard, the Fords’ longtime attorney.
    “I wanted to express the gratitude and thanks of the Ford family for the magnificent outpouring of sympathy that they have received literally from around the world. It’s been, quite frankly, heartwarming beyond measure,” Willard said during an afternoon news conference…. – LAT, 7-9-11

QUOTES BY BETTY FORD

(On hearing her husband take the oath of office in August 1974): “The words cut through me, pinned me to the floor. I felt as though I were taking the oath with him, promising to dedicate my own life to the service of my country.

“I was the wife of the President of the United States.”

“What an astonishing place for Elizabeth Ann Bloomer to have come to.”

(On meeting Ford): Fall 1947: “Once I’d said marriage was the last thing on my mind, and he’d made it clear it was no part of his program either, we could relax, have a good time, go to all the football games. He wanted a companion, and I filled the bill. As for me, I liked handsome blond men, I found him physically attractive; I enjoyed his company and his friends.”

November 1948: “When he first told me he was going to run for Congress, I didn’t know what running for Congress meant. I was very unprepared to be a political wife, but I didn’t worry because I really didn’t think he was going to win. At that time, only old men went to Congress.”

(On children and motherhood): “I was always there at three-thirty when the older ones came home from school and in the days when we still had infants, I was a pretty average mother. If I had a quiet hour, I dived into a historical novel. … I was a den mother. I was a Sunday-school teacher. I was an interior decorator and a peacemaker and a zoo keeper. We raised every kind of an animal in the world.”

(On Ford’s Vice Presidency): Dec. 6, 1973: “Before he got this new job, I’d been planning to work at a hospital three days a week, because I needed to feel I was doing something for someone else. … Suddenly I had more projects than I could handle.”

(On Ford becoming president): “I had such belief in my husband. I never doubted he could do it. … But I wasn’t sure what kind of First Lady I would be. There was a great deal of whooping and hollering right at the beginning because I’d said Jerry and I were not going to have separate bedrooms at the White House, and that we were going to take our own bed with us. … Even now, after all those years of married life, I like the idea of sleeping with my husband next to me.”

“I figured, OK, I’ll move to the White House, do the best I can and if they don’t like it, they can kick me out, but they can’t make me somebody I’m not.”

“I think it wasn’t so much that the White House altered me in any essential way as that I found the resources with which to respond to a series of challenges. You never know what you can do until you have to do it. In the beginning, it was like going to a party you’re terrified of, and finding out to your amazement that you’re having a good time.”

(On getting breast cancer): “…I never felt hopelessly mutilated. After all, Jerry and I had been married a good many years and our love had proved itself. I had no reason to doubt my husband. If he’d lost a leg, I wouldn’t have deserted him, and I knew he wouldn’t desert me because I was unfortunate enough to have had a mastectomy. Neither of us can walk away from the other.”

“Lying in the hospital, thinking of all those women going for cancer checkups because of me, I’d come to recognize more clearly the power of the woman in the White House. Not my power, but the power of the position, a power which could be used to help.”

(On equal rights): “A housewife deserves to be honored as much as a woman who earns her living in the marketplace. I consider bringing up children a responsible job. In fact, being a good housewife seems to me a much tougher job than going to the office and getting paid for it. What man could afford to pay for all the things a wife does, when she’s a cook, a mistress, a chauffeur, a nurse, a baby-sitter? But because of this, I feel women ought to have equal rights, equal Social Security, equal opportunities for education, an equal chance to establish credit.”

(On campaigning in 1976): “I hadn’t wanted Jerry to be president, but I had long since accepted his decision to run. You plan your life one way, it goes another. When the time came, I felt he would be the best man for the job, and I was willing to take on four more years in the White House.”

“I had never expected to go out and campaign for my husband for president of the United States… At first I was petrified to get up and speak, particularly without a prepared text. In the beginning, I used to feel sick. After a while, I became so involved I stopped thinking about my stomach and carried on like the rest of the troops.”

(On her 1978 hospital stay for substance abuse): “For 14 years, I’d been on medication for the pinched nerve, the arthritis, the muscle spasms in my neck, and I’d lost my tolerance for pills. If I had a single drink, the alcohol, on top of the pills, would make me groggy.”

“I entered Long Beach to rid myself of dependence on drugs. Even now, I think staying off medication will be harder for me than staying off liquor because I have pain which comes often. For the present, I seem to be dealing with it. It’s mind over matter a lot.”

QUOTES — ON BETTY FORD’S PASSING

  • Susan Ford Bales, Steven Meigs Ford, John Gardner Ford and Michael Gerald Ford: “It is with great sadness that we inform you that our beloved mother Betty Ford has passed away at 93 years of age. She died peacefully today at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California.
    Mother’s love, candor, devotion, and laughter enriched our lives and the lives of the millions she touched throughout this great nation. To be in her presence was to know the warmth of a truly great lady.
    Mother’s passing leaves a deep void, but it also fills us with immeasurable appreciation for the life we and Dad shared with her.”
  • “Throughout her long and active life, Elizabeth Anne Ford distinguished herself through her courage and compassion. As our nation’s First Lady, she was a powerful advocate for women’s health and women’s rights. After leaving the White House, Mrs. Ford helped reduce the social stigma surrounding addiction and inspired thousands to seek much-needed treatment. While her death is a cause for sadness, we know that organizations such as the Betty Ford Center will honor her legacy by giving countless Americans a new lease on life.” — President Barack Obama
  • “Laura and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Betty Ford. We admired her as a First Lady and valued her as a friend. She made countless contributions to our country, and we especially appreciate her courage in calling attention to breast cancer and substance abuse. Because of her leadership, many lives were saved. Tonight our prayers go out to Mrs. Ford’s entire family.” — Former President George W. Bush
  • “Barbara and I loved Betty Ford very much. She was a wonderful wife and mother; a great friend; and a courageous First Lady. No one confronted life’s struggles with more fortitude or honesty, and as a result, we all learned from the challenges she faced. The Betty Ford Center, which already has helped change the lives of thousands of people, will be her lasting legacy of care and concern. We were proud to know her. We were proud to call her a friend. We will miss her very much.” — Former President George H. W. Bush
  • “Rosalynn and I are saddened by the passing of Betty Ford, a close personal friend and our frequent partner in bipartisan efforts to improve mental health and substance abuse care in our nation. She was a remarkable political spouse, whose courageous candor helped forge a new era of openness after the divisiveness of the Vietnam War and Watergate. Also, as a tireless advocate for women’s rights and social justice, she helped to improve the lives and opportunities of countless women and children. We extend our deepest sympathy to her family at this difficult time.” — Former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalyn Carter
  • “We are deeply saddened by the passing of First Lady Betty Ford. As a staunch advocate for women’s and equal rights, Betty paved the way for generations of women to follow. Her courage, compassion, and commitment to helping our nation deal with drug and alcohol abuse and addiction helped thousands of people to a successful recovery and in the process she helped to save countless families. …. Betty was a remarkable woman whose legacy will live on in people around the country whose lives are longer and better because of her work. Our thoughts and prayers are with her children and grandchildren. We are grateful for her contributions, and for her kindness to us. We will miss her.” — Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton
  • “I was deeply saddened this afternoon when I heard of Betty Ford’s death. She has been an inspiration to so many through her efforts to educate women about breast cancer and her wonderful work at the Betty Ford Center. She was Jerry Ford’s strength through some very difficult days in our country’s history, and I admired her courage in facing and sharing her personal struggles with all of us. My love and deepest sympathy go out to the entire Ford family at this very sad time.” — Former First Lady Nancy Reagan
  • “It is with deep sadness that Jill and I learned of the loss of Betty Ford. Throughout her life, Betty displayed strength, courage and determination that provided hope for millions of Americans seeking a healthier, happier future. Her legacy and work will live on through the millions of lives she has touched and the many more who will continue to look to her for inspiration. Her family will remain in our thoughts and prayers in the coming days.” — Vice President Joe Biden
  • “Mrs. Ford was a courageous pioneer, a groundbreaking First Lady, and a forceful advocate for anyone suffering from addiction or breast cancer. America fought her struggles with her and learned alongside her. She was brave, outspoken and kind. As a journalist, I had the opportunity to interview her several times and she was just fascinating. She was a wonderful woman who stood up for any human being struggling in the shadows of their personal pain. One of my highlights as First Lady of California was to honor her with a Minerva Award in 2005. My heart goes out to her entire family. Her daughter Susan is a dear friend of mine and continues to carry on Mrs. Ford’s work in such a powerful way.” — Former California First Lady Maria Shriver
  • “Betty Ford was a marvelous example of courage, faith and leadership as First Lady, and as a wife and mother. Our nation and state mourn her passing and we extend our hearts and prayers to the Ford family.” – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette
  • “Betty Ford was an outstanding Michigander and a shining example of how one person can truly make a difference. Her groundbreaking work in breast cancer awareness and treatment as well as her pioneering efforts to help those struggling with addiction changed the lives of millions of people for the better. She was a role model for us all as she lived her life with grace and dignity. While Michigan mourns the loss of this extraordinary woman, we are thankful for her years of dedication to our state and its people.
    Sue and I extend our deepest sympathies to the Ford family, in particular children Michael, John, Steven and Susan.” – Gov. Rick Snyder
  • “Betty Ford was a woman of incredible grace and courage. She served our nation in so many ways — as a partner to her husband as he steered the ship of state through turbulent times; as a powerful voice for breast cancer victims; as an advocate for women’s rights; and as someone who as been as responsible as anyone for our society’s awareness of substance abuse and improvements in its treatment. She spent a lifetime breaking down barriers for millions to follow. Barbara and I join Michigan and the nation in mourning her loss.” – U.S. Sen. Carl Levin
  • “Jock and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States and a longtime champion of women’s rights. Betty and her husband, the late President Gerald Ford, represented a voice for civility, consensus-building, and integrity at a most challenging time for our nation. She had a profound impact on our country that will last for generations. She helped to raise awareness about women’s health issues and made great contributions to our society. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ford family during this difficult time.” – U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe
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by bonniekgoodman on July 9, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in First Ladies, Political Headlines
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Posted by bonniekgoodman on July 9, 2011

http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/remembering-first-lady-betty-ford-1918-2011/

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