Accompanied by Economic Recovery Advisory Board Chair Paul Volcker, (second from right) President Obama spoke in the East Room of the White House on February 6 as he introduced members of his Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
President Obama addresses the House Democrats Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia, on February 5. The President continues to push for the $900 billion stimulus plan he proposed to go through Congress.
The President proves to the room (and Mrs. Obama) that chivalry isn’t dead at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on February 5.
President Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner came together on February 4 to discuss executive compensation in Cross Hall at the White House.
President Barack Obama meets with Vice-President Joseph Biden, Middle East Envoy former Senator George Mitchell, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Oval Office on February 4. Earlier in the day, President Obama spoke on executive pay compensation with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise visit to the Capital City Public Charter School, one of Washington, D.C.’s most successful public schools, where they sat down with 25 second-graders to read "The Moon Over Star” by Dianna Hutts Aston on February 3. Mrs. Obama got into the thick of things, keeping her audience of mostly 8-year-olds extremely engaged.
President Obama and Mrs. Obama read
“The Moon Over Star” by Dianna Hutts Aston, which is about Neil Armstrong’s moon landing and inspires children to make one giant step toward all of life’s possibilities.
The Obamas held the book up together so the class could see the illustrations. The class apparently sat very quietly with their teachers as the First Couple read.
After reading to the students, the President and First Lady pose for a group photo with them. The President asked the students about career choices and started with who wanted to be an astronaut. One student responded yes while some said they wanted to be a doctor, a football player, and a sculptor. One boy said he wanted to be president in which President Obama responded, “I think you might make it.”
One girl said she wanted to be First Lady in which Mrs. Obama said, “It doesn’t pay much.”
President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden announce his selection of Commerce Secretary-designate Senator Judd Gregg, a Republican of New Hampshire, during a ceremony in the White House Grand Foyer on February 3. Sen, Gregg caught the President’s eye because of his family ties (his father, Hugh Gregg, was elected the youngest governor of New Hampshire), his business and law background and his work as state executive councilor, congressman, governor and now as senator.
“He shares my deep-seated commitment to guaranteeing that our children inherit a future they can afford,” said President Obama.
President Obama meets with
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas on February 2 in the Oval Office to discuss bipartisan support for the federal stimulus package.
President Barack Obama signs his first bill in office, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act on January 29. The bill ensures that women across the country receive equal pay for equal work.
Lilly Ledbetter, center left, fought to the Supreme Court to get back wages when she learned she had been paid less than her male counterparts.
First lady Michelle Obama greets supporters outside Georgia Brown’s Restaurant near the White House in Washington on January 30. Mrs. Obama had lunch with D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and his wife.
President Barack Obama signs three executive orders to reverse Bush administration labor policies at the White House January 30, as Vice-President Joe Biden looks on.
First Lady Michelle Obama greets Lilly Ledbetter after President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act bill, ensuring that women across the country receive equal pay for equal work.
The First Lady applauds after President Obama signs the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act bill. It is the first bill President Obama has signed since being in office just over one week.
The First Lady makes time for a photo with Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski, left, and Lilly Ledbetter in the State Dining Room of the White House after President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
First lady Michelle Obama speaks as Lilly Ledbetter looks on in the State Dining Room of the White House, following President Barack Obama signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, on January 29.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama head inside Sidwell Friends School in Bethesda, Maryland. on January 29. Their daughter Sasha, 7, is a student at the lower school campus.
Read our exclusive interview with Sidwell Friends School alum damali ayo »
President Obama meets with Google CEO Eric Schmidt, left, JetBlue CEO David Barger and Micron Technology CEO Steve Appleton to discuss the economy in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 28.
Lisa Jackson is the first African-American administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The President is working with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, center, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, right, to sign a series of executive orders on car emissions and fuel efficiency standards on January 26. He wants the Environmental Protection Agency to allow 14 states to set their own tailpipe emission standards and construct new regulations requiring improved fuel efficiency in cars and trucks.
President Obama shakes hands with Honeywell CEO Dave Cote in the White House before speaking on the economy, following a meeting with business leaders on January 28.
Already on their way to getting the job done, President Barack Obama, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Middle East envoy George Mitchell speak to the media in the Cabinet Room at the White House on January 26.
Vice-President Joseph Biden, left, and retired military officers stand behind and watch President Barack Obama sign executive orders to close down the detention center/prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba on January 22, 2009. This is the first of four executive orders he will sign today. He signed the document in a blue folder to applause, adding, “There we go.”
President Barack Obama retakes the oath of office on January 21 in “an abundance of caution,” the White House says. Chief Justice John G. Roberts, left, flubbed it the first time.
President Obama signed an additional three executive orders on Thursday, January 22, including an order intended to improve intelligence gathering and an order to set up a special interagency task force on detainees made up of the attorney general, secretary of defense, secretary of state, secretary of homeland security, the director of national intelligence, the director of the CIA and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. The final order deals with the pending case of U.S. legal resident and detainee Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, pending before the Supreme Court.
New Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is feeling the love by State Department staffers as she arrives for her first day of work. She pledged that the Obama administration will “no longer tolerate the divisions that paralyzed” the previous administration.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during her first full day on the job, stands next to President Barack Obama at the State Department’s headquarters on January 22 in Washington, D.C.
After speaking with members of his senior staff, President Obama signs an executive order in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, as Vice-President Biden has a little fun with photographers on the new team’s first day in office.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet Beverly Bezeokoli and other visitors who came to the Blue Room during an open house tour at the White House on January 21.
President Obama walks into the Oval Office of the White House as he begins the first day of his administration.
Mrs. Obama, President Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, Mrs. Jill Biden, former President Clinton and Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton attend the inaugural prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington on the day after the inauguration.
Go inside the inauguration with the Essence team »
Following a historic day and evening, Mrs. Obama and President Obama begin the President’s first day in office by attending the inaugural prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral.
Go inside the inauguration with the Essence team »
In his first official day of work, President Obama talks on the phone in the Oval Office of the White House. He had conversations with four Middle Eastern leaders: President Mubarak of Egypt, Prime Minister Olmert of Israel, King Abdullah of Jordan, and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.
Mr. President talks with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in the Oval Office about the day’s schedule of events. A few minutes later, the First Lady came into room to speak with her husband.
Former President Bush left a folder for President Obama on the desk of the Oval Office, as shown in this handout photo provided by the White House.
The President and Mrs. Obama bask in the joy of their first dance as the First Couple at the Neighborhood Ball.
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The Obamas prepare to take their first dance as President and First Lady.
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President Obama and the First Lady dazzle the crowd with their moves.
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America’s new First Couple arrives at the Neighborhood Ball in grand style.
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Beyoncé serenades Mr. President and the First Lady with the Etta James song “At Last.”
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The Obamas and Beyoncé share admiration for one another after the pop star performed for the couple’s first song.
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President Obama and Mrs. Obama applaud Beyoncé, who sung “At Last” for the couple’s first dance at the Neighborhood Ball, the first of ten inaugural balls the Obamas attended.
Go inside the inauguration with the Essence team »
The Obamas greet supporters at the Neighborhood Ball.
Go inside the inauguration with the Essence team »
President Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama
dance with soldiers during the Commander in Chief’s Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington.
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A magnificent view of the National Mall on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, in our country’s capital, Washington, D.C.
President Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama share a moment with former President Bush and wife Laura Bush.
Obama walks through the U.S. Capitol crypt behind U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi before being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America.
President Obama and First Lady Obama walk the Inaugural Parade route following his swearing-in ceremony.
President Obama’s hand lies on a Bible held by Mrs. Obama as he is sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in front of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
President Obama takes the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States with the First Lady by his side.
President Obama embraces youngest daughter Sasha as Mrs. Obama and oldest daughter Malia look on with glee.
President Obama holds his hand to his heart beside Vice-President Joe Biden, outgoing President George W. Bush, and outgoing Vice-President Dick Cheney during the inaugural ceremony.
President Obama sits in his limousine following his inaugural ceremony.
President Barack Obama reflects on the moment while waving to his loyal supporters.
Newly sworn in Vice President, Joe Biden, happily greets thousands of supporters during the inaugural parade.
Malia and Sasha Obama in their precious Inauguration Day ensembles.
President Barack Obama kisses Mrs. Obama after he is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
President Obama gives his inaugural address before millions at the Capitol and billions worldwide.
A crowd of an estimated 2 million people gathered in D.C. to watch President Obama’s inauguration.
President Obama gives the Hawaiian “shaka” or “hang loose” gesture during the Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C.
Vice-President Joseph R. Biden is greeted by President Obama during the inauguration.
President Obama takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th President of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The new First Family share a special moment during the inuguration.
The Obamas depart St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. with Reverend Luis Leon just hours before Obama takes his oath as the 44th U.S. President.
President Bush, right, walks out with President-elect Barack Obama, on the North Portico of the White House before sharing the presidential limousine enroute to Capitol Hill for the inauguration.
Michelle Obama looks stunning at the inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The Reverand Rick Warren, of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, gives the invocation as President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, left, bow their heads.
President Obama kisses the First Lady after being sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as Malia and Sasha look on.
With wife Jill by his side, Vice-President Joe Biden is sworn in.
Aretha Franklin sings “My Country Tis of Thee” at the inauguration.
President Barack Obama kisses Mrs. Obama during the luncheon at Statuary Hall on January 20, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama depart the luncheon at Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Supporters from all along the train track from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., cheered on the Obama Express, which took the President-elect Obama and Vice-President-elect Biden and their families to their new hometown.
Barack Obama is joined by his family as he is sworn in as the nation’s next President.
