The President met with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Situation Room of the White House to hear top military officials make their case for tens of thousands of additional troops to target al-Qaida. The session marked the first time Obama has questioned his inner circle specifically about troop levels needed. Source
In the evening, the President and First Lady hosted a picnic for United States Secret Service members and their families on the South Lawn of the White House.
United States Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, speaking at the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute on Citizenship and Democracy at Jackson State University, announced he had named a future naval supply ship, designed to provide replenishment services to U.S. Navy ships at sea, the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13). Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist who was assassinated June 12, 1963. Source
The White House announced that President Obama will donate all of the Nobel Peace Prize money, about $1.4 million, to charity. The recipients had not yet been named by the time of the composition of this chronical of the Obama Administration.
Day261/Oct10th/Saturday: In his weekly address, the President praised past and current political leaders, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and drug companies who have expressed support for healthcare reform. Transcript Video
The President delivered a remarks at a fundraiser for the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group. Among the President's remarks:
"We're pushing hard to pass an inclusive employee non-discrimination bill. For the first time ever, an administration official testified in Congress in favor of this law. Nobody in America should be fired because they're gay, despite doing a great job and meeting their responsibilities. It's not fair. It's not right. We're going to put a stop to it. And it's for this reason that if any of my nominees are attacked not for what they believe but for who they are, I will not waver in my support, because I will not waver in my commitment to ending discrimination in all its forms."
"We cannot afford to cut from our ranks people with the critical skills we need to fight any more than we can afford, for our military's integrity, to force those willing to do so into careers encumbered and compromised by having to live a lie. So I'm working with the Pentagon, its leadership, and the members of the House and Senate on ending this policy. Legislation has been introduced in the House to make this happen. I will end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. That's my commitment to you." Transcript Video
Day262/Oct11th/Sunday: The President telephoned the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry to thank him for his work, and for his participation in the ongoing review of strategy toward Afghanistan. The President received an update on the Afghan elections, and reiterated the importance of Ambassador Eikenberry and his team to ensuring the implementation of a comprehensive strategy in Afghanistan, that includes both military and civilian components, and working with Afghan partners. Source
Day263/Oct12th/Monday: The President announced that on November 5, 2009 he will host the White House Tribal Nations Conference. As part of President Obama's sustained outreach to the American people, this conference will provide leaders from the 564 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of his Administration. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one representative to the conference. Source
The President spoke by telephone with President Felipe Calderon of Mexico, President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, and President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia, thanking each for their respective calls regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing efforts to work in partnership to promote greater economic and social inclusion, dismantle illicit drug trafficking organizations, and confront other key challenges facing the people of the Americas today. Source
Day264/Oct13th/Tuesday: The President met with senior advisors and, afterward, with Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House.
The President had a working lunch with President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain in the Cabinet Room of the White House, then, with Zapatero, delivered remarks and answered press questions in the Oval Office. The President congratulated Zapatero on his 2010 assumption of the European Union (EU) presidency. Source Transcript
The President met with Senator Evan Bayh in the Oval Office.
The President and Vice President Joe Biden met with United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in the Oval Office.
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