Honoring The Great Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry rolled over everyone who came before him – and turned up everyone who came after. We'll miss you, Chuck. Be good.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 19, 2017

The President’s Day

President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel embrace during a farewell ceremony for Hagel at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia. Hagel is stepping down once his replacement, Ashton Carter, has been confirmed.

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"From sergeant to secretary, you’ve always been guided by one interest—what you believe is best for America." —President Obama on Hagel

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) January 28, 2015

"Under his leadership, our forces in West Africa are helping to lead the global fight against #Ebola—saving lives" —President Obama on Hagel

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) January 28, 2015

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Photo of the Year: Vote!

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Click ↓ to see your Photo of the Year choices – then vote!

Book Worms

The President after spotting Chuck Todd’s comic (Photo by Pete Souza)

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The Bought Books

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End – Atul Gawande

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business (Junie B. Jones Series #2) – Barbara Park

A Barnyard Collection: Click, Clack, Moo and More – Doreen Cronin

I Spy Sticker Book and Picture Riddles by Jean Marzollo

Nuts to You – Lynn Rae Perkins

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (Junie B. Jones Series #1) – Barbara Park

Brown Girl Dreaming – Jacqueline Woodson

Redwall (Redwall Series #1) – Brian Jacques

Mossflower (Redwall Series #2) – Brian Jacques

Mattimeo – Brian Jacques (Redwall Series #3)

Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms – Katherine Rundell

The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Richard Flanagan

The Laughing Monsters – Denis Johnson

All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr

Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad

Nora Webster – Colm Toibin

Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China – Evan Osnos

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https://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/538794326047088641

Supporting #SmallBusinessSaturday

President Obama, Sasha and Malia shop at Politics and Prose bookstore for “Small Business Saturday,” on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, in Washington

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Rise and Shine

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Today

1:45 EDT: The President departs the White House

2:50 CT: Arrives Chicago

3:50 CT: Meets with community leaders to discuss immigration reform; Copernicus Community Center, Chicago

4:35 CT: Delivers remarks on immigration reform; Copernicus Community Center, Chicago

6:25 CT: Departs Chicago

9:20 EDT: Arrives White House

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Nerdy prepared a beautiful post yesterday on the President’s day, but we held off because of events in Ferguson. So, here it is:

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden applaud Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for his years of service as he announces his resignation in the State Dining Room of the White House

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Stevie Wonder is greeted by President Barack Obama after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors

Actress Marlo Thomas

 

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Golfer Charles Sifford

Ethel Kennedy

Journalist Tom Brokaw

Congressman John Dingell

Author Isabel Allende

Congressman Abner Mikva

Writer, curator, and activist Suzan Harjo

Robert Battle, the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recieves a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on behalf of dancer Alvin Ailey

Actress Meryl Streep

Stevie Wonder smiles while showing off his Presidential Medal of Freedom

Professor Mildred Dresselhaus

The President and First Lady’s Day

President Obama shakes hands with military service members prior to a meeting with military senior leadership at the Pentagon on October 8

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President Barack Obama meets with senior military leadership at the Pentagon in Arlington (Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama participates in a conference call with state and local officials to discuss the Administration’s domestic preparedness response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, at the White House on October 8

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Text of Remarks by the President in Conference Call here

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Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, President Obama and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey sit in a meeting with Military Senior Leadership at the Pentagon on October 8, 2014 in Arlington, Virginia. The President met with the military leaders for an update on the battle against ISIS.

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Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and President Obama greet members of the military after attending meetings with military leadership at the Pentagon

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Thanks to @FLOTUS Michelle Obama for being on #TeamWendy! http://t.co/HqG2kDBbdb

— Wendy Davis (@WendyDavisTexas) October 8, 2014

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First Lady Michelle Obama hosts a Fashion Education Workshop at the White House. The workshop was to connect students with leading fashion professionals to show what to take to succeed in the fashion industry

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Text of remarks here

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First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue magazine, after she was introduced by Wintour during a session of a Fashion Education Workshop

Fashion stylist Mary Alice Stephenson attends a session of a Fashion Education Workshop

First Lady Michelle Obama introduces Chelsea Chen, who won a design competition

 

Fashion designer Jason Wu applauds First Lady Michelle Obama as she hosts a luncheon and panel discussion

Fashion designer Phillip Lim takes a picture of First Lady Michelle Obama

Fashion designers Edward Wilkerson (L) and Thom Browne (R) applaud First Lady Michelle Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama hugs fashion designer Naeem Khan during a fashion construction workshop session at the first ever Fashion Education Workshop in the State Dining Room at the White House

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with young fashion design students

First Lady Michelle Obama visits the “Wearable Technology” workshop. Wearable technology is the integration of technology with fashion, like boots that charges cellphone, bras that detect cancer, compression shirts that monitor and record your heart rate, breathing rate and body temperature

President Obama At MacDill Air Force Base

 President Barack Obama speaks at US Central Command (CentCom) at MacDill Air Force Base

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President Barack Obama sits next to Commander of Central Command Gen. Lloyd Austin III during in a briefing from top military leaders while at U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida

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"Osama bin Laden is no more. Because of you, the core al Qaeda leadership in Afghanistan & Pakistan has been decimated" —Obama to our troops

— WH Live (Archived) (@WHLive44) September 17, 2014

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"I will not commit you, and the rest of our Armed Forces, to fighting another ground war in Iraq." —President Obama to our troops

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 17, 2014

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President Barack Obama participates in a briefing from top military leaders while visiting U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base. From L-R are: United States Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco, National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Obama, Commander of Central Command Gen. Lloyd Austin III and U.S. Special Operations Commander Joseph Votel.

President Barack Obama greets members of the military upon his arrival at MacDill Air Force Base

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"In three months, our combat mission will be over in Afghanistan & our war in Afghanistan will come to a responsible end." —President Obama

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 17, 2014

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"On behalf of the American people, I want to thank all of you for your service." —President Obama to troops at MacDill Air Force Base

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 17, 2014

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Obama greets troops after making remarks at U.S. Central Command @ MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa. pic.twitter.com/mpaCorEnhZ

— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) September 17, 2014

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President Barack Obama greets Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command, as he arrives at MacDill Air Force Base

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"When the world is threatened, when the world needs help, it calls on America." —President Obama: http://t.co/b4tqL36eMn

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 17, 2014

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"We support you. We’re proud of you. We stand in awe of your skill and your service." —President Obama to our men and women in uniform

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 17, 2014

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President Barack Obama touches the spiked hair style of a child while visiting the Clarence Tinker elementary school children while at MacDill Air Force Base

Honoring Those We Lost

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden observe a moment of silence on the 13th anniversary of 9/11.

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"It has now been thirteen years. Thirteen years since the peace of an American morning was broken." —President Obama #911Anniversary

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 11, 2014

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"Your love is the ultimate rebuke to the hatred of those who attacked us that bright, blue morning." —Obama to families of 9/11 victims

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 11, 2014

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"Thirteen years after small and hateful minds conspired to break us, America stands tall and proud." —President Obama #911Anniversary

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 11, 2014

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"We carry on, because, as Americans, we do not give in to fear." —President Obama #911Anniversary

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 11, 2014

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President Barack Obama pauses during a moment of silence at the Pentagon in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks

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"Today, we honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice these 13 years—more than 6,800 American patriots." —Obama #911Anniversary

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 11, 2014

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Pres Obama, Def Sec Hagel, and Joint Chiefs Chrman Dempsey at Pentagon for 9/11 remembrance pic.twitter.com/KnITs7SoQn

— petesouza (archived) (@PeteSouza44) September 11, 2014

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama observe a moment of silence on the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the White House in Washington.

President Barack Obama, flanked by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Joint Chefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, speaks at the Pentagon, to mark the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks

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President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey bow their heads during a moment of silence at the Pentagon

President Obama’s Press Conference

President Barack Obama speaks at a news conference at the conclusion of the NATO Summit at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales

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"Here in Wales, we’ve left absolutely no doubt—we will defend every ally." —President Obama on our NATO allies at the #NATOSummitUK

— WH Live (Archived) (@WHLive44) September 5, 2014

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"Our alliance is fully united in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity." —Obama at #NATOSummitUK

— WH Live (Archived) (@WHLive44) September 5, 2014

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"Here in Wales, we also sent a strong message to Russia that actions have consequences." —Obama at #NATOSummitUK

— WH Live (Archived) (@WHLive44) September 5, 2014

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"NATO allies and partners are prepared to join in a broad, international effort to combat the threat posed by ISIL." —Obama at #NATOSummitUK

— WH Live (Archived) (@WHLive44) September 5, 2014

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President Barack Obama speaks with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at a leaders meeting on the future of NATO