Statements and Releases
- January 23, 2009
Letter from OMB Director Orszag to Senator Conrad
Text of a January 22, 2009, letter from OMB Director Peter Orszag to Senator Kent Conrad.
- January 23, 2009
President's calls to foreign leaders
This afternoon, President Obama made phone calls to three foreign leaders and to the Secretary General of the United Nations.
- January 23, 2009
Statement of President Barack Obama on Rescinding the Mexico City Policy
It is clear that the provisions of the Mexico City Policy are unnecessarily broad and unwarranted under current law, and for the past eight years, they have undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing countries. For these reasons, it is right for us to rescind this policy and restore critical efforts to protect and empower women and promote global economic development.
- January 22, 2009
President Barack Obama Announces Key DOJ Appointees
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced the following Department of Justice (DOJ) appointees: David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Division; Lanny Breuer, Assistant Attorney General for Criminal; and Christine Varney, Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust.
- January 22, 2009
BACKGROUND: President Obama signs Executive Orders on Detention and Interrogation Policy
Executive Order requires closure of the Guantanamo detention center no later than one year from the date of the Order. Closure of the facility is the ultimate goal but not the first step. The Order establishes a review process with the goal of disposing of the detainees before closing the facility.
- January 22, 2009
Statement of President Obama on the 36th Anniversary of Roe v Wade
On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women's health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman's right to choose.
- January 21, 2009
Statement from White House Counsel
The following is a statement from White House Counsel Greg Craig. "We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the President was sworn in appropriately yesterday. But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time."
- January 21, 2009
Statement from the Press Secretary on the President's Morning Activity
At 8:35 AM, the President arrived in the Oval Office and spent 10 minutes alone in the office. He read the note left to him by President Bush that was in an envelope marked "To: #44, From: #43". At 8:45 AM, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel came in to discuss the schedule of today's events. The First Lady came into the Oval Office at 9:10 AM. We will release a picture shortly.
- January 21, 2009
Statement from the Press Secretary on the President's signing of two Executive Orders and three Memoranda
The President today signed two Executive Orders and three Presidential Memoranda. These five documents represent a bold first step to fulfill his campaign promises to make government more responsible and accountable, to launch sweeping ethics reform, and to begin a new era of transparent and open government.
- January 21, 2009
Statement from the President on his Meeting about the Situation in Iraq
"This afternoon, I met with our Ambassador to Iraq, the commander in Iraq, and the overall theater commander in the region in order to get a full update on the situation in Iraq. Key members of my cabinet and senior national security officials also participated in this meeting.