Barack Obama’s First Full Day in Office
An article from USA Today presented a full account of Barack Obama’s first day as the 44th President of the United States of America.
In the face of an ongoing recession, wars in Iraq and Gaza, the threat of terrorism, and at this desperate time when America has duly entrusted its fate to this man, Barack Obama is sending a clear message that there is certainly no time to waste. Barack Obama’s first day as president was indeed a chock-full of must-dos reflecting his commitment of bringing change to America.
*January 21, 2009, Wednesday, 8:35 a.m. – Newly inaugurated President Barack Obama walked into the Oval Office and spent 10 minutes alone to contemplate. He read a personal note left behind by his predecessor, George W. Bush. The note was placed inside an envelope inscribed with “To: #44, From: #43.” White House staff, however, did not disclose its content. The note was a presidential tradition that started when Ronald Reagan left a note for George H.W. Bush.
After a quiet moment alone, President Barack Obama was ready for a full day of carrying out his presidential duties.
*Morning Service and Open House. The President, along with his wife Michelle, attended the National Prayer Service, a tradition following the Inauguration Day that started when George Washington took office. The couple was seated in front, joined by Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, as well as former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. In the afternoon, the first couple greeted 200 selected guests, in their effort of making White House accessible to the public.
*Executive Orders. President Barack Obama signed several executive orders in his first day of office. One was to freeze the salaries of around 100 White House staff members who make $100,000 a year or more, for the duration of the financial crisis. The President also imposed strict ethics rules such as banning lobbyists from giving gifts to any member of his administration, and staff members being barred from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving his administration. President Barack Obama also issued another executive order to promote transparency by limiting the ability of past presidents to obstruct the release of records of their administrations. He also had his aides disseminate a draft executive order that would close the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba within a year as well as suspend military trials of terror suspects who have been held in the said facility, pending a review of the military tribunals. On January 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the executive order that would close the said prison.
*Middle East Diplomacy. President Barack Obama called four Middle East leaders from Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority, and informed them that his administration will address serious peace issues among Israelis, Palestinians, and Arabs. President Barack Obama also expressed his commitment to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas fighters and to help in the reconstruction effort for Palestinians in Gaza. The President then met with his military advisors over the issue of Iraq, reiterating his intention to withdraw combat troops from Iraq in 16 months.
- Official White House biography of President Barack Obama
- Article about Barack Obama’s years at the Harvard Law Review.
- A current anaylsis of the President’s economic stimulus package.