Behind the Lens: Selma, 50 Years Later

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Tuesday, March 10, 2015             Featured Behind the Lens: Selma, 50 Years Later On Saturday, Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza accompanied the First Family to Selma, Alabama for the 50th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday." "I couldn't help but think of the photographs taken by Charles Moore and other brave photojournalists 50 years ago," he said. "Their photographs, taken ostensibly for daily and weekly publications, have now become powerful images for history." This weekend, Souza captured beautiful pictures from President Obama's speech, his interactions with some of the original "foot soldiers" from 1965, and this year's march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge -- powerful images that will undoubtedly hold their own special place in history. Take a look at the incredible photos from this weekend, and pass them on. The President hugs Rep. John Lewis after his introduction. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)       Top Stories Watch: The President and the First Lady Reflect on Selma During their visit to Selma this weekend, the President and First Lady sat down to talk about the significance of the occasion. Watch their candid reflections here. READ MORE President Obama Launches TechHire Yesterday, speaking to nearly 2,000 local leaders at the National League of Cities annual meeting, President Obama announced his TechHire initiative -- a new campaign to work with communities to get more Americans rapidly trained for good-paying technology jobs. READ MORE Weekly Address: Let Girls Learn Last week, the President and the First Lady announced "Let Girls Learn," a whole-of-government initiative that will build on investments we have made and successes we have achieved in global primary school education, and expand them to help adolescent girls complete their education and pursue their broader aspirations. READ MORE       Today's Schedule All times are Eastern Time (ET) 10:00 AM: The President signs a presidential memorandum, A Student Aid Bill of Rights to Help Ensure Affordable Loan Repayment 10:00 AM: The Vice President attends an event for the Democratic National Committee 10:20 AM: The President departs the White House 10:35 AM: The President departs Joint Base Andrews 12:15 PM: The President arrives Atlanta, GA 1:30 PM: The President delivers remarks at Georgia Tech WATCH LIVE 4:30 PM: The President participates in a DNC roundtable 6:05 PM: The President departs Atlanta, GA 7:35 PM: The President arrives Joint Base Andrews 7:50 PM: The President arrives the White House   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage  Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy  Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

FW: 62 Million

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Wednesday, March 04, 2015             Featured 62 Million That's the number of girls worldwide that aren't in school. And it's why the President and First Lady announced the "Let Girls Learn" initiative yesterday. Let Girls Learn focuses on supporting women and girls' education around the world. Partnering with the Peace Corps, we're taking action to support hundreds of new community projects -- from building new libraries to providing resources so girls can travel to school free from fear. These initiatives will help keep girls in school, which consistently proves beneficial for all. "I'm convinced that a world in which girls are educated is a safer, more stable, more prosperous place," said the First Lady. Watch the President's and First Lady's remarks, and learn more about the initiative.       Top Stories See What the Most Progressive Trade Agreement in History Looks Like: Trade has been central to our economic resurgence, contributing to nearly a third of our economic growth in the recovery and supporting 11.7 million American jobs in 2014 alone. That's why it's time to secure a trade deal that reflects the best of our values and ensures continued economic growth. Learn more about the President's trade proposal and share these graphics. READ MORE Honoring the African American Experience: The White House Celebrates Black History Month From honoring the women of the Civil Rights Movement, to telling the untold stories of African Americans in STEM, to talking with faculty and alumni from our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, we hosted a number of events and activities last month to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of African Americans. READ MORE President Obama on Attorney General Holder: "He Has Been One of Our Finest" On Friday evening, the President spoke at the portrait unveiling ceremony for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who is departing after more than six years on the job. Calling him "one of our finest," President Obama detailed the Attorney General's accomplishments -- including hundreds of terrorism convictions, reforms to our criminal justice system, and fierce defense of the Voting Rights Act. READ MORE       Today's Schedule All times are Eastern Time (ET) 12:30 PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest 2:30 PM: The President signs H.R. 240 -- Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

How the White House Celebrated Black History Month:

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Tuesday, March 03, 2015             Featured How the White House Celebrated Black History Month: During Black History Month, the White House hosted a number of events and activities to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of African Americans, both past and present. From honoring the women of the Civil Rights Movement, to telling the untold stories of African Americans in STEM, to talking with faculty and alumni from our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, it was an eventful month here at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Watch the wrap-up video from this year's Black History Month events at the White House.       Top Stories President Obama on Attorney General Holder: "He Has Been One of Our Finest" On Friday evening, the President spoke at the portrait unveiling ceremony for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who is departing after more than six years on the job. Calling him "one of our finest," President Obama detailed the Attorney General's accomplishments -- including hundreds of terrorism convictions, reforms to our criminal justice system, and fierce defense of the Voting Rights Act. READ MORE My Brother's Keeper: A Year Later A year ago, President Obama launched the My Brother's Keeper initiative. In the 12 months since then, we've seen a tremendous response from people and organizations at all levels that are answering the President's call to action. READ MORE What They're Saying: Celebrating an Open and Free Internet Last week, the FCC voted in favor of a strong net neutrality rule to keep the Internet open and free. Since then, both individuals and groups have joined the President in showing support for the net neutrality decision. Take a look at what they're saying. READ MORE       Today's Schedule All times are Eastern Time (ET) 10:30 AM: The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing 11:00 AM: The Vice President attends a working meeting with Central American Heads of State and other leaders 11:30 AM: The President participates in a video conference with Prime Minister David Cameron, President Francois Hollande, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and European Council President Donald Tusk to discuss Ukraine and global security 1:30 PM: The President meets with Secretary of Defense Carter 2:00 PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest 2:50 PM: The President and the First Lady deliver remarks on expanding efforts to help adolescent girls worldwide attend and stay in school WATCH LIVE 3:00 PM: The Vice President attends a roundtable event with multilateral and non-governmental organizations 4:00 PM: The President meets with senior advisors 5:00 PM: The Vice President visits the Municipalidad de Villa Nueva to see successful violence prevention efforts   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

"Saying Goodbye Is Bittersweet"

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Monday, March 02, 2015             Featured "Saying Goodbye Is Bittersweet" On Friday evening, the President spoke at the portrait unveiling ceremony for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder -- who is departing after more than six years on the job. Calling him "one of our finest," President Obama detailed the Attorney General's accomplishments -- including hundreds of terrorism convictions, reforms to our criminal justice system, challenges to discriminatory state immigration laws, record prosecutions of hate crimes, and fierce defense of the Voting Rights Act. "Saying goodbye is bittersweet," the President said to the Attorney General. "You have done a remarkable job. It's hard to let you go." Watch the President's and the Attorney General's full remarks here. President Barack Obama comments on Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.'s portrait as he delivers remarks during the portrait unveiling ceremony for Holder, seated on stage with Sally Quillian Yates, Acting Deputy Attorney General, at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., Feb. 27, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)       Top Stories Weekly Address: Ensuring Hardworking Americans Retire With Dignity In this week's address, the President reiterated his commitment to middle-class economics, and to ensuring that all hardworking Americans get the secure and dignified retirement they deserve. The President emphasized his promise to keep fighting for the policies that benefit millions of working and middle-class Americans. READ MORE My Brother's Keeper: A Year Later A year ago, President Obama launched the My Brother's Keeper initiative. In the 12 months since then, we've seen a tremendous response from people and organizations at all levels that are answering the President's call to action. READ MORE West Wing Week: "Where Are My Hawaiians?" Last week, the President hosted civil rights and consumer protection advocates, filmed a Let's Move! sketch with the First Lady, sat down for a heart-to-heart with a White House mentee, held an immigration town hall in Florida, and honored Black History Month at the White House. READ MORE       Today's Schedule All times are Eastern Time (ET) 10:00 AM: The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing 10:00 AM: The Vice President and Dr. Biden depart Washington, D.C. en route La Aurora International Airport 11:00 AM: The President meets with members of his Task Force on 21st Century Policing 12:30 PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest 2:25 PM: The Vice President and Dr. Biden arrive at La Aurora International Airport 3:15 PM: The Vice President arrives at the Palacio Nacional and holds a multilateral meeting with President Molina of Guatemala, President Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras, and President Sánchez Cerén of El Salvador 3:30 PM: The President meets with members of the Technology CEO Council 4:30 PM: The Vice President participates in a plenary session with Central American Heads of State and other leaders 6:35 PM: The Vice President participates in a family photograph 7:30 PM: The Vice President delivers remarks at an event with private-sector representatives   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage Sign Up for Email Updates  Privacy Policy Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

Must Watch: The President's Remarks in Selma

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Monday, March 09, 2015             Featured Must Watch: The President's Remarks in Selma This past Saturday, the First Family traveled to Selma, Alabama to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic marches from Selma to Montgomery. Those marchers in March of 1965 wanted to ensure that all African Americans could exercise their constitutional right to vote -- even in the face of a segregationist system that wanted to make it impossible. As President Obama explained in his remarks this weekend, the lesson of Selma isn't an outlier of the American experience: [Selma] is instead the manifestation of a creed written into our founding documents: "We the People ... in order to form a more perfect union." "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." If you missed the President's powerful speech, watch it here -- and pass it on.       Top Stories Weekly Address: Let Girls Learn Last week, the President and the First Lady announced "Let Girls Learn," a whole-of-government initiative that will build on investments we have made and successes we have achieved in global primary school education, and expand them to help adolescent girls complete their education and pursue their broader aspirations. READ MORE West Wing Week: "Just a Souvenir" Last week, the President broke bread with My Brother's Keeper mentees, sat down with the President of Liberia and U.S. Secretary of Defense, shared the stage with Eric Holder and Aretha Franklin, and welcomed law enforcement officials and Peace Corps volunteers to the White House. Down in Central America, the Vice President took a trip to Guatemala to discuss investing in the region. READ MORE The Employment Situation in February With Friday's strong employment report, we have now seen 12 straight months of private-sector job gains above 200,000 -- the first time that has happened since 1977. The private sector has added 12 million jobs over 60 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record. READ MORE       Today's Schedule All times are Eastern Time (ET) 10:00 AM: The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing 11:15 AM: The Vice President delivers remarks to the 2015 International Association of Fire Fighters Legislative Conference 11:30 AM: The President delivers remarks at the National League of Cities annual Congressional City Conference 12:30 PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest 3:00 PM: The President holds a bilateral meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk; the Vice President also attends   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage  Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

Watch Live at 12:15 p.m. EST: President Obama Speaks in Selma

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Saturday, March 07, 2015           Watch Live President Obama Speaks in Selma At 12:15 p.m. EST, the President will deliver remarks at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, marking the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery. These marches helped ensure that African Americans could exercise their constitutional right to vote, and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. TUNE IN LIVE         Featured Weekly Address: Let Girls Learn In this week's address, the President discussed an issue close to his heart: education for adolescent girls around the world. Earlier this week, he and the First Lady announced "Let Girls Learn," a whole-of-government initiative that will build on investments we have made and successes we have achieved in global primary school education, and expand them to help adolescent girls complete their education and pursue their broader aspirations. 62 million girls around the world -- half of whom are adolescent -- are not in school and therefore have diminished economic opportunities. Yet when a girl receives a quality education, she is more likely to earn a decent living, raise a healthy, educated family, and improve the quality of life for herself, her family, and her community. That's why the President and First Lady have made addressing this problem a priority because every girl has so much to offer to the world, and no girl should be denied her chance to learn. Watch the President's Weekly Address here.       Top Stories West Wing Week: "Just a Souvenir" This week, the President broke bread with My Brother's Keeper mentees, sat down with the President of Liberia and Secretary of Defense, shared the stage with Eric Holder and Aretha Franklin, and welcomed law enforcement officials and Peace Corps volunteers to the White House. Down in Central America, the Vice President was in Guatemala to discuss investing in the region. READ MORE See What the Most Progressive Trade Agreement in History Looks Like: Trade has been central to our economic resurgence, contributing to nearly a third of our economic growth in the recovery and supporting 11.7 million American jobs in 2014 alone. That's why it's time to secure a trade deal that reflects the best of our values and ensures continued economic growth. READ MORE The Employment Situation in February With another strong employment report, we have now seen 12 straight months of private-sector job gains above 200,000. It's the first time that's happened since 1977. The private sector has also added 12 million jobs over 60 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record. READ MORE     Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage  Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy  Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

#MarchOn: The First Family's Visit to Selma

Here's what's going on at the White House today.         DAILY SNAPSHOT Friday, March 06, 2015             Featured #MarchOn: The First Family's Visit to Selma Tomorrow, President Obama, the First Lady, and their daughters will travel to Selma, Alabama to mark the 50th anniversary of the marches to secure the voting rights of African Americans. Leading up to the visit, Selma marchers and others who experienced the historic moment came to the White House and shared their stories. Listen to their individual stories here, and tune in tomorrow to hear the President's remarks from Selma.       Top Stories West Wing Week: "Just a Souvenir" This week, the President broke bread with My Brother's Keeper mentees, sat down with the President of Liberia and Secretary of Defense, shared the stage with Eric Holder and Aretha Franklin, and welcomed law enforcement officials and Peace Corps volunteers to the White House. Down in Central America, the Vice President was in Guatemala to discuss investing in the region. READ MORE Making Sure That We "Let Girls Learn" On Tuesday, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama announced that the White House is ramping up its efforts to Let Girls Learn, with a new initiative focused on supporting girls' education around the world. READ MORE See What the Most Progressive Trade Agreement in History Looks Like: Trade has been central to our economic resurgence, contributing to nearly a third of our economic growth in the recovery and supporting 11.7 million American jobs in 2014 alone. That's why it's time to secure a trade deal that reflects the best of our values and ensures continued economic growth. Learn more about the President's trade proposal and share these graphics. READ MORE       Today's Schedule All times are Eastern Time (ET) 10:15 AM: The President departs the White House 10:30 AM: The President departs Joint Base Andrews 11:50 AM: The President arrives Columbia, South Carolina 12:45 PM: The Vice President delivers remarks to the Human Rights Campaign's Spring Equality Convention 2:15 PM: The President participates in a town hall event 4:00 PM: The President departs Columbia, South Carolina 5:15 PM: The President arrives Joint Base Andrews 5:30 PM: The President arrives the White House   Facebook     Twitter    |   More Ways to Engage Sign Up for Email Updates Privacy Policy Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111