Archive - January 21, 2009 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The president holds a big thank you soiree for thousands at the D.C. Armory Wednesday night. The party was in honor of his campaign, inaugural transition and White House staff. Pool report here. Permalink

DO OVER

Chief Justice Roberts administers the Oath of Office to Obama again Wednesday night after Tuesday's flub. Obama to Roberts: "We're going to do it very slowly." Pool report here. Obama team says they re-did it "out of an abundance of caution." Read full statement here. Permalink

Obama: Iraq Meeting "Productive"

The president releases a statement following his Wednesday afternoon meeting with members of his national security team. "During the discussion, I asked the military leadership to engage in additional planning necessary to execute a responsible military drawdown from Iraq." Meeting held with Iraq with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mullen, Biden, Sec. Gates, Gen. Petraeus, National Security Adviser Jones and others. Full Obama statement here. Permalink

CONFIRMED

The Senate votes 94-2 to approve Hillary Clinton as President Obama's secretary of state. Sens. Vitter and DeMint are the two to vote against her. Shortly after Clinton resigns her Senate seat. Earlier: McCain pushes for GOP to back her, Cornyn drops his opposition. Details here. Permalink

Welcome to the White House!

Barack and Michelle Obama welcome hundreds to the Blue Room Wednesday afternoon. AP: "The president thanked people for coming to visit and told them enjoy themselves. He even joked that they should roam around-- just be careful not to break anything." Pool report here. Plus: The second family does the same, with Jill Biden opening the U.S. Naval Observatory to D.C. elementary school children. More here. Permalink

HOLDER VOTE POSTPONED

Senate Republicans demand more time to question the attorney general-designate on Gitmo and the prosecution of federal agents for harsh interrogation methods. Pushes vote back to next Wednesday. Permalink

New President Tightens Executive Branch Ethics

Obama bans aides from lobbying his administration after leaving his staff, keeps aides from immediately working on issues they've lobbied on. Also requires all staff to attend to an ethics briefing like one he said he attended last week. For details on the two executive orders and three presidential memoranda he signed Wednesday, click here. Read pool report here. Permalink

New President Freezes Pay for Top Aides

Obama announces no pay increases for White House staffers making $100,000 a year or more. Read the order here. Says at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building: "Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington." More details here. Permalink

Franken Chats With Reid

The Democratic Senate hopeful sits down with the Senate Majority Leader late Wednesday afternoon. Plans to discuss the Senate legislative agenda, especially the economic stimulus plan. Coleman also spotted on the Hill Wednesday. Permalink

Obama Pledges "New Era of Openness"

The president says he's instructing federal agencies to err on the side of making information public when considering Freedom of Information requests. Tells staffers, reporters Wednesday: "For a long time now, there's been too much secrecy in this city." More details here. Read the executive order here. Permalink

Biden Razzes Roberts on Oath Flub

The vice president pokes fun at the Chief Justice for mangling Obama's oath of office. Says before swearing in White House staffers Wednesday: "My memory is not as good as Justice Roberts'." VIDEO: Watch it here. Transcript of Obama, Biden remarks at afternoon event here. Permalink

President Obama Calls Middle Eastern Leaders

In his first morning as president, Obama calls the leaders of Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Spokesman Gibbs: Calls intended "to communicate his commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term." Read statement here. Permalink

An Oath to Remember

This week's commemorative edition of TIME fronts Obama's swearing in ceremony Tuesday. Magazine features Joe Klein on the day's historic transition. "Obama has shown the world... a new, gloriously unexpected and vibrant face of our country." Permalink

Kennedy Released From Hospital

The senior Senator leaves Washington Hospital Center Wednesday after suffering a seizure at the Capitol Tuesday. Spokeswoman says he’s in good spirits. Permalink

Salazar Pledges to “Re-Brand” Interior Department

Addressing staffers Wednesday, the new secretary vows to shed the image the department benefits only western states. Stresses Interior’s role in national parks and historic preservation. “This is the Department of America.” Permalink