This week, the President hosted the Italian Prime Minister, three different sports teams, and a bipartisan group of members of Congress. He also visited the Everglades in balmy Florida to celebrate Earth Day with Bill Nye. That’s April 17th to April 23rd or, “The Savage Splendor of a Swamp.”
Category: Barack Obama
Asked and Answered: Josie on the Importance of Protecting the Everglades
This is the latest post in our “Asked and Answered” series, in which we periodically feature an exchange between the President and an American who wrote him. Check back soon for more — and if you’d like to write the President yourself, you can do so here.
Every day, the White House receives thousands of letters and emails from Americans across the country. I work in the Office of Presidential Correspondence, and our job is to sort and read through all of those messages, and make sure they get to the right people for responses. Sometimes, letters to the President are shared with his Senior Advisors, either by the President or directly from our office.
In the spirit of Earth Day, we’ve been reviewing and sharing letters from Americans speaking out about climate change and the importance of preserving our nation’s beautiful natural places, and we came across Josie’s note from May 2013. While a student at Globe University in Wisconsin, Josie wrote us about the importance of preserving and protecting the Florida Everglades, where she and her family would often vacation when she was a child. That’s something the President agrees with wholeheartedly, which is exactly why he headed to this very region this week to take a tour and deliver remarks.
So Senior Advisor to the President Brian Deese, whose duties include overseeing climate, conservation, and energy policy, decided to send an additional reply to Josie. He let Josie know that we agree with her, and shared some of the actions the President has taken in the areas of conservation and preservation since Josie wrote us.
Here’s the original letter Josie sent — give it a read, and if you’ve got a place of your own that you’re fighting to preserve, share it with us here.
More than 4.46 Million Records Released
In September 2009, the President announced that — for the first time in history — White House visitor records would be made available to the public on an ongoing basis. Today, the White House releases visitor records that were generated in …
From “Forrest Gump” to “Star Wars”: 10 Times National Parks Played a Role in Your Favorite Movies
There is a long list of Hollywood greats who have acted on the nation’s outdoor stage. From far-away galaxies to jurassic jungles to the rustic Wild West, our epic American landscapes have played just about every role imaginable.
In addition to all they give us environmentally and leisurely, our National Parks and forests continue to bring authenticity to some of our favorite films. In honor of National Parks Week, here’s a look at some of the best National Parks and forest cameos in modern cinema.
1. Butch, the Kid, and Zion National Park.
Featured in: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
A young Paul Newman and Robert Redford star in a classic western about two bank- and train-robbing bandits. Much of the stunning natural scenery featured comes courtesy of Utah’s 229-square-mile Zion National Park.
Upskilling in America: Meet Two Women Who Upgraded Their Careers
Right now, America has more open jobs than at any point since 2008. They pay well and they’re a surefire pathway into the middle class. But not enough hardworking Americans have the right skills to fill them.
So President Obama and Vice Pre…
President Obama Honors the 2015 Super Bowl Champions: The New England Patriots
Watch on YouTube
Today, President Obama welcomed the 2015 Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots, to the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate their 2015 NFL championship.
The event this afternoon honored the NFL champions as part of the …
Chart of the Week: How the Trans-Pacific Partnership Improves on NAFTA
President Obama is the first to say it: Past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype.
Coming from Illinois, he saw first-hand how trade could devastate small-town communities as manufacturers moved overseas in search of lower wages. Previ…
Empowering Young Minds at the White House
First Lady Michelle Obama takes questions during the annual “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” event in the East Room of the White House, April 22, 2015. The First Lady met with children of Executive Office employees, and local youn…
Vice President Biden Marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Announcing It’s On Us Progress
Watch on YouTube
“Violence against women is not a women’s issue alone. It’s a man’s issue as well… So to all of the guys out there—you have to step up. That’s how we can change the culture on campus and aroun…
The President Addresses the Nation on a U.S. Counterterrorism Operation in January:
President Barack Obama delivers a statement in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, April 23, 2015, regarding the January U.S. Government counterterrorism operation against Al-Qaida that killed hostages Dr. Warren Weinstein, an American held by Al-Qaida since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national held by Al-Qaida, since 2012.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
The President addressed the American people this morning regarding a U.S. counterterrorism operation this past January that resulted in the tragic deaths of two hostages.
Watch it here:
Watch President Obama’s statement on the deaths of Dr. Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto. http://t.co/Q45dNddEUs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 23, 2015
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest also released the following statement: