Politics. On Point.

Statement by National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, on the Death of Nelson Mandela   "Today, we have lost one of history’s great leaders. I extend my deepest condolences to the Mandela family and to the government and people of South Africa, the Republic that President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela helped free from the cruelty and hatred of apartheid and forged anew into a rainbow nation of hope and healing. I will always cherish the honor and memory of knowing him.   Even as we mourn, we remember how privileged the world was to witness the transformation he wrought by changing minds and hearts. He was apartheid’s captive but never its prisoner, and he rid the world of one of history’s foulest evils by hewing to universal principles for which he hoped to live but was prepared to die. Let us celebrate Madiba’s life by rededicating ourselves to the values and hopes he embodied: reconciliation and justice, freedom and equality, democracy and human rights, an honest reckoni...

  Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will travel to India and Singapore in late July 2013.  In India, the Vice President will meet with key leaders to discuss the full range of bilateral, regional and global issues, with a focus on advancing the prosperity, security, and shared values of our two countries.    The Vice President and Dr. Biden look forward to opportunities to engage with India’s people, including leaders in business and civil society.  In Singapore, the Vice President will consult with leaders on a range of shared priorities, including implementing the Asia-Pacific rebalance, and highlight America’s continued engagement with a key partner in Southeast Asia.   The First Family will begin their travel to South Africa, visiting Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania later this week.   Per the White House, this is the President’s second trip to sub-Saharan Africa .  He previously went to Ghana in his first term....

President Obama and the First Lady look forward to traveling to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania from June 26 - July 3 .  The President will reinforce the importance that the United States places on our deep and growing ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including through expanding economic growth, investment, and trade; strengthening democratic institutions; and investing in the next generation of African leaders.   FLOTUS and daughters touch down in So. Africa in 2011. The President will meet with a wide array of leaders from government, business, and civil society, including youth, to discuss our strategic partnerships on bilateral and global issues.  The trip will underscore the President’s commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the United States and the people of sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity.   In 2011 First Lady Obama and her daughters, Sasha and Malia visited South Africa, vi...

The First Family returned to the White House last evening around 6:45 pm. Earlier in the day, media was invited to witness the historic return to the White House, but due to weather concerns the president arrived via motor cade and not the usual return on the South Lawn by helo. The arrival was downgraded to pool reporters only. Major disappointment for the press.  You'd think that the return of the president (after having just won RE- ELECTION ) that 'open press' would be still be the order of the evening (there certainly were enough press there, including Politics. On Point.). To quote Vice President Joe Biden, "this is a big f---ing deal". But no cigar. Even world leaders were calling President Obama to congratulate him on his re-election, the likes of which included: P rime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia, President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, President Moham...

The White House Christmas tree arrived today courtesy of Sue and Tom Schroeder of Wisconsin.   The Schroeders, who have a Christmas tree farm about 90 miles southwest of Green Bay, won the honor to present their tree to the First Lady after winning a national Christmas tree contest given by the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA). This marks the 46 th tree presented by a member of the NCTA.   The 18 1/2 foot Balsam fir, which can take s long as 15 years to grow, will grace the Blue Room of the White House where it will serve as the centerpiece of the White House Christmas decorations. Last year’s tree, a Douglas fir, was delivered courtesy of Christopher Botek of Pennsylvania. First Lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha were on hand to accept the delivery, as was White House dog, Bo. “Bo, do you like the tree?”, asked the First Lady. After sniffing around the horse-drawn carriage that delivered the tree up to the North Portico of the White House, it was ...

We love this! The First Family strolling hand-in-hand as they walk to St. John's Episcopal Church today. Here are the raw details from White House pool reporter John Stanton of Roll Call . The first fam left St Johns at 1135, and after a short stroll through Lafayette Park, returned to the White House. The homily was based on the story of Jacobs Ladder and a meditation on finding God in places you would not expect to. "The First Family were delighted to worship with the St. John's Episcopal Church congregation today as they have in the past, and look forward to visiting again," a White House official said. St. Johns is an Episcopal Church, which dates back to 1815, and since James Madison every sitting president has worshipped there ( www.stjohns-dc.org is their site). Churches in the DC area the Obamas have attended include: the 19th Street Baptist Church, Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, Shiloh Baptis...

First Lady Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia were on hand for last night's Washington Kastles vs. Boston Lobsters WTT tennis contest. First Ladies enjoying a little Washington Kastles tennis. Photo/CD Brown. The girls, and mom, cheered on the team headlined by tennis great, Serena Williams. Last year Williams was to hold a tennis clinic at the White House for a South Lawn Series event, but the event was canceled because of rain.   There was no rain last evening, however, and the Kastles defeated the Lobsters 25-10. White House chef, Sam Kass was also on hand to see the Kastles in action. To see more photos from last night's fun, see our sports page here .

This week, the First Lady, daughters Sasha and Malia, First Mom Mrs. Robinson, and family members and friends are in South Africa for the First Lady's mission to inspire, educate and uplift the young people of South Africa.  First Lady Michelle Obama with daughters Malia and Sasha at the home of former South African president Nelson Mandela. The president remarked earlier this year that Africa "is a fundamental part of our interconnected world.  And when it comes to the defining challenges of our times: creating jobs in our global economy, promoting democracy and development, confronting climate change, extremism, poverty and disease -- for all this, the world is looking to Africa as a vital partner". The First Lady met Tuesday with former South African president Nelson Mandela at his home.  The meeting is being called historic as it represents Mr. Mandela, 92, an iconic symbol of the country's fight against apartheid, and First Lady Michelle Obama, wif...

President Obama Gets Back To Work. The First Family returned to Washington this morning amid chilly, but sunny Washington, DC skies.   The First Family returns to Washington after vacationing in Hawaii over the Christmas Holiday.  Photo/CD Brown.  President Obama, after spending a lengthy, but much needed vacation in Hawaii with his family (where he golfed and played basketball), returns to work this week expecting first to sign into law the Food Safety bill.  The legislation represents a critical step forward in making sure America's food supply is safer by giving the Food and Drug Administration important new tools to protect our food supply and keep consumers safe.  While on vacation President Obama signed into law H.R. 847, the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act,” which establishes the World Trade Center Health Program and extends and expands eligibility for compensation under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of ...

While President Obama is taking care of business at home, the First Lady is doing the same in Spain. Take a look at First Lady Michelle seen here walking through the streets of Spain.  As we told you, she is in Spain on an official visit with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia at their invitation. Among the many spots the two visited are Spain's Alhambra Palace and the city of Granada. Mom and daughter look to be enjoying their summertime visit just fine.

Today Is Our President's 49th Birthday.   Wish our president a Happy 49th Birthday ! The president will be traveling to Chicago this weekend for his 49th birthday, an event that includes being away from his family on his special day. Aw, so sad. Daughter, Malia is away at camp, and o ur First Lady is traveling to Spain this week with Sasha for a private, mother-daughter trip with longtime family friends (about 60) where she is paying an official visit to Their Majesties - King Juan Carlos - and Queen Sophia of Spain at their invitation. (Just to point out, President Obama was not out of town for his wife's birthday, and took First Lady Michelle out to dinner at Restaurant Nora, a well-known organic restaurant here in D.C. on her birthday earlier this year). Thankfully, the president got to spend some quality time at last Sunday's Washington Mystics vs Tulsa Shock WNBA game with daughter, Sasha.  (Photos here ). Wh...