White House Week

President Barack Obama prepares to drive a Saturn SL1 vehicle simulator during a tour of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Va., July 15, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

This week at the White House President Obama took a quick trip across the Potomac to visit the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, a facility in McLean, Virginia that focuses on highway technologies that help make driving safer and smarter.

In the President's remarks, he talked about the importance of investing in new infrastructure technologies and renewing the Highway Trust Fund, as well as Congress's continued inaction on important policies that would positively benefit millions of Americans.

The President also hosted his sixth Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan at the White House, an annual tradition started by First Lady Hillary Clinton when she hosted a Ramadan Eid celebration dinner in 1996. Many consider President Thomas Jefferson to be the first President to host an Iftar dinner, as he hosted a sunset dinner to accommodate the fasts of an envoy from Tunisia over 200 years ago.

The Iftar is the meal after sunset that concludes the day of fasting during the month of Ramadan, a time to pray and reflect, to be reminded that we are equals in humanity, and to reaffirm commitments to helping the less fortunate, including those struggling from economic hardship and inequality.

Last night, guests were welcomed into the East Wing where a copy of the Quran owned by President Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States, was on display from the Library of Congress. At sunset, guests gathered in the Grand Foyer to break their fast with a date following the traditional melodic Muslim call to prayer led by a local student from the University of Maryland. Then finally, after a 16-hour day of fasting since sunrise, guests gathered in the State Dining Room for a halal meal with the President.

White House Week

President Barack Obama has a pizza dinner with local residents who had written him letters, in Denver, Colorado, July 8, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This week, President Obama visited Texas and Colorado to meet with Americans who had written him letters. In Denver, the President met with:

• Alex, who works at a furniture upholstery store in Denver, wrote to thank him for calling on businesses to raise the minimum wage.
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• Elizabeth, a rising junior at the University of Northern Colorado majoring in mathematics, wrote about how she's struggling to pay for school.
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• Carolyn and David, a couple from Denver with six children, wrote to let the President know how they were able to expand their chain of sandwich shops thanks to an SBA loan.
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• And Leslie, who's worked as a teacher for 26 years, wrote about the importance of early childhood education.

On Wednesday, the Senate overwhelmingly approved San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro to be the next Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The vote was 71-26.

White House Week

The White House

 On Monday, President Obama delivered remarks on immigration in San Francisco. He renewed his commitment to fixing the immigration system- and you can read his remarks here. 

The first ever White House Student Film Festival launched earlier this week, and is open to US students grades K-12 to apply. Here are the rules:

What’s your education story & how does technology and connectivity fit into how you learn at school or on your own? How do you imagine technology will change the educational experience for kids in the future?

Films can be short – in fact 3 minutes tops. The official selections will be featured on the White House website, and shared across the world on White House sites and official social media accounts. In fact, if selected, you may have a chance to attend the film fest yourself at the White House.

Ready to get started? Check out our official page at WhiteHouse.Gov/FilmFest -- where you can learn more, read the official rules, see how to submit your video, and hear from Bill Nye (the Science Guy). And if you're a parent, guardian, or teacher, make sure you spread the word to kids with big ideas!

Here are more important details you should know:

--Every student entry has to have a parent/guardian or teacher sponsor.

--Films can be submitted now through January 29th, 2014.

--If your video is selected as an official selection, you could have a chance to attend the mid-February screening at the White House.

Find out more here.

The White House Festive Photostream

The Obamas official Christmas 2009 Portrait.

Dr Jill Biden dressed as the Grinch!

White House Christmas Party.

The President and First Lady descend the Grand Staircase. (The First Lady's dress is by Isabel Toledo.)

The Rose Garden illuminated and blanketed in snow.

The entrance to the West Wing.

The Obamas talk to a string group.

The White House Christmas Tree.

The 2009 White House Gingerbread located in the East Room.

The National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse and the White House illuminated at night.

One of the many 'recycled' Christmas decorations. This bauble is depicting President Obama's association with Hawaii.

Edith Childs, who coined the campaign phrase, "Fired Up! Ready to Go!" laughs with the President and First Lady. (The First Lady's gold silk lurex suit jacket and pencil skirt are by Michael Kors.)

A young guest studies Christmas cookies.

Cranberry decorations in the Red Room.

Bo gets into the festive spirit!

Volunteers help to decorate the White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room.

White House Christmas Party. (The First Lady's emerald green cocktail dress is by Jason Wu.)

The White House

The President and First Lady at the National Building Museum.

White House Candids: December 2009

The White House

Behind the Scenes at the White House Cabinet Meeting

This video is really interesting, and one of my favourites from the White House Blog so far. Watch out for the Blackberry basket!

The Obamas Thanksgiving

The First Family hosted about 50 guests including friends, family and staff yesterday. The menu included:

Turkey

Honey-Baked Ham

Cornbread Stuffing

Oyster Stuffing

Greens

Macaroni and Cheese

Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Banana Cream Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

Sweet Potato Pie

Huckleberry Pie

Cherry Pie

Giving Thanks to our Service Members

The White House

President Obama telephones American service men and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan on Thanksgiving Day.

Behind-the-Scenes at the State Dinner

We're treated today by these exclusive photos from the White House, posted on Flickr. I am happy to see Dr Biden in one of them! I've been waiting in anticipation for two days now to see what she wore, and in the second photo, we can see the back of her dress, which appears to have a beaded bodice and a navy silk full gown. Secretary Clinton looks fabulous, as does Speaker Pelosi!

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State Dinner Videos

Holiday 2009: The Political Style Gift Guide

The festive season is upon us once again, and this year Political Style will be previewing and profiling some of the best gifts which should be under your tree.

Whether searching for the perfect present from the world of entertainment, literature, fashion, beauty and politics be sure to see what Political Style recommends!

If there is a must-have that you think the world should know about send me an email or leave a comment!

Happy Holiday Season!

This Week's Highlights

MONDAY: The Vice-President and Dr Biden host a Thanksgiving dinner at the Naval Observatory.

President Obama presents the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.

TUESDAY: The President and First Lady welcome Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur of India to the White House.

More State Dinner Guests Announced

Further guests include...

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Energy Secretary Steven Chu

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner

US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal

VIDEO: Women in the Military White House Event

The First Lady on Iron Chef

The First Lady will appear on an episode of the reality cooking show, Iron Chef later this year. Filmed at the White House, celebrity British chef Nigella Lawson will also star.

White House Photostream: November Images

Pumpkins decorate the Navy Mess in the West Wing of the White House, Oct. 26, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

A giant spider hangs from the North Portico of the White House during Halloween festivities, Oct. 31, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

A performer dressed as a grapevine tree stands at the gate to the north grounds of the White House during Halloween festivities, Oct. 31, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

A skeleton and candles decorate the Blue Room of the White House in preparation for a Halloween reception for military families and children of White House staff, Oct. 31, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama plays peek-a-boo with Maeve Beliveau, the daughter of Director of Advance Emmett Beliveau, in the Outer Oval Office, Oct. 30, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama walks through the West Wing of the White House to deliver a birthday gift to Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina, Oct. 30, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama pets Bo in the Outer Oval Office, Oct. 29, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Marian Robinson welcome children from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia schools for Halloween festivities at the North Portico of the White House, Oct. 31, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Children from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia schools participate in Halloween festivities at the North Portico of the White House, Oct. 31, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

First Lady Michelle Obama hands out treats during a Halloween reception for military families and children of White House staff in the East Room of the White House, Oct. 31, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama reacts to performers during a Halloween reception for military families and children of White House staff in the East Room of the White House, Oct. 31, 2009. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is at right. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)