Barack Obama 2009-01-20 1 Appendix A --Digest of Other White House Announcements The following list includes the President's public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this book. January 20 In the afternoon, in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol, the President and Mrs. Obama participated in the Inaugural luncheon . Later, they attended the Inaugural parade . In the evening, at the Washington Convention Center, the President and Mrs. Obama attended and made remarks at the Neighborhood Ball . During the ball, he participated in an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC News . They then attended and made remarks at the Obama Home State Ball. Later in the evening, at the National Building Museum, the President and Mrs. Obama attended and made remarks at the Commander-in-Chief Ball . Then, at the Hilton Washington Hotel Center, they attended and made remarks at the Youth Ball. Later, at the Washington Convention Center, they attended and made remarks at the Biden Home State Ball followed by the Mid Atlantic Region Ball. January 21 In the morning, at the Washington Convention Center, the President and Mrs. Bush attended and made remarks at the West/Southwestern Regional Ball followed by the Midwestern Regional Ball . Later, at the DC Armory, they attended and made remarks at the Southern Regional Ball. Then, at Union Station, they attended and made remarks at the Eastern Regional Ball. Later in the morning, the President met with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel . Then, at the National Cathedral, he and Mrs. Obama attended a national prayer service with Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill and former President William J. Clinton and Secretary of State -designate Hillary Rodham Clinton . Later, he had separate conversations with King Abdullah II of Jordan , Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel , President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt , and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority . In the afternoon, the President had an intelligence briefing and met with his economic advisers. Later, in the Situation Room, he and Vice President Joe Biden met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates , General Raymond T. Odierno , USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq , and General David H. Petraeus , USA, commander, U.S. Central Command , to discuss the military operations i n Afghanistan and Iraq. In the evening, in the Map Room, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John G. Roberts, Jr ., readministered the oath of office to the President. Later, at the DC Armory, he and Mrs. Obama attended and made remarks at the Obama for America Staff Ball . January 22 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he had an economic briefing. He then met with senior White House staff. Later in the morning, the President met with retired military officers . In the afternoon, at the State Department, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton , National Security Adviser James L. Jones, Jr ., and Deputy National Security Adviser Tom Donilon . Later in the afternoon, the President toured the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House. January 23 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a National Security Council meeting. Later, he had an economic briefing. Then, in the Cabinet Room, he met with bipartisan congressional leaders . In the afternoon, the President had a telephone conversation with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to congratulate her on her recent congressional appointment. January 24 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then had an economic briefing. During the day, the President met with his economic advisers. January 26 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then had an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Cabinet Room, the President met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East George J. Mitchell . Then, in the Map Room, he participated in an interview with Hisham Melhem of Al Arabiya Television. During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with President Dmitry A. Medvedev of Russia , President Nicolas Sarkozy of France , Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany , and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil . In the evening, the President participated in a swearing-in ceremony for Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . January 27 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then had an economic briefing in which he met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence H. Summers . In the afternoon, at the U.S. Capitol, the President met with the House Republican Conference . He then met with the Senate Republican Conference . Later, he had separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Kevin M. Rudd of Australia and President Alvaro Uribe Velez of Colombia . January 28 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Then, in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing in which he met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner , National Economic Council Director Lawrence H. Summers , and Chairman of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul A. Volcker . Later, he had a meeting with his senior advisers. Later in the morning, in the Roosevelt Room, the President met with business leaders and chief executive officers . In the afternoon, the President traveled to Arlington , VA, where, at the Pentagon, he, Vice President Joe Biden , and National Security Adviser James L. Jones , Jr., met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff . He then met with U.S. military personnel . During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with President Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa . In the evening, the President had separate telephone conversations with Gov. Mickey D. Beebe of Arkansas and Gov. Steven L. Beshear of Kentucky to discuss the severe winter storm affecting both States . He then hosted a dinner party for Republican congressional leaders . Later, he had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan . The White House announced that the President will travel to Canada on February 19. The President announced that he has named Daniel J. Meltzer as Principal Deputy White House Counsel and Deputy Assistant to the President. The President announced that he has named Mary DeRosa as Deputy Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council . The President announced that he has named Neal S. Wolin as Deputy Counsel to the President for Economic Policy and Deputy Assistant to the President. The President announced that he has named Norman L. Eisen as Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform . The President announced that he has named Kendall C. Burman as Associate Counsel to the President . The President announced that he has named Susan Davies as Associate Counsel to the President. The President announced that he has named Karen Dunn as Associate Counsel to the President . The President announced that he has named Danielle Gray as Associate Counsel to the President. The President announced that he has named Michael Gottlieb as Associate Counsel to the President . The President announced that he has named Roberto J. Gonzalez as Associate Counsel to the President. The President announced that he has named Virginia Canter as Associate Counsel to the President . The President announced that he has named Caroline Krass as Associate Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs . The President announced that he has named Jonathan Kravis as Associate Counsel to the President . The President announced that he has named Trevor Morrison as Associate Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs . The President announced that he has named Alison J. Nathan as Associate Counsel to the President . The President announced that he has named Kate Shaw as Associate Counsel to the President. The President announced that he has named Susan S. Sher as Associate Counsel to the President and Counsel to the First Lady. The President announced that he has named Christian A. Weideman as Associate Counsel to the President. The President announced that he has named Ian Bassin as Deputy Associate Counsel to the President . The President announced that he has named Rashad Hussain as Deputy Associate Counsel to the President. The President announced that he has named Blake Roberts as Deputy Associate Counsel to the President . The President announced that he has named Jason G. Green as Deputy Associate Counsel to the President. The President announced that he has named Diana Farrell as Deputy Director of the National Economic Council . The President announced that he has named Jason Furman as Deputy Director of the National Economic Council. The President announced that he has named David P. Agnew as Deputy Director for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs . The President announced that he has named Shaun McGrath as Deputy Director for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. The President declared an emergency in Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm beginning on January 26 and continuing. The President declared an emergency in Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local response efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm beginning on January 27 and continuing. January 29 In the morning, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to Bethesda, MD , where they visited the Sidwell Friends School . Later, in the State Dining Room, they participated in a reception to celebrate the signing of S. 181, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 . Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . January 30 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, he had a telephone conversation with President Hu Jintao of China . In the afternoon, in the Situation Room, the President met with senior noncommissioned officers . During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada , King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia , Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom , and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations . He also met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with Gov. Jeremiah W. "Jay" Nixon of Missouri to discuss the winter storm affecting the State. The President declared a major disaster in Washington and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm, landslides, mudslides, and flooding from January 6-16. The President declared an emergency in Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm beginning on January 26 and continuing. January 31 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. In the evening, at the Capital Hilton Hotel, the President and Mrs. Obama attended the Alfalfa Club dinner. February 1 In the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama hosted a National Football League's Super Bowl party for Members of Congress. February 2 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, he had separate telephone conversations with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani of I raq. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . Later, in the Roosevelt Room, he and Vice President Biden met with congressional leadership to discuss financial legislation . In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea. The President announced his intention to nominate Ronald C. Sims to be Deputy Secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development . February 3 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Obama visited the Capital City Public Charter School , where they met with students and read to one of the classes. Later, in the Oval Office, he participated in separate interviews with Charles Gibson of ABC News , Brian Williams of NBC News , Katie Couric of CBS News , Anderson Cooper of Cable News Network , and Chris Wallace of FOX News . During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with Gov. Cha rles J. Crist, Jr., of Florida, Gov. Arnold A. Schwarzenegger of California, and Gov. M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut to discuss his economic recovery plan and financial legislation . The President announced his intention to nominate L. Tammy Duckworth to be Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs . February 4 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing followed by an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George J. Mitchell . In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Joe Biden . Later, at the Newseum, he attended the Senate Democratic retreat. Later in the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of the Interior Kenneth L. Salazar . In the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama attended the House Democratic Caucus leadership cocktail reception. February 5 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, White House Press Secretary Robert L. Gibbs informed the President that Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery for pancreatic cancer. Later, in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Joe Biden met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . Then, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . In the evening, the President traveled to Williamsburg, VA . Later, he returned to Washington, DC. The President declared a major disaster in Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm and flooding beginning on January 26 and continuing. February 6 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, in the East Room, he and Chairman of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul A. Volcker introduced the members of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. In the afternoon, the President met with family members of victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the USS Cole terrorist attack. In the evening, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the President, Mrs. Obama, and their daughters Sasha and Malia attended a performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater . The President announced that he has named Jodi Archambault Gillette as Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs . The President announced that he has named Nicholas Rathod as Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. The President announced that he has named Michael Blake as Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs . The President declared a major disaster in Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm beginning on January 26 and continuing. February 7 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. In the afternoon, the President, Mrs. Obama, and their daughters Sasha and Malia traveled to Camp David, MD. February 8 In the afternoon, the President, Mrs. Obama, and their daughters Sasha and Malia returned to Washington, DC. February 9 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. He then met with senior White House staff. Later, he traveled to South Bend , IN. Later in the morning, the President traveled to Elkhart, IN. In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Kevin M. Rudd of Australia to offer his condolences for the loss of life due to the wildfires in Victoria and offered U.S. assistance to the Australian Government and citizens affected by the fires. February 10 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Later, he traveled to Fort Myers , FL. In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. Later, in the State Dining Room, he met with members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition . February 11 In the morning, the President had separate telephone conversations Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan . Then, in the Oval Office, he had an intelligence briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. Later, he traveled to Springfield , VA. In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. Later, he had a telephone conversation with President Shimon Peres of Israel . Then, in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with Gov. Brad Henry and Sens. James M. Inhofe and Thomas A. Coburn of Oklahoma to discuss the February 10 tornadoes that struck the State and offered his condolences and support to the victims of the tornadoes. He also met with Rep. John D. Dingell, Jr., to congratulate him and thank him for his service as the longest serving Member of the House of Representatives. February 12 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . In the afternoon, the President traveled to East Peoria , IL, where he visited a Caterpillar , Inc., plant. Later, he traveled to Springfield, IL, arriving in the evening. Later in the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC. February 13 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Joe Biden . He then had a telephone conversation with King Juan Carlos I of Spain to discuss Spain-U.S. relations . Later, he, Mrs. Obama, and their daughters Sasha and Malia traveled to their home in Chicago , IL. February 14 In the morning, at the Obama home in Chicago , IL, the President had an intelligence briefing. February 15 The President declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on February 10 and 11. February 16 In the morning, the President, Mrs. Obama, and their daughters Sasha and Malia returned to Washington, DC, arriving in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, the President had separate telephone conversations with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. February 17 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Denver , CO, arriving in the afternoon, where he was joined by Vice President Joe Biden . Later in the afternoon, at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science , the President and Vice President Biden toured the museum's solar panel installation. Later, he traveled to Phoenix , AZ. The White House announced that the President will meet with Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan at the White House on February 24. The President declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by severe winter storms from January 26-28. The President declared a major disaster in Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by severe winter storms from January 26-28. The President declared a major disaster in Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by winter storms and flooding from January 27-31. February 18 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then traveled to Mesa , AZ. Later, he returned to Washington, DC, arriving in the afternoon. February 19 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Ottawa, Canada , where, in the Canada Reception Centre at Ottawa International Airport, he met with Governor General Michaelle Jean of Canada. He then traveled to Parliament Hill, where, in the Rotunda, he was greeted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and Parliament officials. Later in the morning, in the Rotunda, the President signed guest books. In the afternoon, in the Prime Minister's office, the President met with Prime Minister Harper . Then, in the Senate Dining Room, he had a working lunch with Prime Minister Harper. Later, he traveled to By Ward Market . Later in the afternoon, the President returned to Ottawa International Airport, where, in the Canada Reception Centre, he met with Liberal Party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff . Later, he met with U.S. Embassy staff and their families. He then returned to Washington, DC, arriving in the evening. The President announced that he has appointed Adolfo Carrion as White House Director of Urban Affairs . The President announced that he has appointed Derek Douglas as Special Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs . February 20 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Joe Biden . The President announced that he has appointed Mary Wakefield as Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration . February 21 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. During the day, the President, Mrs. Obama, and their daughter Malia traveled to Kensington, MD . Later, they returned to Washington, DC. The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom to the White House on March 3. February 22 In the evening, in the State Dining Room, the President and Mrs. Obama attended the 2009 National Governors Association dinner followed by entertainment in the East Room. February 23 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the evening, the President met with actor and human rights activist George Clooney , United Nations Messenger of Peace , to discuss his recent visit to Chad , Africa . The President announced his intention to nominate Kathleen A. Merrigan to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Jonathan Z. Cannon to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Seth D. Harris to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate John Morton to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security. The President announced his intention to nominate Ashton Carter to be Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics at the Department of Defense . The President announced his intention to nominate April Boyd to be Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Commerce . The President announced his intention to nominate Thomas L. Strickland to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior . The President announced that he has appointed Earl E. Devaney as Chair of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board . February 24 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . February 25 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Cabinet Room, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Democratic congressional leadership. Later, in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner and the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services. He then participated in a National Security Council meeting. In the evening, in the East Room, the President and Mrs. Obama hosted the "Stevie Wonder in Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize" event , where he presented Stevie Wonder with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song . February 26 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Joe Biden . Later, in the State Dining Room, he met with the Congressional Black Caucus . Then, in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner followed by a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . Later in the afternoon, in the Blue Room, the President met with the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls . During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with President Michel Sleiman of Lebanon . He also met with Ambassador Stephen W. Bosworth , Special Representative for North Korea Policy . In the evening, the President met with bipartisan congressional leadership to discuss his plan to draw down U.S. military forces in Iraq . The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister Brian Cowen of Ireland to the White House on March 17. The White House announced that the President will meet with Prime Minister Kevin M. Rudd of Australia at the White House on March 24. The President announced his intention to nominate Jim Miller to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Defense . The President announced his intention to nominate Lt. Gen. Wallace "Chip" Gregson , Jr., USMC (Ret.), to be Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs at the Department of Defense . The President announced that he has appointed Jeffrey S. Crowley as the Director of Office of National AIDS Policy . February 27 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing. He then traveled to Camp Lejeune, NC . While en route aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing followed by a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq to discuss his plan to draw down U.S. military forces in Iraq and to reach an agreement with Prime Minister Maliki to receive the next U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Christopher R. Hill . Later in the morning, upon arrival at Camp Lejeune, the President had a telephone conversation with former President George W. Bush to brief him on his plan to draw down U.S. military forces in Iraq. In the afternoon, the President met with wounded marines and their families. He then participated in separate interviews with PBS's "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer ." Later, he returned to Washington, DC. In the evening, at the Verizon Center, the President attended a Washington Wizards-Chicago Bulls basketball game. The President announced his intention to nominate Jon Leibowitz to be Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission . The President announced his intention to nominate Roy W. Kienitz to be Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate Charles P. Rose to be General Counsel at the Department of Education . February 28 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. March 2 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.Shinseki . The President declared a major disaster in Illinois and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by severe winter storms from January 26-28. The President declared a major disaster in Oregon and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by severe winter storms from December 20-26, 2008. The President declared a major disaster in Washington and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by severe winter storms from December 12, 2008 to January 5, 2009. March 3 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. In the afternoon, in the Old Family Dining Room, the President had a working lunch with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom . Later, in the Oval Office, he met with a delegation from the Boy Scouts of America to receive their annual report. Then, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Joe Biden met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . The President announced his intention to nominate M. John Berry to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management . The President announced his intention to nominate Julius Genachowski to be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission . March 4 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing. Later, also in the Oval Office, they had an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom . The President announced his intention to nominate W. Craig Fugate to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Brian V. Kennedy to be Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate Dana G. Gresham to be Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate Peter A. Kovar to be Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development . The President announced his intention to nominate Sherburne "Shere" Abbott to be Associate Director of Environment at the Office of Science and Technology Policy . The President declared a major disaster in New York and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm from December 11-31, 2008. March 5 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, he met with actor and activist Brad Pitt to discuss ongoing rebuilding efforts in New Orleans, LA. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . The White House announced that the President and Mrs. Obama will visit the United Kingdom , France , Germany , and the Czech Republic from March 31 to April 5. The President announced that he has named Vivek Kundra as Federal Chief Information Officer at the White House. The President declared a major disaster in Indiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm from January 26-28. March 6 In the morning, the President traveled to Columbus , OH. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing. In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. While en route aboard Air Force One, he participated in an interview with Peter Baker , Helene Cooper , Sheryl Gay Stolberg , and Jeff Zeleny of the New York Times . Later in the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to Bethesda, MD , where they visited the Sidwell Friends School . Later, they returned to Washington, DC. The White House announced that the President will meet with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil at the White House on March 14. The President announced his intention to nominate Esther Brimmer to be Assistant Secretary for International Organizations at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Philip H. Gordon to be Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Melanne Verveer to be Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues at the Department of State . March 7 In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Adm. Michael G. Mullen , USN, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff , to discuss the situation in Mexico. Then, in the Oval Office, he had an intelligence briefing. Later, he, Mrs. Obama traveled to Camp David, MD , where they were joined by their daughters Sasha and Malia . March 8 In the afternoon, the President, Mrs. Obama, and their daughters Sasha and Malia returned to Washington, DC. In the evening, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the President and Mrs. Obama attended an event celebrating Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's birthday. The President announced his intention to nominate David S. Cohen to be Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the Department of the Treasury . The President announced his intention to nominate Alan B. Krueger to be Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Department of the Treasury . The President announced his intention to nominate Kim N. Wallace to be Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Department of the Treasury . March 9 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke , Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner , National Economic Council Director Lawrence H. Summers , and Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina D. Romer . Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Intel Science Talent Search finalists. March 10 In the morning, at the Westin Washington, D.C. City Center, the President made remarks to the Council of Chief State School Officers . Later, in the Oval Office, he had an intelligence briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. Later, in the State Dining Room, he met with members of the New Democrat Coalition . March 11 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Cabinet Room, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Democratic members of the Senate Budget Committee . Later, in the State Dining Room, they met with Democratic members of the House Budget Committee . The President announced his intention to nominate R. Gil Kerlikowske to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy . The President announced his intention to nominate Christopher R. Hill to be Ambassador to Iraq . The President announced his intention to nominate Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry , USA, to be Ambassador to Afghanistan . The President announced his intention to nominate Ivo Daalder to be U.S. Permanent Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . The President announced his intention to nominate Alexander Vershbow to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs . The President announced his intention to nominate Richard R. Verma to be Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the State Department. March 12 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing followed by an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi of China . Later, also in the Oval Office, they met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . The President announced his intention to nominate Demetrios J. Marantis to be Deputy U.S. Trade Representative . The President announced his intention to nominate Kristina M. Johnson to be Under Secretary of Energy . The President announced his intention to nominate Gina McCarthy to be Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation at the Environmental Protection Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Ronald H. Weich to be Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Department of Justice . March 13 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing followed by an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, he had separate telephone conversations with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia . In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Joe Biden . During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and President Cristina Fernandez De Kirchner of Argentina . The President announced his intention to nominate Thomas E. Perez to be Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. The President announced his intention to nominate Linda A. Puchala to be a member of the National Mediation Board . The President announced his intention to nominate James W. Miller to be Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Service at the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Dallas P. Tonsager to be Under Secretary for Rural Development at the Department of Agriculture. The President announced his intention to nominate Ines R. Triay to be Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management at the Department of Energy. The President announced that he has appointed Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow as White House Adviser for the Summit of the Americas . March 14 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. The President announced that he has appointed Margaret "Peggy" Hamburg as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration . The President announced that he has appointed Joshua M. Sharfstein as Principal Deputy Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. March 15 In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic meeting with his advisers. March 16 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, in the Roosevelt Room, he and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner met with small-business owners and community leaders. In the afternoon, the President met with veterans and veterans' service organizations . March 17 In the morning, in the Vice President's ceremonial office inthe Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the President met with Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad and House Committee on the Budget Chairman John M. Spratt , Jr. Later, in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing. Then, in the National Security Adviser's office, he met with First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Northern Ireland . In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Joe Biden met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . During the day, in the Oval Office, the President met with Francis Cardinal George , Archbishop of Chicago and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops . The President announced his intention to nominate Daniel M. Rooney to be Ambassador to Ireland . The President announced his intention to nominate Judge David F. Hamilton to the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals . The President announced his intention to nominate Rose E. Gottemoeller to be Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance . March 18 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an economic briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. He then had a telephone conversation with President-elect Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena of El Salvador to congratulate him on his election victory and discuss El Salvador-U.S. relations . Later, in the State Dining Room, he met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus . He then had a telephone conversation with House Committee on Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank . In the afternoon, the President traveled to Costa Mesa, CA . Later, he traveled to Los Angeles, CA, arriving in the evening. The President announced his intention to nominate Susan F. Burk to be Special Representative to the President , with the rank of Ambassador. The President announced his intention to nominate Raphael Bostic to be Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The President announced his intention to nominate Michelle J. DePass to be Assistant Administrator for International Affairs at the Environmental Protection Agency. The President announced his intention to nominate Cynthia J. Giles to be Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the Environmental Protection Agency. The President announced his intention to nominate Michael L. Connor to be Director of the Bureau of Reclamation at the Department of the Interior. The President announced his intention to nominate Scott Blake Harris to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy. The President announced his intention to nominate Joseph C. Szabo to be Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration at the Department of Transportation. March 19 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Pomona , CA, where he toured Southern California Edison's Electric Vehicle Technical Center . He then participated in a radio interview with Ed Schultz of "The Ed Schultz Radio Show ." Later in the morning, the President met with students from the Village Academy High School at Indian Hill. In the afternoon, the President returned to Los Angeles , CA. He then traveled to Burbank, CA. Later, he returned to Washington, DC, arriving the following morning. The President announced his intention to nominate Suedeen G. Kelly to be a Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission . The President announced his intention to nominate Elizabeth L. King to be Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Department of Defense . The President announced his intention to nominate T. Michael Kerr to be Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management at the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate Gabriella C. Gomez to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the Department of Education . The President announced his intention to nominate Joe Leonard , Jr., to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Cameron F. Kerry to be General Counsel at the Department of Commerce . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert S. Rivkin to be General Counsel at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate M. Patricia Smith to be Solicitor of the Department of Labor . The President announced that he has designated Jon Wellinghoff as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission . March 20 Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Later, in the State Dining Room, he and Mrs. Obama attended the National Newspaper Publishers Association reception. During the day, the President participated in an interview with Steve Kroft of CBS's "60 Minutes " program for later broadcast. The President announced his intention to nominate Steven E. Koonin to be Under Secretary for Science at the Department of Energy . The President announced his intention to nominate David B. Sandalow to be Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs at the Department of Energy . The President announced his intention to nominate Johnnie Carson to be Assistant Secretary for African Affairs at the State Department . The President announced his intention to nominate Kathleen Martinez to be Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy at the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate Jonathan S. Adelstein to be Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service at the Department of Agriculture. The President announced his intention to nominate Timothy W. Manning to be Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the Department of Homeland Security. The President announced his intention to nominate Priscilla E. Guthrie to be Chief Information Officer at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence . March 21 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he and Mrs. Obama and their daughters Sasha and Malia traveled to Camp David, MD . March 22 In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC. March 23 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing. Later, in the Roosevelt Room, they had an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom . The President announced his intention to nominate David H. Stevens to be Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner at the Department of Housing and Urban Development . The President announced his intention to nominate Harold Hongju Koh to be Legal Adviser of the State Department . The President announced his intention to nominate Yvette Roubideaux to be Director of the Indian Health Service at the Department of Health and Human Services . The President announced his intention to nominate Neal S. Wolin to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury . The President announced his intention to nominate Lael Brainard to be Under Secretary for International Affairs at the Department of the Treasury . The President announced that he has designated Emily C. Hewitt as Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims . March 24 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, in the Palm Room, he met with Children's Miracle Network champions and their families. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an economic briefing. They then had lunch. Later, in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. The White House announced that the President will welcome Secretary General Jakob Gijsbert "Jaap" de Hoop Scheffer of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the White House on March 25. The President announced his intention to nominate Marisa J. Demeo and Florence Y. Pan to be Associate Judges in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia . The President announced his intention to nominate Luis C. de Baca to be Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department . The President declared a major disaster in North Dakota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 13 and continuing. March 25 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing. Later, also in the Oval Office, he had an intelligence briefing. In the afternoon, at the U.S. Capitol, the President met with the Senate Democratic Caucus . He then met with Sens. Byron L. Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl R. Pomeroy III of North Dakota and Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota to discuss the recent flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota . Later, he traveled to Arlington, VA , where he participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate National Medal of Honor Day . Later in the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. The President announced his intention to nominate Howard K. Koh to be Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services . The President announced his intention to nominate Phyllis C. Borzi to be Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security at the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate Helen R. Kanovsky to be General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development . The President announced his intention to nominate Rhea S. Suh to be Assistant Secretary for Policy Management and Budget at the Department of the Interior . The President announced his intention to nominate Hilary C. Tompkins to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior . March 26 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with several Members of Congress to brief them on the administration's Afghanistan policy review. He also had separate telephone conversations with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan . The President announced his intention to nominate Ray Mabus to be Secretary of the Navy . The President announced his intention to nominate Donald Michael Remy to be General Counsel of the Army . The President announced his intention to nominate J. Randolph Babbitt to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration . The President announced his intention to nominate Jose D. Riojas to be Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security and Preparedness at the Department of Veterans Affairs . The President announced his intention to nominate John D. Trasvina to be Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the Department of Housing and Urban Development . The President announced his intention to nominate Lawrence E. Strickling to be Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce . The President announced his intention to nominate Catherine R. Zoi to be Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy . The President declared an emergency in Minnesota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 16 and continuing. March 27 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. In the afternoon, in the State Dining Room, the President met with chief executive officers of several banks to discuss the administration's economic recovery plan . In the evening, the President traveled to Camp David, MD . March 28 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. The President announced his intention to nominate Helen Elizabeth Garrett to be Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Department of the Treasury . The President announced his intention to nominate Michael S. Barr to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the Department of the Treasury . The President announced his intention to nominate George W. Madison to be General Counsel of the Department of the Treasury . March 29 In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. March 30 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . Later, at the U.S. Capitol, he met with the House Democratic Caucus . During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada to discuss the upcoming Group of Twenty (G-20) summit and the global financial markets situation . March 31 In the morning, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to London , United Kingdom, arriving in the evening. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom. He also had an intelligence briefing. Later in the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to Winfield House, the U.S. Ambassador's residence. They then traveled to the American School, where they met with U.S. Embassy staff. Later, they returned to Winfield House. The President announced his intention to nominate Anne Castle to be Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior . The President announced his intention to nominate Mathy V. Stanislaus to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response at the Environmental Protection Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Jo-Ellen Darcy to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works . The President announced his intention to nominate John U. Sepulveda to be Assistant Secretary for Human Resources at the Department of Veterans Affairs . The President announced his intention to nominate Roger W. Baker to be Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs . The President announced his intention to nominate William A. Gunn to be General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs . April 1 In the morning, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to 10 Downing Street , the Prime Minister's residence. Later, they returned to Winfield House. In the afternoon, the President met with Conservative Party Leader and Opposition Leader David Cameron . Later, he and Mrs. Obama traveled to Buckingham Palace, where they met with Queen Elizabeth II. In the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama attended the Group of Twenty (G-20) leaders reception. Later, they returned to Winfield House, where he participated in a working dinner with G-20 leaders. During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. The President announced his intention to nominate Martha J. Kanter to be Under Secretary of Education . The President announced his intention to nominate Krysta Harden to be Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations at the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Stephen A. Owens to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances at the Environmental Protection Agency. April 2 In the morning, the President traveled to the ExCeL centre , where he participated in a breakfast with G-20 leaders. Later, he attended the opening plenary session of the G-20 summit. In the afternoon, the President participated in a lunch with G-20 leaders. Later, he attended the afternoon plenary session of the G-20 summit. He then met with King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia . Later in the afternoon, the President met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India. In the evening, the President returned to Winfield House. The President announced his intention to nominate Gerard E. Lynch to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit . The President announced his intention to nominate Andre Davis to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert M. Groves to be Director of the Bureau of the Census at the Department of Commerce . The President announced his intention to nominate Victor M. Mendez to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate Peter H. Appel to be Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate John Q. Easton to be Director of the Institute of Education Sciences at the Department of Education . April 3 In the morning, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to Strasbourg, France . Upon arrival, they traveled to the Palais Rohan. In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to the Rhenus Sport Arena. Later, they traveled to Baden-Baden, Germany . Upon arrival, he and Mrs. Obama traveled to the Rathaus, where he met with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany . In the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to the Kurhaus, where they attended a North Atlantic Treaty Organization concert. Later, he participated in a working dinner with North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders. They then returned to Strasbourg, France . The President announced his intention to nominate Peter S. Silva to be Assistant Administrator for Water Programs at the Environmental Protection Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Martha N. Johnson to be Adminstrator of the General Services Administration . April 4 In the morning, the President traveled to Kehl, Germany . Later, he and North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders traveled to Strasbourg, France , where they were met by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France . They then attended a tribute to North Atlantic Treaty Organization military personnel. Later in the morning, the President traveled to the Palais de la Musique et des Congres, where he met with Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark and President Abdullah Gul of Turkey to discuss the appointment of the next Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He then participated in the North Atlantic Council summit meeting. In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to Prague, Czech Republic , arriving in the evening. Later in the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to the Hilton Prague hotel, where they met with U.S. Embassy staff . April 5 In the morning, the President was briefed on the North Korean missile launch . He then had separate telephone conversations with Gen. James E. Cartwright , USMC, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to discuss the missile launch. He also met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss the missile launch. Later in the morning, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to Prague Castle . Later, they traveled to Hradcany Square. He then traveled to the Prague Congress Center, where he met with President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso of the European Commission . In the afternoon, the President attended a reception with European Union leaders. He then participated in the European Union-U.S. summit working lunch. In the evening, the President traveled to Ankara, Turkey . Upon arrival, he traveled to the Sheraton Ankara hotel. April 6 In the morning, the President traveled to the Anitkabir, where he participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk . In the afternoon, the President traveled to the parliament building. In the evening, the President traveled to Istanbul, Turkey . Upon arrival, he traveled to Dolmabahce Palace, where he met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard Nalbandian of Armenia , Chief of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy-Rey of Switzerland , and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Babacan of Turkey to discuss the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia . Later, he traveled to the Conrad Istanbul hotel. The President announced that he has appointed the following individuals as members of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships : Anju Bhargava ; Charles Blake ; Peg Chemberlin ; Nathan Diament ; Harry Knox ; Dalia Mogahed ; Anthony Picarello ; Nancy Ratzan ; and Sharon Watkins . April 7 In the morning, the President met Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. He then met with Chairman of the Religious Council of the Armenian Church in Turkey Archbishop Aram Atesyan , Chief Rabbi of Istanbul Isak Haleva , Grand Mufti of Istanbul Mustafa Cagrici , and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yusuf Cetin of Istanbul and Ankara . Later, he traveled to the Hagia Sophia , where he was joined by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. They then toured the museum. Later in the morning, the President and Prime Minister Erdogan toured the Blue Mosque . In the afternoon, the President traveled to the Tophane Cultural Center. Later, he traveled to Baghdad, Iraq . He then traveled to Camp Victory, where he met with Gen. Raymond T. Odierno , USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq . During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to offer his condolences for the loss of life due to the April 6 earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy , and offered U.S. assistance to the Italian Government and the victims of the earthquake. He also had a telephone conversation with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan . In the evening, the President met with U.S. military personnel and awarded medals to several soldiers. Later, he met with President Jalal Talabani of Iraq . Later in the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC, arriving the following morning. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had a telephone conversation with head coach Roy Williams of the University of North Carolina men's basketball team to congratulate him on the team's April 6 NCAA championship. April 8 During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with head coach Geno Auriemma of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to congratulate him on the team's April 7 NCAA championship. The President announced his intention to nominate Mary L. Smith to be Assistant Attorney General of the Tax Division at the Department of Justice . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert R. Beers to be Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs at the Department of Homeland Security . The President announced his intention to nominate Peter M. Rogoff to be Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate Jane Oates to be Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Administration at the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate Jeffrey D. Feltman to be Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the Department of State. The President announced his intention to nominate Charles A. Hurley to be Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert O. Work to be Under Secretary of the Department of the Navy . The President announced his intention to nominate Charles A. Blanchard to be General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force . April 9 In the morning, the President met with leaders of several veterans' service organizations and military service organizations. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had lunch with Vice President Joe Biden. Later, in the East Room, he and Mrs. Obama attended and made remarks at a memorial service for White House staff member Smile "Smiley" Saint-Aubin. Later in the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing followed by a meeting with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago to discuss the upcoming Summit of the Americas . In the evening, in the Old Family Dining Room, the President hosted a Seder to celebrate the beginning of Passover . The President declared a major disaster in Minnesota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 16 and continuing. April 10 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing. During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with President John Evans Atta Mills of Ghana . He also had a telephone conversation with President Alan Garcia Perez of Peru . The President announced his intention to nominate Larry J. EchoHawk to be Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior . The President announced his intention to nominate Sandra B. Henriquez to be Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing at the Department of Housing and Urban Development . The President announced his intention to nominate A. Thomas McLellan to be Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy . The President announced his intention to nominate John D. Porcari to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation . April 12 During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Andrea Phillips, wife of Captain Richard Phillips of the MV Maersk Alabama who was captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia on April 8, to discuss her husband's rescue by U.S. Navy SEALs. April 13 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . April 14 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. The President announced his intention to nominate Daniel B. Poneman to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy . The President announced his intention to nominate Fred P. Hochberg to be President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States . The President announced his intention to nominate Francisco J. Sanchez to be Under Secretary for International Trade at the Department of Commerce . The President announced his intention to nominate Miriam E. Sapiro to be Deputy U.S. Trade Representative . The President announced his intention to nominate Judith A. McHale to be Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Philip J. Crowley to be Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Bonnie D. Jenkins to be Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs at the Department of State , with the rank of Ambassador. The President announced his intention to nominate Thomasina Rogers to be Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission . The President announced his intention to nominate Lorelei Boylan to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate David F. Heyman to be Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department of Homeland Security . The President announced his intention to nominate Andrew C. Weber to be Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs . The President announced his intention to nominate Stephen W. Preston to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Laurie I. Mikva to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation . April 15 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, in Room 350 of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, he met with working families . In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Joe Biden . Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk . The White House announced that the President will meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House on April 21. April 16 In the morning, the President traveled to Mexico City, Mexico , arriving in the afternoon. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had an intelligence briefing. Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to la Residencia Oficial de Los Pinos. Later, he traveled to the Presidente InterContinental Mexico City hotel, where he met with U.S. Embassy staff . During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil to discuss the upcoming Summit of the Americas . April 17 In the morning, the President traveled to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago , arriving in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel. In the evening, the President participated in the Summit of the Americas opening ceremony and cultural event. Later, he met with Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago . He then met with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ). Later in the evening, the President traveled to the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre. The President announced his intention to nominate Christine M. Griffin to be Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management . The President announced his intention to nominate Kevin Concannon to be Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services at the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Rajiv J. Shah to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics at the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Michael Nacht to be Assistant Secretary for Global Strategic Affairs at the Department of Defense . The President announced his intention to nominate Mercedes Marquez to be Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at the Department of Housing and Urban Development . The President announced his intention to nominate Raymond M. Jefferson to be Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training at the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert S. Litt to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence . The President announced his intention to nominate William F. Brinkman to be Director of the Office of Science at the Department of Energy . The President announced his intention to nominate Herbert M. Allison , Jr., to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability and Counselor to the Secretary at the Department of the Treasury . The President announced his intention to nominate William J. Wilkins to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury . April 18 In the morning, the President traveled to the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel, where he attended Plenary Session I of the Summit of the Americas . Later, he participated in a photo opportunity with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada . In the afternoon, the President participated in the Summit of the Americas official photograph and working lunch. Later, he attended Plenary Sessions II and III of the summit. In the evening, the President participated in the official Summit of the Americas dinner and cultural performance. Later, he traveled to the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre. April 19 In the morning, the President traveled to the Diplomatic Center, where he participated in the Summit of the Americas leaders retreat. In the afternoon, the President returned to the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre. Later, he returned to Washington, DC. April 20 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, the President traveled to Langley, VA , where, at Central Intelligence Agency Headquarters, he met with Director Leon E. Panetta , Deputy Director Stephen R. Kappes , and other CIA officials. Later, he returned to Washington, DC. Then, in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . During the day, in the Oval Office, the President met with professional golfer Tiger Woods . The President announced that he has nominated Cass R. Sunstein to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget . The President announced that he has nominated William K. Sessions III to be Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission . April 21 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing. Then, in the Personal Dining Room, he met with King Abdullah II of Jordan . Later, in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Then, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Joe Biden met with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and former President William J. Clinton to discuss voluntarism . Later, at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens , he, Mrs. Obama, Vice President Biden and his wife Jill , and former President Clinton participated in a tree planting event to celebrate Earth Day . In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Kevin M. Rudd of Australia to discuss Australia's participation in military operations in Afghanistan. The President announced his intention to nominate Maria Eitel to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service . The President announced his intention to nominate William E. Spriggs to be Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department of Labor . The President announced his intention to nominate Rebecca M. Blank to be Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Department of Commerce . The President announced that he has appointed Cindy S. Moelis as Director for the Presidential Commission on White House Fellows . The President declared a major disaster in Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds beginning on March 26 and continuing. April 22 In the morning, the President traveled to Des Moines, IA . He then traveled to Newton, IA, arriving in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, the President toured Trinity Structural Towers , Inc., and met with employees. Later, he returned to Washington, DC. The President declared a major disaster in Indiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding from March 8-14. April 23 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Cabinet Room, the President and Vice President Biden met with bipartisan congressional leadership . Later, in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . During the day, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Biden met with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher R. Hill . In the evening, in the Blue Room, the President and Mrs. Obama hosted a reception for Members of Congress and their spouses. The President announced his intention to nominate Philip Mudd to be Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security . The President announced his intention to nominate Kurt Campbell to be Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department . The President announced his intention to nominate Eric P. Schwartz to be Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration at the State Department . The President announced his intention to nominate Edward M. Avalos to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the Department of Agriculture . The President declared a major disaster in Georgia and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds beginning on March 26 and continuing. April 24 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an economic briefing followed by an intelligence briefing. Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Biden. During the day, the President met with U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan J. Scott Gration . The President announced his intention to nominate Alejandro N. Mayorkas to be Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the Department of Homeland Security . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert O. Blake to be Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs at the State Department . The President announced his intention to nominate Jamie M. Morin to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Management at the Department of the Air Force . The President announced his intention to nominate Thomas R. Lamont to be Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the Department of the Army . The President announced his intention to nominate Daniel Benjamin to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism , with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large, at the State Department. The President announced his intention to nominate Pearlie S. Reed to be Assistant Secretary for Administration at the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Craig Becker and Mark Pearce to be members of the National Labor Relations Board . April 26 In the morning, the President was briefed on the global influenza outbreak. April 27 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a briefing on the global influenza outbreak. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Blue Room, the President attended a reception for foreign economic, finance, and environmental ministers. The President announced his intention to nominate Eric P. Goosby to be Ambassador at Large and Global AIDS Coordinator at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Paul N. Stockton to be Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs at the Department of Defense . The President declared a major disaster in Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on April 9. April 28 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. He then had a telephone conversation with Sen. Arlen Specter , who informed him of his decision to switch political parties. In the afternoon, in the East Room, the President met with the Congressional Progressive Caucus . Later, in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . In the evening, in the Blue Room, the President and Mrs. Obama hosted a reception for Cabinet Secretaries. The President declared a major disaster in Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds from March 25 to April 3. April 29 In the morning, the President traveled to Arnold, MO . In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. The President announced his intention to nominate Anthony Wilder Miller to be Deputy Secretary of Education . The President announced his intention to nominate Mignon L. Clyburn to be a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission . The President announced his intention to nominate Juan M. Garcia to be Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the Department of the Navy . April 30 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had a meeting with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Sens. John McCain and Carl Levin and Reps. Isaac N. "Ike" Skelton IV and John M. McHugh to discuss procurement policies reform. Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . May 1 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Biden. He then had a telephone conversation with Supreme Court Associate Justice David H. Souter , who informed him of his decision to retire from the Court. Later, in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. The President announced his intention to nominate Kathy J. Greenlee to be Assistant Secretary of the Administration on Aging at the Department of Health and Human Services . The President announced his intention to nominate Wilma A. Lewis to be Assistant Secretary for Land and Mineral Management at the Department of the Interior . The President announced his intention to nominate John J. Sullivan to be a Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission . May 2 In the afternoon, the President had a telephone conversation with President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa of Mexico to discuss the global influenza outbreak. May 4 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with Sens. Orrin G. Hatch and Arlen Specter to discuss his plans to consult with Members of Congress regarding the replacement for Supreme Court Associate Justice David H. Souter . The President announced the designation of U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk as the head of the U.S. delegation that will attend the inauguration of President-elect Jacob Zuma of South Africa on May 9 in Pretoria, South Africa. May 5 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Later, in the State Dining Room, he and Vice President Joe Biden met with Democratic Members of Congress serving on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to discuss energy independence efforts , health care reform , and other legislative priorities. In the afternoon, the President and Vice President Biden traveled to Arlington, VA , where they had lunch at Ray's Hell-Burger . They then returned to Washington, DC. Later, in the Oval Office, he met with President Shimon Peres of Israel . Later in the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Later, he had a telephone conversation with Sen. Jefferson B. Sessions III to discuss the replacement for Supreme Court Associate Justice David H. Souter . The President announced his intention to nominate Inez Moore Tenenbaum to be Chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert S. Adler to be Commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The President announced his intention to nominate Ellen O'Kane Tauscher to be Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Homer Lee Wilkes to be Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Carmen R. Nazario to be Assistant Secretary for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services . The President announced his intention to nominate Andrew J. Shapiro to be Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Richard G. Newell to be Administrator of the Energy Information Administration . May 6 In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with President Hu Jintao of China . Later, in the Oval Office, he had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later in the morning, the President met with Sen. Thomas A. Coburn . In the afternoon, in the Private Dining Room, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had lunch with Sens. Max S. Baucus and Charles E. Grassley to discuss health care reform. Later, in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan . Then, also in the Oval Office, they met with President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan . The President announced his intention to nominate Tara Jeanne O'Toole to be Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security . The President announced his intention to nominate Laurie O. Robinson to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice . May 7 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Rev. Al Sharpton , Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York City , and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newton L. Gingrich to discuss education reform. Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina D. Romer . Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . May 8 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Sen. Robert P. Casey , Jr. The President declared a major disaster in Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds from April 10-13. May 9 During the day, in the Oval Office, the President met with Richard Phillips , captain of the MV Maersk Alabama who was rescued from pirates off the coast of Somalia by U.S. Navy SEALs on April 12, and his wife Andrea . May 11 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, the President met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to discuss the shooting deaths of five U.S. soldiers at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq . May 12 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Situation Room, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Gen. Raymond T. Odierno , USA commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq , and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher R. Hill . Later, in the Oval Office, they met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . The President announced his intention to nominate Maria Otero to be Under Secretary for Global Affairs at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Philip L. Verveer to have the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Policy in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the Department of State. The President announced his intention to nominate Arturo Valenzuela to be Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Ignacia S. Moreno to be Assistant Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice . The President announced his intention to nominate Craig E. Hooks to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Administration and Resource Management at the Environmental Protection Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Nicole Lurie to be Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services . The President announced his intention to nominate Dennis M. McCarthy to be Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs at the Department of Defense . The President announced his intention to nominate Zachary J. Lemnios to be Director of Defense Research and Engineering at the Department of Defense . The President announced his intention to nominate Daniel B. Ginsberg to be Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the Department of the Air Force . The President declared a major disaster in Mississippi and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes from March 25-28. May 13 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi , House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel , House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman , and House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller to discuss legislative priorities. Later, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden had an intelligence briefing. Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing, in which Vice President Biden presented him with the first quarterly report on the progress of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. Later, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , Senate Minority Leader Addison M. "Mitch" McConnell , and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy and Ranking Member Jefferson B. Sessions III to discuss his upcoming Supreme Court Associate Justice nomination. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President had lunch with Vice President Biden. Later, he traveled to Phoenix, AZ , arriving in the evening. While en route aboard Air Force One, he participated in an interview with Newsweek magazine, for later publication. During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister John P. Key of New Zealand . Later in the evening, the President traveled to Tempe, AZ. Later, he traveled to Albuquerque, NM . The President announced his intention to nominate Capricia Penavic Marshall to be Chief of Protocol of the Department of State , with the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service. The President announced his intention to nominate Evan J. Segal to be Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Agriculture . The President announced his intention to nominate Rocco Landesman to be Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts . The President announced that he has designated Gregory B. Jaczko as Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission . May 14 In the morning, the President traveled to Rio Rancho, NM . In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. May 15 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . The President announced his intention to nominate Preet Bharara to be U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The President announced his intention to nominate Tristram Coffin to be U.S. attorney for the District of Vermont. The President announced his intention to nominate Jenny A. Durkan to be U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. The President announced his intention to nominate Paul J. Fishman to be U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. The President announced his intention to nominate John Paul Kacavas to be U.S. attorney for the District of New Hampshire. The President announced his intention to nominate Joyce W. Vance to be U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. The President announced his intention to nominate Rosa Gumatao Rios to be U.S. Treasurer . The President announced his intention to nominate Daniel M. Tangherlini to be Assistant Secretary for Management , Chief Financial Officer , and Chief Performance Officer of the Department of the Treasury . The President announced that he has appointed Thomas R. Frieden as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . The President declared a major disaster in West Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, mudslides, and landslides beginning on May 3 and continuing. The President declared a major disaster in Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on April 10. May 16 The White House announced that the President will visit Moscow, Russia , on July 6-8. The White House announced that the President will attend the Group of Eight (G-8) summit in L'Aquila, Italy , from July 8-10. The White House announced that the President and Mrs. Obama will visit Accra, Ghana , from July 10-11. The President announced his intention to nominate Jon M. Huntsman , Jr., to be Ambassador to China . May 17 In the morning, the President traveled to South Bend, IN , arriving in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to Indianapolis, IN. In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC. May 18 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Old Family Dining Room, the President had a working lunch with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel . Later, in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. May 19 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with former Secretaries of State Henry A. Kissinger and George P. Schultz , former Sen. Samuel A. Nunn , and former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry to discuss nonproliferation efforts. Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . During the day, in the Oval Office, the President met with Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal , USA, commander, NATO International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan . He also met with Charles F. Bolden , Jr., to discuss his upcoming nomination of the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . He also had separate telephone conversations with several bipartisan Members of Congress to discuss his upcoming Supreme Court Associate Justice nomination. The President announced his intention to nominate Robert Perciasepe to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the Department of Education . The President announced his intention to nominate Colin Scott Cole Fulton to be General Counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate J. Michael Gilmore to be Director of Operational Test and Evaluation at the Department of Defense . The President announced his intention to nominate Bartholomew Chilton to be a Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission . The President announced his intention to nominate Cranston J. Mitchell to be a Commissioner of the U.S. Parole Commission . The President announced his intention to designate Isaac Fulwood, Jr. as Chairman of the U.S. Parole Commission. May 20 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Then, also in the Oval Office, he participated in a credentialing ceremony for newly appointed Ambassadors to the U.S. Later, he had a telephone conversation with the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis to congratulate them on repairing the Hubble Space Telescope . In the evening, in the Blue Room, the President and Mrs. Obama hosted a reception for bipartisan Members of the House of Representatives and their guests. May 21 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Later, on the South Lawn, he helped assemble care packages for U.S. military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq with members of the Super Bowl champion National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers and wounded military personnel from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center and their families. Then, in the Oval Office, he met with President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania . The President announced his intention to nominate Christopher H. Schroeder to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice. The President announced his intention to nominate Paul Anastas to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency . The President announced his intention to nominate Sherry Glied to be Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services . The President announced his intention to nominate Winslow L. Sargeant to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration . The President announced his intention to nominate Ambassador Nancy J. Powell to be Director General of the Foreign Service at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Deborah Matz to be Chair of the National Credit Union Administration . The President announced his intention to appoint Max Cleland as Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission . May 22 In the morning, the President traveled to Annapolis, MD . In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. May 23 In the morning, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India to congratulate him on being sworn-in for a second term and to discuss India-U.S. relations . Later, he traveled to Camp David, MD . The President announced his intention to nominate Charles F. Bolden , Jr., to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . The President announced his intention to nominate Lori Garver to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. May 24 In the evening, the President returned to Washington, DC. May 25 In the morning, in the State Dining Room, the President had breakfast with Gold Star families. Later, he traveled to Arlington, VA , where he participated in a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery . In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan to discuss North Korea's nuclear test. In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea to discuss North Korea's nuclear test and to express his condolences for the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea. Later, he had separate telephone conversations with Supreme Court Associate Justice candidates Elena Kagan , Janet A. Napolitano , Diane P. Wood , and Sonia Sotomayor to inform them of his decision to nominate Judge Sotomayor to the position. May 26 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Later, he had separate telephone conversations with Sens. Patrick J. Leahy , Addison M. "Mitch" McConnell , Harry Reid , and Jefferson B. Sessions III to discuss his nomination of Judge Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Later, he traveled to Las Vegas, NV . May 27 In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, at Nellis Air Force Base, NV, he and Sen. Harry Reid toured the solar photovoltaic array. In the afternoon, the President traveled to Los Angeles, CA . In the evening, at the Beverly Hills Hilton hotel, the President attended a Democratic National Committee fundraiser . The President announced his intention to nominate Michael A. Battle , Sr., to be U.S. Representative to the African Union with the rank of Ambassador. The President announced his intention to nominate Vilma S. Martinez to be Ambassador to Argentina . The President announced his intention to nominate Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., to be Ambassador to Brazil . The President announced his intention to nominate Laurie S. Fulton to be Ambassador to Denmark . The President announced his intention to nominate Charles H. Rivkin to be Ambassador to France . The President announced his intention to nominate Louis B. Susman to be Ambassador to the United Kingdom . The President announced his intention to nominate Miguel H. Diaz to be Ambassador to the Holy See . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert S. Connan to be Ambassador to Iceland . The President announced his intention to nominate Timothy J. Roemer to be Ambassador to India . The President announced his intention to nominate John V. Roos to be Ambassador to Japan . The President announced his intention to nominate Christopher W. Dell to be Ambassador to Kosovo . The President announced his intention to nominate Patricia A. Butenis to be Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives . The President declared a major disaster in Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds beginning on May 17 and continuing. May 28 In the morning, the President returned to Washington, DC, arriving in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . In the evening, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. The White House announced that the President will visit wounded U.S. military personnel and their families at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on June 5. The President announced his intention to nominate Gordon S. Heddell to be Inspector General of the Department of Defense . The President announced his intention to nominate Ellen Gloninger Murray to be Assistant Secretary for Resources and Technology at the Department of Health and Human Services . The President announced his intention to nominate Polly Trottenberg to be Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate James J. Markowsky to be Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy . May 29 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with Vice President Biden. Later, also in the Oval Office, they had an economic briefing. Later in the morning, in the Oval Office, the President met with his senior advisers. Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with National Economic Council staff members. The President declared a major disaster in Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and mudslides from May 3-20. May 30 In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to New York City . In the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama returned to Washington, DC, arriving the following morning. May 31 The President announced the designation of a Presidential delegation to San Salvador, El Salvador , to attend the inauguration of President-elect Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena on June 1: Hillary Rodham Clinton (head of delegation); Robert Blau ; Eliot L. Engel ; William D. Delahunt ; Gregory W. Meeks ; Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. ; Dan Restrepo ; and Alonzo Cantu . June 1 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, the President traveled to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda , MD , where he visited wounded U.S. military personnel and their families and awarded two Purple Heart medals. Later, he returned to Washington, DC. Then, in the Roosevelt Room, he met with National Economic Council staff members. June 2 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an economic briefing followed by an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer . In the evening, the President traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , arriving the following afternoon. The President announced his intention to nominate John M. McHugh to be Secretary of the Army . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert M. McDowell to be a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission . June 3 In the afternoon, upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , the President participated in an arrival ceremony with King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia . Later, the President traveled to the King's farm, where he participated in a welcoming reception with King Abdallah. In the evening, the President had dinner with King Abdallah. The President announced his intention to nominate James A.S. Leach to be Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities . The President declared a major disaster in Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds from May 6-8. June 4 In the morning, the President traveled to Cairo, Egypt . Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, he traveled to Al Quba Palace, where he participated in a welcoming ceremony with President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. Later, he and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton toured the Sultan Hassan Mosque . In the afternoon, the President traveled to Cairo University. Later, he toured the pyramids and the Sphinx . He then met with U.S. Embassy staff. In the evening, the President traveled to Dresden, Germany . Later, he had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom . The President announced his intention to nominate Anne S. Ferro to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at the Department of Transportation . The President announced his intention to nominate Ernie DuBester to be a member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority . The President announced his intention to nominate Julia A. Clark to be General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. The President announced his intention to nominate Carlos Pascual to be Ambassador to Mexico . The President announced his intention to nominate David C. Jacobson to be Ambassador to Canada . The President announced his intention to nominate James B. Smith to be Ambassador to Saudi Arabia . The President announced his intention to nominate Donald H. Gips to be Ambassador to South Africa . The President announced his intention to nominate Patricia N. Moller to be Ambassador to Guinea . The President announced his intention to nominate Nicole A. Avant to be Ambassador to the Bahamas . The President announced his intention to nominate Kenneth H. Merten to be Ambassador to Haiti . The President announced his intention to nominate Anne E. Derse to be Ambassador to Lithuania . The President announced that he has nominated B. Todd Jones to be U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota. June 5 In the morning, the President traveled to Dresden Castle, where he signed the Golden Books for the state of Saxony and the city of Dresden. Later, he and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany toured the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). He then traveled to Zwinger Palace. In the afternoon, the President traveled to Weimar, Germany. Later, he traveled to Ramstein, Germany. In the evening, the President visited Landstuhl Regional Medical Center , where he met with wounded U.S. military personnel and medical staff members and awarded six Purple Heart medals to marines and soldiers. He then visited the USO Warrior Center, where he met with and made remarks to military personnel and their families. Later, he traveled to Paris, France . June 6 In the morning, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to Caen, France . In the afternoon, at the Prefecture, the President and Mrs. Obama participated in a welcoming ceremony with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy . Later, he had a working lunch with President Sarkozy. Later in the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial , where they toured the visitor's center, visited the overlook of Omaha Beach, and met with D-Day veterans. Later, they returned to Paris, France, arriving in the evening. Later in the evening, the President and Mrs. Obama traveled to the U.S. Ambassador's residence, where they were joined by their daughters Sasha and Malia . They then traveled to Notre Dame Cathedral , where they attended a children's choir performance and toured the church. Later, they returned to the U.S. Ambassador's residence. The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to the White House on June 15. June 7 In the morning, the President, Mrs. Obama, and their daughters Sasha and Malia visited the Pompidou Centre . Later, he returned to the U.S. Ambassador's residence. In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. June 8 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe to the Oval Office on June 12. June 9 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he had an economic briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the State Dining Room, the President met with Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee . Later, in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . The President announced his intention to nominate Joseph W. Westphal to be Under Secretary of the Army . The President announced his intention to nominate Robert V. Abbey to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management at the Department of the Interior . The President announced his intention to nominate Sam D. Hamilton to be Director of the Office of Fish and Wildlife Service at the Department of the Interior . The President announced his intention to nominate Deborah A.P. Hersman to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board . The President announced his intention to nominate Richard A. Lidinsky , Jr., to be a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission . The President announced his intention to renominate Harry Hoglander to be a member of the National Mediation Board . June 10 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. He then had a telephone conversation with Virginia gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds to congratulate him on his Democratic primary election victory. Later in the morning, also in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Biden met with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max S. Baucus and Ranking Member Charles E. Grassley and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Ranking Member Michael B. Enzi and Senior Member Christopher J. Dodd to discuss health care reform . In the afternoon, in the Private Dining Room, the President had lunch with Vice President Biden. He was then briefed on the shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum by Press Secretary Robert L. Gibbs . Later in the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . Later, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . During the day, the President had separate telephone conversations with King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Rafael Correa Delgado of Ecuador, and President Michel Sleiman of Lebanon. The President announced his intention to nominate Joan M. Evans to be Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs . The President announced his intention to nominate Warren F. "Pete" Miller , Jr., to be Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy . The President announced his intention to nominate John R. Norris to be a Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission . June 11 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. Later, he traveled to Green Bay, WI . Then, at Southwest High School, he met with grassroots activists . In the afternoon, at Southwest High School , the President met with local political leaders . Later, he returned to Washington, DC. The President announced his intention to nominate Pamela J.H. Slutz to be Ambassador to Burundi . The President announced his intention to nominate Gordon Gray to be Ambassador to Tunisia . The President announced his intention to nominate Richard J. Schmierer to be Ambassador to Oman . The President announced his intention to nominate Martha L. Campbell to be Ambassador to the Marshall Islands . The President announced his intention to nominate Alfonso E. Lenhardt to be Ambassador to Tanzania . The President announced his intention to nominate Mark H. Gitenstein to be Ambassador to Romania . The President announced his intention to nominate Howard W. Gutman to be Ambassador to Belgium . The President announced his intention to nominate Don Beyer to be Ambassador to Switzerland and Lichtenstein . The President announced his intention to nominate Vinai Thummalapally to be Ambassador to Belize . The President announced his intention to nominate John R. Nay to be Ambassador to Suriname . The President declared a major disaster in Alaska and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by flooding and ice jams beginning on April 28 and continuing. The President made additional disaster assistance available to Iowa by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures undertaken as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that struck the State from May 25 to August 13, 2008. June 12 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by a meeting with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met separately with Sens. Sherrod Brown and Dianne Feinstein . The White House announced that the President will meet with President Alvaro Uribe Velez of Colombia at the White House on June 29. The White House announced that the President will meet with President Michelle Bachelet Jeria of Chile at the White House on June 23. June 15 In the morning, the President traveled to Chicago, IL . In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. The President announced the designation of the following individuals as members of a Presidential delegation to Libreville, Gabon , to attend the funeral of President Omar Bongo Ondimba on June 16: Eunice S. Reddick (head of delegation); Phillip Carter III; Michael Strautmanis ; Ertharin Cousin ; and Howard Wolpe . The President announced that he has appointed Kimberly K. Teehee as Senior Policy Adviser for Native American Affairs . June 16 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Later, also in the Oval Office, they met with President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea . In the afternoon, in the Old Family Dining Room, the President and Vice President Biden had a working lunch with President Lee. Then, in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, also in the Oval Office, he and Vice President Biden met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . The President announced the designation of the following individuals as members of a Presidential delegation to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to attend the inauguration of President-elect Tsakhia Elbegdorj of Mongolia on June 18: Mark C. Minton (head of delegation); Nicholas M. Hill ; and Stanley Roth . The President declared a major disaster in Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on April 27 and continuing. The President declared a major disaster in South Dakota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 11 and continuing. June 17 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun L.S. Donovan . The President announced that he has appointed John R. Phillips as Chair of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships . The President announced that he has appointed Cheryl L. Dorsey as Vice Chair of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. The President announced that he has appointed the following individuals as Commissioners of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships : M. John Berry ; Tom Brokaw ; Wesley K. Clark ; Thomas A. Daschle ; Nelson Diaz ; Helene D. Gayle ; Vartan Gregorian ; Cynthia Hale ; Deborah Harmon ; Christy Haubegger ; Peter Henry ; John Hockenberry ; Claudia Kennedy ; Maya Lin ; George Munoz ; Lloyd W. Newton ; Pierre Omidyar ; Roger B. Porter ; Paul Spyros Sarbanes ; Ruth J. Simmons ; Maya Soetoro-Ng ; George E. Thibault ; Bryan Traubert ; Laurence Tribe ; Eleanor Kaye Wilson ; and Judy Wise . June 18 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Vice President Joe Biden . He then had a telephone conversation with National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma to congratulate the team on winning the Stanley Cup. Later, he had a telephone conversation with Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson to congratulate the team on winning the NBA Finals. Later in the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Biden met with U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George J. Mitchell . Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . The White House announced that the President will welcome Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany to the White House on June 26. The President announced his intention to nominate David J. Kappos to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office . The President announced his intention to nominate Warren F. "Pete" Miller , Jr., to be Director of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management at the Department of Energy . June 19 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing. In the afternoon, the President traveled to Arlington, VA , where he toured the Year Up center. Later, he returned to Washington, DC. Then, in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. During the day, in the Map Room, the President participated in an interview with Harry Smith of CBS News . The President announced his intention to nominate Joseph A. Greenaway , Jr., to be U.S. Circuit judge for the Third Circuit . The President announced his intention to nominate Beverly B. Martin to be U.S. Circuit judge for the Eleventh Circuit. The President announced his intention to nominate Matthew W. Barzun to be Ambassador to Sweden . The President announced his intention to nominate John R. Bass to be Ambassador to Georgia . The President announced his intention to nominate Ertharin Cousin to be U.S. Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service. The President announced his intention to nominate James B. Foley to be Ambassador to Croatia . The President announced his intention to nominate Kenneth E. Gross , Jr., to be Ambassador to Tajikistan . The President announced his intention to nominate Samuel L. Kaplan to be Ambassador to Morocco . The President announced his intention to nominate Jerry P. Lanier to be Ambassador to Uganda . The President announced his intention to nominate Teddy B. Taylor to be Ambassador to the Solomon Islands , Vanuatu , and Papua New Guinea . The President declared a major disaster in Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by wildfires from April 9-12. The President declared a major disaster in Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding from May 8-16. June 22 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. June 23 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. Later, he had a telephone conversation with President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania . In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Kevin M. Rudd of Australia . The White House announced that the President will welcome Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands to the White House on July 14. The President declared an emergency in Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area struck by record snow and near-record snow on March 27 and 28. June 24 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Roosevelt Room, the President and Vice President Joe Biden met with Govs. Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan , James H. Douglas of Vermont , James E. Doyle , of Wisconsin , M. Michael Rounds of South Dakota , and Christine O. Gregoire of Washington to discuss health care reform . Later, in the Oval Office, he participated in a bill signing ceremony for H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act , 2009. The President announced his intention to nominate Rafael Borras to be Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security . The President announced his intention to nominate James L. Hudson to be Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development . The President announced his intention to nominate Brenda Dann-Messier to be Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education at the Department of Education . The President announced his intention to nominate Kerri-Ann Jones to be Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the Department of State . The President announced his intention to nominate Bryan H. Samuels to be Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services . The President announced his intention to nominate Christopher A. Hart to be a member of the National Transportation Safety Board . The President declared a major disaster in Kansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm and record or near-record snow from March 26-29. June 25 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President and Vice President Joe Biden had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner . Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . Later, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. The President announced his intention to nominate William C. Eacho III to be Ambassador to Austria . The President announced his intention to nominate Judith G. Garber to be Ambassador to Latvia . The President announced his intention to nominate David Killion to be U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the rank of Ambassador. The President announced his intention to nominate James Knight to be Ambassador to Benin . The President announced his intention to nominate Karen Kornbluh to be Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The President announced his intention to nominate Bruce J. Oreck to be Ambassador to Finland . The President announced his intention to nominate Charles A. Ray to be Ambassador to Zimbabwe . The President announced his intention to nominate David Thorne to be Ambassador to Italy and San Marino . The President announced his intention to nominate Meredith Attwell Baker to be Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission . The President announced that he has nominated Charlene E. Honeywell to be U.S. district judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The President announced that he has nominated Jeffrey L. Viken to be U.S. district judge for the U.S. District Court for South Dakota. The President declared a major disaster in Kansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes from April 25 to May 16. June 26 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. In the afternoon, in the Old Family Dining Room, the President had a working lunch with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany . Later, in the Oval Office, he met with Vice President Joe Biden . Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Mohamed Najib bin Abdul Razak of Malaysia . He also had separate telephone conversations with several Members of Congress to discuss energy legislation . He also had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom . In the evening, on the South Lawn, the President and Mrs. Obama hosted a picnic for White House staff. June 29 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. The President announced his intention to nominate Peggy E. Gustafson to be Inspector General of the Small Business Administration . The President announced his intention to nominate George H. Cohen to be Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service . June 30 In the morning, in the Oval Office, the President had an intelligence briefing followed by an economic briefing. Then, also in the Oval Office, he met with his senior advisers. In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President met with Secretary of Energy Steven Chu . During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with President Dmitry A. Medvedev of Russia .