Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - Day 9

President meets with top business leaders to discuss his proposed economic stimulus package. He also made a trip to Capitol Hill to push for his proposed stimulus package.

The U.S. House passes Obama's stimulus plan along party lines.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - Day 8

Monday, January 26, 2009 - Day 7

Obama issues Memorandum to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency ordering that the March 6, 2008 denial of California's request to adopt stricter emissions standards be reviewed to determine if the denial was appropriate in light of the Clean Air Act. The Memo also notes that if California is permitted to adopt stricter emmissions standards, other states adopting identical emmissions standards must be approved as well (California's waiver sets precedent).

President issues Memorandum to the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration instructing they coordinate with the EPA to establish fuel economy standards for car model year 2011. In order for this to happen, the standards must be published in the Federal Register by March 30, 2009. This gets the ball rolling on a timeline of emmission standard increases that by 2020 will require vehicles to have a 35 mile per gallon fuel economy.

First interview with Obama is aired after being given to Al-Aribaya TV:

Sunday, January 25, 2009 - Day 6

Saturday, January 24, 2009 - Day 5

Issues first weekly video and radio address as President, highlighting $825 billion stimulus package.

Friday, January 23, 2009 - Day 4

President issues Mexico City Policy and Assistance for Voluntary Population Planning Memorandum striking down "Mexico City policy" (named for the city a U.S. delegation first announced it in at a UN International Conference on Population). Striking down the "Global Gag Rule" means U.S. aid will now be accessible to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information.

President Obama orders missile attacks in the Waziristan region of Pakistan, killing 22 people. Among the dead: eight suspected foreign militants, including an Egyptian Al Qaeda operative.

Thursday, January 22, 2009 - Day 3

President Obama orders closure of the detention center at the American naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, saying: "We will close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and determine how to deal with those who are held there."
He signed 3 executive orders:


The order on interrogations - states that interrogations done by U.S. personnel will be conducted under procedures prescribed in the U.S. Army Field Manual (the U.S. will not torture those people it is holding).
The order on detention policy - Creates a task force that has 30 days to recommend policies on handling terror suspects who are detained in the future. Specifically, the group will look at where those detainees should be housed since Guantanamo is closing.
Review and Disposition Order - Closes prison at Guantanamo base within a year

President issued Review of the Detention of Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri Memorandum ordering the immediate review of al-Marri's detention. Because al-Marri is the only U.S. enemy combatant not detained by the U.S. at Guantanamo, his review is not covered under the Review and Disposition Order.

President visited State Department for first time to announce he is sending former Senator and veteran negotiator George Mitchell as special envoy to the Middle East and former U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.