My Afternoon At The White House
Monday, December 14, 2009
This afternoon the White House held a reception that they very kindly invited me to. Both the President and Mrs. Obama were there. President Obama made a few brief remarks about the spirit of the season. He acknowledged the difficulties being faced by the country (two wars and an economic collapse) but also pointed to some of the progress that has occurred since he took office. He specifically cited the passage of Hate Crimes legislation and the fight for health care. The president didn’t take credit for those accomplishments. Instead he offered thanks to the American people for our collective efforts both in Washington and across the country to bring real and lasting change to the United States. In the spirit of the season, he asked the American people to remember the needs of the “least of these.”
It was a great honor for me to shake the hands of both President and Mrs. Obama and to exchange a few words.
The first time that I visited the White House was in 1984 as a student at Meadow Park Junior High in Beaverton, Oregon. A group of ninth graders from Meadow Park were on a field trip to Washington, DC. My second visit was in 1993 on the day President Clinton was inaugurated. All I did that day was walk through a security entrance to take my seat on what was called the “President’s Row” to watch the parade.
Today was quite a different experience. Photo ID was required at three different check points before you even went through a security scan. Once inside the White House a Marine in a dress uniform greeted you and Navy stewards directed traffic and acted as tour guides. As you might imagine, there was a spectacular spread of food. There was live music – including a full choir – in several rooms. This was one of dozens of holiday parties being held at the White House this year. Many religious leaders were in attendance and it was disappointing to me that I wasn’t able to meet all the folks I had hoped to talk with. There was just too much going on to connect with everyone.
However, I did get the chance to speak with The Rev. Geoffrey Black, the new general minister and president of the United Church of Christ. Also in attendance was Joshua DuBois, special assistant to the president and executive director of the White House Office on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Paul Monteiro, who works in the White House Office of Public Engagement. I got to know these two during the 2008 campaign and we’ve kept in touch since. But this was the first time I’d had the chance to speak with them face-to-face since the election. You have to marvel at the quality of people who work for the president. Meeting and talking with The Most Rev. Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was another highpoint of the afternoon for me.
Before heading over to the White House I visited a very different place: the offices of the National Coalition for the Homeless. This gave me a chance to meet their new executive director and to reconnect with old friends. I served on the NCH board for several years in the 1990s. Like the staff at the White House, the folks at NCH are deeply committed to making our nation a better place. During a time of growing poverty and homelessness they are doing all they can to address this moral crisis. When you make gifts this year please consider supporting their important work.
Above Photos: The First Lady and the President, me hanging out in the Diplomatic Room,and The Rev. Geoffrey Black, the new general minister and president of the United Church of Christ.
Standing with The Most Rev. Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Choir performing in the East Room
White House Ginger Bread House (complete with the First Lady's garden and Bo, the presidential dog.
The official portrait of President Kennedy that hangs in the White House.
The invitation sent to me by the White House.
Related Post: Hanging Out With Barack Obama (2007)
Related Post: Hanging Out With Barack Obama and Bill Richardson (2008)