White House – News Stories About White House - Page 39

oprah christmas special

Dec 12, 2009 11:40 AM CST

Obamas' Favorite Gifts Are ...

A bike and a basketball for him, doll house for her

(Newser) - Oprah's Christmas special at the White House airs tomorrow night, in which we learn the first couple's favorite holiday presents. For those who just can't wait: The president picks a 10-speed bike and Michelle a doll house. ("I remember I really didn't know how to set up a house...

Before Salahis, There Were Plenty of Other Gate Crashers

Dec 7, 2009 6:14 AM CST

Before Salahis, There Were Plenty of Other Gate Crashers

Secret Service counts 91 uninvited guests since 1980

(Newser) - Tareq and Michaele Salahi are hardly the first White House gate crashers to elude the Secret Service, it turns out: There have been at least 91 of them since 1980, according to a secret report acquired by the Washington Post . White House security has been foiled by a long list...

Gingerbread
White House
Boasts
Candy Bo

white house holidays

Dec 3, 2009 3:32 PM CST

Gingerbread White House Boasts Candy Bo

Eco-friendly lights, 27 trees liven up the full-size executive mansion

(Newser) - Everyone got into the act of readying the White House for the holidays—staffers and volunteers who helped with decorating, community groups whose members created ornaments, and even the White House bees, whose honey went into the gingerbread that became a 390-pound replica of the executive mansion. At the bottom...

Secret Service Agents Face Firing for Salahi Slip

Dec 3, 2009 12:38 PM CST

Secret Service Agents Face Firing for Salahi Slip

Two agents on leave, face disciplinary action

(Newser) - The two Secret Service agents who let Michaele and Tareq Salahi crash last week’s state dinner have been placed on administrative leave and may be fired, agency chief Mark Sullivan told Congress today. Testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee, the Secret Service director took full responsibility for the...

Party Crashers Make
Desirée Rogers Look Bad

TOO-SOCIAL SECRETARIES

Dec 2, 2009 8:09 AM CST

Party Crashers Make Desirée Rogers Look Bad

Is White House social secretary to blame for Michaele and Tareq Salahi?

(Newser) - A week’s worth of finger-pointing over how Michaele and Tareq Salahi managed to crash a state dinner has now turned the spotlight on a controversial figure: White House social secretary Desirée Rogers. Unlike demure secretaries before her, the attention-grabbing Rogers “arrived in Washington this year to great...

White House
Fires Back
at Politico

7 MORE THINGS

Dec 1, 2009 8:21 AM CST

White House Fires Back at Politico

But don't be fooled, good relationship is maintained

(Newser) - Politico has joined Fox News in the doghouse after running a piece on "seven stories Barack Obama doesn't want told," and the White House is firing back—sort of. Marc Ambinder got his hands on a joke email that's been circulating among staffers. He shares the White House's...

Pentagon Denies Helping
Salahis Crash Dinner

DEFENSE'S DEFENSE

Nov 30, 2009 8:52 PM CST

Pentagon Denies Helping Salahis Crash Dinner

Gates assistant communicated with couple, but made no promises

(Newser) - The couple who crashed the Obama administration's first state dinner communicated with a senior Pentagon official about going to the event, but the official denies that she helped the couple get in. Michele Jones, a special assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, said in a written statement tonight that she...

Obama Issues Orders for More Afghan Troops

Nov 30, 2009 2:20 PM CST

Obama Issues Orders for More Afghan Troops

Briefed military last night, will reveal number and other details tomorrow

(Newser) - After weeks of deliberation, President Obama has settled on a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan and ordered the military to carry it out. The exact size of the troop escalation has not been announced, but sources put the number in the neighborhood of 30,000 more troops. The...

State Dinner
Interlopers
Met Obamas

Nov 27, 2009 6:49 PM CST

State Dinner Interlopers Met Obamas

Secret Service confirms failure of procedures

(Newser) - Michaele and Tareq Salahi not only penetrated White House security before Tuesday's state dinner but actually went through the receiving line, where they were greeted by President Obama and Michelle Obama. The red-faced director of the Secret Service released a statement today saying, "Preliminary findings of our internal investigation...

White House Tree
Arrives in Style

season's greetings

Nov 27, 2009 6:10 PM CST

White House Tree Arrives in Style

Douglas fir from W. Virginia will decorate Blue Room throughout the holidays

(Newser) - The White House Christmas tree arrived today in traditional style: by horse-drawn carriage. Michelle, Malia, and Sasha Obama met the 18½-foot Douglas fir and the West Virginia couple who grew it, Eric and Gloria Sundback, at the North Portico. The nonstop chirping of camera shutters provided the soundtrack, USA ...

Party-Crashers Conned Secret Service

Nov 27, 2009 2:20 PM CST

Party-Crashers Conned Secret Service

Couple talked their way past security, may face criminal charges

(Newser) - The state dinner crashers got in on pure chutzpah, conning a Secret Service agent into giving them access without verifying their names in the White House computer even though they weren't on the guest list. A law enforcement official tells MSNBC that rumors an administration official "waved in" Tareq...

Va. Socialites Crashed
Obama's State Dinner

NEXT STOP, REALITY TV (MAYBE)

Nov 25, 2009 9:29 PM CST

Va. Socialites Crashed Obama's State Dinner

And, yes, Tareq and Michaele Salahi want reality-TV turn

(Newser) - A wealthy Virginia couple angling for a spot on reality TV somehow talked their way into last night’s White House state dinner despite not being on the list—getting through extensive layers of security to rub elbows with President Obama, India’s prime ministers and scores of other political,...

Oprah to Interview Obamas
for Christmas Show

Nov 25, 2009 4:00 PM CST

Oprah to Interview Obamas for Christmas Show

Primetime program will air next month on ABC

(Newser) - Oprah Winfrey will interview the First Couple for a primetime holiday special. Oprah’s Christmas show for ABC will feature an interview with the Obamas and a tour of the White House. Christmas at the White House airs 10pm Sunday, Dec. 13, notes the Hollywood Reporter .

The Skinny on the State Dinner

Michelle wore...

Nov 25, 2009 7:49 AM CST

The Skinny on the State Dinner

Michelle Obama wore Naeem Khan, and other tidbits

(Newser) - Didn't have a ticket to the country's hottest social event? No worries. Here's the who and what of last night's state dinner honoring Indian PM Manmohan Singh:

The outdoor tent was decorated with local, sustainably harvested magnolia branches and ivy; centerpieces of hydrangeas, roses, and sweet peas evoked India's state

...

Obama: US, India
Natural Allies

first state visit

Nov 24, 2009 1:25 PM CST

Obama: US, India Natural Allies

Countries will have 'defining relationship' for 21st century

(Newser) - President Obama declared that US ties with India will be "one of the defining relationships" of the 21st century as he welcomed India's prime minister for the first state visit of the Obama administration. At the conclusion of about two hours of talks, Obama said he and Prime Minister...

Jennifer
Hudson to
Sing at State
Dinner

WHITE HOUSE SECRETS SLIP

Nov 24, 2009 9:21 AM CST

Jennifer Hudson to Sing at State Dinner

White House still mum on first lady's outfit

(Newser) - Tonight's first state dinner of the Obama administration is likely to be a star-studded affair, and while the White House has been tight-lipped thus far, details are leaking: Guests at tonight’s celebration of Indian PM Manmohan Singh are said to include Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg, as...

India, DC,
Hollywood Mix
at Obama Shindig

WHITE HOUSE STATE DINNER

Nov 24, 2009 9:18 AM CST

India, DC, Hollywood Mix at Obama Shindig

GOP, Dems rub elbows with movie stars, media types

(Newser) - Swaths of green and purple surrounded guests tonight as the White House paid tribute to Indian PM Manmohan Singh at the first state dinner given by President Obama. The company was top-notch, with Washington’s elite (from both parties) rubbing elbows with Hollywood stars and media elites. For the guest...

First State Dinner to
Reveal Obama A-Listers

Nov 23, 2009 1:42 AM CST

First State Dinner to Reveal Obama A-Listers

Mad scramble for invitations

(Newser) - Washington notables are still scrambling for an invitation to the White House state dinner Tuesday in honor of Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. The event, to be held in a heated tent on the South Lawn, will display who’s truly on Obama’s A-list, and the lobbying for a...

Fox News Lands
Obama Interview

DETENTE?

Nov 17, 2009 12:57 PM CST

Fox News Lands Obama Interview

Prez will sit down with Garrett in Beijing

(Newser) - President Obama has apparently softened on Fox News and will grant the network an interview while in Beijing. “I will interview POTUS on camera,” tweets Fox’s Major Garrett. “4 other networks will too. 10 mins per. Many had asked. Can say now.” Though the White...

New White House
Counsel Scares
GOP, Other
Lawyers

Nov 13, 2009 1:56 PM CST

New White House Counsel Scares GOP, Other Lawyers

Bauer is a skilled, controversial Democratic veteran

(Newser) - Robert Bauer, the new White House counsel, is a longtime Democratic operative known for his hard-nosed style and work ethic. He is a veteran of the Clinton impeachment proceedings and represented House Democrats during the Bush years, where he was known for his aggressive strategy—he went as far as...