The West Wing Today: May 17, 2010

Obama's day begins with the Presidential Daily Briefing - the famous PDB. Later he'll sign the Freedom of Press Act in the Oval Office. The Freedom of the Press Act expands the examination of press freedom worldwide in the State Dept.’s annual human rights report. It is named for Daniel Pearl, the Wall St. Journal reporter who was decapitated by terrorists in 2002.

After lunch, Obama welcomes the NCAA champion University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to the White House to honor the Huskies for their second straight NCAA Championship and back-to-back undefeated seasons.

Looking ahead, Obama heads to hard-hit Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday, for another installment in his "White House to Main Street" tour. He'll visit a manufacturing plant and talk with workers about the economy.

Wednesday, Mexican President Felipe Calderon pays a visit. There'll be a news conference and, in he evening, a Stat Dinner. It'll be the second State Dinner Obama has held and you can be sure there won't be any gate crashers this time.

The Schedule


EDT


9:00AM Pool Call Time


10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press


10:30AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press


11:35AM THE PRESIDENT signs the Freedom of Press Act
Oval Office
Pooled Press (Gather Time 11:30AM – Briefing Room)


1:05PM THE PRESIDENT welcomes the NCAA champion University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to the White House
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 12:05PM – Final Gather 12:45PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

1:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

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On This Day

1973 - The Senate Watergate Committee began its hearings.

1996 - President Clinton signed "Megan's Law," a bill requiring neighborhood notification when sex offenders move in. Megan's Law was named for 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and killed in 1994.

Presidential Quote

"May God save the country, for it is evident that the people will not."
- Millard Fillmore