OBAMA WATCH: WEEK OF APRIL 26

Over the Weekend

The First Couple spent this past weekend in Ashville, N.C. During his time there, President Obama went to visit the Rev. Billy Graham, at his log cabin in Montreat, N.C. The meeting was about 30 minutes. "The conversation was very cordial, very nice," Franklin Graham, the reverend’s son, said. "When the president got ready to leave, the president prayed for my father, my father prayed for him." Graham gave Obama two Bibles--one for him and one for Michelle

Miners' Eulogy

Obama cut his stay in North Carolina a little short to go to West Virginia. Here the president delivered a eulogy at a service honoring the 29 miners who died during a devastating explosion earlier this month at Upper Big Branch mine. During his talk he spoke of the need to strengthen mine regulations to prevent future disasters. “How can we fail them? How can a nation that relies on its miners not do everything in its power to protect them?” he said during his speech.

Welcoming the Yankees

On Monday afternoon, President Obama will welcome last year’s World Series Champions, the New York Yankees, to the White House to congratulate them on their achievement. In addition to the players, Yankee coaches and staff will also be at the event

Presidential Summit

Monday evening, Obama will speak at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship which will take place at the Ronald Reagan Building. His remarks will be streamed live on http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/live. The meeting is a follow up to Obama’s announcement last year in Cairo that he would host a summit to strengthen ties between business leaders, foundations and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and Muslim communities worldwide.

Main Street Tour

President Obama will resume his White House to Main Street tour on Tuesday with a visit to Iowa. While in the state, he’ll tour Siemens Energy Inc Facility in Fort Madison and will make another stop in Mt. Pleasant. The president will hold a town hall meeting later in the afternoon at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.

Still on Main Street

Obama will continue his tour across the United States with stops in Missouri and Illinois on Wednesday. First, early in the afternoon, he’ll tour Poet Biorefining in Macon, Mo. and talk to workers. Afterward he’ll visit a local farm and speak to the family that owns the farm. Later in the day, Obama will speak at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center in Quincy, Ill. He’ll return to D.C. that night.

Teacher of the Year

On Thursday, President Obama will present this year’s National Teacher of the Year Award at the White House (Obama is pictured here at an event with science, technology and math teachers earlier this year).

Meetings

Obama will attend meetings at the White House on Friday.

Schools Compete for Obama Speech

The White House wants your help in deciding which high school graduation Obama will address. Each of the finalist (Blue Valley Northwest High School in Kansas, Clark Montessori Junior High and High School in Ohio, Denver School of Science and Technology in Denver. Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, Calif, Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Mich and MAST Academy in Miami) submitted a tape. People can rate their videos at http://www.whitehouse.gov/Commencement.

Obama Rallies 2008 Support

In an attempt to avoid widespread losses for the Dems this fall, the president released an online video to supporters asking them for help. “If you help us make sure that first-time voters in 2008 make their voices heard again in November, then together we will deliver on the promise of change, and hope, and prosperity for generations to come,” he said in the video. Democrats hope the “Vote 2010” announcements will re-engage 2008’s voters.

In First Lady News…

The First Lady is scheduled to deliver three commencement addresses in the coming months. On May 8, she will address the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a historically Black school. On May 16, Mrs. Obama will address graduates of The George Washington University in D.C. and on June 11 she will address the students at Anacostia Senior High School, a D.C. public school.