Transcript & Video: President Obama's Remarks, A Nation's Gratitude Dinner

"In one of our nation’s longest wars, you wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history..."
On Wednesday evening, Feb. 29, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed more than 200 guests to the White House for the A Nation's Gratitude Dinner, a tribute to the US forces who served during the Iraq war. The guest list of service members of all ranks and branches of the military, from every state in the US and territories, was designed to create a snapshot of the 1.5 million American who served in the almost-nine year war, from March, 2003 to December 2011. The President, Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, each spoke, and hailed the troops during the 8:20 PM event in the East Room. (Above: The President during his remarks)

"As your Commander-in-Chief, I could not be more proud of you," President Obama said. "In one of our nation’s longest wars, you wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history."

The President and Mrs. Obama were seated at different tables, with specially selected guests. All-American favorites were featured on the menu: Steak, potatoes, and vegetables, with a big chocolate finish. CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the dinner.



The White House released the transcript of the remarks today.

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON PANETTA AND
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS GENERAL MARTIN DEMPSEY
AT DINNER IN HONOR OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO SERVED IN O
PERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION NEW DAWN
AND THEIR FAMILIES

East Room
February 29, 2012

CORRECTION: Updated below to correct the spelling of the last name of Staff Sergeant Kendall Damon Waters-Bey.

8:07 P.M. EST

GENERAL DEMPSEY: You can go ahead and keep -- you do whatever you got to do. I'll do whatever I got to do. (Laughter.) That’s what the chain of command is all about.

This morning, my wife, Deanie, we woke up and she said, "You know today is a special day." And I said, "Of course it is. We’ve been invited to the White House to celebrate the end of mission in Iraq." And she said, "No, no." I mean, she said, "That’s pretty cool, actually." But she said, "It’s also Leap Year. It’s the 29th of February. It only comes around once every four years." And then she said -- and so, in thinking about that, she said, "Do not sing. Don’t even think about singing at this event tonight." (Laughter.) "Because if you do, we are likely not to be invited back again for like the next four years." (Laughter.) And she said --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Sing!

GENERAL DEMPSEY: No. (Laughter.) And she said, "Besides, the President has a better voice." (Laughter and applause.)

Now, sir, I’m your senior military advisor. I don’t agree with that assessment, personally. (Laughter.) But we’ll see.

I’m particularly honored tonight to be joined by the Joint Chiefs, who are scattered through the audience -- with General George Casey, with General Rick Sanchez, and General Lloyd Austin, who, honestly, have done some incredible heavy lifting for our nation over the past decade. You all stand tall in an exceptionally long list of dedicated leaders who put their heart and soul into seeing our difficult mission in Iraq through to completion.

For more than two decades -- that’s the thing to remember here -- for more than two decades, Iraq was a dominant part of our lives. In a sense, it was a family affair. And what I mean by that is some of us sent our own sons and daughters into this conflict over the past 20 years. All of us left our families behind. And tour after tour, they served and supported every bit as much as we did.

The road we traveled together was very tough. Every day required us to balance conflict and compassion, context and consequence. Everywhere and at every level, we learned the power of relationships -- relationships rooted in trust and respect within ourselves, but also with our Iraqi brothers and sisters.

And we saw just how profoundly impressive America’s fighting force, the Armed Forces of the United States -- soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen -- and family members like all of you here tonight, and those that I’ve known through the years, proudly represent. Because you, and those who didn’t come home with us, and those who returned forever changed, really made possible what we were able to accomplish in Iraq.

It was your courage, your resilience, and your sheer resolve to take care of each other, to defend our nation, and to provide the Iraqi people with a choice for their own future. Even in -- and maybe even, I’d say, especially in -- the toughest of times, your character and those you represent here tonight shine through. And it mattered.

Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, thank you for recognizing the service and sacrifice of the military family in this very special way. I really appreciate -- we really appreciate -- the support that you and the Vice President, and Dr. Biden and your wife, and those that they have bound together in the Joining Forces initiative, and the nation provide us, as men and women in uniform and the families that we represent. And I know that we all share a commitment to keep faith with them, and especially the thousands who have returned with wounds both seen and unseen.
There’s no one more strongly committed to their well-being than the person that I now have the opportunity and the privilege to introduce. Ladies and gentlemen, our Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Leon Panetta. (Applause.)

SECRETARY PANETTA: Thank you very much, General Dempsey. And he does have one hell of a voice. (Laughter.)

Thank you for your duty, for your dedication, for your service to this great nation that we all represent here this evening.

Tonight, we are truly in the company of heroes. The honor that we present to all of you is because we care about those who have fought and sacrificed in Iraq.

Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, we thank you deeply for honoring those heroes and welcoming them here into your home.

To all who fought in Iraq, we thank you for your service. You’ve earned our nation’s everlasting gratitude. We are indebted to you for your willingness to fight, your willingness to fight for your country. We are indebted to your families and to your loved ones for the sacrifices that they made so that their loved ones could help defend this nation.

Again and again and again, you left the comfort of family and friends, you left the comfort of this great country, and confronted brutal realities. Places like Baghdad, Ramadi, Fallujah, Sadr City, Najaf and elsewhere throughout Iraq. Your unflagging commitment and uncommon dedication helped the Iraqis realize a dream of building an independent and sovereign nation that could secure and defend itself.

It is not going to be easy, but the fact is you gave them the opportunity to be a democracy -- because of you. You are part of a generation of Americans -- the new, greatest generation of Americans -- responding to the call of duty by your nation. Deployment after deployment, you’ve been willing to serve this nation. You’ve been willing to put your lives on the line and you’ve been willing to die in order to protect this country.

You have done everything this country asked you to do. You return to a grateful nation. And you can stand proud of all you’ve accomplished. We owe all of you the honor that your service is deserving. And we owe to you the assurance that we will never forget the sacrifices of those who are not with us this evening -- those who gave their lives to this country. We pledge to their memory and we pledge to all of you that we will never forget and we will never retreat from what you’ve accomplished.

Last December in Baghdad, we cased the colors of the United States Forces Iraq. And I had the chance to be at that ceremony. And at the time I noted, this is not the end; this is truly the beginning.

For America tonight, this is not the end. It is the beginning of a long-lasting tribute to you and to all who served in Iraq. This country was built upon the service and sacrifice of men and women like you. Our very democracy depends on people like you, who are willing to step forward and defend this country, to salute and, yes, to fight to give each of us a chance to pursue the American Dream, giving our children a better life.
And just as you have recognized and fulfilled your responsibility to this nation, we must do the same for you. It is now our responsibility, the responsibility of communities at every corner of this country, to embrace your return, to welcome you back, and to ensure that you and your families have the support you deserve.

As Secretary of Defense, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you, and how proud I am of every American who serves this country in uniform.

And now it is my honor to introduce someone who believes deeply in that American Dream -- we are both products of that, as the children of those who came from other countries. And he is dedicated to defending and preserving that dream. I'm grateful to Vice President Biden and to Dr. Jill Biden for their continued strong support for our men and women in uniform. They have a son, Beau, who deployed to Iraq, so they know what this war is all about and the sacrifices that are required of military families.

Over the past three years, Vice President Biden has traveled to the region extensively and has played a tremendous role in steering Iraq policy. He probably deserves a combat badge for the political battles that he’s been involved in. And Jill has led the effort, along with Mrs. Obama, to support our military families.

On behalf of all of us at the Department of Defense, we thank the President, we thank Mrs. Obama, we thank the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden, for their leadership, for their support and for their dedication to a strong America. Strong in mind, strong in body and strong in spirit.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice President of the United States. (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I came because I was expecting a duet tonight. (Laughter.) I thought maybe we were going to hear you and my Irish friend actually sing, Mr. President. I’m betting on you. (Laughter.)

Hey, look, let me begin by saying that -- a special thanks to Generals Casey, Sanchez, Odierno and Austin. The good news for Casey and Sanchez, they only had to see me three or four times. Poor General O had to see me close to a dozen times, and General Austin put up with me at the end. I want to say to all of the brass in here and the Joint Chiefs -- we owe you a debt of gratitude because you have trained the finest generation of warriors -- and this is not hyperbole -- the finest generation of warriors in the history of this country -- and I would argue, in a literal sense, the finest generation of warriors in all of history.

I get frustrated as the President does when I hear talk about Generation X and how Generation X is -- they're not ready for all the travails that previous generations have been through. Most of you in this room are made up of what I call the 9/11 Generation. You are the most incredible generation this country has produced. Since 9/11, over 2.8 million of your generation, men and women, have joined the military, knowing, and in many cases, hoping, that you'd be sent into harm's way.

More than a million of you strapped on desert boots and walked across those god-awful sands of Iraq, with temperatures up to 135-140 degrees, averaging about 117 degrees in the summer. Over a million of you. A million of you.

This journey began nine years ago, when armored vehicles rumbled across the border of Kuwait and into one of the most challenging missions that the American military has ever undertaken. And all of you sitting at our tables tonight, you know better than anyone, it was something -- sometimes an impossible mission. Sometimes it was impossible to determine who the enemy was -- who the enemy was.

That was just a few short years ago. A few short years ago, there were literally hundreds of bodies a day being piled up in the Baghdad morgue. The highways became mine fields. Irish Alley was the place that was one of the most dangerous places in the world. Every convoy was a test of faith. And you saddled up, every single day, after seeing some of your buddies blown up, after cleaning out the vehicles, and you saddled up the next day.

A bullet slipped in an envelope and slid under a family's door became an unmistakable warning that they had to leave the house and the neighborhood or they would die. And while you may have been steeped in military doctrine -- and you have been -- you were also made to master the vagaries of local Iraqi politics -- issues ranging from electricity to unemployment, from currency exchange to tax collection.

You're incredible. You adapted. You succeeded. And you defeated. You defeated a tyrant. You beat back violent extremists. And the most remarkable thing you did, because of the breadth of your capability, you enabled a country that had not been governed in any reasonable way for over four decades -- you actually helped them set up institutions and train a military and a civilian corps that gives them a real fighting chance.

Today, because of you, rather than a giant vacuum in a strategically vital region, there's a prospect of stability and prosperity. And that wasn’t luck, it wasn’t an accident; it was your sacrifice and hard work that made it possible. And it will never be forgotten.

Harry Truman -- President Truman once described the end of a war as "a solemn but glorious honor -- excuse me -- "a solemn but glorious hour." I believe -- and it's presumptuous of me to interpret what he meant, but I believe that he meant that honoring those who fought also requires remembering those who were lost: 4,475. And the exact number is important -- 4,475 fallen angels. More than 30,000 wounded -- some of you in this room. Others bear, as Leon said, the invisible scars of their experience.

The President obviously will speak for himself, but I can tell you we're both awed -- awed -- by your sacrifice. But not just those of you who deployed, but your brothers, your sisters, your husbands, your wives, your moms, your dads.

John Milton, the English poet, once said, “They also serve who only stand and wait.” They also serve who only stand and wait. We owe you, your family members, almost as much as we owe you. Every morning I’d walk in and Jill would be getting her cup of coffee, standing over the sink, mouthing a prayer. You wives and husbands of the deployed person, your brothers and sisters -- there wasn’t an hour a day that didn’t go by that they didn’t flash across your mind -- wondering, is my husband, is my wife, is my son, is my daughter -- are they okay? It’s an incredible thing to ask of so many people.

And now, in the finest American tradition, having carried out your mission, you've come home. As I said when I was with General Austin and with Talabani and Barzani and a couple of you, Colonel, were there -- it’s good to see you here, Colonel, instead of in Baghdad.

But like every American before you, every warrior before you, you left Iraq, taking nothing with you but your experience, your achievements, and the pride associated with knowing that you did an incredible job. That’s an American tradition, too -- taking nothing but your pride back home.

So on behalf of a grateful nation -- there’s never going to be a way we can truly repay you, there’s no way to fully repay you -- but let me simply say thank you. Thank you and your families for the heroic work you’ve done. You’ve made a difference, and I think you’ve helped chart a different course for history in the 21st century.

But, ladies and gentlemen, a man that I’ve sat with every day for the past three years or so, I’ve watched him make the decisions he had to make about war and conflict. I’ve watched him, how he’s done it. And I know -- presumptuous of me to say -- I know -- I know every one of those decisions that had to be made hang heavy in his mind and his heart.

There's no one I’ve encountered -- and I’ve been here for eight Presidents -- who cares more about you, and all of you who continue to serve, than this man.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud -- I am proud to introduce to you your Commander-in-Chief and my friend, Barack Obama. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you so much, everyone. Please, please. Please, everyone, have a seat.

Thank you, Joe Biden, for not only outstanding remarks, but the extraordinary leadership you showed in helping to guide our policies.

To Secretary Panetta; General Dempsey to all the commanders who are here and did so much under such extraordinary circumstances to arrive at an outcome in which the Iraqi people have an opportunity to chart their own destiny -- thank you for the great work that you’ve done.

I do have to say, despite Deanie’s advice, I thought Dempsey was going to burst into song. (Laughter.) You have not lived until you hear him belt out an Irish ballad. His voice is better than mine. I think you’re never a prophet in your own land, Marty, so your wives are there to cut you down a peg. (Laughter.)

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: This house has stood for more than two centuries, through war and peace, through hardship and through prosperity. These rooms have hosted presidents and prime ministers, and kings and queens. But in the history of this house, there's never been a night quite like this. Because this evening, we welcome, not the statesmen who decide great questions of war and peace, but citizens -- men and women from every corner of our country, from every rank of our military, every branch of our service -- who answer the call, who go to war, who defend the peace.

And in a culture that celebrates fame and fortune, yours are not necessarily household names. They're something more -- the patriots who serve in our name. And after nearly nine years of war in Iraq, tonight is an opportunity for us to express our gratitude and to say once more: Welcome home.

This is not the first time that we’ve paid tribute to those who served courageously in Iraq. This will not be the last. And history reminds us of our obligations as a nation at moments like this. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, a time when our veterans didn’t always receive the respect and the thanks that they so richly deserved -- and that’s a mistake that we must never repeat.

The good news is, already, we’ve seen Americans come together -- in small towns and big cities all across the country -- to honor your service in Iraq. And tonight, on behalf of Michelle and myself, on behalf of over 300 Americans -- 300 million Americans, we want to express those simple words that we can never say enough, and that’s thank you.

In your heart, each of you carries your own story -- the pride of a job well done; the pain of losing a friend, a comrade. Ernie Pyle, who celebrated our GIs in World War II, said that your world can never be known to the rest of us. Tonight, what we can do is convey what you’ve meant to the rest of us. Because through the dust and the din and the fog of war, the glory of your service always shone through. In your noble example, we see the virtues and the values that sustain America, that keep this country great.

You taught us about duty. Blessed to live in the land of the free, you could have opted for an easier path. But you know that freedom is not free. And so you volunteered and you stepped forward, and you raised your hand and you took an oath -- to protect and defend; to serve a cause greater than yourself, knowing, in a time of war, you could be sent into harm’s way.

You taught us about resolve. Invasion turned to insurgency and then sectarian strife. But you persevered, tour after tour, year after year. Indeed, we’re mindful that even as we gather here, Iraq veterans continue to risk their lives in Afghanistan, and our prayers are with them all tonight.

In one of our nation’s longest wars, you wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history. Now the Iraqi people have a chance to forge their own destiny, and every one of you who served there can take pride in knowing you gave the Iraqis this opportunity; that you succeeded in your mission.

You taught us about devotion -- to country and to comrades, but most of all, to family. Because I know that some of the hardest days of war were the moments you missed back home -- the birthdays, the anniversaries, when your little girl or boy took their first wobbly steps. And behind every one of you, was a parent, a spouse, or son or a daughter, trying to stay strong, and praying for the day that you’d come home safe. And that’s why Michelle and Dr. Biden have made it their mission to make sure America takes care of your families, because they inspire us as much as you do. They deserve that honor as much as you do.

That’s why I’d ask all the spouses and the partners and families to stand up and accept our gratitude for your remarkable service -- especially because you look so good tonight. (Applause.)

You taught us about sacrifice -- a love of country so deep, so profound, you were willing to give your lives for it. And tonight, we pay solemn tribute to all who did. We remember the first, on that first day of war: Major Jay Thomas Aubin; Captain Ryan Anthony Beaupre; Corporal Brian Matthew Kennedy; Staff Sergeant Kendall Damon Waters-Bey. And we remember the last -- Specialist David Emanuel Hickman, November 14, 2011.

Separated by nearly nine years, they are bound for all time, among the nearly 4,500 American patriots who gave all that they had to give. To their families, including the Gold Star families here tonight, know that we will never forget their sacrifice and that your loved ones live on in the soul of our nation -- now and forever.

You taught us about strength -- the kind that comes from within; the kind that we see in our wounded warriors. For you, coming home was the start of another battle -- the battle to recover, to stand, to walk, to serve again. And in your resilience we see the essence of America, because we do not give up. No matter the hardship, we push on. And just as the wounds of war can last a lifetime, so does America’s commitment to you and all who serve -- to give you the care you earned and the opportunities you need as you begin the next proud chapter in your lives.

And finally, all of you taught us a lesson about the character of our country. As you look across this room tonight, you look at our military -- we draw strength from every part of our American family -- every color, every creed, every background, every belief. And every day, you succeed together -- as one American team.

As your Commander-in-Chief, I could not be more proud of you. As an American, as a husband and father of two daughters, I could not be more grateful for your example of the kind of country we can be, of what we can achieve when we stick together.

So I’ll leave you with a picture that captures this spirit. It’s from that day in December, when the last convoy rolled out -- five American soldiers standing beside their vehicle, marked with the words, "Last vehicle out of Iraq." They’re young, men and women, shoulder to shoulder, proud, heads held high, finally going home. And they were asked what it was like to be, literally, the last troops out of Iraq. And one of them gave a simple reply: "We completed the mission." We completed the mission. We did our jobs.

So I propose a toast. To the country we love. To the men and women who defend her. And to that faith -- that fundamental American faith -- that says no mission is too hard, no challenge is too great; through tests and through trials, we don’t simply endure, we emerge stronger than before, knowing that America’s greatest days are still to come -- and they are great because of you.

Cheers.

God bless you and your families. And may God continue to bless those in uniform and the United States of America.

Thank you very much, everybody. May dinner be served. (Applause.)

END 8:40 P.M. EST
##
Photo by Lawrence Jackson/White House

Vice President Biden Hosts Dinner For China's Vice President Xi Jinping

Top Administration officials fete the next President of China at the Naval Observatory; the guest list and menu...
While President Obama was enjoying a quiet Valentine's Dinner with his wife on Wednesday night, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden were celebrating love bonds of a different kind: Those between the United States and China. The Second Couple hosted an elegant dinner at the Naval Observatory for Vice President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, with Cabinet Secretaries and senior presidential advisors mingling with the Chinese Delegation. (Above: Biden offers a toast during the dinner)

The event was complete with a military cordon lining the long driveway for Xi's arrival and world class musical performances. In line to be the next President of China, Xi, 58, was feted with a three-course menu that replicated a formal dinner at the White House, where steak is always the star: Beef Tenderloin accompanied by Delaware Crab Cakes, a nod to the Bidens' homestate, and seasonal vegetables, regionally sourced. Dessert was a pear confection.

Dr. Biden was clad in a glittering sheath and the Vice President was in a dark suit as they welcomed the special guests, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary John Bryson, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Ambassador to China Gary Locke, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, National Economic Council director Gene Sperling, and President Obama's top advisor, Valerie Jarrett, as well as the official delegation from the People's Republic of China (full list below).

Geithner and Panetta were seated at the Head Table with the Bidens and Xi. Centerpieces were red and pink roses in baskets, and the tablecloths were a muted red.

Xi's visit is the second of the planned reciprocal visits between the Vice Presidents announced by President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao during President Hu’s State Visit to Washington in 2011; Biden visited China last August. The dinner capped a day of meetings at the White House with the President and Vice President as well as stop at the Pentagon and the US Chamber of Commerce. In between, there was a State Department luncheon for 200 guests co-hosted by Secretary Clinton, featuring a menu by acclaimed Chinese American chef Ming Tsai. (Above: The two Vice Presidents in the Library before dinner)

Xi, a former agriculture representative for his nation, first visited America 1985, and his tour of the United States this week includes a stop in the small Iowa town where he spent time as a young communist party official. Then he'll visit California, accompanied by Biden.

Following dinner, guests were treated to a performance by award-winning violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Sam Haywood, who played three selections from Gershwin, Chopin and Pablo de Sarasate. (Above: The Bidens flank Xi in the front row, watching Bell perform)

Dinner Menu In Honor of Vice President Xi Jinping

Delaware Crab Cakes
Corn salad, Macho and Basil Tartar Sauce

Balsamic Marinated Beef Tenderloin
with balsamic shallot sauce
Wild Rice and Orzo Pilaf
Roasted Root Vegetables in Ancho Honey Glaze

Packed Pears with Tulle
Finer Pear Sorbet

The wine selections were American:

*Hall Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2010
*Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Nappy Valley 2009

Above: the Vice President and Dr. Biden greet Xi as he arrives.

The Full Guest List:

The Honorable Tony Blinken, Deputy Assistant to the President & National Security Advisor, Office of the Vice President

The Honorable Lael Brainard, Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, Department of the Treasury

The Honorable Stephen G. Breyer, Associate Justice, The Supreme Court

The Honorable John Bryson, Secretary, Department of Commerce

The Honorable William J. Burns, Deputy Secretary, Department of State

The Honorable Kurt M. Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, State Department

Madame Chen Naiqing, Spouse, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States, The People's Republic of China

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary, Department of State

His Excellency Cui Tiankai, Vice Foreign Minister, The People's Republic of China

Ms. Deng Ying, Deputy Director General of the Protocol Department of MFA, The People's Republic of China

The Honorable Tom E. Donilon, Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor, Office of the National Security Advisor

The Honorable Michael B. Froman, Assistant to the President and Deputy NSA for International Economic Affairs, National Security Council

His Excellency Gao Hucheng, China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, The People's Republic of China

The Honorable Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary, Department of the Treasury

His Excellency Han Changfu, Minister of Agriculture, The People's Republic of China

The Honorable Valerie Bowman Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, White House

The Honorable Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the United States Trade Representative

The Honorable Gary Faye Locke, U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China

Mr. Lu Kang, Deputy Director General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of MFA, The People's Republic of China

Mr. Ma Jisheng, Deputy Director General of the Information Department of MFA, The People's Republic of China

The Honorable Leon Panetta, Secretary, Department of Defense

The Honorable Wendy Sherman, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, State Department

His Excellency Shi Zhihong, Vice Minister of Policy Research Office of CPC Central Committee, The People's Republic of China

The Honorable Gene Sperling, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council

The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary, Department of Agriculture

Mr. Wang Qing, Deputy Director General of the Central Guard Bureau, The People's Republic of China

His Excellency Xi Jinping, Vice President, People's Republic of China

Mr. Xie Feng, Director-General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the MFA, The People's Republic of China

His Excellency Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, The People's Republic of China

His Excellency Yuan Guiren, Minister of Education, The People's Republic of China

His Excellency Zhang Xiaoqiang, Vice Chairman of NDRC, The People's Republic of China

His Excellency Zhang Yesui, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States, The People's Republic of China

Mr. Zheng Yi, Political Counselor, The People's Republic of China

Mr. Zhong Shaojun, Secretary of the Vice President, The People's Republic of China

Mr. Zhou Xingbing, Security Secretary of the Vice President, The People's Republic of China

His Excellency Zhu Guangyao, Vice Minister of Finance, The People's Republic of China

Joshua Bell's bio provided by the Vice President's office:
Joshua Bell has enchanted audiences worldwide with his breathtaking virtuosity and tone of rare beauty, earning him the title “classical music superstar.” An Avery Fisher Prize recipient and Musical America’s 2010 Instrumentalist of the Year, Bell is the Academy of St Martin in the Fields’ newly named Music Director. Bell came to national attention at age 14 in his debut with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Most recently, he has recorded the sound track for Zhang Yimou’s World War II epic film Flowers of War, China’s largest film production. Bell performs on the 1713 ex Huberman Stradivarius.

Sam Haywood bio provided by the Vice President's office:
Sam Haywood is a critically acclaimed British pianist whose performances have thrilled audiences worldwide. He frequently collaborates with Joshua Bell. Haywood began playing the piano at age four, inspired by evenings listening to crackly LPs of Beethoven Sonatas with his grandmother. Following his success at age thirteen in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, he received the Isserlis prize from the Royal Philharmonic Society and later studied with Paul Badura-Skoda, and at the Royal Academy of Music with the late Maria Curcio, a pupil of Artur Schnabel.

*White House photos by David Lienemann; arrival photo by pool

Vice President Biden, Secretary Clinton Host Luncheon For China's Vice President Xi Jinping

State Department fete for 200 guests: The toasts, Chef Ming Tasai's menu, and the guest list...
Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton co-hosted a luncheon at the State Department on Wednesday for Vice President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China. The visit from China's next president is the second of the planned reciprocal visits between the Vice Presidents announced by President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao during President Hu’s State Visit to Washington in 2011; Biden visited China last August. About 200 guests were invited to toast US-China relations in the State Department's ornate Benjamin Franklin Dining Room, decorated in reds and pinks in honor of both Valentine's Day and the Year of the Dragon. (Above: The two Vice Presidents; Dr. Henry Kissinger is at left)

“I hope we can match the extraordinary hospitality that the vice president showed me for four days in August,” Biden said. “The U.S. and china have much to do together…our relationship is literally going to help shape the 21st century."

2012 marks the 4oth anniversary of President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China, and Nixon's Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger, was seated with the two Vice Presidents and Secretary Clinton at the Head Table. The three-course menu was created by acclaimed Chinese American chef Ming Tsai, executive chef and owner of Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, MA, and featured Alasakan Butterfish. Iron Horse Year of the Dragon Chinese Cuvée from California was served for the toasts. (Above: The Secretary and Vice Presidents toast)

Guests began their arrivals shortly after 12:37, and were entertained by a string quartet. Invitees included Chevron Chairman and CEO John Watson, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger, Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent, Georgetown President John DeGioia, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, former Senator Chris Dodd chair of the Motion Picture Association of America, Human Rights Watch Executive Director Ken Roth, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, NBC's Andrea Mitchell and her husband Alan Greenspan, US Sens. John Kerry, Max Baucus, Dianne Feinstein, Lindsey Graham, Carl Levin, Daniel Akaka, and John Kerry, and members of the Chinese delegation. The other guests were leaders in foreign policy, academia and business, cultural and media figures, and Administration officials, according to the Vice President's office.



Xi, 58, first visited the US in 1985 as a communist party agricultural official on an exchange program, and stayed in Iowa. He will visit there later this week, and continue on to Los Angeles, accompanied by Biden, where they will be hosted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On Wednesday afternoon, Xi visited the Pentagon and attended a meeting with Biden at the US Chamber of Commerce. In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a dinner for Xi at the Naval Observatory, also attended by Secretary Clinton, top Administration officials, and the Chinese Delegation.

For the luncheon, the eighteen tables, in addition to to the head table, were decorated in hot pink, red and gold hues. Each table had a center bouquet of red and pink roses and/or tulips, and three tall glass vases, each with a floating red candle. The wine and water glasses were rimmed with gold, and the menu at each plate was embossed with a gold eagle and a wax seal.

Luncheon Menu in Honor of Vice President Xi

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
with a Crispy Duck Confit Roulade and Micro Greens

Soy Marinated Alaskan Butterfish
with black garlic sauce
Eight Treasured Rice Packet
with dried fruit and pork sausage
Gingered Swiss Chard

Flourless Bittersweet Chocolate Cake
with Cardamom Ice Cream

Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2008 was served during the lunch. The Iron Horse vineyard, located in northern California's Green Valley, has had its sparkling wines served at the White House during the past five Administrations, beginning with the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings. Vineyard co-owner Joy Sterling attended the luncheon. (Above: Xi's placesetting)

The Head Table...
Seated in the center of the head table: Vice President Xi on the left and Vice President Biden on the right. Seated to Xi's left was Kissinger, Friedman, and Watson. To the right of Biden: Iger, China's Minister of Agriculture Changfu Han, and Katzenberg. On the left end of the table: Sen. Graham, on the right side of the table: Sen. Baucus, Democrat from Montana and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Seated on the other side of the table from Biden and Xi from left to right were: Mitchell, Blankfein, Secretary Clinton, China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jiechi Yang, Sen. Kerry, Kent and DeGioia.

Chef Ming Tsai's bio, provided by the Vice President's office:
Ming Tsai, a Chinese-American, was raised in Ohio where he grew up cooking alongside his mother and father at their family-owned restaurant. (Above: Ming at the luncheon with Joy Sterling)

After graduating from Yale University, Ming trained and worked in kitchens around the globe. In 1998, he opened the critically-acclaimed restaurant Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA and went on to receive a James Beard Foundation Award. He also received an Emmy Award for the Food Network show he hosted, East Meets West with Ming Tsai and has authored four cookbooks. He is currently the host and executive producer of Simply Ming, an Emmy-nominated cooking show, is proud to serve as the national spokesperson for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, and is a founding member of Chefs For Humanity.

*Top photo by David Lienemann/White House; others courtesy of Joy Sterling

President Obama Speaks About Faith And Policy At 2012 National Prayer Breakfast

Christian faith and values call for bold action, President says...
President Obama on Thursday morning made a faith-based case for his economic policies while speaking at the annual National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton. He said that his Christianity has guided his decisions to push for tougher regulation, tax reform and economic equality and changes to the US healthcare system as the Nation has struggled through devastating challenges. (Above: The President during his remarks)

"We can all benefit from turning to our Creator, listening to Him. Avoiding phony religiosity, listening to Him," President Obama said.

"We can't leave our values at the door. If we leave our values at the door, we abandon much of the moral glue that has held our nation together for centuries and allowed us to become somewhat more perfect a union."

The President was joined by First Lady Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the bipartisan 8:00 AM event for about 3,000 Christian lawmakers, CEOS, lobbyists and faith leaders in the ballroom. It was Mr. Obama's third breakfast as a President, and he attended as a Senator ("It has always been an opportunity I've cherished," he said). The President noted that he says a brief prayer each morning, and spends time studying scripture.

After arriving to a standing ovation, the President was seated at the head table, with Mrs. Obama at his left, and Sen. Jeff Sessions on his right. Biden, Senators Mark Pryor, Tom Coburn (PK) and Daniel Akaka (HI) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) and Reps. Paul Broun (GA) and Mike McIntyre (NC).

"We can’t leave our values at the door," President Obama said. "The majority of great reformers in American history did their work not just because it was sound policy, or they had done good analysis, or understood how to exercise good politics, but because their faith and their values dictated it, and called for bold action."

He said his efforts to regulate financial institutions, require insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions, and to tighten rules for lenders come from his strong faith.

"I do so because I genuinely believe it'll make the economy stronger for everybody, but I also do it because I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years. And I believe in God's command to love thy neighbor as thyself," he said.

"This is especially important now when we're facing some big challenges as a nation, our economy is making progress as we recover from the worst crisis in generations. But far too many families are still struggling to find work or make the mortgage or pay for college and in some cases even buy food."

The breakfast is organized by Members of the US Congress and members of The Fellowship Foundation, a semi-secret and powerful coalition of conservative Christians (so secret that they have no website for their organization, nor is there one for the event). Every sitting president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has attended the National Prayer Breakfasts. (Above: The President and Mrs. Obama at the head table)

The President added that while driven by faith, his policies are not ordained by God.

"Our goal should not be to declare our policies as biblical. It is God who is infallible, not us. Michelle reminds me of this often," he said, to laughter. "So instead, it is our hope that people of goodwill can pursue their values and common ground and the common good as best they know how, with respect for each other."

He pointed to Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Jane Addams, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Abraham Heschel as leaders who used firth principles to "create a more perfect union."



The President received a standing ovation as he finished. The full transcript of his remarks.

Author Eric Metaxas was the keynote speaker at the breakfast, and presented the President with a copy of his bestselling book "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy."

The President and Mrs. Obama returned to the White House at 9:46 AM.

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

Transcript And Video: President Obama's Remarks, 2012 National Prayer Breakfast

For the third year, President Obama on Thursday morning attended the National Prayer Breakfast. He was joined by First Lady Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the 8:00 AM event at the Washington Hilton. Run by It was the Mr. Obama's third breakfast as a President, and he attended as a Senator. CLICK HERE FOR A FULL POST.

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________

For Immediate Release
February 2, 2012

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

Washington Hilton
Washington, D.C.

9:10 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please, please, everybody have a seat. Well, good morning, everybody. It is good to be with so many friends united in prayer. And I begin by giving all praise and honor to God for bringing us together here today.

I want to thank our co-chairs Mark and Jeff; to my dear friend, the guy who always has my back, Vice President Biden. (Applause.) All the members of Congress –- Joe deserves a hand –- all the members of Congress and my Cabinet who are here today; all the distinguished guests who’ve traveled a long way to be part of this. I’m not going to be as funny as Eric -- (laughter) -- but I’m grateful that he shared his message with us. Michelle and I feel truly blessed to be here.

This is my third year coming to this prayer breakfast as President. As Jeff mentioned, before that, I came as senator. I have to say, it’s easier coming as President. (Laughter.) I don’t have to get here quite as early. But it’s always been an opportunity that I’ve cherished. And it’s a chance to step back for a moment, for us to come together as brothers and sisters and seek God’s face together. At a time when it’s easy to lose ourselves in the rush and clamor of our own lives, or get caught up in the noise and rancor that too often passes as politics today, these moments of prayer slow us down. They humble us. They remind us that no matter how much responsibility we have, how fancy our titles, how much power we think we hold, we are imperfect vessels. We can all benefit from turning to our Creator, listening to Him. Avoiding phony religiosity, listening to Him.

This is especially important right now, when we’re facing some big challenges as a nation. Our economy is making progress as we recover from the worst crisis in three generations, but far too many families are still struggling to find work or make the mortgage, pay for college, or, in some cases, even buy food. Our men and women in uniform have made us safer and more secure, and we were eternally grateful to them, but war and suffering and hardship still remain in too many corners of the globe. And a lot of those men and women who we celebrate on Veterans Day and Memorial Day come back and find that, when it comes to finding a job or getting the kind of care that they need, we’re not always there the way we need to be.

It’s absolutely true that meeting these challenges requires sound decision-making, requires smart policies. We know that part of living in a pluralistic society means that our personal religious beliefs alone can’t dictate our response to every challenge we face.

But in my moments of prayer, I’m reminded that faith and values play an enormous role in motivating us to solve some of our most urgent problems, in keeping us going when we suffer setbacks, and opening our minds and our hearts to the needs of others.

We can’t leave our values at the door. If we leave our values at the door, we abandon much of the moral glue that has held our nation together for centuries, and allowed us to become somewhat more perfect a union. Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Jane Addams, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, Abraham Heschel -- the majority of great reformers in American history did their work not just because it was sound policy, or they had done good analysis, or understood how to exercise good politics, but because their faith and their values dictated it, and called for bold action -- sometimes in the face of indifference, sometimes in the face of resistance.

This is no different today for millions of Americans, and it’s certainly not for me.

I wake up each morning and I say a brief prayer, and I spend a little time in scripture and devotion. And from time to time, friends of mine, some of who are here today, friends like Joel Hunter or T.D. Jakes, will come by the Oval Office or they’ll call on the phone or they’ll send me a email, and we’ll pray together, and they’ll pray for me and my family, and for our country.

But I don’t stop there. I’d be remiss if I stopped there; if my values were limited to personal moments of prayer or private conversations with pastors or friends. So instead, I must try -- imperfectly, but I must try -- to make sure those values motivate me as one leader of this great nation.

And so when I talk about our financial institutions playing by the same rules as folks on Main Street, when I talk about making sure insurance companies aren’t discriminating against those who are already sick, or making sure that unscrupulous lenders aren’t taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us, I do so because I genuinely believe it will make the economy stronger for everybody. But I also do it because I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years, and I believe in God’s command to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” I know the version of that Golden Rule is found in every major religion and every set of beliefs -– from Hinduism to Islam to Judaism to the writings of Plato.

And when I talk about shared responsibility, it’s because I genuinely believe that in a time when many folks are struggling, at a time when we have enormous deficits, it’s hard for me to ask seniors on a fixed income, or young people with student loans, or middle-class families who can barely pay the bills to shoulder the burden alone. And I think to myself, if I’m willing to give something up as somebody who’s been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that’s going to make economic sense.

But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that “for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.” It mirrors the Islamic belief that those who’ve been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others, or the Jewish doctrine of moderation and consideration for others.

When I talk about giving every American a fair shot at opportunity, it’s because I believe that when a young person can afford a college education, or someone who’s been unemployed suddenly has a chance to retrain for a job and regain that sense of dignity and pride, and contributing to the community as well as supporting their families -- that helps us all prosper.

It means maybe that research lab on the cusp of a lifesaving discovery, or the company looking for skilled workers is going to do a little bit better, and we’ll all do better as a consequence. It makes economic sense. But part of that belief comes from my faith in the idea that I am my brother’s keeper and I am my sister’s keeper; that as a country, we rise and fall together. I’m not an island. I’m not alone in my success. I succeed because others succeed with me.

And when I decide to stand up for foreign aid, or prevent atrocities in places like Uganda, or take on issues like human trafficking, it’s not just about strengthening alliances, or promoting democratic values, or projecting American leadership around the world, although it does all those things and it will make us safer and more secure. It’s also about the biblical call to care for the least of these –- for the poor; for those at the margins of our society.

To answer the responsibility we’re given in Proverbs to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” And for others, it may reflect the Jewish belief that the highest form of charity is to do our part to help others stand on their own.

Treating others as you want to be treated. Requiring much from those who have been given so much. Living by the principle that we are our brother’s keeper. Caring for the poor and those in need. These values are old. They can be found in many denominations and many faiths, among many believers and among many non-believers. And they are values that have always made this country great -- when we live up to them; when we don’t just give lip service to them; when we don’t just talk about them one day a year. And they’re the ones that have defined my own faith journey.

And today, with as many challenges as we face, these are the values I believe we’re going to have to return to in the hopes that God will buttress our efforts.

Now, we can earnestly seek to see these values lived out in our politics and our policies, and we can earnestly disagree on the best way to achieve these values. In the words of C.S. Lewis, “Christianity has not, and does not profess to have a detailed political program. It is meant for all men at all times, and the particular program which suited one place or time would not suit another.”

Our goal should not be to declare our policies as biblical. It is God who is infallible, not us. Michelle reminds me of this often. (Laughter.) So instead, it is our hope that people of goodwill can pursue their values and common ground and the common good as best they know how, with respect for each other. And I have to say that sometimes we talk about respect, but we don’t act with respect towards each other during the course of these debates.

But each and every day, for many in this room, the biblical injunctions are not just words, they are also deeds. Every single day, in different ways, so many of you are living out your faith in service to others.

Just last month, it was inspiring to see thousands of young Christians filling the Georgia Dome at the Passion Conference, to worship the God who sets the captives free and work to end modern slavery. Since we’ve expanded and strengthened the White House faith-based initiative, we’ve partnered with Catholic Charities to help Americans who are struggling with poverty; worked with organizations like World Vision and American Jewish World Service and Islamic Relief to bring hope to those suffering around the world.

Colleges across the country have answered our Interfaith Campus Challenge, and students are joined together across religious lines in service to others. From promoting responsible fatherhood to strengthening adoption, from helping people find jobs to serving our veterans, we’re linking arms with faith-based groups all across the country.

I think we all understand that these values cannot truly find voice in our politics and our policies unless they find a place in our hearts. The Bible teaches us to “be doers of the word and not merely hearers.” We’re required to have a living, breathing, active faith in our own lives. And each of us is called on to give something of ourselves for the betterment of others -- and to live the truth of our faith not just with words, but with deeds.

So even as we join the great debates of our age -- how we best put people back to work, how we ensure opportunity for every child, the role of government in protecting this extraordinary planet that God has made for us, how we lessen the occasions of war -- even as we debate these great issues, we must be reminded of the difference that we can make each day in our small interactions, in our personal lives.

As a loving husband, or a supportive parent, or a good neighbor, or a helpful colleague -- in each of these roles, we help bring His kingdom to Earth. And as important as government policy may be in shaping our world, we are reminded that it’s the cumulative acts of kindness and courage and charity and love, it’s the respect we show each other and the generosity that we share with each other that in our everyday lives will somehow sustain us during these challenging times. John tells us that, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Mark read a letter from Billy Graham, and it took me back to one of the great honors of my life, which was visiting Reverend Graham at his mountaintop retreat in North Carolina, when I was on vacation with my family at a hotel not far away.

And I can still remember winding up the path up a mountain to his home. Ninety-one years old at the time, facing various health challenges, he welcomed me as he would welcome a family member or a close friend. This man who had prayed great prayers that inspired a nation, this man who seemed larger than life, greeted me and was as kind and as gentle as could be.

And we had a wonderful conversation. Before I left, Reverend Graham started praying for me, as he had prayed for so many Presidents before me. And when he finished praying, I felt the urge to pray for him. I didn’t really know what to say. What do you pray for when it comes to the man who has prayed for so many? But like that verse in Romans, the Holy Spirit interceded when I didn’t know quite what to say.

And so I prayed -- briefly, but I prayed from the heart. I don’t have the intellectual capacity or the lung capacity of some of my great preacher friends here that have prayed for a long time. (Laughter.) But I prayed. And we ended with an embrace and a warm goodbye.

And I thought about that moment all the way down the mountain, and I’ve thought about it in the many days since. Because I thought about my own spiritual journey –- growing up in a household that wasn’t particularly religious; going through my own period of doubt and confusion; finding Christ when I wasn’t even looking for him so many years ago; possessing so many shortcomings that have been overcome by the simple grace of God. And the fact that I would ever be on top of a mountain, saying a prayer for Billy Graham –- a man whose faith had changed the world and that had sustained him through triumphs and tragedies, and movements and milestones –- that simple fact humbled me to my core.

I have fallen on my knees with great regularity since that moment -- asking God for guidance not just in my personal life and my Christian walk, but in the life of this nation and in the values that hold us together and keep us strong. I know that He will guide us. He always has, and He always will. And I pray his richest blessings on each of you in the days ahead.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

END 9:30 A.M. EST
##

In Turkey, Biden Feasts On Traditional Foods

During a visit to Istanbul's Samatya Square, the Vice President wows the locals by purchasing olives, fruit, cheese, fish...
With the minarets of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia looming in the distance on Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden took a stroll along the cobblestone streets of Istanbul's Samatya Square. Accompanied by US Ambassador Frank Ricciardone, Biden ate his way through the traditional community in the Fatih district, visiting food vendors, including butchers, fish mongers, bread makers, and small grocers.

The neighborhood "represents a mosaic of life" in Istanbul, the White House said, noting it as home "to Turks and various minority groups for centuries." (Above: Biden greets a fishmonger)

"I got some sweets, I got some fruit, I got some olives, some cheese, and the Ambassador ate all the fish," Biden told the reporters trailing him.

Wearing a blue blazer, open-neck shirt and aviator shades to keep out the bright sunshine, the Vice President said his day on the coast of the Sea of Marmar was going well: "You can tell I'm eating whatever I can eat."

The Vice President shook hands and waved at passersby, including some peering down from the windows of their homes. He stopped to greet a young boy. (Above: Inside one of the small shops in the Square)

"Come visit me in the White House," Biden said.

The boy's father replied, "But how are we going to get there?"

A few steps later, the Vice President stopped at a fruit stand, took out a small wad of lira, and bought oranges, tangerines, and other fruit. He tossed a tangerine to the boy he had just greeted; the boy made a perfect catch and smiled with delight. After that, Biden stopped by a pastrami and honey market.

Asked if he was going to bring any treats home for his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, the Vice President was doubtful. His body man, Fran Person, would probably finish all the Turkish food on the plane ride home, he said.

Still, "I'm happy," Biden said. "I'm gonna share."

A fishmonger called out to the Vice President, offering a good price for his salty delights.

"I already got a good price," Biden joked.

The snack fest took place right before the Vice President headed into the Develi restaurant, where he lunched privately with Greek religious leaders, including Father Alex Karloutsos from New York and Andy Manatos, a prominent Greek-American.

After, the Vice President departed for Athens to continue his journey. His stop in Istanbul was the second on a four-day trip to Greece and Turkey that began Saturday. In Istanbul, the Vice President participated in the second Global Entrepreneurship Summit, convened by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He also met with the Prime Minister and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. In Athens on Monday, the Vice President will meet with President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, and party leaders "to continue the US dialogue and cooperation with the Government of Greece," the White House said.

*Photos by David Lienemann/White House