Obama's first 10 days



Day One: January 21

Barack Obama entered the Oval Office to find a note marked “44” written by his predecessor, George W. Bush. He then spent the day planning to push his $800 billion stimulus package in the house and senate. His first phone calls as president were made to leaders in the Arab world. He also placed limits on lobbyists and froze the salaries of White House employees making more than $100,000 a year as a gesture to stop frivolous spending in Washington.

Day Two: January 22

HIs second day was spent marking a strong departure from many of President Bush’s policies. President Obama signed an executive order stating that the prison at Guantanamo Bay would be closed within the year. He also ordered the closings of secret CIA “ghost prisons” and the cessation of advanced interrogation techniques. In addition, George Mitchell was assigned special Middle East envoy to help tackle the strife in Gaza.

Day Three: January 23

President Obama reversed a policy that restricted federal aid to be delivered to organisations that promote or provide abortions overseas. George Bush reversed Clinton’s similar policy 8 years prior. The president nominated former defence lobbyist William Lynn as Deputy Secretary of Defense as unmanned American drones killed 18 in a series of missile attacks on the Pakistani side of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Day Four: January 24

On the first Saturday of his presidency, President Obama delivered his first radio address. In keeping with the internet strategy used during his campaign, the address was posted as an online video. He stressed the importance of his stimulus bill and the urgency at which it needed to be passed

Day Five: January 25

While Republicans voiced their opposition to his stimulus plan, the president spent the day with his family.

Day Six: January 26

President Obama allowed states like California to decide their own emissions and fuel efficiency standards. The President also gave his first television interview as president with Dubai-based al-Aribiya. He used the interview to stress to the Muslim world his empathy and diplomatic intentions.

Day Seven: January 27

President Obama met with high-ranking republicans to discuss his $800b bail-out package. They viewed it with extreme scepticism.

Day Eight: January 28

The President had his first visit to the Pentagon to speak with Defense Secretary Robert Gates about US planning in Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, he delivered another speech detailing the urgency at which the economy needs be handled-specifically through his stimulus bill. President Obama invited ten senators (five democrats, five republicans) and twelve congressmen (six democrats, six republicans) to a cocktail party to discuss the stimulus plan.

Day Nine: January 29

The president and his wife began the day by attending a class presentation at daughter Sasha’s school. He then approved an equal-pay legislation dubbed “Ledbetter’s Law.” It was the first bill he signed into law. President Bush had previously opposed the legislation. His stimulus bill passed through the house without a single republican vote.

Day Ten: January 30

At the ten day mark, President Obama created a middle class working families task force to be headed by Vice President Joe Biden. He also signed a series of pro-union executive orders. The President received help from union workers during the campaign and subsequent election, and he looked to reverse President Bush’s policies that were perceived by some as anti-union.