West Wing Week: 11/22/12 or "Hello Burma!"

Narrator: Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's
happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
This week, the President made a historic trip to Thailand,
Burma and Cambodia; attended the East Asia Summit;
and pardoned the National Thanksgiving Turkey at the White
House with the First Family.
That's November 16th to November 22nd, or "Hello Burma!"
The President: [speaking in a foreign language]
Narrator: On Friday, the President met with Congressional leaders to
discuss ways to reach a balanced approach to strengthen our
economy, support middle class families,
and reduce our nation's deficit as the a looming deadline of the
fiscal cliff approaches.
Bright and early on a sunny Saturday morning in D.C.,
the President began his journey to Asia,
traveling 18 hours on the plane, but 24 hours on the clock.
On Sunday afternoon, he arrived in the Kingdom of Thailand,
America's oldest ally in Asia.
On his first trip abroad since his reelection,
the President met up with the Secretary of State and kicked
off his visit at the stunning Wat Pho Royal Monastery where
the head monk introduced him to sacred Buddhas in exchange for
removing his shoes.
Then it was on to the Government House of Thailand for his
official welcome ceremony, guest book signing,
and bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shinawatra.
Later, the two leaders hosted a news conference before
adjourning to a formal official dinner.
♪♪(music playing)♪♪
On the way to his hotel, he made a stop to thank the embassy
staff for all their work on behalf of the United States,
and to give a special thanks to some of the youngest family
members in the crowd.
(cross-talk)
On Monday, the President and Secretary of State began a truly
historic journey to Burma, the first for an American president,
on their last foreign trip together.
After a colorful arrival ceremony,
they were greeted by thousands of people lining the street as
they traveled to meet with President Thein Sein for a
bilateral meeting at the Parliament Building.
And then to the Shwedagon Pagoda,
the holiest cultural site in Burma.
The President and Secretary of State met with Nobel Peace Prize
winner and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at her home,
where they spoke about ongoing efforts to support and encourage
Burma's democratic transition.
Then it was on to the American embassy where they thanked
staff, their families, and more adorable kiddos.
The President: Okay, that's a nice one.
That's good.
Who's got a bump, who's got a bump for me?
Narrator: Before traveling on to their final stop in Burma,
where the President reflected on his historic visit in an address
to the Burmese people.
Announcer: The President of the United States.
The President: There you go, that's me.
Today I say to you and I say to everybody that can hear my voice
that the United States of America is with you,
including those who have been forgotten,
those who are dispossessed, those who are ostracized,
those who are poor; we carry your story in our heads and your
hopes in our hearts, because in this 21st century with the
spread of technology and the breaking down of barriers,
the front lines of freedom are within nations and individuals,
not simply between them.
Narrator: That evening, the President traveled on to Cambodia,
touching down in his third country of the day where he
attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN
leaders meeting, then joined up with all the East Asia Summit
leaders, who had all donned their versions of batik shirts
for the occasion.
Meanwhile, at the White House, 12 hours away on the clock and
on the other side of the globe, the First Lady was hosting the
National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards,
the country's highest honor in this field,
which recognizes exemplary programs around the country that
foster the creative and intellectual development of
America's youth through education.
Beforehand, she gave some words of advice to the students from
the Mariachi Master Apprentice Program of San Fernando,
California, who are both honorees and the entertainment
for the event.
♪♪(music playing)♪♪
First Lady Michelle Obama: You make all this happen on shoestring budgets;
you do it in unbelievable ways in some of the most difficult
circumstances imaginable.
But you keep on doing this year after year because you have seen
firsthand the transformative power of the arts and arts
education in the lives of young people across this country.
♪♪(music playing)♪♪
Narrator: On Tuesday before the East Asia Summit officially convened,
the President held bilateral meetings,
first with Prime Minister Noda of Japan,
and then Premier Wen of China.
Then it was time for day two of the East Asia Summit,
with the group gathering for the traditional family photo and
getting down to work at the Plenary Session.
The President capped off his visit by taking some time to
thank the embassy staff, their families, and then, well,
you guessed it -- it was time to go home.
The President: See ya, everybody.
[cheers and applause]
Narrator: Continuing on with his journey eastward and completing a
circumnavigation of the globe, the President returned to
Washington early Wednesday morning,
just in time for a very special pardoning.
On Wednesday, the President and the First Family pardoned one
very grateful gobbler for the 65th anniversary of the national
Thanksgiving turkey presentation and wished American families a
warm, safe and healthy holiday.
(turkey gobbling) (laughter)
Later, in that same spirit of Thanksgiving,
the First Family contributed some time,
effort and elbow grease to a Capitol area food bank service
project, assembling care packages for those in need.
To find out more information on any of these topics or to see
complete videos of these events, go to WhiteHouse.gov.
And thanks again for checking out your West Wing Week.
The President: All good.
What's your name?
Speaker: [speaking in a foreign language]
The President: Nice to -- [speaking in a foreign language]
Speaker: [speaking in a foreign language]
The President: Barack.
Speaker: [speaking in a foreign language]
The President: That's it.
Okay, man.
Speaker: Thank you.
The President: Thank you.