West Wing Week: 1/21/11 or "A Rather Large Painting"

(Drum and bugle corps music)
Narrator: Welcome to the "West Wing Week," your guide to
everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
This week, the President focused on foreign policy, meeting with
the President of Pakistan, hosting a state visit for China,
and celebrating the life and legacy of veteran diplomat
Richard Holbrooke.
That's January 14th to the 20th, or "A Rather Large Painting."
On Friday, January 14th, the President of Pakistan came to
the White House.
Presidents Obama and Zardari discussed their shared efforts
to fight terrorism and promote regional stability, specifically
working toward a peaceful Afghanistan.
Later that afternoon, both presidents attended a memorial
service for Richard Holbrooke, who recently passed away while
serving as the President's special representative to
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Holbrooke's career included most of the major foreign policy hot
spots in the last 50 years.
President Obama: He addressed the question of why the United States
was engaged in bringing peace to that war-torn corner of
the world. Why bother?
His answer was simple: Because we could make a difference.
Narrator: On Monday, January 17th, the First Family honored
the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King by performing service at
the Stuart Hobson Middle School on Capitol Hill,
painting in the school cafeteria.
President Obama: I'm talking trash because I'm just pointing
out how mine's all finished, look at that.
Mrs. Obama: You don't have a basketball.
President Obama: This is what Dr. King stood for, was helping others.
And you being willing to take time out to give back just means
a lot and it says a lot about this country.
Narrator: It was also the First Lady's birthday.
? Happy birthday ?
Presidential aide Reggie Love started a
little art project of his own.
Mr. Love: I think it's a work in progress.
I just want you to know that I did this from --
I did this all freehand.
Narrator: On Wednesday, January 19th, President Obama hosted an
official state visit for the leader of the
People's Republic of China.
President Hu received a 21-gun salute, was taken by
President Obama to inspect the Honor Guard, and met with school
children who were attending the ceremony.
President Obama: Are you doing well?
President Hu: Yes.
A Speaker: The Chief of Protocol Dr. Zhang Kunsheng.
Dr. Zhang: Nice to meet you.
Mrs. Obama: So good to see you.
Thank you so much.
President Obama: He took care of me when I was in Beijing.
First Lady: Thank you.
He had a wonderful, wonderful trip.
President Hu: But I'm guessing Michelle has been always my boss.
President Obama: Yes. We all do what she says.
(laughter)
President Obama: Good morning, everyone.
President Hu, members of the Chinese Delegation, on behalf of
Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House.
And on behalf of the American people, welcome to the United States.
Narrator: President Obama and President Hu then went to the
Oval Office, where they discussed areas of mutual
cooperation like economic growth, global security, and
clean energy research.
They also crossed the street to the EEOB, where the President
hosted a meeting with President Hu and business leaders.
Increasing exports to China and increasing Chinese investment in
the United States will be critical to supporting hundreds
of thousands of American jobs.
Both leaders discussed this at a press conference they held afterward.
President Obama: China is one of the top markets for American exports.
We're now exporting more than $100 billion a year in goods and
services to China, which supports more than half a
million American jobs.
Narrator: That night, the White House was host of a State Dinner
in honor of President Hu's visit.
President Obama took advantage of the occasion to make a toast
to the cooperation of our two nations.
President Obama: The Chinese and American people work together
and create new opportunities together every single day,
Mr. President, and today we've shown that our governments can
work together as well, for our mutual benefit.
And that includes this bit of news: Under a new agreement, our
National Zoo will continue to dazzle children and visitors
with the beloved giant pandas.
(applause)
Narrator: On Thursday, January 20th,
President Obama met with a bipartisan group of mayors to
talk about creating jobs and to hear about how the economy is
affecting communities all across America.
President Obama: The question is what's next?
How do we project a vision for the country and for cities and
metropolitan areas, where we are in growth mode, we are
competitive, our schools are working, our infrastructure is
there, we're attracting new businesses.
Narrator: That night the President went to the Kennedy
Center to commemorate the 50th anniversary of
President Kennedy's inauguration.
President Obama: Summoning a generation to service and a
nation to greatness, in a speech that would become part
of the American canon.
And there's the crowd, bundled up for the cold, making their
way through streets white with snow, full of expectation.
A nation feeling young again, its mood brightened by the
promise of a new decade.
Narrator: 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.
A Speaker: Could you handle this, too?
A Speaker: How heavy is it?
A Speaker: Are you asking me?
A Speaker: I'm just saying, is it heavy?
A Speaker: I mean I lift, so it's no big deal.