Background

Stories documenting the first 100 days of President Barack Obama's administration.


First 100 Days

Latest Headlines

April 29, 2009

Obama calls first 100 days tense but fruitful

ARNOLD, Mo. (AP) — Marking his symbolic 100th day in office, President Barack Obama told Midwesterners: "I'm pleased with the progress we've made but I'm not satisfied."

April 27, 2009

What will come from Obama's changes?

Decades ago, a joke about the country’s 34th president went like this: Did you hear about the new Eisenhower doll? Wind it up and it stands still for eight years.

April 26, 2009

Obama’s presidency so far

Decades ago, a joke about the country’s 34th president went like this: Did you hear about the new Eisenhower doll? Wind it up and it stands still for eight years.

April 19, 2009

Obama waiting to see what Cuba does next

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — President Barack Obama says America’s estranged relationship with Cuba will not change overnight. It just did — at least in tone.

April 19, 2009

Obama hopes to ease U.S. friction

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — President Barack Obama offered a spirit of cooperation to America’s hemispheric neighbors at a summit Saturday, listening to complaints about past U.S. meddling and even reaching out to Venezuela’s leftist leader.

April 10, 2009

Obama seeks war funds

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is seeking $83.4 billion for U.S. military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, pressing for special troop funding that he opposed two years ago when he was senator and George W. Bush was president.

April 8, 2009

Obama: Iraq must take charge

BAGHDAD — Flying unannounced into a still-dangerous war zone, President Barack Obama told U.S. troops and Iraqi officials alike Tuesday it is time to phase out America’s combat role in a conflict he opposed as a candidate and has vowed to end as commander in chief.

April 5, 2009

Obama continues quest for elimination of nukes

PRAQUE, Czech Republic — For half a century, American presidents have talked about easing or eliminating the threat of nuclear annihilation while maintaining an arsenal at the core of U.S. defense strategy.

April 5, 2009

Obama to ease Cuba travel ban

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration intends to allow Americans to visit relatives in Cuba and send money back to their families on the communist island nation, senior U.S. officials said Saturday.

April 5, 2009

Obama hails help in Afghanistan

STRASBOURG, France — President Barack Obama hailed “strong and unanimous support” from NATO allies on Saturday for his stepped-up anti-terror strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan and welcomed their “down payment” promises of 5,000 fresh forces.

April 3, 2009

G-20 OKs $1.1 trillion in loans

LONDON — Anxiously assembled at the most perilous moment for the global economy since the Great Depression, the world’s financial powers pledged hundreds of billions of dollars for emergency loans to combat spreading chaos. But they rebuffed President Barack Obama’s bid for new stimulus spending and made no guarantees.

April 1, 2009

Twenty nations, small hopes at fiscal summit

LONDON — Desperate but divided on ways to lift their nations from economic misery, world leaders converged for an emergency summit Tuesday holding scant hopes of finding a magic-bullet solution for the crisis that brought them hurrying to London.

March 31, 2009

Obama puts brakes on GM and Chrysler plans

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama asserted unprecedented government control over the auto industry Monday, bluntly rejecting turnaround plans by General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, demanding fresh concessions for long-term federal aid and raising the possibility of quick bankruptcy for either ailing auto giant.

March 26, 2009

House, Senate release budgets

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats advanced budget outlines Wednesday that largely mirror President Barack Obama’s spending priorities while imposing marginal changes to tame ballooning deficits.

March 9, 2009

Obama overturning Bush policy on stem cells Times Leader Video

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Monday he is allowing federal taxpayer dollars to fund significantly broader research on embryonic stem cells because "medical miracles do not happen simply by accident," and promised his administration would make up for the ground lost under his predecessor.

March 6, 2009

Overhauling health care

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama summoned allies, skeptics and health care figures of all stripes to the White House Thursday to debate ideas for overhauling the nation’s costly system and declared, “The status quo is the one option that is not on the table.”

March 6, 2009

Clinton encourages fresh start with Russia

BRUSSELS, Belgium — NATO agreed after an intense internal debate Thursday to restore normal relations with Russia seven months after it froze ties in response to Moscow’s invasion of Georgia.

March 5, 2009

Obama starts big push for health care overhaul Times Leader Video

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama summoned allies, skeptics and health care figures of all stripes to the White House Thursday to debate ideas for overhauling the nation's costly system.

March 5, 2009

Housing bailout launched

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration kicked off a new program Wednesday that’s designed to help up to 9 million borrowers stay in their homes through refinanced mortgages or loans that are modified to lower monthly payments.

March 5, 2009

Government contracting targeted

March 4, 2009

Dems not messing with gun control

March 4, 2009

Obama aides defend economic plan

March 4, 2009

Earmarks remain in $410B spending bill

March 2, 2009

Obama will sign spending package

March 2, 2009

Challenges face Sebelius if she is confirmed as new HHS secretary

February 28, 2009

Obama promises to end Iraq combat

February 28, 2009

Obama plans need full recovery Analysis

February 26, 2009

Obama plan foresees record $1.75 trillion deficit

February 25, 2009

GOP, Jindal: Obama choosing the wrong tactics

February 25, 2009

Full text of President Obama's address to Congress

February 24, 2009

Obama vows big cuts in spending

February 23, 2009

Stimulus overseer is chosen

February 22, 2009

Amid crises, Obama moving to own agenda

February 21, 2009

VIDEO: Obama says tax cuts will be felt by April 1

February 21, 2009

Mortgage bailout criticized locally

February 17, 2009

Obama signs massive stimulus package

February 16, 2009

Obama lauds stimulus bill, vows action

February 16, 2009

Mortgage mess next for Obama

February 16, 2009

Obama to create auto commission

February 13, 2009

Gregg withdraws nomination

February 12, 2009

Biden sells recovery plan near Harrisburg

February 11, 2009

Finalizing stimulus bill the focus

February 10, 2009

Obama: Pass stimulus now

February 9, 2009

Biden asks world cooperation, but talks tough on Iran nukes

February 9, 2009

Altered stimulus nears OK

February 9, 2009

Obama advisor foresees a battle

February 9, 2009

Obama faces a tough week ahead

February 6, 2009

Senate struggles on cuts

February 5, 2009

Obama caps execs’ pay

February 4, 2009

Obama caps executive pay tied to bailout money

February 4, 2009

Obama: Catastrophe coming if Congress doesn't act

February 4, 2009

Obama touts bailout plan as its finish date nears

February 4, 2009

Obama sets cool, casual tone for new White House

February 4, 2009

Limbaughgives Obama little opportunity in first 10 days

February 4, 2009

Gregg says appointment to Cabinet would not affect Senate makeup

February 4, 2009

Obama’s Ottawa mission

February 4, 2009

Daschle withdraws nomination

February 4, 2009

Commerce chief tapped

February 4, 2009

Amid tax troubles, Daschle out

February 4, 2009

GOP senators block stimulus boost for roads, mass transit

January 31, 2009

Not all of Obama’s stimulus bill stimulating

January 31, 2009

House passes $819B stimulus

January 31, 2009

Lawmakers to watch Bowl with Obama

January 23, 2009

A Biden moment, a retake on oath

January 22, 2009

Clinton confirmed by Senate

January 17, 2009

Obama taps prof for regulatory czar

January 15, 2009

Obama's nominee breaks from Bush on torture

January 15, 2009

Senate panel backs Clinton as secretary of State

January 15, 2009

Some blacks are taking history-making Obama inauguration day off

January 9, 2009

Obama’s tax cut plan hits wall

January 8, 2009

Obama appoints fiscal watchdog

January 8, 2009

Obama meets with predecessors

January 6, 2009

Intelligence picks short on direct experience

January 5, 2009

Inaugural holds appeal for some

January 4, 2009

Ending earmarks to be hard for Obama

January 2, 2009

Vacation finished, Obama heads for Washington and work

December 29, 2008

Obama’s tax cuts still on

December 27, 2008

Inauguration vendors’ big payday

December 26, 2008

Obama’s Cabinet choices create scramble in states

December 20, 2008

Obama: Business will revive

December 19, 2008

For prayer, Obama splits the ticket

December 19, 2008

Pro-union Solis Obama’s pick to head Labor Department

December 16, 2008

Team Obama forming

December 15, 2008

Obama’s urban home poses new security challenges

December 13, 2008

Can Obama give up smoking?

December 3, 2008

Richardson named commerce secretary

December 2, 2008

Obama tabs ‘strong personalities’

December 2, 2008

Area Clinton backers pleased with choice

December 1, 2008

Obama announces Clinton, Gates for Cabinet

December 1, 2008

Obama to name 4 more to Cabinet

November 30, 2008

Obama to name Clinton on Monday

November 29, 2008

New White House style

November 26, 2008

Gates likely to stay for Obama

November 25, 2008

Bush, Obama cooperation almost unique

November 24, 2008

Obama wants package to consider Jan. 20

November 23, 2008

Obama vows to create 2.5 million jobs

November 22, 2008

Obama’s team taking shape

November 22, 2008

Agencies brace for inaugural masses

November 20, 2008

Daschle to accept Cabinet post

November 18, 2008

Casey: Lodge in Pa. for Obama event

November 17, 2008

A GOP leader backs Clinton for state

November 17, 2008

Mountain Top teen excited to attend inauguration

November 17, 2008

First in line no guarantee for inaugural tickets

November 17, 2008

Obama’s team to be mix

November 17, 2008

Obama’s new job: Financial overhaul

November 16, 2008

Obama eyes picking rivals

November 14, 2008

Obama’s a hot ticket

November 13, 2008

Obama to pioneer Web outreach as president

November 11, 2008

Transfer of power under way

November 11, 2008

Bush welcomes Obama

November 11, 2008

Rite of passage eases transition

November 10, 2008

Executive orders eyed by Obama

November 9, 2008

Crises galore await Obama on first day

November 8, 2008

Obama vows action on economy

November 7, 2008

Obama announces top aide

November 7, 2008

Names surface for top Obama administration jobs

November 6, 2008

Obama begins preparations


Most Viewed First 100 days Stories in Past 7 Days

1. Biden sells recovery plan near Harrisburg
2. Obama’s presidency so far
3. Government contracting targeted



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