A day in the life of President Bush (5/6/06): photos & news

WhiteHouse.gov & Yahoo News ^ | 5/6/06

[Wolfstar]

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY President Bush had an exceptionally full calendar today. He left Washington shortly after dawn this morning to fly to Oklahoma, where he delivered the commencement address at the University of Oklahoma.

While in flight aboard Air Force One, the President got some work done, including a phone call to discuss Darfur with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

On his return to Washington, the President joined the First Lady and former President George H. W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, at a wedding for family friends.

Transcript of the President's Commencement Address at the University of Oklahoma
Following are brief excerpts from the speech. Click the link embedded above to read the entire transcript.

Your generation will face unprecedented choices because of technology. When I was in college, we listened to music on 45 rpm records, as opposed to the iPod. We used manual typewriters instead of the personal computer. When we made a mistake while writing a paper, we didn't have the luxury of Spell Check. As a matter of fact, we used something that maybe some of you have heard of -- it was big and bulky -- it's called a dictionary. (Laughter.) Technology has helped improve almost every aspect of your life on campus -- except maybe the cafeteria food. (Laughter.) We see the spirit of service in the members of the Class of 2006 who've stepped forward to defend our freedom. In this graduating class, there are 27 new lieutenants who are receiving their Army and Air Force commissions along with their OSU degrees. (Applause.) They're carrying on the proud tradition of service in uniform exemplified by an OSU graduate named Luke James. After earning his commission at OSU in 2002, Luke had the world at his feet; he had a wife and infant son that he adored. Yet Luke had chosen a life of service, and in 2004, Second Lieutenant Luke James, graduate of OSU, was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Army's 82nd Airborne. Shortly after arriving in that country, Luke was killed while leading his troops on patrol. He was awarded the Bronze Star. He's buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

On the anniversary of her son's death, Luke's mom went to visit her son's grave. And afterward, a young soldier came up to her and thanked her for the way she had raised her son. He said that Lieutenant James had saved his life. Luke's mom says this of her son's service: "All of Luke's life, he was very dedicated to the concept of freedom. While no soldier wants war, he understood the necessity of war, that it can ensure the freedoms we enjoy in America." Luke James is part of a generation who are every bit as selfless and dedicated to liberty as any that has come before. And the future of the United States of America is better because of the character of young Americans like Luke James. (Applause.)

THE WEEK AHEAD: Yesterday was Scott McClellan's last day on the job as White House Press Secretary. He closed the briefing with remarks thanking a number of people and saying goodbye to the press corps. Perhaps for that reason, no mention was made of the President's schedule for next week, although I was able to find the following two events. I will do some digging and try to put more info on tomorrow's Dose.

— May 11, 2006: President Bush delivers the commencement address at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, MS.

— May 11, 2006: First Lady Laura Bush delivers remarks at Vanderbilt University's Senior Class Day in Nashville, TN.

[Wolfstar]

Dose regular MamaB asked that you be informed of the tragic news that her husband, Mr. B, has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. Yesterday, she sent the following message to be shared with her friends on the Dose:

We got more bad news yesterday at the Kirklin Clinic. There is no treatment available right now unless the dr. down there can find a clinical study at a cancer research center like in San Antonio. He has 6-9 months to live without any treatment. We are all heartbroken and disgusted with the oncologist here who should have found this months if not years ago. Could you tell the people on the Dose tonight? Thanks.

For those who haven't had a chance to do so already, please stop by the prayer thread started for MamaB, Mr. B and their family. Please consider leaving a few words of comfort, prayers, suggestions, or any other message you feel comfortable leaving for her at this terrible time. Thanks.

[gwb43_2004]

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[gwb43_2004]

1 st ?

[Wolfstar]

Pinging you to the Saturday afternoon Dose.

[ilovew]

Hiya :)

[Wolfstar]

PHOTO OF THE DAY: President Bush speaks during a commencement ceremony at Oklahoma State University, Saturday, May 6, 2006, in Stillwater, Okla. This is an absolutely wonderful photo.

[Wolfstar]

President Bush boarding Marine One on the first leg of his trip to Oklahoma this morning. It was a day trip -- the President gave the commencement speech at the University of Oklahoma today.

Walking from Marine One to Air Force One.

While enroute to Oklahoma aboard AF1 this morning, President Bush spoke to Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo regarding the recent progress towards peace in Darfur.

Arriving at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla.

[Wolfstar]

President Bush meets with Freedom Corps volunteer William "B.J." O'Connor at Vance Air Force Base. The Oklahoma State junior received a Call to Service pin from Bush for his volunteer work, which included working with a Campus Crusade for Christ group in New Orleans over spring break.

[Wolfstar]

As graduates stream into the Boone Pickens stadium at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater for the commencement ceremony, the scoreboard shows a television broadcast of the arrival of President Bush at Vance Air Force base in Enid. Stillwater is about 50 miles from Enid.

President Bush arrives on stage to speak at a commencement.

[ilovew]

He looks so darn cute in those robes :)

[W04Man]

Bump!

[Wolfstar]

Delivering his address to the graduates.

Waving to the crowd after giving the commencement address.

[ohioWfan]

Wow! What a wonderful bunch of photos. The first one is just stunning!

And the one on the phone too.....

[Wolfstar]

The President receives an honorary doctorate of laws degree. [He almost seems like he's trying to surpress a giggle in the first photo. It was a law degree, after all, and GWB is a lot of things, but he's no lawyer. ;-) ]

[Wolfstar]

Greeting graduates after Marine One landed on the university campus, and before giving the commencement address.

Graduates hold up a "Love Dubya" sign.

[Wolfstar]

The President exiting Marine One on his return to Washington from Oklahoma today. For reasons not explained in the Yahoo captions, Marine One landed on the Elipse outside the WH grounds instead of the South Lawn. (The Elipse is not as secure as the South Lawn.)

[Wolfstar]

Marine One landing on the Elipse this afternoon as President Bush arrived back in Washington from Oklahoma.

Because the Elipse is outside the White House grounds, security is an issue.

[Wolfstar]

Later in the day, the President and First Lady attended a wedding ceremony of the family members Alexander Ellis and Sarah Aker at St. John's Church in Washington.

GWB's mom and dad also attended the wedding.

[radiohead]

Looks like Yahoo or the WH got the school wrong in the posted article (the WH site has the correct school name). He spoke at Oklahoma STATE.