♪♪ (Drum and Bugle Corps) ♪♪ Narrator:
Welcome to the West Wing Week,
your guide to everything that's happening at 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue. This week, President Obama
traveled to Chrysler's plant in Toledo to congratulate auto
workers on the turnaround they helped bring about at Chrysler
and the impact that saving the company is having
on the community. At Northern Virginia
Community College, the President announced new
initiatives that will improve our manufacturing workforce
and help us compete in a 21st century global economy. He also welcomed German
Chancellor Angela Merkel to the White House
for an official visit. That's June 3rd to June 9th, or
"Way To Get Our Money Back!" Chrysler Employee:
I've managed the investments for
Chrysler for the past two years. The President:
Good job. Way to
get our money back! Chrysler Employee:
Yeah, Thank you. Narrator:
On Friday, June 3rd, President
Obama traveled to Toledo, Ohio to visit the Chrysler's
Supplier Parks complex. Before heading to Chrysler Park,
the President made a surprise lunch stop at Rudy's Hot Dog, a
family-run business established in 1920. The President was greeted by
one of the brothers who runs the six-store chain, and sat
down for Rudy's famous chili dog with Toledo's
Mayor Michael Bell. The President:
I've got to try this one, too! Narrator:
At Chrysler, the President
toured the Jeep Wrangler assembly line; spoke
to workers there; and shook hands at the
end of the afternoon shift. Shortly after the
President took office, the American auto industry was
on the brink of liquidation, a collapse that many analysts
say would have caused one million American workers
to lose their jobs. The President, though, made a
decision to rescue the American auto industry. Now just two years later,
the unthinkable has happened. Chrysler is gaining
market share, investing in their plants,
creating jobs, making a profit. And the company has repaid all
of the money committed to them by the Obama Administration
six years early. The company is now positioned
for success and it's had a significant impact, not just
on the Chrysler workers, but on the broader
Toledo community. The President:
So I placed my bet on you. I put my faith in
the American worker. And I'll tell you what, I'm
going to do that every day of the week because what you've
done vindicates my faith! Narrator:
After his Chrysler visit, the
President spent time talking to people in the community,
small business owners and other workers that rely on the
economic activity generated by the success of
the Chrysler plant, like the folks at
Fred's Hardware. The President:
And here's the thing: You know,
my wife's into gardening, right? Store Employee:
Yeah, huh-huh. The President:
So I was thinking maybe
we could -- do you have, like, a gardening section? Store Employee:
Sure do. Store Employee:
We've got everything you need. The President:
You know, what I'm thinking
is maybe like a couple of maybe some gardening gloves. Store Employee:
These are all made for -- The President:
Oh, yeah, I see.
Yeah, that's great. We're going to get her this one. That's your professional recommendation? Store Employee:
Oh, yeah. Narrator:
On Monday, June 6th,
President Obama sat down for interviews with regional
television reporters from Washington, D.C., Cleveland
and Detroit in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to
discuss the resurgence of the American auto industry and his
visit with workers in Toledo. The President:
All I think about every day
when I wake up in the morning is how can I put people
back to work and how can I increase people's wages and
incomes so that they can afford to live the American dream. Narrator:
Later, the President met
with recipients of the 2010 Kavli Prizes to recognize their
contributions to astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. The President:
I'm glad that we're able to
bring you in here just so that -- what we're trying to
do is constantly highlight great accomplishments in
science so that, you know, you guys get maybe not as much
attention as pro basketball players, but -- Kavli Member:
A close game last night. The President:
It was a good game. (laughter) Narrator:
On Tuesday, June 7th, the
President and First Lady welcomed Chancellor Angela
Merkel to the White House for an official visit
and State Dinner. Nearly 5,000 people gathered
on the South Lawn of the White House to welcome the
Chancellor to Washington. The President and Chancellor
Merkel held bilateral meetings and discussed a host of issues
including our dynamic economic partnership with Germany
and how to capitalize on our relationship to create jobs. The President:
-- this morning's ceremony. Hundreds of thousands of
American jobs are supported by our exports to Germany; hundreds
of thousands of Americans work for German companies that have
chosen to invest in America. Narrator:
The President also discussed
the current trajectory of the American economy. The President:
The overall trend that we've
seen over the last 15 months, 2 million, over 2 million jobs
created over the past 15 months, you know, a rebounding of
the manufacturing sector in the United States that's
exemplified by the recovery of the "Big Three"
automakers here, all indicates that we have set
a path that will lead us to long-term economic growth. But we've still got some
enormous work to do. Narrator:
The visit culminated with a
State Dinner where the President presented Chancellor Merkel,
the first woman chancellor in German history and a voice for
human rights around the world, with the highest honor
a President can bestow on a civilian. Interpreter:
Presidential Medal of
Freedom to Dr. Angela Merkel. The President:
You can all applaud. (applause) Narrator:
On Wednesday, June 8th,
President Obama traveled to Northern Virginia
Community College to discuss the importance of
training and preparing our workforce to compete for new
advanced manufacturing jobs. He also announced new
commitments that will make it possible for half a million
community college students to get industry-accepted
credentials for manufacturing jobs that companies across
America are looking to fill. (applause) The President:
Because the irony is, even
though a lot of folks are looking for work, there are
a lot of companies that are actually also looking
for skilled workers. There's a mismatch
that we can close. And this partnership is
a great way to do it. Narrator:
The President welcomed President
Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria to the White House to discuss
the latest regional and global developments and deepening our
strong bilateral partnership. Later in the East Room,
President Obama congratulated the BCS National Champion
Auburn Tigers football team. He also welcomed Former Press
Secretary and Auburn's greatest fan, Robert Gibbs, back to the
White House for the occasion. On Thursday, June 9th, President
Obama welcomed President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon to the
White House to advance the important partnership between
the United States and Gabon on a range of critical
regional and global issues. Also in the Oval Office the
President met with the 2010 and 2011 Scripps National
Spelling Bee Champions. 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:
Now, what was your winning word? Sukanya Roy:
Cymotrichous. The President:
Cymotrichous. Sukanya Roy:
Yeah. The President:
Cymotrichous. S-Y- (laughter) -- no? Okay, I've already got gonged? Okay, go ahead, spell it. Sukanya Roy:
C-Y-M-O-T-R-I-C-H-O-U-S. The President:
Okay, and what is cymotrichous? Sukanya Roy:
It means having wavy hair. The President:
Oh!
