Subject: WH print pool report #2 – Governors’ dinner
Pool entered the State Dining room at 7:17 p.m. for the black-tie 2013 Governors’ Dinner, with remarks and toasts by POTUS and Gov. John Markell, D-Del., the chairman of the National Governors Association.
POTUS entered with FLOTUS in a sparkling, silver sequined dress and what appeared to be matching large, sparkly, dangly earrings. FLOTUS, in the pairing of the night, sat next to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Obama told the governors that they have all head to steer their states through hard times and make hard choices and make wise investments.
“That work is paying off. Companies are bringing jobs back to our shores, new homes are popping up in our neighborhoods, small businesses are revitalizing our communities.”
Obama said there is more work to do, and urged a bipartisan approach to doing it.
“I’m looking for good partners, because while nobody in this room sees eye to eye on everything, we know that when we work together, Democrats and Republicans, north, south, east and west, we can accomplish so much more than we can on our own. …We’re stronger when we work together as a team.”
He appeared to stumble on a quote by Woodrow Wilson.
“America is nothing if it consists merely of each other…if it, uh, consists merely of each of us, Woodrow Wilson said. It’s something only if it consists of all of us. And nearly 100 years later, I expect those words continue to be true, and they should be guiding all of our efforts.”
Obama made a toast “to the good that we can accomplish together.”
Markell made several jokes in his remarks — including a mention dealing with the sequester — that broad broad smiles to POTUS and loud laughs throughout the room.
The menu:
Seafood Cocktail
Seasonal Kitchen Garden Salad
Aged Beef Ribsteak
Chocolate Opera Cake
Audra McDonald will perform after the dinner.
Pool was ushed out at 7:27 p.m.
Travel photo lid at 7:35 p.m.
Next report will have more color and more on Markell’s remarks.
-Steven T. Dennis
White House Reporter
