The Washington Post: Obama's Speeches

Obama delivers remarks honoring winners of National Association of Police Organizations Top Cops Award

Delivered: 2012-05-12 11:15 AM, Rose Garden, White House
Quote: "Today, we celebrate 34 extraordinary individuals, and we recognize the sacrifices they and their fellow officers make. Some of our Top Cops are still recovering from gunshot wounds. I'm sure that many are, even now, thinking of a partner or a teammate who fell in the line of duty. So we honor their memories today. We honor all those who have put their lives on the line in order to protect their fellow citizens -- even if they were complete strangers."

Obama holds news conference with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan

Delivered: 2012-04-30 11:40 AM, Oval Office, White House
Quote: "We want China to be strong, and we want it to prosperous. And we're very pleased with all the areas of cooperation that we've been able to engage in. But we also believe that that relationship will be that much stronger and China will be that much more prosperous and strong as you see improvements on human rights issues in that country."

Obama delivers remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington

Delivered: 2012-04-28 8:00 PM, Washington Hilton
Quote: "It's great to be here this evening in the vast, magnificent Hilton ballroom -- or what Mitt Romney would call a little fixer-upper."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in Washington

Delivered: 2012-04-27 6:10 PM, Private Residence
Quote: "I'm not going to be satisfied not just with getting our troops home from Afghanistan, but making sure -- as we talked about today down in Fort Stewart -- that every single one of our veterans have the capacity to rebuild this country the same way my grandfather had and his generation had the capacity to rebuild the country when they came back from World War II."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in Washington

Delivered: 2012-04-27 4:55 PM, Washington Convention Center
Quote: "It's fair to say there's been a bit of talk about women and women's issues so far this year. And I've said before, I want to repeat, I think it's been oversimplified. Women are not an interest group. Women shouldn't be treated that way. Women are half this country and half of its workforce. You're 80 percent of my household, if you count my mother-in-law -- and I always count my mother-in-law."

Obama delivers remarks to troops, veterans and military families at Fort Stewart, Ga.

Delivered: 2012-04-27 12:35 PM, Third Infantry Division Headquarters
Quote: "Three years ago I made your generation a promise. I said that when your tour comes to an end, when you see our flag, when you touch down on our soil, you'll be coming home to an America that will forever fight for you, just as you fought for us. For me as president, it's been a top priority, it's something I worked on as a senator when I served on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. It's something I continue to this day. Since I took office we've hired over 200,000 veterans to serve in the federal government."

Obama delivers remarks on student loans in Boulder, Colo.

Delivered: 2012-04-24 6:45 PM, University of Colorado at Boulder
Quote: "We've got to make college more affordable for you. (Applause.) We cannot price the middle class out of a college education. When most new jobs in America require more than a high school diploma, higher education -- whether at a four-year college, at a two-year program -- it can't be a luxury. It's an economic imperative for every family in America. And every family in America should be able to afford it."

Obama delivers remarks on student loans in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Delivered: 2012-04-24 1:15 PM, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Quote: "We only finished paying off our student loans, check this out, I'm the president of the United States. We -- we only finished paying off our student loans about eight years ago. That wasn't that long ago."

Obama delivers remarks at the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride

Delivered: 2012-04-20 4:45 PM, South Lawn, White House
Quote: "Today, there are Soldier Rides all across the country. They serve as a reminder that all of us can do our part to serve the men and women who serve us. And I'm glad to see you're all decked out in the stars and stripes, because I want anybody who sees this ride go by to know that they're in the presence of heroes."

Obama delivers remarks honoring BCS champion University of Alabama Crimson Tide

Delivered: 2012-04-19 2:20 PM, South Lawn, White House
Quote: "Now, obviously this is a team that knows something about adversity. It was one year ago next week that an F4 tornado carved a path right through the town of Tuscaloosa. I traveled down there two days later to see the devastation with the Mayor and the Governor. And I've got to tell you, I'd never seen anything like it. And I remember something the Mayor said that day. He said that when something like that happens, folks tend to forget all their petty differences. Things like politics, religion, race -- when we're confronted with a tragedy of such magnitude, all that just fades away. We're reminded that all we have is each other. And if you need proof of that, just look how the Auburn community stepped up during that time of need."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in Bingham Farms, Mich.

Delivered: 2012-04-18 7:50 PM, Private Residence
Quote: "I actually had the chance to sit in Rosa Parks' bus -- I just sat there for a moment and pondered the courage and tenacity that is part of our very recent history, but is also a part of that long line of folks -- sometimes nameless, oftentimes didn't make the history books -- but who constantly insisted on their dignity, their stake in the American Dream."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in Dearborn, Mich.

Delivered: 2012-04-18 6:00 PM, Henry Ford Museum
Quote: "Change is the decision we made to rescue the American auto industry from collapse, when some politicians said let Detroit go bankrupt. There were 1 million jobs on the line -- and the fate of communities all across the Midwest was on the line -- and we weren't going to let it happen. I placed my bets on American workers. Today, GM is back on top as the number-one automaker in the world. Chrysler is growing faster than any other car company. Ford is investing billions in plants and factories all across America, bringing thousands of jobs home -- 200,000 new jobs over the last two and a half years. The American auto industry is back. And that happened because of you."

Obama delivers remarks on the economy in Elyria, Ohio

Delivered: 2012-04-18 2:30 PM, Lorain County Community College
Quote: "I've never believed the government can or should try to solve every problem we've got. I believe that the free market is the greatest force for economic progress in human history. I agree that everybody has personal responsibility for their own lives. Everybody's got to work hard, nothing is ever handed to us. But I also agree with our first Republican president, a guy named Abraham Lincoln, who said that, through government, we should be able to do together what we can't do as well on our own. There's some thing we don't do well on our own."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in Burlington, Vt.

Delivered: 2012-03-30 2:35 PM, University of Vermont
Quote: "Now, out of all 50 states, Vermont has gone the longest without a presidential visit. The last time a President stopped by was President Clinton in 1995. So we decided that today we are going to reset the clock."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in Burlington, Vt.

Delivered: 2012-03-30 1:15 PM, Sheraton Burlington Hotel
Quote: "The recent budget that just passed the House, the budget that passed the House yesterday, if you did the math, essentially the only thing that would be left in the federal government would be defense, social security and the entitlement programs -- although those would be diminished -- interest on the national debt. That would be about it. You'd be looking at about 1 percent of the entire federal budget devoted to everything else."

Obama delivers remarks on oil subsidies

Delivered: 2012-03-29 10:45 AM, Rose Garden, White House
Quote: "Right now, the biggest oil companies are raking in record profits -- profits that go up every time folks pull up into a gas station. But on top of these record profits, oil companies are also getting billions a year -- billions a year in taxpayer subsidies -- a subsidy that they've enjoyed year after year for the last century. Think about that. It's like hitting the American people twice. You're already paying a premium at the pump right now. And on top of that, Congress, up until this point, has thought it was a good idea to send billions of dollars more in tax dollars to the oil industry."

Obama delivers remarks with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani of Pakistani in Seoul, South Korea

Delivered: 2012-03-27 5:00 PM, Coex Center
Quote: "I want to express my appreciation to Prime Minister Gilani for the work that he's done in trying to strengthen the relationship between our two countries. There have been times -- I think we should be frank -- over the last several months where those relations have experienced strains. But I welcome the fact that the parliament in Pakistan is reviewing, after some extensive study, the nature of this relationship. I think that it's important for us to get it right. I think it's important for us to have candid dialogue to work through these issues in a constructive fashion and a transparent fashion."

Obama delivers remarks at opening plenary session of Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea

Delivered: 2012-03-26 6:20 PM, Coex Center
Quote: "This is one of those challenges in our interconnected world that can only be met when we work as an international community. And what we did in Washington, what we're now doing in Korea, becomes part of a larger global architecture designed to reduce the dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism, but also allows us then to more safely and effectively pursue peaceful uses of nuclear energy."

Obama delivers remarks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan in Seoul, South Korea

Delivered: 2012-03-26 2:15 PM, Grand Hyatt Hotel
Quote: "It is wonderful to see once again President Nazarbayev from Kazakhstan. And I want to first of all congratulate him on his leadership for the issues that are going to be discussed over the next two days. Twenty years ago, Kazakhstan made a decision not to have nuclear weapons. And not only has that led to growth and prosperity in his own country, but he has been a model in efforts around the world to eliminate nuclear materials that could fall into the wrong hands."

Obama delivers remarks with President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia

Delivered: 2012-03-26 11:45 AM, Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel
Quote: "With respect to North Korea, we are going to be both sending messages to North Korea that they should not go forward with this missile launch, which would violate existing U.N. Security Council resolutions. And our hope is, is that we can resolve these issues diplomatically."

Obama delivers remarks at Hankuk University, Seoul, South Korea

Delivered: 2012-03-26 10:30 AM, Hankuk University
Quote: "And know this: There will be no rewards for provocations. Those days are over. To the leaders of Pyongyang I say, this is the choice before you. This is the decision that you must make. Today we say, Pyongyang, have the courage to pursue peace and give a better life to the people of North Korea."

Obama holds a news conference with President Lee Myung-Bak of South Korea

Delivered: 2012-03-25 6:35 PM, Blue House
Quote: "They need to understand that bad behavior will not be rewarded. There had been a pattern, I think, for decades in which North Korea thought that if they acted provocatively, then somehow they would be bribed into ceasing and desisting acting provocatively. And President Lee and I have agreed, from the start of our relationship, that we're going to break that pattern. And I suspect that it will ultimately end up having the impact intended. But in the meantime, it's the people of North Korea that are most likely to suffer."

Obama nominates Dr. Jim Yong Kim to be president of the World Bank

Delivered: 2012-03-23 10:00 AM, Rose Garden, White House
Quote: "I should also mention that after immigrating to this country from Korea at age 5, Jim went on to become the president of his high school class, the quarterback of the football team, and point guard of the basketball team. I just found out he is a five-handicap in golf. I'm a little resentful about that last item ... but he does it all."

Obama delivers remarks on energy in Columbus, Ohio

Delivered: 2012-03-22 4:25 PM, Ohio State University
Quote: "For anybody who's not familiar with this, the Buckeye Bullet is the fastest electric car in the world. The fastest in the world. I don't know who's going to need to go that fast. But it is a testament to the ingenuity here at Ohio State and what is essential to American leadership when it comes to energy -- our brain power. I will say, though, when Malia gets her license in a few years, she will not be allowed to go 300 miles an hour."

Obama delivers remarks on energy in Cushing, Okla.

Delivered: 2012-03-22 9:55 AM, Pipe Yard Outside
Quote: "Now, right now, a company called TransCanada has applied to build a new pipeline to speed more oil from Cushing to state-of-the-art refineries down on the Gulf Coast. And today, I'm directing my administration to cut through the red tape, break through the bureaucratic hurdles, and make this project a priority, to go ahead and get it done."

Obama delivers remarks on energy in Maljamar, N.M.

Delivered: 2012-03-21 6:15 PM
Quote: "It was a wonderful trip over here. We took the helicopter. We landed in Roswell. I announced to people when I landed that I had come in peace. Let me tell you, there are more 9- and 10-year-old boys around the country -- when I meet them, they ask me, "Have you been to Roswell, and is it true what they say?" And I tell them, "If I told you I'd have to kill you." So -- and their eyes get all big. So we're going to keep our secrets here."

Obama delivers remarks on energy in Boulder City, Nev.

Delivered: 2012-03-21 1:20 PM, Copper Mountain Solar 1 Facility
Quote: "Now, you'd think given this extraordinary site, given the fact that this is creating jobs, generating power, helping to keep our environment clean, making us more competitive globally, you'd think that everybody would be supportive of solar power. That's what you'd think. And yet, if some politicians had their way, there won't be any more public investment in solar energy. There won't be as many new jobs and new businesses."

Obama delivers remarks at St. Patrick's Day lunch

Delivered: 2012-03-20 12:00 PM, United States Capitol
Quote: "As John mentioned, this wonderful tradition began with Speaker Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan. And when I was getting ready this morning, I came across some advice that Tip gave to anybody who was making a St. Patrick's Day speech. As the story goes, Tip was once asked to deliver a speech to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in Pennsylvania. He figured the Irishmen would arrive early, perhaps have a few drinks, relax a little bit, and by the time he stood up to speak, they would applaud anything he said as long as he kept it short. Then, as Tip was getting dressed, one of the -- his aides ran up to him, out of breath, and said he had just found out that no drinking was allowed before dinner -- only afterwards. And Tip panicked a little bit. He realized he had to prepare. So he grabbed a few pages from "Famous Irishmen of America," underlined some passages, acted like he had planned it all along. The speech went extraordinarily well, and afterwards, he was complimented on his thoroughness and studiousness in preparing for the speech. So Tip's lesson was: Always know your audience, and don't count on drinks getting you through the evening."

Obama delivers remarks with Prime Minister Edna Kenny of Ireland

Delivered: 2012-03-20 10:10 AM, Oval Office, White House
Quote: "you'll notice that even though technically it is not St. Patrick's Day, we like to prolong the party around here. Technically, most of the Americans who celebrate St. Patrick's Day aren't Irish anyway, so we shouldn't go on technicalities."

Obama delivers remarks at a campagin event in Atlanta, Georgia

Delivered: 2012-03-16 12:20 PM, Palmer House Hilton
Quote: "I was saying this at the speech that I gave at Tyler's studio: I know I'm a little grayer now, and it's not as trendy to be an Obama supporter, because it's not as fresh; those posters are kind of rolled up in some closet somewhere. But my determination -- my determination is unwavering."

Obama delivers remarks on energy in Largo, Md.

Delivered: 2012-03-15 10:55 AM, Prince George’s Community College
Quote: "Lately, we've heard a lot of professional politicians talking down these new sources of energy. They dismiss wind power and solar power. They make jokes about biofuels and electric cars. They were against raising fuel standards because apparently they like gas guzzling cars better. We're trying to move towards the future, and they want to keep us stuck in the past. Of course, we've heard this kind of thinking before. If some of these folks were around when Columbus set sail, they probably would have been founding members of the Flat Earth Society."

Obama delivers toast to British Prime Minister David Cameron

Delivered: 2012-03-14 9:40 PM, South Lawn, White House
Quote: "I've learned something about David. In good times and in bad, he's just the kind of partner that you want at your side."

Obama holds news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron

Delivered: 2012-03-14 12:05 PM, Rose Garden, White House
Quote: "The best thing that we can do right now is to make sure that the international community continues to unify around the fact that what the Syrian regime is doing is unacceptable, it is contrary to every international norm that -- that we believe in."

Obama delivers remarks on the economy at Rolls-Royce Crosspointe in Virginia

Delivered: 2012-03-09 12:30 PM, Rolls-Royce Crosspointe
Quote: "I want us to make stuff here and sell it over there. I don't want our stuff made over there and selling it over here. And that's exactly what you're doing here at the largest Rolls- Royce facility in the world. That's what you're doing by building the key components of newer, faster, more fuel efficient jet engines."

Obama delivers remarks on the economy in Mount Holly, North Carolina

Delivered: 2012-03-07 12:15 PM, Daimler Mount Holly Truck Manufacturing Plant
Quote: "To cities and towns all across the country, what we're going to say is, if you make a commitment to buy more advanced vehicles for your community -- whether they run on electricity or biofuels or natural gas -- we'll help you cut through the red tape and build fueling stations nearby."

Obama holds a news conference

Delivered: 2012-03-06 1:15 PM, Brady Press Briefing Room, White House
Quote: "I think there's no doubt that those who are suggesting or proposing or beating the drums of war should explain clearly to the American people what they think the costs and benefits would be. I'm not one of those people. Because what I've said is, is that we have a window through which we can resolve this issue peacefully. We have put forward an international framework that is applying unprecedented pressure. The Iranians just stated that they are willing to return to the negotiating table. And we've got the opportunity, even as we maintain that pressure, to see how it plays out."

Obama delivers remarks with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

Delivered: 2012-03-05 10:45 AM, Oval Office, White House
Quote: "As I've said repeatedly, the bond between our two countries is unbreakable. My personal commitment, a commitment that is consistent with the history of other occupants of this Oval Office, our commitment to the security of Israel is rock solid."

Obama delivers remarks at AIPAC policy conference

Delivered: 2012-03-04 10:50 AM, Washington Convention Center
Quote: "We're providing Israel with more advanced technology -- the types of products and systems that only go to our closest friends and allies. And make no mistake: We will do what it takes to preserve Israel's qualitative military edge -- because Israel must always have the ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threat."

Obama delivers remarks on conservation in communities

Delivered: 2012-03-02 5:15 PM, U.S. Department of the Interior
Quote: "With smart, sustainable policies we can grow our economy today and protect our environment for ourselves and our children. We know it's possible. We know it because of what's been happening in communities like yours, where compromise isn't a dirty word, where folks can recognize a good idea no matter where it comes from."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in New York City

Delivered: 2012-03-01 9:25 PM, Private Residence
Quote: "So what we've tried to do is deal with immediate crises, but also make sure that we're keeping our eye on that long-term vision that got me into this campaign in 2008, and got many of you to support that campaign in 2008. Now, the good news is, we've made incredible progress. The bad news is, is that we haven't had much cooperation from the other side."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in New York City

Delivered: 2012-03-01 8:20 PM, ABC Kitchen
Quote: "Hello, New York! Oh, it is good to be back in New York City. We've got some folks here that I want to acknowledge. First of all, the event co-chairs Deepak Chopra, thank you. Paulette Cole, thank you. Reshma Saujani thank you. Russell Simmons, thank you. Got a couple of elected officials who are here -- Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is here, and public advocate Bill de Blasio is here. I want to thank all the talent who participated -- Ben Folds, Ingrid Michaelson. The Roots are always in the house. And Aziz Ansari."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in New York City

Delivered: 2012-03-01 6:05 PM, ABC Kitchen
Quote: "You will see me working harder and making those arguments as passionately as anything that I did in 2008. And if you guys are with me, then I'm pretty confident not only are we going to win, but more importantly, America is going to be in good stead for years to come."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in New York City

Delivered: 2012-03-01 4:55 PM, Private Residence
Quote: "I want to thank Victor and Sarah for opening up their extraordinary home. Although, I will say they have some pictures of me before I had gray hair ... which is a little troubling. They should have put the photo down. But it's a testimony to how long the two of them have been friends and supporters. And those of you who know them know the passion and the extraordinary energy that they bring to issues of social justice and democratic politics."

Obama delivers remarks on the economy in Nashua, New Hampshire

Delivered: 2012-03-01 1:30 PM, Nashua Community College
Quote: "Nashua, this is our future. This is the ultimate solution to our energy challenge. Some of the clean energy technologies we discover won't pan out; some companies will fail. But as long as I'm President, I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy."

Obama delivers remarks at a dinner in honor of the armed forces

Delivered: 2012-02-29 8:20 PM, East Room, White House
Quote: "In one of our nation's longest wars, you wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history. Now the Iraqi people have a chance to forge their own destiny, and every one of you who served there can take pride in knowing you gave the Iraqis this opportunity; that you succeeded in your mission."

Obama delivers remarks at the United Auto Workers conference

Delivered: 2012-02-28 11:30 AM, Washington Marriott Wardman Park
Quote: "We could have just kicked the problem down the road. The other option was to do absolutely nothing and let these companies fail. And you will recall there were some politicians who said we should do that. Some even said we should "let Detroit go bankrupt." You remember that? Think about what that choice would have meant for this country, if we had turned our backs on you, if America had thrown in the towel, if GM and Chrysler had gone under."

Obama delivers remarks to the National Governors' Association

Delivered: 2012-02-27 11:20 AM, State Dining Room, White House
Quote: "I always look forward to this event because governors are at the front line of America's recovery. You see up close what's working, what's not working, and where we can take it. And the thing that connects all of us -- and no matter what part of the country we're from and certainly no matter what party we belong to -- is that we know what it means to govern, what it means to make tough choices during tough times, and hopefully to forge some common ground."

Obama delivers remarks in an exchange of toasts at 2012 Governor's Dinner

Delivered: 2012-02-26 7:10 PM, State Dining Room, White House
Quote: "I've always said that governors have one of the best but also one of the toughest jobs around. On the one hand, you guys are in charge, which means that folks know where you live and they know how to find you if something doesn't work."

Obama holds a media availability with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Delivered: 2012-02-24 3:00 PM, Oval Office, White House
Quote: "I want to welcome Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt to the White House and to the Oval Office. This is the first time that we've had a chance to meet, but obviously we've been very impressed with the first five months of her prime ministership."

Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser in Pinecrest, Florida

Delivered: 2012-02-23 5:55 PM, Private Residence
Quote: "And to so many of you who have been supportive for so long, all the people that Chris mentioned, but a lot of folks who are here who have worked tirelessly not only on behalf of my campaign, but on behalf of good causes here in Florida and around the country -- I am grateful to all of you. I just noticed, by the way, we've got one other person that needs to be acknowledged because some of you will be spending some time with him in September, and that is the Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, our host for the Democratic National Convention, Anthony Foxx is in the house."