The 2011 White House Christmas ornament honors the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth president of the United States. This year’s ornament reflects the excitement that President Roosevelt, his wife Edith, and their lively young family brought to life at the White House. The front face of the ornament is a color illustration derived from a political cartoon drawn by William A. Rogers in 1901. Capturing the anticipation associated with the family’s first White House Christmas, a jolly Santa Claus crosses the snow covered North Lawn carrying a large bag of toys over his shoulder and announces, “I hear that there are some kids in the White House this year.”

$17.95, to order click here (White House Historical Association)

Ahead of his second State of the Union address Tuesday, President Obama has recorded a short video to give supporters and volunteers a preview of his vision for winning the future. See the video below, or click here to watch it.

The 2011 State of the Union Address will be a speech given by President Barack Obama at 9 p.m. EST on January 25, 2011, in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives. As always, the presiding officers of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives will sit behind him. As the Republican Party gained a majority in the House during the 2010 midterm elections, this will be the first State of the Union address with Speaker of the House John Boehner seated behind the President.

On Tuesday, January 25th, I will stand before Congress and the country to discuss the State of the Union.

Two years ago, when I first addressed a joint session of Congress, this country faced a crisis unlike anything since the Great Depression—an economy that had spiraled out of control, putting millions out of work.

Today, we’re in a different place. An economy that was shrinking is now growing again. But across the country, millions are struggling every day—to find work, to pay their bills, to provide for their families.

It is clear that the moment we now face demands a vision for how we as a people will win the future.

And that vision—that agenda—will be the topic of my State of the Union address.

As the messengers, volunteers, and organizers of this movement, you will play a critical role in carrying out that agenda. Because of that, I want you to have an advance look at what I’ll ask of Congress on Tuesday.

I’ve recorded a short video to share that message with you. Please click here to watch it.

I will talk to the nation about how we can win the future by out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building the rest of the world. By dealing with our deficits and our debt in a responsible way, and reforming government so that it’s leaner and smarter for the 21st century. How we continue to keep America safe and advance our interests around the world.

But we can do it only if we all work together.

I’ve recorded this video so that we all know what’s at stake and we’re ready for the work to come.

Will you take a minute to watch it?

Thank you,
Barack

The 2010 White House Christmas ornament honors the twenty-fifth president of the United States, William McKinley, and celebrates the role of music in the traditions of the White House. The McKinley administration (1897–1901) is remembered as a time when the nation moved beyond its continental boundaries to become an international power. The American people idolized McKinley during his presidency, so suddenly cut short by an assassin’s bullets six months into his second term.

In celebration of the nation’s patriotic mood as the century turned, the illustrations commissioned1 for the 2010 ornament feature festive, colorful scenes from the annual Army Navy Reception at the White House in 1900. The front face of the ornament depicts members of the United States Marine Band performing on the snow covered North Drive as arriving guests disembark from their carriages. The reverse side of the ornament shows the band playing patriotic airs for President and Mrs. McKinley and their party in the flag bedecked splendor of the East Room. It was in this High Victorian East Room that the McKinleys began the era of “musicales” (receptions with music as the leading feature) at the White House, a tradition that continues to this day.

$18.95, to order, click here.

The President explains how the most dire warnings about the Citizens United case have been proven valid. See the video below or click here.

WHAT’S AT STAKE THIS NOVEMBER

The challenges President Obama inherited were immense—two wars, an economy in crisis, a broken health care system, record deficits. The size of our challenges had outgrown the smallness of our politics, and Americans of all walks of life were hungry for new ideas and new leadership.

Working with the President, Democrats in Congress helped prevent a second Great Depression and put our economy on the road back to recovery. They stabilized the financial system, and by standing up to insurance companies, big banks and credit card companies established the strongest consumer protections ever. And with the help of grassroots supporters across the country, we were finally able to make real the ideas that every American should have access to affordable health care, no one should be denied coverage because they get sick or have a pre-existing medical condition, and no one should go bankrupt just because they get sick.

But for nearly two years, Republicans have tried to block progress at every turn. They’ve rooted for failure and worried more about the next election than the next generation.

Now they want to take us back—to a time when special interests made the rules and American families paid the price. Where tax cuts for the very wealthiest drove deficits while ordinary Americans found it harder and harder to make ends meet.

They want to take us back to the same failed policies that saw 8 million jobs lost, lives interrupted, dreams deferred.

That’s what’s at stake this November. And that is why we cannot let up—not for one minute or one year or one election. Not when there is so much left to do.

• If you care about educating our children for the challenges of the 21st century; if you care about protecting the health care of working families; if you care about civil rights and equal pay for equal work; if you care about creating jobs and making our economy more prosperous for all Americans—then we’re going to need you to step up and work hard in this election.
• If you are interested in a clean-energy future that creates jobs right here in America while ending our dependence on foreign oil, then you need to support Democratic candidates for Congress, because Republicans are going to say ‘no’ to that.
• If you care about building a new foundation for our country, from the bottom up, instead of returning to the same tired, worn-out theories that didn’t work for the past decade, then we’re going to need you to talk to your neighbors, knock on doors, and make phone calls for Democrats who are willing to stand with the President and move our country forward. We’ve come too far to turn back now. We can’t afford to slow down or sit back and watch everything we’ve fought for slip away—not when there’s so much at stake.

We have a lot of work to do. But with your help, we can continue moving our country forward and fulfill the promise of change.

The President discusses a new Medicare Trustees report showing Medicare to be on much stronger footing as a result of the reforms in the Affordable Care Act. In addition, seniors are also already getting help with prescription drug costs when they fall into the infamous “donut hole.” See the video below, or click here.

Supporters are joining the First Lady in sending President Obama a card to wish him a happy 49th birthday on August 4th. Sign the President’s birthday card and let him know you’re ready to take on the year ahead alongside him, click here.