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♪♪(Bugle and Drum Corps)♪♪
Narrator: Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's
happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
This week, the President wrapped up an eight-day tour,
demonstrating American leadership and opening up
economic opportunity for America in the Asia-Pacific region.
Upon his return, he signed legislation to help our
veterans find jobs.
He traveled to New Hampshire to urge Congress to cut payroll
taxes for workers and small businesses,
and pardoned two turkeys.
That's November 18th to November 24th, or "Your Best You."
♪♪(Bugle and Drum Corps)♪♪
The President: You don't need to try to be something you're not;
you just have to be your best you.
Narrator: Our West Wing Week begins with the President in Indonesia,
as the first U.S. President to attend the East Asia Summit.
The President: Selamat malam.
Narrator: It's day six and stop three of an eight-day Asia-Pacific tour.
The first up was in Hawaii where the President announced the
broad outlines of an agreement with the members of the
TransPacific Partnership; held bilateral meetings with the
leaders of Japan, Russia, China and Canada;
and hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit,
welcoming leaders of its 21-member nations representing
more than three billion people.
The President: And since this is the world's fastest growing region,
the Asia-Pacific is key to achieving my goal of doubling
U.S. exports -- a goal, by the way,
which we are on track right now to meet.
We're here for business.
We're here to create jobs.
We're here to promote exports.
And we've got a set of tangible, concrete steps that have been
taken that are going to make our economy stronger.
Narrator: Next stop, Australia, for a state visit where he and
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the deepening of the
60-year-old U.S.-Australian alliance,
expanding the bilateral military cooperation that plays such a
critical role in the security of the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Then it was on to the ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit
and the beginning of our West Wing Week.
(applause)
The first order of business in Indonesia was to make history.
The President announced the largest ever U.S.-Indonesian
commercial contract for Indonesia's Lion Air to purchase
up to 230 planes from Boeing.
The $20 billion contract will support more than 100,000
good-paying American jobs.
The President: This represents the largest deal, if I'm not mistaken,
that Boeing has ever done.
This is an example of a win-win situation where the people of
the region are going to be able to benefit from an outstanding
airlines, and our workers back home are going to be able to
have job security and be able to produce an outstanding product
made in America.
Narrator: And with that, the President kicked into conference gear,
holding bilateral meetings with the leaders of India, Malaysia,
the Philippines and Indonesia, and announcing the U.S. would
reopen diplomatic efforts and encourage reform in Burma.
The President: So today I've asked Secretary Hillary Clinton to go to Burma.
She will be the first American Secretary of State to travel to
the country in over half a century.
Narrator: After wrapping up a second day of meetings,
this time with Premier Wen of China,
and with the newly elected Prime Minister of Thailand,
the President and Secretary Clinton suited up for a day of
ASEAN meetings.
The President then began to retrace his steps and make his
way east, a 25-hour trip that had brought him back in time
across the International Dateline, and 13 time zones,
and once again, home.
The President kicked off Thanksgiving week back home with
a historic bill signing of the Veterans Employment Transition
Act, a bill that helps put veterans back to work by
providing businesses tax credits when they hire unemployed
veterans and Wounded Warriors.
The President: Today, because Democrats and Republicans came together,
I am proud to sign those proposals into law.
And I urge every business owner out there who's hiring to hire a
vet right away.
Narrator: That night, the White House hosted music legends and
contemporary artists in the East Room for a celebration of
Country music as part of the "In Performance at the White
House" series.
♪♪(music playing)♪♪
On Tuesday, the President traveled to Manchester,
New Hampshire where he stopped in a cozy,
casual local favorite, Julien's Corner,
to talk with a New Hampshire family who would benefit from
his plan to cut payroll taxes for workers and small business
before giving a speech at Manchester Central High School.
Speaker: Welcome the President of the United States.
The President: The Republicans in the Senate voted no on my jobs bill and
those tax cuts, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving,
we are going to give them another chance.
If they vote no again, the typical family's taxes will go
up $1,000 next year.
If they vote yes, the typical working family will get a
$1,500 tax cut.
Which way do you think Congress should vote?
Audience: Yes!
The President: It's pretty simple.
And we set up a straightforward tax calculator on WhiteHouse.gov
-- that's our website -- so you can see what each vote would
mean for your bottom line.
Narrator: When he returned to the White House,
the President met up with the fall class of White House
interns, a quarterly ritual, where the President hears from
and speaks to the youngest members of his administration.
On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving,
the President participated in the annual White House tradition
of pardoning the national turkey.
The President: Some of you may know that recently I've been taking a
series of executive actions that don't require
congressional approval.
Well, here's another one.
We can't wait to pardon these turkeys.
(laughter)
Narrator: Then with Thanksgiving Eve descending on the Capitol,
the First Family participated in a community service project at
an area food bank.
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 First Lady: I am thrilled to be here today alongside the Vice President and
my favorite person here, Jill Biden --
(laughter)
Oh, yeah.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
(laughter)
You, too, honey.