First Lady Offers Gift And Thanks At Agriculture Department
4813706First Lady Michelle Obama doesn't show up empty handed.
On a visit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture today, Obama gave the department a seedling from the Andrew Jackson magnolia tree that sits on the South Portico of the White House.
"I hope that this seedling brings years of joy and beauty to the garden that will be planted here, in the same way it has brought beauty to the White House for 180 years," Mrs. Obama told agency employees.
The seedling will be planted somewhere in the agency's landscaping facing the national mall, according to Larry Quinn, acting director of communications for the department.
Obama addressed agency employees in the department's auditorium. During her remarks, the first lady invited veteran employees who had been with the department for at least 38 years to join her on the stage. She also took time to thank all agency employees for their service.
"Before we do anything here in this town, in this country, we thought it is important to say thank you for the work that you've done," Obama said. "Thank you for the work that you're going to do, because we're going to need you working so very hard over the next several years."
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack paid tribute to Obama during his introductory remarks. Vilsack noted that because she had to be an unstinting source of support for her husband, Obama had "probably the most difficult job of all."
The first lady was similarly effusive in praising Vilsack.
"We're so lucky to have Secretary Vilsack," Obama said. "He brings to this job a lifetime of public service in one of the greatest states in this country, which has become one of my favorite states, Iowa."
That remark, a wry nod to her husband's decisive victory in the Iowa caucus, elicited laughter from the crowd.
The visit was part of the first lady's ongoing tours of various government departments.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. On a visit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture today, Obama gave the department a seedling from the Andrew Jackson magnolia tree that sits on the South Portico of the White House.
"I hope that this seedling brings years of joy and beauty to the garden that will be planted here, in the same way it has brought beauty to the White House for 180 years," Mrs. Obama told agency employees.
The seedling will be planted somewhere in the agency's landscaping facing the national mall, according to Larry Quinn, acting director of communications for the department.
Obama addressed agency employees in the department's auditorium. During her remarks, the first lady invited veteran employees who had been with the department for at least 38 years to join her on the stage. She also took time to thank all agency employees for their service.
"Before we do anything here in this town, in this country, we thought it is important to say thank you for the work that you've done," Obama said. "Thank you for the work that you're going to do, because we're going to need you working so very hard over the next several years."
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack paid tribute to Obama during his introductory remarks. Vilsack noted that because she had to be an unstinting source of support for her husband, Obama had "probably the most difficult job of all."
The first lady was similarly effusive in praising Vilsack.
"We're so lucky to have Secretary Vilsack," Obama said. "He brings to this job a lifetime of public service in one of the greatest states in this country, which has become one of my favorite states, Iowa."
That remark, a wry nod to her husband's decisive victory in the Iowa caucus, elicited laughter from the crowd.
The visit was part of the first lady's ongoing tours of various government departments.
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"Before we do anything here in this town, in this country, we thought it is important to say thank you for the work that you've done," Obama said. "Thank you for the work that you're going to do, because we're going to need you working so very hard over the next several years."
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A Long time ago, close to the end Reagan's second term, I had to visit DC for a seminar for federal employees. During a break, I visited with a number of DC area federal employees and asked how things were going. Their response was that they were marking time until Reagan left office. They did this during the first term and the second term.
Reagan started at odds with the federal workforce and never got anything of consequence done.
By her actions today, Michelle went a long ways to getting the employees on the administration's side.