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14 November 2008
This Week from Washington November 14
Podcast on Bush-Obama meeting, G20 summit
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This week, President Bush and President-elect Obama meet at the White House. And heads of 20 nations meet in Washington to discuss the future of global financial markets.
President Bush and President-elect Obama held their first post-election meeting at the White House November 10. The two leaders held private talks in the Oval Office that likely focused on the U.S. economy and national security. The Bush administration has pledged its “complete cooperation” as the country prepares for the January 20th inauguration of the new president.
Separately, White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten held talks with his predecessor in the Clinton administration, John Podesta, on the transition between the Bush and Obama administrations. Podesta now heads the Obama transition team.
With many challenges facing the country, Bush said in his weekly radio address November 8th that a smooth transition is a top priority for the rest of his time in office. It is America’s first wartime presidential transition in four decades.
President-elect Obama and his team receive much of the same information as President Bush. The Bush administration has provided intelligence briefings to Obama and security clearances so that members of the transition staff can be fully up-to-date on policy issues such as the state of financial markets and the war in Iraq. Bush has also said he would keep Obama “fully informed” on executive decisions during the transition period.
As Washington prepares to receive a new president in January, the business of dealing with international economic challenges continues. Leaders of the Group of 20 countries will meet at Washington’s National Building Museum November 14–15 to discuss reforms of the global financial system. All of the “Group of 20” heads of state are expected to attend.
The Group of 20, or G20, was established in 1999 and includes developed and emerging market economies. Representatives of the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations and the Financial Stability Forum will also attend.
The current state of global financial markets and the impacts on economies have led to calls for reform. The discussion will begin with the causes of the current crisis and actions already taken to deal with it. Bush administration officials also seek to discuss broader reform principles that might prevent another crisis.
Some experts say that there will be a clash between European countries and the United States over how to reorganize the rules of the global financial system. But while there may be disagreements among the French, British and American positions, the countries cooperate. And given the complexity of the global economy and the role of emerging nations, the voices of all members of the G20 will be important.
The two-day gathering will be the first of several summits. Assuming leaders agree on reform principles, they will return home to consult with economic experts before moving forward.
Each November, National American Indian Heritage Month pays tribute to the legacy of the American Indians and Alaska Natives — the first Americans — and celebrates their enduring contributions to the history and culture of the United States.
Today, there are nearly 5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, making up 1.6 percent of the total population. That number is expected to grow to 8.6 million by 2050. Most American Indians live in metropolitan areas and not on the 227,000 square kilometers of land held in reservations. The states with the highest percentages of American Indians and Alaska Natives are Alaska, Oklahoma and New Mexico. There are 561 recognized Indian tribes in the United States. The largest are the Cherokee and Navajo nations.
Navajo is the most widely spoken American Indian language, and almost one-fourth of Navajos speak a language other than English at home — the highest percentage of all tribes. Unfortunately, only half of the 300 native languages once spoken in North America still have any living speakers. The Navajo nation is taking action to be sure its language survives and grows by creating a textbook and teaching the language in schools.
This annual celebration started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain one day of recognition for the first Americans. The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by New York Governor Charles Whitman. Many other states also designated various days to recognize American Indians. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush approved a joint resolution declaring November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Every year since 1994 similar proclamations have been issued.
Events around the country celebrate the contributions of Native Americans which have endured centuries.
The U.S. Library of Congress has a web site devoted to Native American Heritage Month. Visit http://www.loc.gov/topics/nativeamericans/index.html
This podcast is produced by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Links to other Internet sites or opinions expressed should not be considered an endorsement of other content and views.
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