June 17, 2013
Catie Curry
News Writer
POTUS Column
Photos: Jordan Schatz/DC Spotlight Newspaper
From Washington, D.C., Catie Curry, POTUS columnist.
While Washington continues to simmer with political drama, President Obama stayed close to home in recent days, both in his home city of Chicago and his house on Pennsylvania Ave. He may have had some serious business to attend to with the crisis in the military involving sexual assaults and the release of secret National Security Agency files on the government spy program by Edward Snowden, but Obama always seems to make time for a little fun.
The president paid a visit to Chicago on Wednesday, May 29th to attend a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at the Hilton Chicago. The event was held in the hotel’s ballroom, decorated with crystal chandeliers and a large American flag. The president said a few words, but took a moment to wish happy birthday to Representative Steve Israel. He joked with the crowd, smiling and saying that he would keep his comments short, because the Chicago Blackhawks were playing Game 7.
After an elegant evening which included another fundraiser, the president took a trip to his family home in Kenwood to spend the 
night. I’m sure it felt good to put his feet up at his home away from the White House. He was up the next day to fly home, just in time to attend Sasha’s school choral concert. He may be living in the White House, but the president is just like any other working Dad.
After the weekend, President Obama hosted the National Conference on Mental Health in the East Room of the White House on June 3rd. The event was filled with media, religious groups and school administrators, all dedicated to making sure Americans become better educated about mental illness. With a serious tone and deep appreciation, Obama took a moment to applaud those who attended. He said, “All of you have shown an extraordinary commitment to what is a critical goal, and that is to make sure that people aren’t suffering in silence and that we have the capacity to pull together all the resources and support and love that’s out there to go after an extraordinary challenge in our society.”
After saying a few words, the president had the chance to listen to various panels and discussions about mental health. During the day, he rubbed elbows with not only current and former government officials, but with celebrities like Glenn Close and Bradley Cooper. 
The president took the chance to enjoy the beginnings of summer weather when he attended a nomination event in the Rose Garden the next day. The morning was sunny and bright, perfect weather to be outside as three were nominated to be a part of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
While the weather may have been cheery, Obama wasn’t as much as he complained about the difficulty he has getting his nominations to the court. He explained “What I’m doing today is my job. I need the Senate to do its job.”
Obama got to take a break from the politics later that afternoon when he visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center just outside of Washington, later that afternoon. Inside the Center, the president met with 21 wounded service members and their families.
As he visited each service member, he had the chance to smile and give a few handshakes and hugs as he chatted with them. For most of the veterans, seeing the president really excited them. Now if that couldn’t make Obama feel better after a rough few weeks, then not much could.
The president later broke out his purple tie from the back of the closet when Super Bowl Champions, the Baltimore Ravens came to visit the White House on June 5th. The team completed his purple attire when Coach John Harbaugh presented President Obama with a Ravens jersey.
Obama was quick to joke with his guests, asking players not to tear up big chunks of grass off the South Lawn. Later, he laughed as he joked that Joe Flacco could be on his way to beating Joe Biden as the most popular person from Delaware. The day ended with Obama hugging members of the team as the Raven’s anthem played.
