The Department of Defense released a flurry of additional photos Friday that were taken during the April 27 Air Force One Statue of Liberty photo-op, closing at least one chapter of the controversial saga.

            A total of 146 photos were released of the incident, which prompted some to question the reasoning behind the White House Military Office's decision not to make the mission more broadly-known. It was that lack of a public heads-up that outraged New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who did not get advance notice of the flyover. It also startled many of the city's residents, whose memories of the September 11th attacks are still fresh in their minds nearly eight years later. Keep Reading ...

The message from the White House to the American people today is if you’re planning to buy a car this weekend  by participating in the “Cash for Clunkers” program – GO FOR IT. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters members of the Obama administration were working with bipartisan members of Congress on finding more money to continue the program.

“Cash for Clunkers” is the program offering people with older vehicles $3500 or $4500 toward buying a more fuel-efficient new car or truck. The program was approved by Congress to help the struggling auto industry and take gas guzzlers off the road. The program officially launched a week ago, and reports surfaced late Thursday the $1 billion program was running out of money.

All indications are the administration and lawmakers are looking to reallocate money from the $787 billion stimulus package that has not been spent. The House is looking to pump $2 billion that was originally directed toward a renewable energy loan guarantee program. But at least some Republican members in the Senate are opposed to pumping more money into the program.

Texas Republican Congressman Jeb Hensarling is also opposed to spending more on taking clunkers off the road. “You cannot bailout, borrow and spend your way to prosperity,” Hensarling said. 

9:40a      The President receives the daily briefing in the Oval Office

10:00a   The President meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office

10:30a   The President receives the economic daily briefing in the Oval Office

10:30a   Vice President Biden addresses the 2009 National Urban League Conference: "The Path to Power"

12:00p   The President has lunch with business leaders in the Private Dining Room of the White House

1:00p   White House Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

3:30p   The President and Vice President meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Oval Office

6:15p   The President and Vice President host a six-month review meeting with members of the Cabinet at Blair House in Washington

The President held his highly anticipated 'beer summit' today, though he'd prefer we didn't call it that.  The meeting brought together Harvard professor Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge Police Sgt.  James Crowley for what the President called a teachable moment.

Vice President Biden turned out to be a surprise guest at the meeting.  The four men sat at a round table in the Rose Garden at the White House and sipped cold beer while they talked.

What did they drink?

President Obama: Bud Light
Vice President Biden: Buckler (non alcoholic)
Sgt. Crowley: Blue Moon
Prof. Gates: Sam Adams Light

Following the meeting, Mr. Obama released the following statement:

"I am thankful to Professor Gates and Sergeant Crowley for joining me at the White House this evening for a friendly, thoughtful conversation. Even before we sat down for the beer, I learned that the two gentlemen spent some time together listening to one another, which is a testament to them. I have always believed that what brings us together is stronger than what pulls us apart. I am confident that has happened here tonight, and I am hopeful that all of us are able to draw this positive lesson from this episode."

President Obama today named 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom.   America's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

This year's awardees were chosen for their work as agents of change.  Among their many accomplishments in fields ranging from sports and art to science and medicine to politics and public policy, these men and women have changed the world for the better.  They have blazed trails and broken down barriers.  They have discovered new theories, launched new initiatives, and opened minds to new possibilities.

President Obama will present the awards at a ceremony on Wednesday, August 12.

The following individuals will be among those awarded the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom:
Stephen Hawking
Jack Kemp
Sen. Edward Kennedy
Billie Jean King
Harvey Milk
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sidney Poitier
Chita Rivera
Desmond Tutu

9:30AM The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office

9:50AM The President receives the Economic Daily Briefing in the Oval Office

10:30AM The President meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office

1:15PM Daily Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

3:00PM The President meets with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines in the Oval Office

4:00PM The President meets with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in the Oval Office

4:30PM The President meets with The Vice President in the Oval Office

6:00PM The President meets with Sergeant James Crowley and Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. outside the Oval Office

Additional Vice President Biden schedule info:

In the afternoon, the Vice President will hold a Recovery Act Implementation Cabinet Meeting. This meeting is closed press. Afterwards, the Vice President will host conference calls with Governors and Mayors from across the country to discuss Recovery Act implementation. These calls are closed press.

President Obama is on his second town hall of the day. He's currently at a Kroger in Bristol, VA talking to employees of the supermarket. Check out the pic!

Photo by Bryan Cole

The President is on the road, doing his first health care town hall of the day. He's trying to impress on average americans that his health reform is a good plan and he's trying to make sure the mis-information that is floating around stops being spread.

Obama said "If you already have health care, I can't guarantee that your premiums will be cut in half, but what I can guarantee is your costs will be lower than if we don't have reform."

Fox News White House Correspondent Mike Emanuel previews President Obama's first Town Hall today in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Bristol, Virginia is the next stop on the President's road show to Health Care reform.  More to come from Bristol.