Day 12
Jan. 31, 2009
"In just the first few weeks, I've had to engage in some of the toughest diplomacy of my life. And that was just to keep my BlackBerry."
"Now, this hasn't been reported yet, but it was actually Rahm's idea to do the swearing-in ceremony again. Of course, for Rahm, every day is a swearing-in ceremony."
—President Obama, cracking jokes regarding his insistence on keeping his BlackBerry and his chief of staff's profanity at the annual D.C. Alfalfa dinner
The President gives a glimpse of his humorous side at an annual gathering of Washington's élite. Also in attendance are former Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
The fun and games for Obama, however, are short-lived: the allegation that Health and Human Services Secretary–nominee Tom Daschle failed to pay $128,000 in taxes begins to surface, and the Senate Finance Committee sets up a meeting to discuss delaying his confirmation hearing.