Day 83
April 12, 2009
"I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans."
—President Obama, on the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates
"The First Family has not made a decision yet on which church they will formally join in Washington ..."
—Joshua DuBois, head of the White House Faith Office, dismissing speculation that where the Obamas attend services on Easter is where they'll make their permanent new church
Obama gets a nice surprise on Easter Sunday. Just as Republicans are starting to try to make political hay out of the Somali pirate-hostage standoff, the U.S. captain held for five days is rescued in a daring operation in the Indian Ocean. After getting Obama's O.K., Navy Seal snipers kill three of the pirates and free the American cargo-ship captain.
The Obamas celebrate the holiday by visiting the pale-yellow church across from the White House, St. John's Church in Lafayette Square. The White House remains coy about whether the First Family will become permanent members of the church.
Another mystery solved on Easter: news breaks that the Obamas have picked a 6-month-old black-and-white Portuguese water dog whom the girls are naming Bo. The dog is a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy, who owns several himself.