More than a simple thank you visit: First Lady discusses role of agency in Development...This afternoon, First Lady Michelle Obama visited the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she was greeted by a standing ovation in the auditorium of the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington. It was a mutual love fest, as Mrs. Obama gave the agency staff her own version of a standing ovation, calling them "a special breed of folk," and "what is truly best about America." She also spoke about future policy directions for the agency.
During her remarks, the first Lady noted that the Obama Administration is committed to making development a key part of a global effort to ensure “peace, security and progress in the world. She mentioned the role of sustainable agriculture, noting that USAID has prevented millions from starving by helping rebuild capacity, in Afghanistan and elsewhere."The President and Secretary Clinton...have made development an important part of foreign policy once again," Mrs. Obama said, and added that Sec. Clinton has done a "fantastic job." There will be a continuing focus on development, Mrs. Obama noted, rather than just sending relief, as has been policy during previous administrations.
In light of the fact that Foreign Policy has a draft copy of a memo from the White House that covers internal discussions about a revamp of Development initiatives, potentially taking these out of the State Department, Mrs. Obama's comments are more than just a typical thank-you. Foreign Policy notes that the memo is from a deputies committee meeting, but also points out that the document advocates establishing 'an interagency "development policy committee" -- moving the responsibility for coordinating U.S. policy on development out of the State Department'" (read 'A New Way Forward on Global Development" here; PDF).
Mrs. Obama noted staffers' dedication, courage, and long periods of time spent away from their families, and pointed out that she's particularly well acquainted with the lives of USAID staff, because her own mother-in-law ("Barack's mother") had spent twenty years abroad working for USAID. That garnered another round of applause. (At top: Mrs. Obama applauding staff, joined by Dr. Rajiv Shah, Director of USAID. Mrs. Obama called Shah "extraordinary")
"There are no words that can express the amount of gratitude that my husband and I feel for the work that you do," Mrs. Obama said. "You are making us proud. You’re making the country proud. And you’re making the world see America in a very fundamentally different way.
The room was so full that agency workers were seated in the aisles on the floor, and standing on both sides of stairways heading to the balcony, and Mrs. Obama had to motion them to sit as the applause continued when she first stepped on stage.As she spoke, Mrs. Obama was dwarfed by two massive video screens on either side of the stage. A huge backdrop with the USAID logo on it loomed behind her. An East Wing spokesperson said the crowd was about 1,000 strong, and that thousands more watched Mrs. Obama's remarks via livestream. Having just returned from a visit to Haiti, where she met with hundreds of USAID workers in the middle of the devastated earthquake zone, Mrs. Obama was clearly moved.
Mrs. Obama promised more foreign visits in the years to come (even more applause).
The First Lady closed by thanking everyone again, and waded into the crowd to shake many, many hands, and give personal, up close thanks (above). The visit to USAID was Mrs. Obama's 17th to an agency during an ongoing "thank you" tour that began last year.
Related: The full transcript of the First Lady's remarks is here. Shah was named "Unified Disaster Coordinator" for Haiti, shortly after the earthquake destroyed most of the capitol city of Port-au-Prince. Watch a White House video of the First Lady's trip to Haiti here.
*Photos by Obama Foodorama
