A journey begins with just a single step forward.
...because of your vision and resolve, I came to believe that soon, very soon, affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family's health will never again depend on the amount of a family's wealth. And while I will not see the victory, I was able to look forward and know that we will – yes, we will – fulfill the promise of health care in America as a right and not a privilege. -Senator Edward Kennedy
This is where the first push began around this time last year. A bipartisan summit on Health Care at the White House.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., listen to President Barack Obama’s remarks during the Health Care Summit in the East Room of the White House, March 5, 2009. Melody Barnes, director of the Domestic Policy Council, is seated at left. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Health Care Summit in the East Room of the White House, March 5, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama makes a point during a health care stakeholders meeting in Roosevelt Room of the White House, May 11, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama walks down the South Lawn sidewalk with Members of Congress en route a press statement, following their meeting on health care in the Oval Office, May, 13 2009. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
President Barack Obama meets with Senate Democrats to discuss health care in the State Dining Room of the White House, June 2, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
I thought they said the President didn't allow them any input?
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with, from left, Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo., Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, to discuss health care reform in the Oval Office, June 10, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
An unsung hero of health care reform!
President Barack Obama is briefed by Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office for Health Reform, during a health care meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, June 18, 2009. ( Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Another silent force to be reckon with. President Obama had some strong women on the fore front of this fight!
President Barack Obama greets Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, during a meeting with governors in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, June 24, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Still can't stand Charlie from the debates.
President Barack Obama speaks with Charles Gibson during a taping for a nationally televised town hall meeting on ABC, in the East Room of the White House, June 24, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama answers questions during a health care reform town hall meeting at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Va., July 1, 2009. Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett is seated at right. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Float like a Butterfly, Sting Like a 'B'!
President Barack Obama pumps his fists while talking with senior staff in the Outer Oval Office, July 13, 2009. Pictured, from left, are Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the Office of Health Reform, Peter Orszag, director of Office of Management and Budget, Phil Schiliro, assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, and Larry Summers, director of the National Economic Council. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama meets with nurses and Members of Congress in the Oval Office, prior to a health care event, July 15, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama discusses health care during a briefing with staff in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, June 18, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama participates in a town hall meeting on health care insurance reform at Gallatin Field in Belgrade, Mont., Aug. 14, 2009.
(Official White House photo by Pete Souza)
Historic speech before a joint session of Congress. Historic both for its substance, and for Joe "You Lie" Wilson's historic disrespect of the President of the United States and Congressional decorum.
President Barack Obama and Jon Favreau, head speechwriter, edit a speech on health care in the Oval Office, Sept. 9, 2009, in preparation for the president's address to a joint session of Congress. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
His hands would have been better. :P
President Barack Obama is applauded by Members of Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, right, as he steps to the podium to deliver remarks on health care before a joint session of Congress, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Sept. 9, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Audience members listen as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a rally on health insurance reform at the University of Maryland, in College Park, Md., Sept. 17, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama meets with, from left, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Senior Advisor David Axelrod, Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office for Health Reform, and Phil Schiliro, assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, regarding the impending health care vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, in the Oval Office, Nov. 7, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama arrives at the Cannon House Office Building at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to discuss health care with the House Democratic Caucus, Nov. 7, 2009. He is accompanied by Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, left, Reggie Love, the President's personal aide, and Wilson Livingood, right, the Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
They've always been a team, despite these new media tabloid reports.
President Barack Obama hugs House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the Cannon House Office Building at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Nov. 7, 2009. The President delivered remarks regarding the Affordable Health Care for America Act. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama preps with staff for an upcoming health care meeting with U.S. Senators in the Oval Office, Dec. 5, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama: "Lieberman, you are in timeout. Go stand in the corner!"
President Barack Obama answers questions during a meeting with the Senate Democratic Caucus in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Dec. 15, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama gestures during a meeting in preparation for a phone call with a Member of Congress, in the Oval Office, Dec. 24, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
If they take my kindness for granted, "I will crush them" PBO
President Barack Obama gestures during a conference call on health care in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Jan. 5, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama meets with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., during a health care meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Jan. 5, 2010. Senate leaders joined in the meeting via telephone. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
"Got damn senate."
President Barack Obama pauses during a health care meeting with Members of Congress in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Jan. 15, 2010. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., is seated at left. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
What a tragedy she was!
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a Martha Coakley for U.S. Senate event at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass., Jan. 17, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Boehner looks like he wants to hurl, and the Presidential ass whooping republican summit hadn't even started. This was just the invocation. Wonder what the minority leader prayed for...
President Barack Obama bows his head during the invocation at the nationally televised Republican House Issues Conference in Baltimore, Md., Jan. 29, 2010. Standing with the President on-stage, from left, are Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., and Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama discusses a point with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, during the nationally televised bipartisan meeting on health insurance reform at Blair House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 25, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Best starting political line-up in history.
President Barack Obama walks from Blair House to the White House, following the bipartisan meeting on health insurance reform, Feb. 25, 2010. He is accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama greets doctors and nurses following his remarks about health care reform in the East Room of the White House, March 3, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
President Barack Obama fist-bumps a medical professional in the Green Room of the White House, prior to the start of a health care event, March 3, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama meets with New Democrat Coalition Congressional leadership in the Oval Office, March 4, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama speaks about health care insurance reform at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pa., March 8, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with a Member of Congress while en route to a health care event at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., March 19, 2010. Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro rides with the President. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama calls a Member of Congress to discuss health care reform in the Oval Office, March 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama calls a Member of Congress about health care reform from the Oval Office, March 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Don't play with me Stupak. I'll cover your ass, but you better stop this nonsense now. And I better be able to count on you when the republicans try to recommit your amendment.
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with a Member of Congress about health care in the Oval Office, March 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama calls a Member of Congress to discuss health care reform in the Oval Office, March 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Strategy sessions, what a socialist concept.
President Barack Obama listens to Dan Turton, deputy director of Legislative Affairs, during a health care strategy session with advisors in the Chief of Staff's outer office at the White House, March 20, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office for Health Reform, talks with Dan Meltzer, principal deputy counsel, as President Barack Obama calls a Member of Congress in the Oval Office, March 20, 2010. Seated on the couch, from left, are Bob Bauer, counsel to the President, Phil Schiliro, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, and Danielle Gray, associate counsel to the President. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Chill the fuck out everyone. I got this!
In between meetings on health care reform, President Barack Obama plays a game of H-O-R-S-E with Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff for the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, on the White House Basketball Court, March 21, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Final Knock Out Punch!
President Barack Obama pumps his fists during a meeting with senior staff in the Chief of Staff 's office at the White House, March 21, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
PASSED!
President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and senior staff, react in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, as the House passes the health care reform bill, March 21, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama texting Bill Clinton: I'm a bad muthafucker, ain't I?
President Barack Obama reacts to a BlackBerry message in the Treaty Room office in the private residence of the White House, March 21, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Secretary Clinton: "Bill said to tell you, you are a bad muthafucker! Come here and give me a hug."
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton congratulates President Barack Obama on the House vote to pass health care reform, prior to a meeting in the Situation Room of the White House, March 22, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Vicki Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, gives President Barack Obama a "TEDSTRONG" bracelet, which shows support for cancer advocacy, in the Blue Room of the White House prior to the signing ceremony for the health insurance reform bill, March 23, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Health Care Reform, Signed, Sealed, Delivered!
President Barack Obama signs the health insurance reform bill in the East Room of the White House, March 23, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Leading Ladies of Health Care Reform.
President Barack Obama embraces Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, left, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after signing the health insurance reform bill in the East Room of the White House, March 23, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
ALERT! ALERT! ADULTS IN CHARGE!!! ADULTS IN CHARGE!
This diary has been approved by President Barack H. Obama.