Report from Obama’s morning in Lawrence
President Barack Obama introduces himself to a preschooler named Michelle and tells her that he also knows someone named Michelle, at the Community Children's Center at Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence, Kan on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 . President Obama visited Lawrence to outline some of his themes delivered during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Here’s the report from Journal-World reporter Peter Hancock and Todd J. Gillman of the Dallas Morning News, who were in the press pool with President Barack Obama Thursday morning.
— Related: Sights and sounds from around Lawrence during the presidential visit —
Shortly before Obama began speaking at 11:32 a.m., Kansas University Fire Marshall Robert Bombach estimated the crowd in Anschutz Sports Pavilion at 7,150.
The President was introduced by Alyssa Cole, a KU senior majoring in History and African and African-American studies. Alyssa, a single mother, wrote to Obama in 2013 to explain her concerns about education and quality, affordable childcare. She said she felt forced to choose among her education, working, and taking care of her children who are now 3, 4 and 7. Alyssa was recently accepted into the McNair Scholars Program.
Obama took the stage in a blue shirt, sleeves rolled up.
“It is good to be at KU,” he said.
Obama said he took a moment to meet with KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self and members of the Jayhawks team. He thanked Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and Mayor Mike Amyx. He said that he had heard recently from former Sen. Bob Dole, who said he’s proud of the Dole Institute of Politics at KU.
“I’ve got deep roots in Kansas,” Obama said. His mother was born in Wichita, his grandmother was from Augusta and his grandfather was from El Dorado.
“So I’m a Kansas guy,” he said.
The crowd was largely enthusiastic, especially when the president shifted from early childhood education to higher education and wage issues. One of the loudest applause breaks came when Obama repeated his call for passage of an equal pay act for women.
The speech ended shortly after noon, and the motorcade departed for Forbes Field and Air Force One, headed back to Washington.
Check back to LJWorld.com for more updates.
Earlier this morning:
10 a.m. — The motorcade left the Holiday Inn on McDonald Drive, where the president stayed overnight. In spots along the motorcade route, people gathered, a few holding signs or American flags. One sign said “Barack Chalk.”
10:10 a.m. — Obama visited the Community Children’s Center, a Head Start preschool at Plymouth Congregational Church. It was one of first Head Start programs in country, established in 1965. Obama greeted about 16 children who had been reading a book called “Sneetches.”
Teachers Dawna Kneedler and Rachel Gehringer were engaging the children as they awaited the president. The children gawked and giggled at the press pool. “That’s a lot of people,” one child said over and over. “They have caaaameras,” said another.
Birthday boy Josh Earnest entered the room, followed moments later by the president, in shirtsleeves, accompanied by Carolyn Kelly, executive director of the Community Children’s Center, and Tracie Morris, social services coordinator.
Obama was very animated as he greeted the kids, most of them 4, some of them 3 or 5.
“What are you guys doing? You guys are working on your letters?” Obama said.
One child asked his name. “I’m Barack,” he said.
“I saw you on my TV,” another said.
“I saw him on the news,” another said.
“I’ve been on the news sometimes,” Obama said.
Obama worked each of the two tables of children, kneeling beside the kids. He asked just about each of them their names. One was named Michelle. “I know a Michelle. One of my favorite people’s named Michelle.”
The kids were reading a Dr. Seuss story, a parable about discrimination.
“Are these the Sneetches? The star-belly Sneetches? The Sneetches with no stars on theirs? That is one of my favorite stories … In fact most of the things I deal with as president would be solved if everybody read about the Sneetches. Because there are some people who think they’re special cause they’ve got stars, and some who feel bad cause they don’t.”
One child asked what Obama wanted to do when he grew up.
“When I was really young I wanted to be an architect. You know what an architect is? … We build buildings. We design buildings. We make buildings like schools, libraries, and office buildings. I really wanted to do that when I was young.”
The local Head Start Program was significantly impacted by federal sequestration cuts, said Rev. Peter Luckey, pastor of Plymouth. Luckey said he fully supports Obama’s agenda to increase access to preschool and early childhood education.
At the rope line outside, he greeted the president. Obama asked Luckey to pray for him, Michelle, their two daughters and their dog.
Dozens of well-wishers had lined the sidewalk across the street and cheered when the president came out.
Obama stayed at the preschool about 15 minutes. His motorcade then left for Anschutz. A few thousand people had been admitted to the indoor sports practice facility. Many had lined up in the wee hours of the morning to get a good spot.
Local and state officials in the arena included State Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka; State sens. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, and Laura Kelly, D-Topeka; Douglas County Commissioner Mike Gaughan; former U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery; former U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore.