Malia Obama Calls Dibs on Lincoln's Desk

Malia Obama, the 10-year-old daughter of President-elect Obama, plans to make herself right at home in the White House and has already called dibs on using Abraham Lincoln's desk for her homework.

Obama, who will move his family into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on Jan. 20, said his oldest daughter came back from her tour of the White House with a plan.

"She says, 'You know, Daddy, I've got an idea,'" Obama told ABC News' Barbara Walters during an exclusive interview.

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"She says, 'Well you know how sometimes I have these, you know, big papers that I have to write? If I've got an important paper, a history paper, I think I'm going to go in that room where Abraham Lincoln, where there's that thing where he signed it?"

"You mean the Gettysburg Address?" Obama asked.

"Yeah. I'm going to sit at that desk because I'm thinking that will inspire big thoughts," she told her father.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/President44/story?id=6339711&page=1

Its going to be so much fun having the Obama family in the White House. Cute and smart!

I grew up in the JFK era, and the style, intelligence, wit, love and caring that just shines from the Obamas is very reminiscent of that era to me. I cannot WAIT to see our new First Lady's inaugural gown (shallow, eh? - well, we all have our faults) and the kid's first Easter Egg Hunt on the South Lawn........

It's about political views, primarily, but thank God, it's FINALLY again about FAMILY!!

:bounce:

I'm really looking forward to this family moving in, too. What a refreshing and wonderful change.

Cher

here come the tears:

:cry: :cry: :cry:

so adorable, so cute, can't read anything about this family without shedding a few tears of relief!

I got all choked up reading this.

Such a welcome change from the current family residing there.

great big awwww...Don't ever lose those "Big thoughts"

???

and what speeches he delivered.

I'll cut him slack that what Mr Lincoln delivered at Gettysburg was not the "Address." Few people know the details of that day. If anything, the "Address" was delivered by Mr Everett, though his was officially called the "Oration." Mr Lincoln delivered "Dedicatory Remarks," and was decidedly second-bill to Mr Everett. Common usage, however, attributes "Address" to Mr Lincoln, and that's by what the majority know it. Still . . .

perhaps that is apocryphal but it isn't something he would have "signed" anyway. I just gave myself a self-test; I memorized the G.A. long ago and wondered if I could still recite it...I must confess I confabulated a few phrases while aging. ;-)

Sarah Failin would have nailed him for not knowing the zip code or claimed that Gettysburg was the most favorite country she had ever visited.
Give me a break....:eyes: :eyes:

Malia was referring to the copy of the Gettysburg address which is displayed on the desk; it is the only one of 5 handwritten copies that is signed and dated by Lincoln himself -- see: http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/floor2/lincoln-bedroom.htm

According to Barack, Malia said: "I think I'm going to go in that room where Abraham Lincoln, where there's that thing where he signed it". So that "thing where he signed it" probably refers to the copy on display - we can assume that when Malia was given a tour of the rooms in the White House, someone probably pointed out Lincoln's signature on the paper. Obama confirmed that's what she meant when he replied, "You mean the Gettysburg Address?"

While it is really cool to imagine little Malia doing her homework at the same desk where the Emancipation Proclamation was signed -- that isn't the desk. Lincoln did sign the Emancipation Proclamation in the White House, in that room (which was then his office) - but he had a different desk. The desk that is there now was his, but it was in in a cottage called the Soldier's Home where Lincoln often stayed during summers. See: http://home.att.net/~rjnorton/Lincoln54.html

that certainly places a different perspective to Mr Obama's comment and makes me realize the error of my observation.

It's well known that he makes appearances.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%27s_Ghost



Cher

I can't wait to have a real family in the White House!!

They care about family. They care about others. They care about education.

It's such a calming thing for me... knowing that the future of our country is in good hands.

And I have every confidence that she will succeed at whatever she sets her mind at. You dream big Malia and never let anyone discourage you!

:applause:

Sonia

God what a lovable family.

. . . on something that hasn't happened in the white house since to a presidential family since 1893, the only time it happened?
Any guessers on what it was?