Regrets Obama peace prize
Lundestad says he regrets the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama in 2009, saying he failed to live up to expectations. The award was expected to boost the President but instead, the decision was met with criticism in the U.S.
No Nobel Peace Prize ever elicited more attention than the 2009 prize to Barack Obama…Even many of Obama’s supporters believed that the prize was a mistake. In that sense the committee didn’t achieve what it had hoped for
Lundestad says the President considered not going to pick up the award, and that his staff inquired whether other winners had skipped the ceremony. They found that this has happened only on rare occasions, such as when dissidents were held back by their governments. They therefore realized that they had no option but to travel and accept the award.
2014 National Medal of Arts
King receives the 2104 National Medal of Arts from President Obama for “combining storytelling with analysis of human nature”. Other recipients include Sally Fields and Alice Waters.
Obama nominates Slavitt
Obama nominates UnitedHealth Group executive Slavitt for senate approval to head Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Slavitt currently works as acting administrator of government health insurance programs and is known for his efforts in rectifying issues with the health insurance website during the rollout of the Affordable Care Act. Senator Klobuchar:
With decades of experience delivering health care services to millions of Americans, Andy has developed a track record as an effective and innovative leader who gets results. As acting administrator at CMS, Andy has played a crucial role in leading efforts to combat health care fraud, reform health care delivery, and improve health outcomes. That experience makes him the perfect person to lead this critical agency.
Wins Grammy
Obama wins the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On Reclaiming The American Dream.
I’d like to thank the Academy for courageously breaking the mold this time. In doing so, honoring the giants upon whose shoulders I stand, some of whom like Miles Davis, John Coltrane … unquestionably, deserved the award in the past. But this is a new day, that proves that the impossible can be made possible. Yes, We Can!
Wins Grammy
Obama wins the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Dreams From My Father (Senator Barack Obama).