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| Obama diary: The first 100 days | Obama diary: The first 100 days |
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| Barack Obama was elected on a message of change. Now he is in office, change is expected both in foreign and domestic policy. Here the BBC's team in Washington tracks developments in the first 100 days of the Obama presidency. | Barack Obama was elected on a message of change. Now he is in office, change is expected both in foreign and domestic policy. Here the BBC's team in Washington tracks developments in the first 100 days of the Obama presidency. |
| TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY - DAY 15 | TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY - DAY 15 |
| 1350 EST Daschle out | |
| James Coomarasamy: President Obama has lost two of his nominees for top government positions over tax issues. | |
| Tom Daschle has withdrawn from consideration as Health and Human Services Secretary - and Nancy Killefer will not be a candidate for the newly-created post of Chief Performance Officer. | |
| Mr Obama has been facing growing criticism over the contradiction between his pledge to create a new, ethical administration and the problems of his nominees. | |
| In a statement, President Obama said he had accepted Tom Daschle's decision with sadness and regret: "Tom has made a mistake, which he has openly acknowledged. He has not excused it, nor do I". | |
| Both Daschle and Killefer said they didn't want to be a distraction from the president's agenda. | |
| 1230 EST Gregg pick official | 1230 EST Gregg pick official |
| Max Deveson: Barack Obama has confirmed that he wants Republican Senator Judd Gregg to be his Commerce Secretary. | Max Deveson: Barack Obama has confirmed that he wants Republican Senator Judd Gregg to be his Commerce Secretary. |
| But this will not mean the Democrats get a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Gregg reportedly only agreed to take the job on condition that he is replaced by a Republican - and reports suggest that his former chief of staff Bonnie Newman is being lined up for the position. | But this will not mean the Democrats get a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Gregg reportedly only agreed to take the job on condition that he is replaced by a Republican - and reports suggest that his former chief of staff Bonnie Newman is being lined up for the position. |
| Meanwhile, it's been revealed that back in 1995 he voted to abolish the department he is now set to lead. | Meanwhile, it's been revealed that back in 1995 he voted to abolish the department he is now set to lead. |
| 0018 EST 'Buy American' provisions risk backlash | 0018 EST 'Buy American' provisions risk backlash |
| Jonathan Beale: Is Barack Obama setting himself up for a new trade war? That question is being asked after Democrats in the House and the Senate made a "Buy American" provision in the $800bn stimulus package. It would require that the planned massive infrastructure projects use US-made materials. | Jonathan Beale: Is Barack Obama setting himself up for a new trade war? That question is being asked after Democrats in the House and the Senate made a "Buy American" provision in the $800bn stimulus package. It would require that the planned massive infrastructure projects use US-made materials. |
| To some big American companies and allies the "Buy American" clause sounds like old fashioned protectionism. After outcry from the EU, Canada and the US Chamber of Commerce - all worried as to where this will lead - the White House now says it's "reviewing the provision". But it leaves one wondering where an Obama administration really stands on free trade. | To some big American companies and allies the "Buy American" clause sounds like old fashioned protectionism. After outcry from the EU, Canada and the US Chamber of Commerce - all worried as to where this will lead - the White House now says it's "reviewing the provision". But it leaves one wondering where an Obama administration really stands on free trade. |
| Remember Barack Obama on the campaign trail signalling that he could rip up Bush's Nafta free trade agreements? At the time it was seen as a political gesture to win round the sceptical white working class vote. Mr Obama wanted to reassure the unions that he was on their side. Perhaps that's now become more important with the economic crises. | Remember Barack Obama on the campaign trail signalling that he could rip up Bush's Nafta free trade agreements? At the time it was seen as a political gesture to win round the sceptical white working class vote. Mr Obama wanted to reassure the unions that he was on their side. Perhaps that's now become more important with the economic crises. |
| But if he allows the "Buy American" clause to go through, he'd better prepare for a backlash from the rest of the world. | But if he allows the "Buy American" clause to go through, he'd better prepare for a backlash from the rest of the world. |
| MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY - DAY 14 | MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY - DAY 14 |
| 1540 EST Obama team gets the Hollywood treatment | 1540 EST Obama team gets the Hollywood treatment |
| Rajini Vaidyanathan: She's more used to snapping A-list celebrities (one of her most famous pictures was of a naked, pregnant Demi Moore), but now celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz has turned her attention to the West Wing. In a series of pictures in this month's Vanity Fair magazine, members of the Obama administration have been given the Leibovitz treatment. The stylish shots include pictures of well-known members of the team like Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, as well as more junior staff like the White House Social Secretary, and the President's speechwriter. | Rajini Vaidyanathan: She's more used to snapping A-list celebrities (one of her most famous pictures was of a naked, pregnant Demi Moore), but now celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz has turned her attention to the West Wing. In a series of pictures in this month's Vanity Fair magazine, members of the Obama administration have been given the Leibovitz treatment. The stylish shots include pictures of well-known members of the team like Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, as well as more junior staff like the White House Social Secretary, and the President's speechwriter. |
| 1150 EST Republican Commerce Secretary? | 1150 EST Republican Commerce Secretary? |
| Max Deveson: Barack Obama is set to nominate Republican Senator Judd Gregg to be his Commerce Secretary, according to media reports. | Max Deveson: Barack Obama is set to nominate Republican Senator Judd Gregg to be his Commerce Secretary, according to media reports. |
| I wrote about Mr Gregg last week, because he had been voting with the Democrats on some crucial issues. | I wrote about Mr Gregg last week, because he had been voting with the Democrats on some crucial issues. |
| Some liberal commentators have welcomed the prospect of Mr Gregg joining the cabinet - primarily because they are hoping that the man who would be charged with appointing his senate replacement - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, a Democrat - will pick a fellow Democrat. | Some liberal commentators have welcomed the prospect of Mr Gregg joining the cabinet - primarily because they are hoping that the man who would be charged with appointing his senate replacement - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, a Democrat - will pick a fellow Democrat. |
| One extra Democrat (if, as expected, Democrat Al Franken wins the disputed Minnesota recount), would give the party a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the senate. | One extra Democrat (if, as expected, Democrat Al Franken wins the disputed Minnesota recount), would give the party a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the senate. |
| It seems, however, that Mr Gregg is only going to take the job if Mr Lynch promises to replace him with a Republican - or at least that's what his party colleagues are hoping. | It seems, however, that Mr Gregg is only going to take the job if Mr Lynch promises to replace him with a Republican - or at least that's what his party colleagues are hoping. |
| Hillary and China | Hillary and China |
| Kim Ghattas: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be lunching with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. | Kim Ghattas: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be lunching with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. |
| The conversation will most likely focus on the world economic crisis and China in particular. | The conversation will most likely focus on the world economic crisis and China in particular. |
| When Mrs Clinton spoke to journalists in her first news briefing last week, she said she was looking forward to working with her colleagues from other agencies, including Mr Geithner, to design "a more comprehensive approach that will be more in keeping with the important role that China is playing and will be playing". | When Mrs Clinton spoke to journalists in her first news briefing last week, she said she was looking forward to working with her colleagues from other agencies, including Mr Geithner, to design "a more comprehensive approach that will be more in keeping with the important role that China is playing and will be playing". |
| She took a subtle swipe at the Bush administration saying the strategic dialogue between Beijing and Washington had become solely economic. | She took a subtle swipe at the Bush administration saying the strategic dialogue between Beijing and Washington had become solely economic. |
| The world economic crisis means that finance, trade and foreign currency will be at the heart of diplomatic ties between countries around the world. | The world economic crisis means that finance, trade and foreign currency will be at the heart of diplomatic ties between countries around the world. |
| This gives Mrs Clinton another lever to make sure she is centre stage as well. So as President Obama's team of rivals gets to work, the jockeying for position is starting. | This gives Mrs Clinton another lever to make sure she is centre stage as well. So as President Obama's team of rivals gets to work, the jockeying for position is starting. |
| FRIDAY 30 JANUARY - DAY 11 | FRIDAY 30 JANUARY - DAY 11 |
| 1945 EST Middle class empowerment | 1945 EST Middle class empowerment |
| Rajini Vaidyanathan: President Obama has announced the creation of a "Middle Class Task Force" to raise living standards for, as the name suggests, middle-class US families. | Rajini Vaidyanathan: President Obama has announced the creation of a "Middle Class Task Force" to raise living standards for, as the name suggests, middle-class US families. |
| It will be led by Vice-President Joe Biden, who himself rose to the top from working class roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania. | It will be led by Vice-President Joe Biden, who himself rose to the top from working class roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania. |
| The task force will host meetings with government agencies, business leaders, policy makers and community groups, to propose new policies and initiatives to help American families. | The task force will host meetings with government agencies, business leaders, policy makers and community groups, to propose new policies and initiatives to help American families. |
| Vice-President Biden says the process will be totally transparent. The accompanying website promises to post videos and minutes of meetings and allow people to submit their thoughts. | Vice-President Biden says the process will be totally transparent. The accompanying website promises to post videos and minutes of meetings and allow people to submit their thoughts. |
| Despite the promise of greater openness and engagement the task itself is a tough one. | Despite the promise of greater openness and engagement the task itself is a tough one. |
| Will this task force be anything more than a talking shop, or will it be a fertilising ground for new policies? And even then, in uncertain economic times, can these new policies actually make a difference? | Will this task force be anything more than a talking shop, or will it be a fertilising ground for new policies? And even then, in uncertain economic times, can these new policies actually make a difference? |
| 1550 EST Obama and Iran | 1550 EST Obama and Iran |
| Is President Obama being "needlessly defensive and apologetic" in his overtures towards Iran and the Muslim world, as Charles Krauthammer argues? | Is President Obama being "needlessly defensive and apologetic" in his overtures towards Iran and the Muslim world, as Charles Krauthammer argues? |
| Or is he in agreement with Krauthammer's basic position, but choosing to soften his rhetoric? | Or is he in agreement with Krauthammer's basic position, but choosing to soften his rhetoric? |
| The BBC's North America Editor Justin Webb offers his thoughts here. | The BBC's North America Editor Justin Webb offers his thoughts here. |
| 1530 EST X marks the spot | 1530 EST X marks the spot |
| Rajini Vaidyanathan: A treat for all you West Wing fans... | Rajini Vaidyanathan: A treat for all you West Wing fans... |
| Here is a link to the Washington Post's map of the real "Obama West Wing". | Here is a link to the Washington Post's map of the real "Obama West Wing". |
| 1015 EST Staying mobile | 1015 EST Staying mobile |
| President Obama uses a handheld mobile device in the grounds of the White House - the president was a keen BlackBerry user during the election campaign | President Obama uses a handheld mobile device in the grounds of the White House - the president was a keen BlackBerry user during the election campaign |
| Obama diary: Days 1-10 | Obama diary: Days 1-10 |