With Advisors Set, Agenda is in the Making

Monday, January 26th 9:20am Dear Diary, As it has been almost a week since I moved into the White House, I've decided that it's time to more decisively start planning my agenda as the First Lady. I've already started setting the tone for my persona within the White House by just signing my emails as "Michelle.' I really feel that this keeps things on a personal basis and helps create a warming environment for the White House staff. I already know that I'd like to create a public program with a focus on turning around employment bias against minorities and creating tougher anti-discrimination laws. I know this will resonate well with the public, and these are issues that I feel very strongly about as well, so everybody wins! And when I create other public programs, I’ll be prepared. I’ve set up a team of very intelligent advisors. Not all of them have White House experience, but at least they’re more politically savvy than Laura Bush’s advisors. But I do have Jackie Norris as my chief of staff, a brilliant woman who worked on both Barack’s and Al Gore’s campaigns. Not to mention, Jocelyn Frye, who serves as my policy director, is also a general counsel for the National Partnership for Women and Families in Washington. Camille Johnston worked on Bill Clinton’s presidential campaigns (obviously successfully), and served as press secretary for two cabinet officials. Finally, Katie McCormick Lelyveld worked for Hillary when she was the First Lady. it’s nice to know that I have people who not only have experience working in the White House, but also with a former First Lady and in programs outside the White House. In my opinion, perspective is important, so like Barack, I’m trying to surround myself with people from a variety of backgrounds. I’ll write more when I’ve thought more about my agenda… Yours always, Michelle