Obama hails chat with Harvard professor and white policeman as ‘friendly, thoughtful’

July 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - With mugs of beer, President Barack Obama sat down with a black Harvard professor and a white police officer who had arrested him for a "friendly, thoughtful" chat to douse the racial firestorm lit by the incident. "I have always believed that what brings us together is stronger than what pulls us apart," said America's first black president after the highly anticipated beer summit Thursday under the canopy of a magnolia tree at the edge of the White House's Rose Garden.

July 31st, 2009 Obama hails chat with prof, cop as 'thoughtful'WASHINGTON — With mugs of beer and a calm conversation, President Barack Obama tried to push himself and the nation beyond a political uproar Thursday, hailing a "friendly, thoughtful" conversation with the black professor and white policeman whose dispute had ignited a fierce debate over race in America. "I have always believed that what brings us together is stronger than what pulls us apart," the nation's first black president said after the highly anticipated meeting ended.

July 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama knocked back a few cold ones with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.

July 31st, 2009 Obama, Gates, policeman pledge to try and move onWASHINGTON — With mugs of beer and calming words, President Barack Obama and the professor and policeman engulfed in a national uproar over race pledged Thursday to move on and try to pull the country with them. There was no acrimony — nor apology — from any of the three: black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., white Cambridge, Mass., police Sgt.

July 31st, 2009 Cold beer, calm words from Obama, prof and copWASHINGTON — With mugs of beer and calming words, President Barack Obama and the professor and policeman engulfed in a national uproar over race pledged Thursday to move on and try to pull the country with them. There was no acrimony — nor apology — from any of the three: black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., white Cambridge, Mass., police Sgt.

July 31st, 2009 Obama hails 'friendly, thoughtful' chatWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is hailing his meeting with professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and policeman James Crowley as a "friendly, thoughtful conversation." In a statement after the three men and Vice President Joe Biden chatted over beers, Obama said he learned that Gates and Crowley had already spent some time talking with each other.

July 31st, 2009 Obama hails meeting with police officer, GatesWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is hailing his meeting with professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and policeman James Crowley as a "friendly, thoughtful conversation." In a statement after the three men and Vice President Joe Biden chatted over beers, Obama said he learned that Gates and Crowley had already spent some time talking with each other.

July 31st, 2009 Harvard professor hopes meeting will help educateWASHINGTON — The Harvard professor whose arrest touched off a national dispute over race and police conduct says he is hopeful that the experience will prove to be an "occasion for education, not recrimination." Henry Louis Gates Jr. released a statement after his much-anticipated White House meeting with Sgt.

July 31st, 2009 Obama begins chat with officer, Harvard professorWASHINGTON — The beer is flowing. President Barack Obama has begun his chat with the two men he joined last week at the center of an uproar over race in America: Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.

July 31st, 2009 Policeman calls White House meeting productiveWASHINGTON — The police officer at the center of a national dispute over race and law enforcement says a much-anticipated meeting at the White House was productive and all parties are looking forward. Cambridge, Mass., police Sgt.

July 30th, 2009 Obama says it's a beer, not a summitWASHINGTON — With mugs of beer and a few minutes of conversation, President Barack Obama tried to pull himself and the nation beyond an uproar over race, sitting on his big back lawn with the black professor and the white policeman whose dispute had ignited a week of fierce debate. Under the canopy of a magnolia tree Thursday evening, a shirt-sleeved Obama joined the other players in a story that had knocked the White House off message: Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.

July 28th, 2009 Obama: Take heat out of Gates-Crowley brouhahaWASHINGTON — The chief White House spokesman said a Thursday meeting of the president, a Harvard University scholar and the policeman who arrested him will be "about having a beer and de-escalation." Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that the session, weather permitting, is planned for 6 p.m. at a picnic table outside the Oval Office.

July 25th, 2009 Black scholar accepts White House meeting offerBOSTON — Black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. says he will accept President Barack Obama's invitation to visit him at the White House along with the white police officer who arrested the Harvard professor.

July 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a bid to diffuse the controversial racial row following his remark in the arrest of a Black Harvard professor, US President Barack Obama has telephoned and invited the White Sergeant and the professor to the White House for a beer. "My impression of him was that he was an outstanding police -officer and a good man," Obama revealed, adding that he made a five minute long telephone call to the concerned officer.

May 1st, 2009 A glance at potential Obama nominees to high courtAmong the people President Barack Obama is likely to consider to replace Justice David Souter: — Judge Ruben Castillo of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.