Special Report: Obama's first 100 days in White House

    WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the country is now "off to a good start" on his 100th day in office, but cautioned that there is "plenty work left to do."

 

U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledges applause as he arrives to speak at a town hall meeting held at Fox Senior High School in Arnold, Missouri, April 29, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "So we are off to a good start. But it is just a start. I am proud of what we have achieved, but I am not content. I am pleased with our progress, but I am not satisfied," he said in prepared remarks to be delivered at the opening of a prime-time press conference to mark his 100th day in office, which falls on Apr. 29.

    But the president cautioned that "we have plenty of work left to do," according to excerpts of the speech released by the White House.

    "Millions of Americans are still without jobs and homes, and more will be lost before this recession is over," Obama said.

    "Credit is still not flowing nearly as freely as it should. Countless families and communities touched by our auto industry still face tough times ahead. Our projected long-term deficits are still too high," he said.

    "Government is still not as efficient as it should be. We still confront threats ranging from terrorism to nuclear proliferation to pandemic flu," said the president.

    To confronting all the challenges above, Obama promised that Americans "can expect an unrelenting, unyielding effort from this administration to strengthen our prosperity and our security – in the second hundred days, and the third hundred days, and all the days after."

    The president said solving all the country's problems will "take time" and "will take effort," but "the United States of America will see a better day. We will rebuild a stronger nation."

    "And we will endure as a beacon for all those weary travelers beyond our shores who still dream that this is a place where all is possible," he said.

    The press conference is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (2400 GMT).

    This will be Obama's third prime-time news conference since he was sworn in as president on January. 20.

    Earlier in the day, the president held a "town hall" style meeting with local residents in St. Louis, Mo.

    All recent surveys show Obama sustained a high approval rating among Americans upon his 100th day in office, with about two-thirds of those surveyed approving his job performance.

    But the polls also find a sharp gap between Democrats and Republicans' opinions on him.

Obama tries to reshape U.S. economy in first 100 days

    WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Since Franklin Roosevelt launched many of the New Deal programs in his first three months of governance to tackle the Great Depression, the 100th day of a U.S. president's first term has become a rite of passage in American politics.

    The challenge facing the United States today also gave President Barack Obama an opportunity to reshape the whole U.S. economy, which he said needs "a new foundation" and will emerge stronger from the economic crisis. Full story