The “first 100 days” refers to the first three months that a new President is in power – a time when the President’s power is at its height. The “first 100 days” dates back to the presidency of President Roosevelt, when he “sent a blizzard of legislation up to Congress, was credited with saving the US banking industry and built the foundations of the New Deal to battle the economic crisis.”
Since Roosevelt, new Presidents have had their first 100 days held up to his standards, and early judgments about a presidency are often made on their performance during those days.
Today, the first day of President Obama’s presidency, news agencies, like the BBC, New York Times, and USA Today, were ablaze with reports of what is topping his agenda.
Issues Obama plans to (begin to) tackle in his first 100 days include:
- Issue executive orders on government ethics and transparency. The measures include curbs on lobbying and a pay freeze for senior White House staff.
- Discuss plans to close Guantanamo Bay within 16 months. On Tuesday night he ordered an immediate halt to all pending military war crimes trials for 120 days as he reviews the handling of terror suspects.
- Meet with top military advisers to chart a rapid troop drawdown from Iraq and a way forward in Afghanistan.
- Work to stop arms smuggling to Hamas fighters and help rebuild efforts for Palestinians in Gaza.
- Appoint a team to deal with the regional issues of the Middle East, including Iran's nuclear ambitions and terrorist based along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
- Issue an executive order reversing a Bush administration rule on abortion policy - restoring U.S. funding for overseas family planning organizations that offer abortions (Something Bush himself implemented in his first 100 days).
This morning at the national prayer service, the Rev. Sharon E. Watkins said it well, "Lead us there, Mr. President. That is a journey worth pursuing."
Click here to read more about the “first 100 days” of the previous 12 President’s.
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