Date: Monday, December 14, 2009, 5:48 am
By: Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama, in an interview that aired Sunday, gave himself "a good solid B-plus" grade for his first year in office.
Speaking with fellow Chicagoan Oprah Winfrey, the president claimed progress on economic and international fronts.
Obama said the only thing that stands in the way of giving himself a better grade is the fact that some elements of his agenda — health care reform and putting more Americans to work — remain undone.
"The biggest burden on me right now is that economic growth has happened, but job growth has not happened," Obama told Winfrey on the ABC special "Christmas at the White House."
On the plus side, Obama said, "We are on our way out of Iraq." And, he added, "I think we've got the best possible plan for Afghanistan."
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama also talked holiday gifts with Winfrey.
Obama told Winfrey that as a rule, he gives "nicer stuff than I get." Michelle Obama responds, "No way, I gave you good gifts last year."
Bo, the White House dog, has his very own Christmas stocking.
Asked which members of the Obama family have a stocking, Mrs. Obama named the president, herself, daughters Malia and Sasha and said "of course" the family's Portuguese water dog has one too. This will be the first Christmas for the puppy, which the Obamas got in April.
She did not give any details about what might be going into Bo's stocking, but said Santa loves Bo.
Winfrey also asked the couple about their favorite childhood Christmas gifts.
Mrs. Obama said her favorite was a metal dollhouse with plastic furniture that she wasn't sure what to do with.
"I really didn't know how to set up a house so I had all the furniture lined up along the walls as opposed to nestled around the fireplace, but I loved that little dollhouse," Mrs. Obama said.
"Well, now you get some practice here, goodness gracious," Winfrey said, speaking of the 132-room White House.
Obama said he remembered getting his first "big-kid, 10-speed" bicycle because that's always a special moment in a boy's life.
A basketball fan and eager player of the game, Obama also mentioned getting a basketball from his father. Obama's father, Barack Obama Sr., left the family when Obama was a toddler and returned to Africa, but gave him the ball during a later visit
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