President Obama is seen in the back of the presidential limousine. (Photo by John Westcott)
Many people took pictures and videos when President Obama’s motorcade passed through Oak Ridge, Clinton, and Anderson County on Friday afternoon.
Here are a few, including several by John Westcott and Betsy Prine.
The president traveled to East Tennessee—his first trip to the Knoxville area as president—to announce education and manufacturing proposals that will be presented in his State of the Union speech to Congress on January 20.
Announced at Pellissippi State Community College, the education proposal would provide two years of community college free to anyone who’s willing to work for it.
The presidential motorcade on Melton Lake Drive in Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Westcott)
The manufacturing proposal was announced at Techmer PM in Clinton. Under that proposal, a Knoxville-area based consortium of 122 companies, nonprofits, universities, and research laboratories is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to create a more than $259 million public-private partnership called the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, or IACMI. The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are among the founding partners, and UT will lead the institute.
It’s the first visit by a president to Pellissippi State or Clinton, although presidents have previously visited Oak Ridge and Knoxville.
Another view of the presidential motorcade.
A rear view of the motorcade.
Betsy Prine is pictured above at the Oak Ridge waterfront on Melton Lake Drive as the motorcade passes by on its way to Clinton. (Photo courtesy Betsy Prine)
President Obama is seen in the back of the presidential limousine on Melton Lake Drive in Oak Ridge on Friday, January 9. (Photo by Ross Anne Martin)
President Obama waves as he passes bystanders on Melton Lake Drive on his way back to McGhee Tyson Airport.
Joseph Lee says
Thank you Mr. President for coming to Tennessee.
Good job John Huotari.
Tracy Powers says
Why would anyone stand outside waiting in the cold or even a sunshiny day for this hater of the United States? He is doing everything he can to bring this country to its knees!!
Disgraceful.
Joseph Lee says
Mr. Powers, please seek professional help for your fear and anger. Thank You.
Mark Caldwell says
What a great president we have!