Stoddert Students Welcome British Prime Minister to U.S.

Jacob Beineke and Daniella Kidder-Luciano, fifth graders in my class, welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha this afternoon as they arrived at Andrews Air Force Base for a two-day visit with President Barack Obama.Beineke and Kidder-Luciano were picked for the honor after being selected by their peers for their leadership qualities to participate in an essay contest on "What Makes a Good Leader." 

Cameron's visit will include a 19-gun salute Wednesday morning (my whole class will be attending!) as 6,000 invited guests watch on the South Lawn, a visit to a March Madness basketball game tonight in Ohio (Cameron will be the first foreign leader to ride in Air Force One with the President), a return to the White House for talks tomorrow followed by an official dinner in the evening (Prime Ministers are not heads of state and therefore do not enjoy State Dinners).  

As befits such a visit, Cameron and Obama published a piece in the Washington Post yesterday reassuring us that despite recent strains the "special" relationship is still dear to both sides, and outlining an agenda for the visit. The Middle East clearly dominates as Israel turns up the heat on Iran, Syria burns, and Afgan anger boils over in the wake of a mass killing by a US soldier. 

Meanwhile in Britain The Guardian focused on the relevance of the trip, wondering out loud whether Cameron has anything of value to offer in the wake of the US strategic shift to the Pacific region. On this side of the Atlantic one of the more interesting angles to the visit is the Cameron snub of Republican presidential candidates who are hopelessly far to his right.

Politics and policy aside, Jacob and Daniella had a unique and important role in welcoming Mr. Cameron. They handled it with their typical poise and grace, presenting him with a box of original greeting cards, some flowers, and awfully big American grins. 

After arriving, the Prime Minister commented on the high temperatures in Washington and pressed the flesh before heading down to the White House to begin his visit. Jacob and Daniella shared their impressions of Cameron afterwards.

"He was very calm and cool about everything that was happening, like it was just a normal day for him," said Jacob.

Daniella added "it was really interesting to meet him and his wife. I thought he would move quickly past us but he stopped and talked to us and it made me really happy."