Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/michelle-obama-sets-goals-for-family-new-life-in-the-white-house Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript As the new first lady, Michelle Obama's background and style have captivated the public. White House senior adviser and Obama family friend Valerie Jarrett discusses the first lady's role and provides insight on life in the Obama White House. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JUDY WOODRUFF: President Obama is not the only one who has moved into a new role this week. When Michelle Obama stood next to her husband as he took the oath of office, she, too, assumed a new position, as the country's first African-American first lady.But with the pomp and circumstance and choice of an inaugural ball gown behind her, the 45-year-old Princeton- and Harvard-educated mother has turned to another task: settling daughters Malia and Sasha into their new home.Besides her own family, Mrs. Obama has cited issues around working women and military families as ones that she'd like to focus on during her time in the White House.For more on how the first family is adjusting to their new home and how Mrs. Obama sees her role, we're joined by Valerie Jarrett. She is a senior adviser to President Obama and a long-time family friend.Valerie Jarrett, it's good to have you with us.VALERIE JARRETT, Senior adviser to President Obama: Thank you so much, Judy. It's a pleasure to be here. JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, you know this family so well, how are they adjusting? VALERIE JARRETT: Oh, they're terrific. It's been a whirlwind of a week, as you can imagine, but I think they're settling in nicely.I have to tell you, the staff at the White House has been so welcoming, and accommodating, and professional. They've done everything possible to really make the first family feel welcome and get right in and get comfy. JUDY WOODRUFF: The press secretary, Robert Gibbs, was saying today that at one point on Tuesday the president said, "Where do I go next?" Where was he when he said that? Everybody's curious. VALERIE JARRETT: You know, I think he was walking into a reception that they had back at the White House after the end of their evening. They'd been to 10 balls, and I think he was just exhausted. And so it is a little confusing up there, and finding his way around is not as easy as one might think.But it was a terrific celebration, I think, not just for them, but for our country.