Obama Speaks to Students in High-profile Address

JIM LEHRER:

Now our look at President Obama's back-to-school trip. Ray Suarez has the story.

RAY SUAREZ:

The president arrived at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, for today's address to the country's students, part of an administration-wide effort meant to focus on education.

U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:

Now, I know that, for many of you, today is the first day of school. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.

RAY SUAREZ:

But, in today's partisan political environment, the president's stay-in-school message became the focus of conservative critics, who suggested ulterior motives behind the speech.

ANNOUNCER:

Is the president pushing a hidden agenda onto America's youth?

RICK SANCHEZ, anchor, CNN: Some are saying that what this president is doing is trying to indoctrinate, that he's actually trying to do something more akin to socialism, to Saddam Hussein, to Fidel Castro.

WOMAN:

He might push his agenda, the health care, things like that.

RAY SUAREZ:

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs shot back at the administration critics yesterday.

ROBERT GIBBS, White House press secretary: It's a sad state of affairs that many in this country politically would rather start an "Animal House" food fight, rather than inspire kids to stay in school, to work hard.

RAY SUAREZ:

Those detractors pointed to guidance given schools recommending students write essays about what they could do to help the president. That was similar to advice given 18 years ago by President George H.W. Bush, one of several presidents to give scholastic pep talks.

GEORGE H.W. BUSH:

Write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals.

RAY SUAREZ:

Mr. Bush was criticized then by Democrats. And, in an attempt defuse critics now, the Obama administration changed the guidance and posted the text of the speech on its Web site yesterday, well in advance of the president's address. An early critic, the chair of the Florida GOP, said he was satisfied.

JIM GREER, chairman, Florida Republican Party: The speech tomorrow is a speech that any president should give, and my kids will be listening to it.