The White House announced that Obama – the first African-American president of the United States -- will speak at the “Let Freedom Ring” event held to recall the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
That civil rights movement demonstration drew some 250,000 people to the Lincoln Memorial, where King delivered his unforgettable remarks.
Aides close to the president indicated that he would take the Marine helicopter to Edwards Air Force Base, board Air Force One, fly to Detroit, Michigan, speak from the stairs of the plane to a crowd of invited guests, reboard and fly back to Edwards where his helicopter would be waiting for the flight back to the White House followed by a motorcade to the Lincoln Memorial. When queried about the schedule, Obama responded with, "It's my plane and I can use it anytime I want and I can practice my speech that way, the heeliocopter doesn't have teleprompters."
