Obama Addresses the Nation on the BP Oil Spill

George Wenschhof

Click below to listen to President Obama's speech to the nation. It was his first speech given from the Oval office and he looked a little uncomfortable at times using his hands in a similar manner he uses when he is standing, but without the same effect.

The president gave a history time line of the event, the efforts to date and steps that will be taken in the future, including changes in the Minerals and Mining Department. The calling for BP to establish an escrow account to pay for claims and for an independent commission to approve pay-offs was previously leaked before the speech. He stopped short of saying how much the escrow account would be which is evidence that no agreement with BP has been reached. BP executives are meeting with President Obama tomorrow at the White House.

Obama touched on all the efforts taking place to protect wildlife, wetlands and coastal areas, but stopped short of saying this is what we are going to do.

He labeled it an epidemic that will take some time to clean up and said he will be putting together a committee, made of representatives from the states involved to develop a plan to restore the area.

As expected, the president also mentioned the need for the U.S. to move on our energy policies, but again stopped short of saying precisely what he would like to see passed by Congress.

A solid speech on a difficult issue, but I would not rate it among his best.

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