Original timing would coincide with GOP nomination debate
U.S. President Barack Obama has postponed an important speech on jobs by one day, conceding to House Speaker John Boehner, who maintained that certain votes could not be rescheduled. Obama and Boehner exchanged a series of letters, each promptly released to the media, over the issue. Obama had requested to address Congress on September 7, the same night Texas Governor Rick Perry is to participate in his first Republican presidential nomination debate. Boehner, himself a Republican, denied the president’s request in a public letter. Soon afterwards, the White House agreed to postpone the speech until the following night, September 8, also the same night as the first regular season NFL game. Congressional historian Betty Koed told the New York Times that this may be the first time a president’s request to address Congress has been rejected.