KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Air Force One, with President Barack Obama on board, touched down just after 7 p.m. on Tuesday night at Kansas City International Airport.
Dozens of people waited at KCI Tuesday afternoon for a chance to shake hands with President Obama once he arrived. After making his way down the stairs, President Obama briefly spoke with Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II on the runway.
He then made his way to a crowd of more than 50 people.
With cameras clicking in every direction, President Obama briefly chatted with several of them and shook hands. FOX 4’s Katie Banks asked the lucky few what it was like meeting the president.
“Having this happen, it’s icing on the cake. It took my breath away,” said Nicholas Ruffin.
“It’s a very big honor to meet any of them, and it’s just nice. He’s a very nice man,” said Katherine White.
President Obama made small talk and shook hands for about five to 10 minutes before loading into his motorcade. White House officials say people lined the highway to take pictures of the cars as they traveled into town.
He then took four Kansas City residents out to dinner at Arthur Bryant’s at 17th and Brooklyn. They were chosen and invited after writing letters to the President, describing their goals and their challenges.
Mr. Obama’s visit is the latest in a series of trips he’s taken to meet Americans who have written him about their struggles and concerns. Pres. Obama has been using their stories to criticize congressional Republicans in this midterm election campaign for failing to act on his legislative agenda.
On Wednesday he will give a speech on the economy at approximately 11:00 a.m. at the Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway St.
FOX 4 will carry that speech live on your television and on your mobile device.
