Obama administration launches new White House Web site
Site is launched minutes after new president is inaugurated.
As former President Bush flew out of Washington in a helicopter, his successor was already making changes -- starting with the White House Web site.
Sometime after Barack Obama officially became president, Change.gov began sending visitors to a new Whitehouse.gov that "will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world," wrote the site's director, Macon Phillips, in an entry on the new site's official blog.
The site initially had a few bugs to iron out. The e-mail sign-up page sent visitors to a contact form that produced an error message when completed. But Phillips promised that it will be the start to increased communication and transparency in the new administration.
The site pledges that "we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it" -- which would fulfill a promise Obama made during the campaign.
A section called "The Briefing Room" promises the most information, housing executive orders, video of addresses, and a tracking calendar of nominations and appointments.