Topic: Oval Office

The makeover was done while the first family was on vacation, and was completed in time for Obama's address to the nation on Iraq Tuesday evening, The New York Times reported.

Obama is likely to face some flak about the interior decorating, in light of the tough economic times, the Times said. The White House said the bills were being paid by the non-profit group, the White House Historical Association, through a contribution from the committee that paid for Obama's inauguration.

Obama declined to disclose the cost of the redo but said it was "in line" with what his predecessors spent.

Obama has opted for neutral tones, in contrast to the golds and yellows of the George W. Bush administration, the Times said. The new rug -- which replaces a rug with a sunburst motif designed by former first lady Laura Bush -- features the presidential seal surrounded by the following quotations:

"The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself," by President Franklin D. Roosevelt; "The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, But It Bends Towards Justice," by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; "Government of the People, By the People, For the People," by President Abraham Lincoln; "No Problem of Human Destiny Is Beyond Human Beings," by President John F. Kennedy; and "The Welfare of Each of Us Is Dependent Fundamentally Upon the Welfare of All of Us," by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Following the session, Obama told reporters the pair discussed "issues related to Afghanistan and Pakistan; Iran and its attempts to develop nuclear weapons capacity."

"We discussed the Middle East peace process and the importance of moving forward in a significant and bold way in securing a Palestinian homeland that can live side by side with a secure and prosperous Israeli state," the president said.

During their talks, both leaders expressed strong support for getting Iran to "meet its international obligations" regarding its nuclear program and hope the proximity talks will lead to a resolution of the Middle East conflict.

Obama thanked Abdullah for his hospitality when Obama visited Riyadh and pointed out the historic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia dating back to the meeting 70 years ago between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and King Aziz.

Abdullah echoed the sentiments and said he has heard from people around the world who consider the American people "friends of Saudi Arabia and its people and … friends of the Arab and Muslim people, and … also friends of humanity."

Obama used his prime-time address from the Oval Office to plug an energy bill before the U.S. Senate (similar legislation passed the House of Representatives last June), saying, "The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean-energy future is now."

The president also said he appointed a former Justice Department official to lead the Minerals Management Service and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to develop a "long-term strategy for the gulf."

Before the speech Republicans warned it shouldn't be used as a political platform but Obama, nonetheless, used the opportunity to demand action on the energy bill.

"The one approach I will not accept is inaction," the president said.

On Wednesday, President Obama announced BP has agreed to set up a $20 billion fund to compensate those affected by the gulf oil spill.

Obama met with BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg at the White House to discuss the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico since the Transocean oil rig operated by BP exploded April 20, killing 11, and sank two days later, spewing as much as 60,000 barrels of oil a day every since.

BP said in a statement Tuesday: "We share the president's goal of shutting off the well as quickly as possible, cleaning up the oil and mitigating the impact on the people and environment of the Gulf Coast."

BP announced Tuesday it sped up commercial large-loss claims and approved checks totaling more than $16 million to businesses that have filed claims of at least $5,000.

Sarah Palin got a fervent reception Saturday as she told the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville "America is ready for another revolution."

Palin, the keynote speaker at the $549-a-ticket three day event, opened her speech by noting it was Ronald Reagan's birthday and greeted the attendees she called "soldiers of the cause," CBS News reported.

"I am a big supporter of this movement and believe in this movement. America is ready for another revolution and you are part of this," she said.

Palin, who resigned as governor of Alaska last year with more than a year to go on her term, gave no hint of her political plans. But many of the 600 attending the convention would be happy to see her run for president.

Supporter Fremont Brown, who had "Palin 2012" bumper stickers with him at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center, told CNN Palin is "the right person" for the Oval Office.

"She has fervent heart and she's conservative," added the 59-year-old Brown, who owns a small business in North Carolina. "She was the only one truly qualified with executive experience of the four who ran in 2008. The others were glorified lobbyists."

Palin, who was reportedly paid $100,000 for the appearance, said this week any compensation would "go right back to the (Tea Party) cause." Her upcoming schedule includes appearances with conservative candidates, beginning Sunday when she will go to Texas to campaign for Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who faces a primary challenge from U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.