POTUS Highlights

President Barack Obama at Lordstown

Gallery

President Barack Obama gears up Lordstown for the Cruze.

Brief encounter

Here are some thoughts of Valley people who saw or met the President yesterday:

XJody Baldwin was looking for another pair of shoes after an appearance by President Barack Obama.

The 54-year-old auto worker from Youngstown had one of his shoes signed by the president, and there was no way that shoe was going to touch the ground again. Baldwin handed the president his shoe as Obama walked by, and the shoe was returned about a half-hour later with the president’s signature.

“I’m going to find something,” Baldwin said as he walked along with one shoe on and the other in his hand. “I’m not going to wear this the rest of the day.”

The white shoe had a photo of Obama imprinted on it and the word, “Change.”

XTen-year-old Tino Eusanio of Hubbard skipped school Tuesday to see the president. He said the school secretary didn’t believe him, but Tino has some proof for her when he returns to school today.

He had plenty of photos of the president on his camera, and he had an autograph from U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.

Plus, Tino was able to shake hands with Obama twice.

He is the son of Karen Eusanio, a plant worker, and was the guest of Norma Johnson, the wife of Glenn Johnson, vice president of United Auto Workers Local 1112.

XLong after Obama stepped down from the stage and the crowd’s ovation stopped, Michael Lisbon stood alone just shaking his head.

The 51-year-old plant worker from Campbell couldn’t believe that he had just met the nation’s first black president.

“This means that the world is turning around, and that’s a beautiful thing,” Lisbon said.

He was among the dozen workers who spoke with the president in a conference room before his speech. Plus, he noted, he was the only black man who was part of the group.

“This is something that I could tell my grandchildren about down the road. I met the first black president of the United States,” he said.

Lisbon said he was so overwhelmed Friday when he was told that he would meet the president that he cried.

XDave Green, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714, was excited to be part of a small group that met the president. He was encouraged when Obama praised the Lordstown complex and said he’s looking forward to the launch of the Chevrolet Cruze next year.

Green’s had a bit of disappointment, however, when he looked at what Obama had written on a photograph of him and the president. It started, “To John.”

Perhaps Obama was thinking of John Donahoe, the complex manager.

The president had some trouble with a few of the names of officials at Tuesday’s speech at the GM facility, mispronouncing Donahoe’s last name.

The reason may be because his official speech has the complex manager’s last name as “Donahue.”

He had a little difficulty pronouncing Ohio Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro’s name. He then spotted her in the crowd saying, “How are you? She’s a fireplug. I remember her.”

XJames Kaster, the former president of UAW Local 1714, visited the complex for the first time since he resigned in early 2007 to work for then-Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann. Kaster worked at the plant for 36 years.

Kaster said he was impressed with what’s been done at the facility since he left and added that it was great to visit with his former co-workers.

Kaster is the only Mahoning Valley survivor still in a management position at the attorney general’s office. Dann resigned under pressure in May 2008 after an investigation determined unprofessional behavior, cronyism, a lack of proper management oversight and a litany of judgment errors existed in the office.

Kaster serves as Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray’s veterans liaison.

XState Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd, ended up with a front-row seat for Obama’s speech. It was the first time Schiavoni had ever seen any president in person.

“I don’t know how I got a front-row seat, but I’ll take it,” he said.

As for his insights into Obama’s visit, Schiavoni said, “It’s a really cool event. It’s awesome the president is here.”

hThe Lordstown complex celebrated the old along with the new during the presidential visit.

Obama not only signed a test model of the Chevrolet Cruze, which will go into production in April, but he also autographed the one millionth Chevrolet Cobalt that was built in Lordstown. The car came off the assembly line Monday. The Cobalt went into production in 2004.

XProduction at the assembly and metal stamping plants in Lordstown was shut down Tuesday morning as about 700 workers listened to the presidential address. Afterward, workers quickly returned to their posts, and the assembly line was running again about a half-hour after the speech was over.