Don't worry, football fans. It turns out President Obama's planned speech on the nation's unemployment won't conflict with the NFL's opening night after all.
The White House and congressional Republicans have agreed on a 7 p.m. ET start time for Obama's Sept. 8 address to a joint session of Congress. The game between the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints won't kick off until 8:30 p.m.
Photo Essay: Football Fan in Chief
President Obama loves the Bears, but duty bound him
to recently welcome the Super Bowl champion Packers to the White House. See other presidents' links
to America's game. **More...**
"I can assure all you football fans that he will be completed before kickoff," White House spokesman Jay Carney told USA Today.
Obama's speech originally was scheduled for Sept. 7 until House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) balked at the scheduling since a Republican presidential debate is set for the same day.
When Obama decided to reschedule for Sept. 8, it created a conflict with the NFL -- until the agreement was reached to begin the speech at 7 p.m.
The game will be televised nationally by NBC.
The Associated Press reported that White House officials were working on the precise timing of the speech to avoid a conflict.
