Michelle Obama Breaks Her Silence in Russia visiting a Hospital and Orphanage: Washington Post

Quoted via Washington Post

photo via Washington Post, Getty imagesMOSCOW, July 7 -- First lady Michelle Obama began her only day of solo appearances in the Russian capital promising little more than a pantomime of handshakes and waves, silent embraces and inscrutable smiles. It seemed as though rank-and-file Russians weren't going to hear a peep -- nary an amplified throat-clearing -- from this first lady with the impressive résumé, executive bona fides, expressed love for the arts and a stated agenda of promoting community service. The first lady had no planned speeches and no prepared remarks on a day when she would visit an orphanage, a faith-based nursing program and a performance of folkloric dance.

Could she really keep her curious vow of silence?

The day's activities had been scheduled to underscore Obama's focus on children, her emphasis on health care -- particularly among underserved communities -- and her plea for increased volunteerism. The day's stops also dovetailed nicely with an agreement signed Monday between the United States and Russia that had the two countries cooperating on issues of public health including fighting AIDS, reducing alcohol and tobacco consumption, improving maternal health and well-being, and raising the standards of children's health care. more