Visit Africa
February - March, 2008
During President George W. Bush's 2008 trip to Africa, more than 103,000 ONE members called on the U.S. presidential candidates running in the Republican and Democratic primaries to pledge to, if elected, visit Africa in their first term -- and they all agreed to that commitment.
Overview
U.S. President George W. Bush left for his second trip to Africa during some of the most heated moments of the 2008 presidential primaries. Recognizing that President Bush was only the fourth U.S. president to make an official visit to Africa, more than 103,000 ONE members called upon the candidates to commit to, if elected, visit Africa in their first term as part of a commitment to working with Africans to end extreme poverty and global disease.
A presidential visit is a critical step in the partnership between the United States and developing nations in Africa. The best way to understand the needs in Africa's poorest countries is to see them first hand and to hear from African leaders directly. By the end of the campaign, all the major party candidates made the pledge, a victory for ONE's fight against poverty in Africa no matter who won the presidency.
Campaign Milestones
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Feb 12 2008
Visit Africa Petition Launches
ONE launches the "Visit Africa" petition just before President Bush leaves for his second trip to Africa. The petition calls on the presidential candidates running in both parties’ primaries to “pledge to visit Africa during your first term in office… increase U.S.-African cooperation, save lives and help build a better, more secure future for millions of the world's poorest people.“
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Feb 15 2008
President Bush Heads to Africa
President Bush heads to Africa to visit five countries -- Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia -- accompanied by media, staff and ONE principal and anti-poverty activist Bob Geldof.
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Feb 16 2008
President Bush Urges Congress to Expand PEPFAR
President Bush visits Tanzania and urges Congress to reauthorize and expand PEPFAR, America’s successful program providing medicine and care to treat AIDS, TB and malaria patients in some of the poorest countries on earth. He also signs a $700 million infrastructure grant for Tanzania to help farmers bring their products to market.
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Feb 17 2008
Bush Announces New Malaria Plan
Still in Tanzania, President Bush announces a new plan, in cooperation with the World Bank, to fight malaria by distributing 5.2 million insecticide-treated bed nets.
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Feb 26 2008
100,000 Sign Petition
The Visit Africa petition breaks the 100,000 signature mark and is delivered to Senator John McCain, Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton and Governor Mike Huckabee.
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Feb 27 2008
McCain, Obama, Clinton, and Huckabee Take the Pledge
Senator John McCain, Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton and Governor Mike Huckabee respond to ONE’s petition by pledging to, if elected, visit Africa within their first term as part of a broader development agenda.
Related Press Releases
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ONE Members Lead Clinton, Huckabee, McCain and Obama to Commit to Visiting Africa
Presidential candidates respond to more than 100,000 ONE members urging them to visit continent as president. MORE
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ONE Members Challenge Next President to Visit Africa in First Term
On the heels of President Bush's trip to Africa, nearly 100,000 ONE members urge the presidential candidates to visit continent if elected. MORE
Quick Facts
Only four
Only four U.S. presidents visited Africa while in office. In addition to President Bush, President Clinton was the only other U.S. president to make development a primary focus of his trip to Africa.
More than 103,000
More than 100,000 ONE members signed the “Visit Africa” petition to the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates.
McCain, Obama, Clinton and Huckabee
Senators McCain, Obama and Clinton and Governor Huckabee all pledged to, if elected, visit Africa within their first term as part of a broader development agenda.
Impact
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Visit Africa
By securing commitments from all of the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates, ONE members ensured that the next president would bring important attention to Africa and development policy no matter who won the election.
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