Breaking News Alert The New York Times Friday, July 24, 2009 -- 3:03 PM ET -----
Obama Says He Regrets His Language on Gates Arrest
President Obama said Friday that he "could have calibrated" his words more carefully in the racially-charged controversy over the arrest of a Harvard professor, making a surprise appearance at the daily White House briefing to try and cool the tensions surrounding the case.
Mr. Obama said he had talked to the arresting officer and hoped the case could become "a teachable moment" to be used to improve relations between minorities and police officers.