When former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) announces for president with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop next week, he won't be the first to do so.

Watchers of the 1996 presidential campaign will remember that former California Gov. Pete Wilson also did so, as NBC's Chuck Todd reminds. And, as NBC's Andrea Mitchell points out, the site was also used as Ronald Reagan's kickoff in 1980, following his official announcement in 1979. (Here's video of Reagan's speech.)

On Aug. 6, 1995, the Washington Post's Paul Taylor and David Broder wrote the following under the headline, "Wilson Chooses Lady Liberty As Symbol for Campaign."

"Let the smart alecks croak that California Gov. Pete Wilson (R) is trying to ride an anti-immigration wave to the White House. He's just picked up the crown jewel of pro-immigration endorsements: the Statue of Liberty. Miss Liberty's picture now appears on the official Wilson campaign stationery, with the words 'Pete Wilson President' superimposed over her left shoulder. She's also expected to serve as the backdrop when Wilson launches his campaign in New York shortly before Labor Day."

The statue, with its references to the "tired" and "poor" and "huddled masses yearning to breathe free" -- courtesy of poet Emma Lazurus -- has taken on different meanings for different people.

Wilson, at the time, was embroiled in a controversy over immigration having just pushed through the Prop 187 ballot initiative a year earlier that "cuts off welfare and education services to illegal immigrants," per the Washington Post.

Some found the site as Wilson's choice for an announcement ironic because of the statue's message, but Wilson's campaign manager told the Washington Post then of Lady Liberty: "She symbolizes the fact that there is a right way and a wrong way to do things in America. The right way is to come with nothing but the clothes on your back, apply legally and accomplish great things. The wrong way is to come illegally."

Today, she has become a hero for the Tea Party, with "liberty" becoming a catch phrase and foam green-pointed head gear at Tea Party rallies. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) made a stop at the statue during her family bus tour through the Northeast last week.

Huntsman, however, is no hero of the Tea Party. His campaign hearkened back to Reagan.

Spokesman Tim Miller, in a Tweet today cited this Reagan quote from when he appeared with the statue in the background: "Let us pledge to each other with this Great Lady looking on, that we can and so help us God we will make America great again."

For their first meeting since the 2010 midterm elections, President Obama hosted the entire House Republican Caucus at the White House this morning to discuss the budget and debt crisis. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), Republican Policy Chair and member of the Budget Committee, told NBC's Andrea Mitchell today on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports that "it was a very frank exchange, and it was a sincere exchange on both sides,” but criticized the president for being too much talk and too little action.

“The problem that we have is that his words rarely match his deeds or his actions,” Price said. “And, so, we're very concerned that if we get the same kind of policies that we have seen out of this White House that we will not be creating jobs in this country and won't be decreasing spending, which we think are the key elements that the American people are interested in.”

Though Price said the president was "on board" with decreasing spending and creating jobs, he doubted whether House Republicans and the White House could reach an agreement on a bipartisan approach.

“The president said what he believed ought to be done is short-term solutions, mid-term solutions and long-term solutions,” Price said.  “So he has, again, adopted the points that we have been making, whether or not we're able to translate that into real policy and agreement on that policy is yet to be determined. But we clearly understand the gravity of this situation.”

With the next round of talks scheduled for June 9, Price called upon the White House to produce a concrete plan to decrease federal spending and increase jobs, pointing out that Republicans have already submitted their proposal.

“We need a plan,” Price said. “We need a plan from the White House about how we're going to address the fundamental challenges. If we get that, then we may actually have some opportunity for discussion.”

In an interview with NBC's Andrea Mitchell, part of which aired on "Nightly News" last night, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed that he and the Obama administration agree on more issues that not when it comes to Middle East peace.

"We can have some disagreements, but we agree on a lot more than meets the eye," he said

On Netanyahu's disagreement with President Obama that the 1967 borders, with land swaps, should serve as the basis for negotiations, the prime minister told Mitchell: "I was talking about something that he actually spelled out in the subsequent speech that he gave, that Israel cannot go back to the '67 lines, because those lines are indefensible.  Israel would be nine miles wide. That's half the width of the Washington Beltway. We couldn't defend ourselves there... [I]f you listened to his statement the next day, he said that the line would be different from the 1967 line. And I think that was an important emphasis on the president's part."

Below is the transcript of the entire interview, which will air on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports" beginning at 1:00 pm ET.

ANDREA MITCHELL, HOST:  Welcome, Prime Minister. Thank you very much for joining us.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER:  It's good to be with you.

MITCHELL:  Welcome, Prime Minister. Thank you very much for joining us. You...

NETANYAHU:  Thank you, Andrea. It's good to be with you again.

MITCHELL:  You gave a very powerful speech to a joint meeting of Congress and had a very excited, warm reception.  But at the same time, President Obama has said to you that they -- you cannot afford any more delay, that with all of the upheavals, the changes in the Arab world, that Israel is at risk of being isolated, of being left behind.

What do you say to the president?

NETANYAHU:  Well, I think the president shares with me, and I share with him, the desire to move the peace process forward.  And I said in Congress that there's one way to move this thing forward.  President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has to do what I did two years ago. Two years ago, I spoke to my people and I said I will accept a Palestinian state.

I think the president -- President Abbas has to say these same six words to his people, I will accept the Jewish state.  You know what, I'll give him a break, five words -- I accept the Jewish state.  Because I think if he says that, then that will move the process forward. People will say, OK, we have a real peace partner, and for real peace, we're willing to move and move quickly.

MITCHELL:  Prime Minister, the Palestinians have already said that what you said today in Congress, they have said that your speech was a declaration of war...

NETANYAHU:  (INAUDIBLE).

MITCHELL:  -- because, from their perspective, you ruled out any division of Jerusalem, you are keeping the West Bank, you're not negotiating on refugees.  They call that a declaration of war.

Does that leave you and the Palestinians completely at odds, stalemated?

NETANYAHU:  I think that's unfortunate, because I -- and I think you could see from the reaction of both houses of -- both sides of the -- of the aisle and both houses of Congress, people were excited.

You know why?

Because I said the truth.  Because deep down, I mean the reason we don't have peace is the Palestinians have refused to accept a Jewish state alongside a Palestinian state.

I agreed to do that.  I said to my people, I'm willing to do it.  The Palestinian leaders should be asked to say these simple words -- I will accept a Jewish state.  Believe me, he says that, all the walls, all the fences, all the problems will be swept aside and we can negotiate a real peace.  I want to have a real peace with somebody who will make peace with me.  I don't want to give him a state for him to continue the battle against Israel.

MITCHELL:  But the Congress (ph)...

NETANYAHU:  I want this conflict to be ended.

MITCHELL:  With all due respect, you, in effect, had home court advantage with the United States Congress.  You have a long record.  You are a great politician.  You know every button to push with Americans, Democrats and Republicans.

But that's not the world.  The wider world is in upheaval.

Isn't Israel at risk of being isolated, of the U.N. taking action in September to declare a Palestinian state?

That's what President Obama and his aides said that they were trying to avert.

NETANYAHU:  Well, the president, indeed, said some important things. First, he said it's not going to be achieved -- peace will be achieved not by an imposition by the U.N., it has to be negotiated by the two parties who are willing to accept each other's statehood.  And that's what I said today in Congress and that's why I think I got his very strong reception.

The world is changing.  We want to make sure that when we make peace, we not only have somebody who will recognize us, but that we know that we have a secure border to defend ourselves, not only to defend the peace, but to defend ourselves if peace unravels.

And I think that we are seeing what is happening in Syria, we're seeing what is happening in other places, in Egypt.  We don't even know whether our peace partners will be there tomorrow.  I mean, really tomorrow, not in a -- an abstract notion.

So when we say we want mutual recognition and defensible borders for Israel, there's really the meat and potatoes of peace.  That's what I said today in Congress.  I was absolutely gratified by the really universal positive response there, because I think these are the right elements for peace, and especially in a changing world.  In a changing world, in an uncertain world, we have to have anchors of security and recognition to fortify the peace.

MITCHELL:  Prime Minister, there was a moment in the Oval Office on Friday.  You and the president of the United States and so many of your early (ph) supporters, friends of Israel, said that you were lecturing him, that it went too far.  You disagree about borders, you did not like what he did, but, in fact, what he said was implicit in what previous presidents have said, they just haven't said it as explicitly and that you shouldn't be lecturing, taking such a hard line with the president of the United States.

In retrospect, do you think you went too far?

NETANYAHU:  Well, I'm sorry it was interpreted that way, because that wasn't my intention. I wasn't lecturing anyone.  I was speaking about the basic things that Israel requires to have peace and security and survival.  I'm the leader of an old nation.  The president said a great nation.  I said he is the leader of a great nation, the American people.
And I have the greatest respect for America and for the office of the presidency.

Believe me, I spent my high school years in Philadelphia.  I visited the Liberty Bell many times.  America is a great nation.  And I have complete respect for it and for its president.

I was speaking about those things that the Palestinians have to accept -- a Jewish state, the fact that the refugee problem will be resolved outside Israel.  We're not going to accept the great grandchildren of Palestinian refugees.  It's crazy.

Some -- everybody knows it.  And I think it's time to say it.  And I think wouldn't want Hamas.  And the president said as much...

MITCHELL:  Well, he agrees with you about Hamas.

NETANYAHU:  I think it was very important...

MITCHELL:  But why do you think...

NETANYAHU:  -- the things that he said.

MITCHELL:  Why do you think he disagrees with you about the borders? He believes that with land swaps that Israel can be well defended, going back to the 1967 borders.

What is it that divides you and Barack Obama?

Why do you think that he has a different vision of what is required for Israel's security?

You don't think that he wants Israel to not be able to defend itself.

NETANYAHU:  Absolutely not.  I think he's committed to the -- Israel's security.  He's said as much and we are cooperating in security areas in ways that the public doesn't know, in many ways.

And I also appreciated the fact that he spoke about the ironclad commitment to Israel's security, not only before the Israel-America lobby, but before the -- the Arab world twice.  And I think that's important.

I was talking about something that he actually spelled out in the subsequent speech that he gave, that Israel cannot go back to the '67 lines, because those lines are indefensible.  Israel would be nine miles wide.  That's half the width of the Washington Beltway.  We couldn't defend ourselves there.

And -- and I was glad that the president emphasized this point, that we're not going back...

MITCHELL:  But he hasn't backed down.

NETANYAHU:  -- to the June 4, 1967 (INAUDIBLE)...

MITCHELL:  He still thinks that those borders can be defended with appropriate land swaps.

NETANYAHU:  Well, if you listened to his statement the next day, he said that the line would be different from the 1967 line.  And I think that was an important emphasis on the president's part.

MITCHELL:  Why were you so angry when you first heard about what he said?

NETANYAHU:  Well...

MITCHELL:  Issuing a statement before you even got on your plane?

NETANYAHU:  Well, I issued the statement.  It gives our positions.  I haven't changed my positions.  It's not a question of anger.  Usually, you don't make decisions in -- in an emotional state.  I don't do it.  I didn't do it this time.

I reiterated our positions.  I have to make sure that Israel can defend itself.  You know, we don't have, we have this tiny country.  I said yesterday or today in the Congress to Vice President Biden, an old friend, I said -- I said it's bigger than Delaware, but that's about it.

So we have to have solid security arrangements.  Israel has to be able to defend itself to defend the peace.  And to defend its life.  And I think the president agrees with that.

MITCHELL:  And what about your conversation with Hillary Clinton, finally?

There are reports that it was as a very contentious, argumentative conversation, when you called her the day before the president's speech, trying to get him to change his -- his speech and not make that reference to the borders.

NETANYAHU:  You know, I've been in diplomacy a long time.  I've been around for some 30 years.  You can't deal with reports of conversations. You have to deal with the substance. I had a -- a very good conversation with the president a couple of hours.  This is the seventh time we were meeting.  We have a lot of time together.

MITCHELL:  And Hillary?

NETANYAHU:  And with Hillary Clinton just as much, I think even more. So what we say privately is something we keep private.  But the important thing, I thought, was that the president made some important statements.  And I appreciated it, that the Palestinians will have to recognize a Jewish state, that Hamas, a terrorist organization bent on dest -- on our destruction, is not a partner, that Israel must maintain its defensible borders and that peace will not be imposed.  It will have to be negotiated between the parties.

I think there's a lot of room for agreement.  We can have some disagreements, but we agree on a lot more than meets the eye.

MITCHELL:  With that, we'll have to leave it there.

Prime Minister, thank you so much. Safe travels.

NETANYAHU:  Thank you, Andrea.

It's good to be with you.

MITCHELL:  You, too.

NETANYAHU:  Thank you.

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
A senior official tells NBC News that the U.S. has now completed the DNA analysis, and it has come back with 100% certainty. It is Osama bin Laden.

Also, NBC News has been told that the CIA'S facial recognition technology has identified Bin Laden's face with 95% certainty -- after comparing it to known pictures of Bin him. That is considered very high accuracy.

And one of Bin Laden's wives was in the compound -- and survived -- identified him.

Asked how the sea burial complies with Islamic law, officials say the Koran is not specific to burial -- as long as the body of the diseased is cleansed quickly. There is no single authoriative Islamic text on burial.

Officials have no answer on how Pakistan intelligence wouldnt know about the compound, less than two miles from what is colloquially referred to as their "West Point."

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus charged today that President Obama is long on speeches and short on follow through.

“We'll probably be talking in another in six months before another 'great speech' from the president who is in love with the sound of his own voice,” Priebus said this afternoon on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports.

Congress is expected to vote tomorrow on a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded through September. But when that expires, observers are expecting another fight over the 2012 budget.

“He's in love with giving speeches,” Priebus continued, “but he's not really in love with following through with his promises and his rhetoric.”

Priebus noted that Obama had a chance to rein in entitlement spending, when he rolled out his 2012 budget, but didn’t do so. “His time of embracing reducing debt came in his budget, which he didn't do anything about,” he said.

The RNC chief rejected the idea of any potential tax increases – even for the wealthy, equating that to “tax hikes for people with small businesses.” That was an argument Republicans made during the 2010 debate over the expiring Bush tax cuts.

He then repeated a GOP talking point that is being hammered all over the airwaves: “We don’t have a revenue problem in this country,” Priebus said. “We have enough money coming in. The problem in this country, and the president has said himself over and over, is that we are addicted to spending in Washington and that's where the focus needs to be.”

Priebus isn’t the first to make the political charge Obama is long on speeches, but short on substance. Hillary Clinton took to using the “Speeches not Solutions” slogan in attacking candidate Obama during the bitter 2007-2008 Democratic primary. John McCain charged that Obama used “empty words.”

The White House and Democratic National Committee would argue that the president won the primary, the general election and got health care passed with a similar approach.

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just told a House hearing that the U.S. should not take unilateral military steps in Libya. Clinton cautioned against doing anything without international participation and warned that no-fly zones in Iraq and Kosovo did not lead to the ouster of dictators there.

"I'm one of those who believe absent international cooperation the U.S. stepping into this could have unforseen consequences," she said.

She added, "We had a no-fly zone over Iraq. It did not prevent Saddam Hussein from bombing his civilians and it did not get him out of office.  We had a no-fly zone over Serbia: it still took 78 days of bombing to get Milosevic out of office."

Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif. on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 2010.

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
NBC News has learned that Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., is expected to announce tomorrow that she will quit Congress to become the president and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.

Harman will succeed the current leader, former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who has led the bipartisan think tank for 12 years.

Her California district is reliably Democratic. A special election will have to be called to replace her.

Harman, who has served as a senior foreign policy and intelligence voice in the Democratic caucus, was first elected to the House in 2000.

*** UPDATE *** NBC's Shawna Thomas reports that Harman's departure comes as a surprise to rank-and-file Democrats, as well as to their leader in the House. A source confirms that Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi didn't know about Harman's intention until she was informed today. 

From NBC’s Andrea Mitchell
It was clear from Bill Daley -- the new White House chief of staff, at a roundtable with reporters this morning -- that the White House had no warning of today's events in Egypt. *** NOTE *** The roundtable was hosted by Bloomberg News.

Daley said the president's 30-minute conversation with Mubarak last night was "cordial not heated." 

He said the history of the military in Egypt is "an enormous plus" for the transition. Given the history going back to Nasser, he said that there is an obvious possibility that the next leader come from the military. He also said that there have been extensive, continuing contacts with the military, but the bottom line is that the people will control this.

Based on the overnight news -- and morning broadcasts -- he said, "All the signs are there is a return of some normalcy" pointing to the Internet being back on, and some businesses reopening, clearly outdated by events.

In fact, speaking without knowing that the streets were actually at that moment beginning to erupt in clashes, Daley said that the president's message to Mubarak was that the No. 1 concern for the government of Egypt and the United States is that the transition remain peaceful, but that it is for the people of Egypt to determine what the next steps are.

Asked if U.S. standing in the region might be better off after Mubarak, he said, "We are trying to avoid being put in a negative position. The president has been very up front to say the will of the people has to be responded to.”

What if the will of the people moves toward the Muslim Brotherhood? "We would hope it came out of this crisis a stronger democratic secular nation” that tries  to lead for peace, Daley said. 

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
Former GOP Rep. Vin Weber -- on MSNBC -- said that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is a "fine man, a voice of reason whom we should be listening to," who worked with Weber and former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on a task force five years ago for the Council on Foreign Relations. They worked on how to promote democracy in the Arab World. Weber brought with him the task force report, which has Feisal Abdul Rauf listed as one of the members.