2012: A Year in Photos
2012: A Year in Photos
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2012 in Photos
The White House photo team has a front row view for all the events both big and small at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and on the road with the President, the Vice President and the First Family. Each January, Pete Souza, Chief Official White House Photographer and Director of the White House Photography Office, selects his favorite images from the past twelve months. Featuring exclusive perspectives of everything from Presidential trips and events to private moments between President Obama and his family, his staff and American citizens, this collection offers a unique view of 2012.
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January 1, 2012
"A nice way to celebrate the New Year for the President was to jump in the ocean in his native state of Hawaii. He was on his annual Christmas vacation with family and friends, and went swimming at Pyramid Rock Beach in Kaneohe Bay." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
January 24, 2012
"One of the most memorable moments of the year was when the President hugged Rep. Gabrielle Giffords as he walked onto the floor of the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol to deliver his annual State of the Union address." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
January 25, 2012
"Chuck Kennedy made this amusing photograph of First Lady Michelle Obama participating in a potato sack race with Jimmy Fallon in the East Room of the White House during a “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” taping for the second anniversary of the "Let’s Move!" initiative." (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
January 30, 2012
"This is one of those rare instances where my presence indirectly became a part of this reaction from those pictured in the photograph. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had just accidentally dropped all of her briefing papers onto the Oval Office rug and she, the President and Vice President all reacted in a way that indicated that surely I wouldn't get a photo of that to embarrass her." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
February 1, 2012
"Lawrence Jackson captured this cute photograph of the President holding Arianna Holmes, 3, before taking a departure photo with members of her family in the Oval Office." (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
February 7, 2012
"Kids will be kids. After the President had welcomed Lauren Fleming, the March of Dimes national ambassador, and her family in the Oval Office, her brother, Corbin Fleming, started to play with the President's telephone. Fortunately, he wasn't able to get through to a head of state." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
February 13, 2012
"From early spring to late fall, the light in the Oval Office is fairly consistent with the sun high in the horizon during the day. But during the winter months, the sun is lower on the horizon and splashes through the back window in the early morning and late afternoon. Here, in the midst of the morning light, the President talks on the phone with British Prime Minister David Cameron." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
February 16, 2012
"Chuck Kennedy made this photograph of women reacting in the Red Room after being surprised by First Lady Michelle Obama during their White House tour." (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
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February 21, 2012
"Egged on by B.B. King, at right, the President joins in singing 'Sweet Home Chicago' during the 'In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues' concert in the East Room. Participants include, from left: Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews, Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, B.B. King, and Gary Clark, Jr." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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February 29, 2012
"Sonya Hebert made this amusing photograph of Bo, the Obama family dog, as he was being videotaped for the Easter Egg Roll, in the East Colonnade of the White House." (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
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March 17, 2012
"David Lienemann made this action photograph of Vice President Joe Biden and his security detail literally running during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Pittsburgh, Pa." (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
March 30, 2012
"We had just arrived aboard the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn and the President was walking into the White House. I had seen this scene several times but had never been able to quite capture it the way I wanted. Here, finally, arriving at night, I was able to frame him walking into the light of the Diplomatic Reception Room, with the added bonus of his shadow being cast from the television lights off to the left." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
April 18, 2012
"We were doing an event at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. Before speaking, the President was looking at some of the automobiles and exhibits adjacent to the event, and before I knew what was happening he walked onto the famed Rosa Parks bus. He sat in one of the seats, looking out the window for only a few seconds." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
April 24, 2012
"We were backstage at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill for the President's appearance on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.' The President let out a big laugh as he was being briefed by the producers and Mr. Fallon on the 'Slow Jam the News' segment." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
April 24, 2012
"The President wipes off his trousers after being splattered by frozen yogurt while shaking hands along a ropeline in Boulder, Colo. University of Colorado student Kolbi Zerbest had placed her cup of yogurt on the ground while trying to shake hands with the President, and someone else inadvertently kicked the cup." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 1, 2012
"In Afghanistan, there was virtually no light inside the helicopter as we flew from Kabul back to Bagram Air Field after the President had met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. (For the photo buffs, this photograph was taken at ISO 6400, 1/5 second at f/1.4.) Flanking the President are General John Allen, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker. Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor, is at left." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 1, 2012
"A soldier hugs the President as he greeted U.S. troops at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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May 1, 2012
"For the President, this was one of the most poignant moments of his first term. He was visiting wounded warriors in the intensive care unit at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. He had just presented a Purple Heart to Sgt. Chase Haag, who had been injured by an IED just hours before. Sgt. Haag was covered with a blanket and it was difficult to see how badly he was injured. He was also seemingly unconscious, or perhaps just asleep. The President whispered in his ear so not to wake him. Just then, there was a rustling under the blanket and Sgt. Haag, eyes still closed, reached his hand out to shake hands with the President. 'I'll never forget that moment,' someone else in the room later told me." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 11, 2012
"Lawrence Jackson made this great photograph of the First Lady touching the Hokie Stone before walking onto the field at Lane Stadium to give the Virginia Tech commencement address in Blacksburg, Va." (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
May 11, 2012
"After some early morning basketball in Los Angeles, the President talks with the players who included actors Don Cheadle, Tobey Maguire, and George Clooney, along with two of Clooney's long-time friends. Stacy Keibler is also at right." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 19, 2012
"At Camp David for the G8 Summit, European leaders took a break to watch the overtime shootout of the Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich Champions League final. Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, the President, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, French President François Hollande react during the winning goal." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 19, 2012
"One of the great things about the G8 Summit being at Camp David was the relaxed and casual atmosphere. When the President decided to have an unscheduled meeting with just the Eurozone leaders, he asked them to step outside on the Laurel Cabin patio where the leaders and their staff all pulled up chairs for the impromptu meeting." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 19, 2012
"Following the conclusion of the G8 Summit, the President plays a game of pool in the Holly Cabin at Camp David." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 20, 2012
"'How cool is this,' the President said after he threw a football at Soldier Field following the NATO working dinner in Chicago. I think he was especially excited to be on the home turf of his beloved Chicago Bears." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 25, 2012
"Luz Graham-Urquilla, 4, watches as the President signs her drawing at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
May 25, 2012
"The President was welcoming service members and their families to a screening of 'Men in Black 3' in the White House Family Theater. The movie was being presented in 3D, so the President jokingly asked them to try on their 3D glasses while he was speaking to them." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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June 13, 2012
"There was still a little light left in the evening sky as the President and First Lady waved goodbye to President Shimon Peres of Israel following a dinner in his honor at the White House." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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June 14, 2012
"We made an OTR (off-the-record, surprise stop) at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland after a campaign event, and the President sat and talked to a young woman before shooting hoops with another group of kids." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
June 15, 2012
"We had just arrived at the helicopter landing zone in Chicago and instead of walking right to the motorcade, the President and First Lady walked past their vehicle to the edge of Lake Michigan to view the skyline of their home town." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
June 16, 2012
"The First Lady reacts as she watches Laura Jarrett and Tony Balkissoon take their vows during their wedding at Valerie Jarrett's home in Chicago." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
June 18, 2012
"We were in Mexico for G20 Summit. While the President was waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin to arrive for their bilateral meeting, he stepped outside to talk with Chief of Staff Jack Lew." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
June 28, 2012
"This was the day that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Affordable Health Care Act. Before the President came downstairs from the residence that morning, the split-screen television in the Outer Oval Office was flashing bulletins that the Court had overturned the act. Kathy Ruemmler, the White House counsel, came rushing in and told me and the President's secretary just the opposite. Kathy then departed and a few minutes later the President arrived at the Oval and saw the same inaccurate information on the television. Kathy soon reappeared to tell the President that the Court had indeed upheld the Act, and that the TV reports had it wrong. He then gave her a big hug, as Chief of Staff Jack Lew watched at left." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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June 28, 2012
"The President prays with a wounded service member and his family during a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The President likes to make a few trips a year to Walter Reed to visit wounded warriors and their families." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
June 28, 2012
"Sonya Hebert made this photograph of the First Lady joining African Methodist Episcopal Church bishops for a group prayer at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn." (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
June 29, 2012
"The President views fire damage with firefighters and elected officials in Colorado Springs, Colo., after the devastating wildfires swept through the region the week before." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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July 5, 2012
"'Anyone want to try a piece of my strawberry pie,' the President asked those at adjacent tables during a stop for lunch at Kozy Corners restaurant in Oak Harbor, Ohio. A young boy said yes and came over for a big bite of pie." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
July 14, 2012
"The President delivers remarks in the pouring rain at a campaign event in Glen Allen, Va. He was supposed to do a series of press interviews inside before his speech, but since people had been waiting for hours in the rain he did his remarks as soon as he arrived at the site so people could go home to dry off ." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
July 16, 2012
"The President and First Lady were attending the game between the U.S. Men's Olympic basketball team and Brazil in Washington, D.C. During the first half, the jumbotron flashed couples on their 'Kiss Cam', where they are then induced by the crowd to kiss each other. But neither the President or First Lady saw themselves when they were flashed on the 'Kiss Cam', and some in the audience booed when they didn't kiss. At halftime, as we walked to the locker room to visit the U.S. team, daughters Malia and Sasha were asking their parents why they hadn't kissed during their 'Kiss Cam' moment. Both the President and First Lady said they hadn't even realized what had happened and didn't know why people were booing. So in the second half, when they appeared again on the 'Kiss Cam', the President leaned over to kiss the First Lady amongst audience cheers as Malia and the Vice President watched overhead on the jumbotron." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
July 22, 2012
"The President hugs Stephanie Davies, who helped her friend, Allie Young, left, stay alive after she was shot during the movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colo. The President visited patients and family members affected by the shootings at the University of Colorado Hospital. The President later told their story in a news conference." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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July 26, 2012
"A view from behind the President's chair during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
July 27, 2012
"Sonya Hebert captured this amusing moment as U.S. Olympic wrestler Elena Pirozhkova literally picked up the First Lady during a greet with Team USA Olympic athletes competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London." (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
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August 8, 2012
"Overcome with emotion, eight-year old Make-A-Wish child Janiya Penny reacts just after meeting the President as he welcomes her family to the Oval Office." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
August 14, 2012
"How about a White House beer? The President was greeting patrons at Coffee Connection in Knoxville, Iowa, when this customer asked him about the White House beer. The President said he thought he might have some on his campaign bus and asked an aide to check. A few minutes later, the President delivered a bottle and the customer reacted in celebration." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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August 14, 2012
"The President waves from his campaign bus to people lining the motorcade route in Iowa." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
August 15, 2012
"The President hugs the First Lady after she had introduced him at a campaign event in Davenport, Iowa. The campaign tweeted a similar photo from the campaign photographer on election night and a lot of people thought it was taken on election day." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
August 28, 2012
"The shadows of supporters are seen cheering as the President makes his way to the stage at an outdoor campaign rally at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
September 1, 2012
"The overview of a campaign rally in Urbandale, Iowa. This view was from a scissors lift just above the press stand." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
September 2, 2012
"David Lienemann made this unusual photo as staff held flashlights so the Vice President could see as he signed autographs backstage at West York Area High School in York, Pa." (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
September 5, 2012
"Backstage at the Democratic National Convention, the President watches as former President Bill Clinton delivers his nomination speech, before surprising the crowd with an onstage appearance together after the speech." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
September 6, 2012
"While the President was waiting anxiously backstage before his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., daughters Malia and Sasha came in to wish him well." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
September 6, 2012
"Chuck Kennedy made this overhead shot as the Obama and Biden families joined together onstage following the President's speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte." (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
September 7, 2012
"The President and Vice President share a laugh before a campaign rally together in Portsmouth, N.H." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
September 8, 2012
"I love the headlight on the vehicle helping to light this frame taken by David Lienemann as the Vice President greets people gathered outside the Obama For America field office in Chillicothe, Ohio." (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
September 11, 2012
"Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor, left, updates the President and Vice President on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Chief of Staff Jack Lew are at right." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
September 14, 2012
"The President grasps the hand of the Secretary of State after his remarks during the ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, marking the return to the United States of the remains of J. Christopher Stevens, U.S. Ambassador to Libya; Sean Smith, Information Management Officer; and Security Personnel Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, who were killed in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
September 28, 2012
"A candid portrait of the President during a meeting, juxtaposed with the paintings of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, busts of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln, and the Emancipation Proclamation. It's a difficult angle to get because I had to sit in front of the closed Oval Office door and hope that no one would open the door and knock me over." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
October 2, 2012
"The President talks with Ron Klain during debate preparations in Henderson, Nev. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., background, played the role of Gov. Mitt Romney during the prep sessions." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
October 12, 2012
"The President had invited former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to have lunch, and they apparently started talking about Gibb's Chevy Volt. Gibbs knew the President had visited one of their factories and was hoping to drive a Volt one day. Gibbs told the President that his car was on the South Drive. So the President jumped in and made three loops around the drive, joking later that the Secret Service ordered that the White House gates not be opened under any circumstances." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
October 18, 2012
"The President ties his white tie before the Alfred E. Smith dinner in New York. Although the dinner is an annual event, every four years, the two presidential nominees attend the dinner only a few weeks before the election." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
October 23, 2012
"The afternoon sun beams down on the President during a campaign rally in Delray, Fla." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
October 25, 2012
"At a late night rally in Cleveland, supporters react as the President delivered his remarks." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
October 26, 2012
"The President pretends to be caught in Spider-Man's web as he greets Nicholas Tamarin, 3, just outside the Oval Office. Spider-Man had been trick-or-treating for an early Halloween with his father, White House aide Nate Tamarin in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. I can never commit to calling any picture my favorite, but the President told me that this was HIS favorite picture of the year when he saw it hanging in the West Wing a couple of weeks later." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
October 29, 2012
"In the White House Situation Room, the President receives an update to the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy during a teleconference with key officials." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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October 31, 2012
"The President and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talk with local residents affected by Hurricane Sandy at the Brigantine Beach Community Center in Brigantine, N.J." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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November 3, 2012
"I had noticed the possibility of a potential good photograph if the President were to pass by this flag as he departed an evening campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa. So I planted myself backstage as he finished working a ropeline and managed to get one usable frame as he walked by." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 6, 2012
Election Day
"The Obama family and close friends were watching election results at a Chicago hotel. The President had warned everyone that it could be a very late night. Yet, only a few minutes later, the networks projected that he had been re-elected, and the President embraced the First Lady, while in the background, daughter Sasha hugged one of her cousins." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 6, 2012
Election Day
"While he waited for the concession call from Gov. Mitt Romney, the President worked on his acceptance speech with Jon Favreau, Director of Speechwriting, and campaign advisor David Axelrod at a Chicago hotel." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 6, 2012
Election Day
"David Lienemann captured the Obamas and Bidens following the President’s election night remarks at McCormick Place in Chicago." (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
November 14, 2012
"Aides listen on the speaker phone in the Oval Office as the President talks on the phone with President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt about the escalating violence in Gaza." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 15, 2012
"The President had just met with the U.S. Olympics gymnastics team, who because of a previous commitment had missed the ceremony earlier in the year with the entire U.S. Olympic team. The President suggested to McKayla Maroney that they recreate her 'not impressed' photograph before they departed." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 15, 2012
"New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg views a map with the President during an aerial tour to view damage from Hurricane Sandy in Breezy Point, the Rockaways and Staten Island in NYC. Also onboard were New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 15, 2012
"The President tries to comfort Damien and Glenda Moore at a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center tent in Staten Island, N.Y. The Moore’s two small children, Brandon and Connor, died after being swept away during Hurricane Sandy." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 15, 2012
"We had just watched the movie 'Lincoln' in the White House theatre with the director, screenwriter and many of the actors attending. Later, the President invited Daniel Day-Lewis upstairs to see the Lincoln Bedroom in the private residence. Here is Day-Lewis, who had just come to life as Abraham Lincoln, viewing the Gettysburg Address." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 19, 2012
"To some, this is just a snapshot and doesn't belong in this gallery of candid photographs from the year. But to me, it evokes what the trip to Burma was all about. Here is the President, shoes and socks off in respect, posing like an American tourist in front of the oldest pagoda in the world in a country that no U.S. President had ever been able to visit."
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November 19, 2012
"Police hold back the crowd as residents line the streets of the motorcade route to welcome the first sitting President of the United States to visit Burma. This photograph was taken through the bullet-proof window of the vehicle just in front of the President's. I love that three of the police are also trying to sneak a glimpse, one with a smile on his face." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
November 29, 2012
"There is closure in this photograph. I suspect that neither man really wanted to have lunch with the other, but they both knew the importance for the American people in seeing them do so. Here, the President bids farewell to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney following their lunch." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
December 12, 2012
"When I was in high school, I had a friend who had Bose 901 speakers–at the time the best speakers on the planet–and when his parents were gone, he would invite me and other friends over to blast Led Zeppelin songs so loud that the windows in the almost rattled. So when the President was chatting with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin–John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page–during intermission at the Kennedy Center Honors, those long ago memories came flooding back." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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December 14, 2012
"The President reacts as John Brennan briefs him on the details of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of his Presidency." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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December 16, 2012
"The President works on his Newtown speech at an auditorium in suburban Washington. Two days earlier, I had photographed him when John Brennan first briefed him on the shootings. Throughout that day, he reacted as we all did, which people witnessed when he delivered his statement a few hours later. Before we headed to Newtown for the Sunday night vigil, he went to watch his daughter Sasha, 11, at her rehearsal for the Nutcracker; he would be unable to attend her performance because of the trip to Newtown. During breaks in the rehearsal, he worked on his speech. His expression in this photograph may be subtle to the viewer, but not to me. There is emotion and resolve etched on his face, and he knew the importance of this speech for the nation." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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December 16, 2012
"Two days after the shootings at Newtown, the President traveled to Connecticut to meet with the victims' families and give remarks at a prayer vigil. The President spent hours greeting family members. Difficult as that was for everyone, the one moment that helped sooth the pain was when he posed for a photo with the siblings and cousins of Emilie Parker, one of the 20 children who died that day in Newtown. I see both sadness and hope in this photograph, and I know after a lot of tears that day, it meant so much to the President that everyone was able to smile for a moment in this family photo. Thanks to the Parker family for allowing us to show this photograph publicly." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
December 28, 2012
"After returning early from his Christmas vacation, the President with the Vice President meets in the Oval Office with the leadership of Congress to discuss the fiscal cliff." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
December 29, 2012
"In the Oval Office, the President meets with senior advisors to discuss the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
December 31, 2012
"Following remarks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the fiscal cliff negotiations, the President greets a couple of GSA workers as he walked back across on West Executive Avenue as he walked back to the West Wing of the White House. He gave them an elbow-bump, because he had just put Purell on his hands." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
December 31, 2012
"The President gives direction on the fiscal cliff negotiations to Rob Nabors, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs; the Vice President; Bruce Reed, Chief of Staff to the Vice President, and Chief of Staff Jack Lew in the Oval Office." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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