December 1: President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel walk from the West Wing to the Eisenhower Executive Office.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 2: In the Roosevelt Room, White House officials celebrate the birthday of NSC Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. Lighting the candles with President Obama is Oval Office valet Raymond Rogers.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 3: President Obama joins a breakout session in the Eisenhower Executive Office during a jobs forum.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 4: In Allentown, Pennsylvania, President Obama waits to greet workers during a shift change at the Nestle Purina PetCafe facility.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
Official White House photo by Samantha Appleton
December 4: President Obama greets patrons at the Hamilton Family Restaurant before his lunch with Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski.
Official White House photo by Lawrence Jackson
December 4: Audience members reach out to touch the president after he delivers remarks at the Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 6: The president and first lady await their introduction at the Kennedy Center Honors event in the East Room.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 6: The first couple joins the Kennedy Center honorees.
Official White House photo by Lawrence Jackson
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 6: The President, it appears, is talking to his famous interlocuter inside the White House Blue Room.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 6: Obama welcomes Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 7: Less than a week after announcing his war strategy, Obama share laughs with some of his Afghanistan advisers. Joining the president after an Oval Office meeting are (from left to right) Karl Eikenberry, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan; National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones; and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 7: A departing staff member, Katie Stanton, brings her family in to greet the president in the outer Oval Office.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 9: Vice President Biden and members of Congress listen to the president speak at a meeting in the Cabinet Room.
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 11: Wilson Roosevelt Jerman, a White House doorman.
Official White House photo by Chuck Kennedy
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
December 16: A child lights the White House Hanukkah candles as the president and first lady look on.
Official White House photo by Samantha Appleton
December 16: Bo, the Obama family dog, keeps a steadfast eye on the South Lawn from the seat of a D.C. police car.
Official White House photo by Chuck Kennedy
