President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One prior to departure from Waterloo Regional Airport in Waterloo, Iowa, Jan. 14, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
On Nov. 3, 2015, the president high-fives Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., during a meeting with her and Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., left, in the Oval Office. At right is OMB Director Shaun Donovan. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
President Barack Obama’s gestures during State of the Union prep in the Oval Office, Jan. 14, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches, at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., March 7, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
White House Photographer Pete Souza said he focused on the detail of the Resolute Desk as the president was talking with two aides in the Oval Office on Oct. 1, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
“Sometimes a unique angle makes all the difference,” said White House Photographer Pete Souza. On Jan. 17, 2014, the president signed H.R. 3547, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, which at the time provided fiscal year 2014 appropriations, in the New Executive Office Building. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Lawrence Jackson)
The White House/Lawrence Jackson
President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, convenes a National Security Council meeting in the Situation Room of the White House, Dec. 1, 2014. Seated with them from left are National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, Secretary of State John Kerry, Tony Blinken, Deputy National Security Advisor and Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
President Barack Obama holds an Affordable Care Act conference call in the Oval Office Private Dining Room, Nov. 7, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
President Barack Obama holds a conference call with advisors aboard Air Force One during a flight to Portland, Ore., July 24, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.Ê
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
President Barack Obama talks with Chief of Staff Denis McDonough prior to departure from the White House en route to Louisville, Ky. April 2, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
President Barack Obama waves to the First Lady and guests seated in the gallery of the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Sept. 9, 2009. In the background are Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
On Nov. 2, 2105 at dusk, the president boards Marine One at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
On June 6, 2014, the president talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a lunch with other foreign leaders to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
President Barack Obama’s first morning in the Oval Office as President of the United States on Jan. 21, 2009. He was captured reading some briefing material before a meeting. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(Pete Souza)
Pete Souza
On March 13, 2013, the president talks with House Speaker John Boehner after the president participated in a Q&A with the House Republican Conference at the U.S. Capitol. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
On March 15, 2013, a glass-top table serves as a reflection as the president talks with staff in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
The president delivers remarks in the pouring rain at a campaign event in Glen Allen, Va. on July 14, 2012. 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 onsite so people, said White House Photographer Pete Souza. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
The vice president and other staff watch and listen as the president talks on the phone in the Oval Office with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid during the debt limit and deficit discussions on July 31, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.Ê
(The White House/Pete Souza)
The White House/Pete Souza
President Barack Obama makes Thanksgiving Day phone calls to U.S. troops from the Oval Office, Nov. 24, 2011.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
On Feb. 17, 2009, a board Air Force One, a close-up of the president’s signature on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which he had just signed in Denver. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(White House Photo/Pete Souza)
White House Photo/Pete Souza
On Oct. 10, 2011, the president walks into a hospital room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where he presented a wounded warrior with a Purple Heart. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
(The White House/Pete Souza)
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama led the country for eight years as president, and with the position controlled the nation’s military and supervised the executive branch of government.
See images of Obama’s more official duties and interactions captured by White House Photographer Pete Souza and his staff.
Sarah Beth Hensley is the Digital News Director at WTOP. She has worked several different roles since she began with WTOP in 2013 and has contributed to award-winning stories and coverage on the website.
