The Oval

US President Barack Obama exits the Oval Office prior to speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on October 13, 2009, after the Senate Finance Committee voted to approve health insurance reform legislation.

US President Barack Obama exits the Oval Office prior to speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on October 13, 2009 after the Senate Finance Committee voted to approve health insurance reform legislation.

US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on November 12, 2009 before his departure. Obama on Thursday announced a jobs forum to be held at the White House in December, as the United States struggles with a 10.2 percent unemployment rate.'In December, we'll be holding a forum at the White House on jobs and economic growth,' Obama said before departing on a trip to Asia.

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero speaks during a meeting with US President Barack Obama October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero during a meeting with US President Barack Obama October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero speaks during a meeting with US President Barack Obama October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero listens as US President Barack Obama speaks October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

US President Barack Obama (R) addresses the media as NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen looks on during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washignton, DC, September 29, 2009. Obama met with Rasmussen Tuesday, as he launched an intense round of consultations before making a fateful decision on whether to escalate the Afghan war. Obama was to welcome Rasmussen to the Oval Office a day after the western alliance's secretary general backed a grim report on the war by US commander General Stanley McChrystal but stopped short of calling for more troops.

US President Barack Obama (R) looks on as NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen addresses the media duirng a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washignton, DC, September 29, 2009. Obama met with Rasmussen Tuesday, as he launched an intense round of consultations before making a fateful decision on whether to escalate the Afghan war. Obama was to welcome Rasmussen to the Oval Office a day after the western alliance's secretary general backed a grim report on the war by US commander General Stanley McChrystal but stopped short of calling for more troops.

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (L) looks over at US President Barack Obama as he speaks October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero speaks during a meeting with US President Barack Obama October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero speaks during a meeting with US President Barack Obama October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

US President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

US President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero October 13, 2009 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Zapatero arrived at the White House on Tuesday on his first visit since President Barack Obama's election last year. Obama was hosting Zapatero for a working lunch, before the two leaders were due to make statements to the press in the Oval Office. Spanish government sources said that Zapatero could offer during the talks to take up to three prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay US terror suspects camp in Cuba.

US President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen duirng a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washignton, DC, September 29, 2009. Obama met with Rasmussen Tuesday, as he launched an intense round of consultations before making a fateful decision on whether to escalate the Afghan war. Obama was to welcome Rasmussen to the Oval Office a day after the western alliance's secretary general backed a grim report on the war by US commander General Stanley McChrystal but stopped short of calling for more troops.

US President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in the Oval Office of the White House in Washignton, DC, September 29, 2009. Obama said Tuesday the war in Afghanistan was not purely an 'American battle' but was a broader NATO mission, as he met the western alliance's chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen.'This is not a American battle, this is a NATO mission,' Obama told reporters after the Oval Office meeting, which comes as he launches a series of intense talks on whether to send more US soldiers to the Afghan war.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) in the Oval Office at the White House November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Merkel will address a joint session of U.S. Congress later today.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) in the Oval Office at the White House November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Merkel will address a joint session of U.S. Congress later today.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) in the Oval Office at the White House November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Merkel will address a joint session of U.S. Congress later today.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) in the Oval Office at the White House November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Merkel will address a joint session of U.S. Congress later today.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) in the Oval Office at the White House November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Merkel will address a joint session of U.S. Congress later today.

US Vice President Joe Biden (R), US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C) and National Security Advisor General James Jones (3rd L) speak as US President Barack Obama meets with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in the Oval Office of the White House in Washignton, DC, September 29, 2009.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 13: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (L) talks with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office the White House on October 13, 2009 in Washington, DC. This is Prime Minister's first trip to the United States since 2004.

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 01: U.S. President Barack Obama walks to the Rose Garden for a statement after meeting with senior government officials on preparedness and response efforts surrounding the 2009 H1N1 flu virus in the Oval Office September 1, 2009 in Washington, DC. During his statement Obama outlined plans the federal government is implementing to combat the virus.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 29: U.S. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore makes brief remarks after meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office at the White House October 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama will travel to Asia November 11 on a tour which includes the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and a meeting with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore. Lee served as prime minister of Singapore between 1959 to 1990, and is regarded as an expert on Asian affairs and US relations with the region.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 29: U.S. President Barack Obama makes comments about attending a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base last night during a meeting with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore in the Oval Office at the White House October 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama will travel to Asia November 11 on a tour which includes the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and a meeting with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore. Lee served as prime minister of Singapore between 1959 to 1990, and is regarded as an expert on Asian affairs and US relations with the region.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 29: U.S. President Barack Obama makes comments about attending a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base last night during a meeting with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore in the Oval Office at the White House October 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama will travel to Asia November 11 on a tour which includes the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and a meeting with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore. Lee served as prime minister of Singapore between 1959 to 1990, and is regarded as an expert on Asian affairs and US relations with the region.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 2: In this handout provided by the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama talks President Barack Obama talks with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan during a phone call from the Oval Office on November 2, 2009 in Washington, DC. Karzai took on today a second term as President as competitor Abdullah Abdullah dropped out of the run off set for November 7.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 3: (L-R) European Council High Representative Javier Solana , President Barack Obama, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt,walk from the Oval Office to the Cabinet Room at the White House November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. The statesmen are in the U.S. to participate in the U.S.-European Union Summit.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 3: (L-R) European Council High Representative Javier Solana , President Barack Obama, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt,walk from the Oval Office to the Cabinet Room at the White House November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. The statesmen are in the U.S. to participate in the U.S.-European Union Summit.

US President Barack Obama walks out from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on November 12, 2009. Prior to his departure, Obama on Thursday announced a jobs forum to be held at the White House in December, as the United States struggles with a 10.2 percent unemployment rate.'In December, we'll be holding a forum at the White House on jobs and economic growth,' Obama said before departing on a trip to Asia.

US President Barack Obama walks out from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on November 12, 2009. Obama departed Thursday on his first tour of Asia, heading to Japan before later stops Singapore, China and South Korea on his week-long trip.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Barack Obama walks along the colonnade toward the Oval Office after speaking about the economy at the White House on November 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama later departed on his first official trip to Asia.

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - NOVEMBER 13: Oliver Norwood (R) of Nothern Ireland and Toni Kroos (C) of Germany battle for the ball during the U21 Championship Group 5 match between Nothern Ireland and Germany at the Oval stadium on November 13, 2009 in Belfast, United Kingdom.

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - NOVEMBER 13: Andre Schurrie of Germany celebrates his team mate Eric. Maxim Choupo-Moting's (not pictured) goal during the U21 Championship Group 5 match between Nothern Ireland and Germany at the Oval stadium on November 13, 2009 in Belfast, United Kingdom.

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 9: U.S. President Barack Obama walks from Marine One to the Oval Office of the White House September 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama traveled to New York City to attend a memorial service for Walter Cronkite.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Andrew Flintoff poses for photographs at the Four Seasons hotel with his new book 'Ashes to Ashes' on September 28, 2009 in London, England. The England team regained the Ashes in August 2009, with a victory over Australia during the npower 5th Ashes Test Match at the Oval.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Andrew Flintoff poses for photographs at the Four Seasons hotel with his new book 'Ashes to Ashes' on September 28, 2009 in London, England. The England team regained the Ashes in August 2009, with a victory over Australia during the npower 5th Ashes Test Match at the Oval.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, September 29, 2009. Rasmussen put on a united front with Obama, arguing that 'our operation in Afghanistan is not America's responsibility or burden alone, it is and it will remain a team effort.'

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 29: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) looks on as NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House September 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama and Rasmussen met to discuss new strategy for the war in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 29: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) speaks to the media as NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) looks on in the Oval Office at the White House September 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama and Rasmussen met to discuss new strategy for the war in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 29: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks to the media during a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office at the White House September 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama and Rasmussen met to discuss new strategy for the war in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 09: U.S. President Barack Obama walks from the Oval Office to the Rose Garden before making remarks about winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize at the White House October 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Nobel Committee announced in Oslo that it has given the award to Obama 'for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.'

US President Barack Obama speaks on telephone at the Oval office in White House in Washington, DC, on October 9, 2009. Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize just nine months into his term in office, prompting world leaders to urge him to use the accolade to step up efforts for global peace.

US President Barack Obama speaks on telephone at the Oval office in White House in Washington, DC, on October 9, 2009. Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize just nine months into his term in office, prompting world leaders to urge him to use the accolade to step up efforts for global peace.

US President Barack Obama speaks on telephone at the Oval office in White House in Washington, DC, on October 9, 2009. Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize just nine months into his term in office, prompting world leaders to urge him to use the accolade to step up efforts for global peace.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 13: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (L) talks with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office the White House on October 13, 2009 in Washington, DC. This is Prime Minister's first trip to the United States since 2004.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Barack Obama walks out of the Oval Office before speaking in the Rose Garden at the White House on October 13, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama spoke about the Senate Finance Committee voting to pass the health care bill by a 14-9 margin.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 29: U.S. President Barack Obama makes comments about attending a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base last night during a meeting with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore in the Oval Office at the White House October 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama will travel to Asia November 11 on a tour which includes the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and a meeting with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore. Lee served as prime minister of Singapore between 1959 to 1990, and is regarded as an expert on Asian affairs and US relations with the region.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 02: U.S. President Barack Obama makes remarks while meeting with Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in the Oval Office of the White House November 2, 2009 in Washington, DC. Currently holding the rotating European Union presidency, Reinfeldt is looking for a clear position from Obama on global warming before the December U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen.