Obama and the Lame Duck Congress

It's been a flurry of last minute legislative wheeling and dealing in the lame duck Congress. Below are photos from Obama's tax deal, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the DREAM Act, New Start Treaty, and the NY Senators on the 9/11 first responders bill. Also, the president squeezed in time to read to school children and wish them a Merry Christmas.

President Obama and former President Clinton make a surprise appearance in the briefing room of the White House to talk about the compromise on the tax bill, in Washington, Friday, Dec. 10, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

Republican Senate Leaders Mitch McConnell and Jon Kyl speak with reporters at the Capitol, after brokering a deal with the White House to extend the Bush-era tax cuts, in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand prepares for a TV hit to urge support for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compsenation Act, in the Russell Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 20, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

Supporters of the Dream Act console each other after they watched the Senate fail to advance the bill, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010. The bill would have paved the way for citizenship for children who were born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, make their way to a press conference after the Senate advanced the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

The repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

Republican Senators Jeff Sessions, John Barrasso, John Thune, Jon Kyl, and Orin Hatch prior to a news conference to voice their dissatisfaction with the New Start Treaty, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

Obama visits a local elementary school to read to children and wish them a Merry Christmas.

thanks for looking.

**All photos copyright Drew Angerer and The New York Times**

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Recent Obama coverage

It's been a busy few months in DC. I have mostly been up on Capitol Hill covering the lame duck Congress, but I got assigned to a few day trips with the President and a couple other various White House assignments. Thanks for taking a look.

President Barack Obama boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, en route to North Carolina to visit Forsyth Technical Community College, outside Washington, Monday, Dec. 6, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with General Colin Powell in the Oval Office to discuss a range of issues, including the New START Treaty, in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Obama pats a young child on the head as he hands out Thanksgiving meals at Martha's Table, a food bank in northwest Washington, in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Barack Obama campaigns for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick at the Hines Convention Center, in Boston, Oct. 16, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Barack Obama hustles across the tarmac back to his motorcade after greeting well wishers, in Greensboro, North Carolina, Monday, Dec. 6, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Obama decides what doughnuts to order at the Gingerbread House Bakery, in Kokomo, Indiana, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

A Secret Service agent stands by President Obama's limo, outside of a Chrysler Transmission Plant in Kokomo, Indiana, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Barack Obama speaks about education and innovation at Forsyth Technical Community College, in Winston-Salem, Monday, Dec. 6, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Obama buttons up his suit jacket as he exits Marine One to head for Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, on his way to Kokomo, Indiana, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Obama reaches over a barrier to greet supporters after landing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, in Peru, Indiana, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

President Barack Obama meets with students from the documentary "Waiting for Superman" in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, Monday, Oct. 11, 2010. (Drew Angerer/The New York Times)

President Obama speaks to the press during a cabinet meeting, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

The White House hosts trick-or-treaters at the North Portico of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010. The kids were made up of local families and military families. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

A Secret Service agent stands guard as The President and the First Lady host trick-or-treaters at the North Portico of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

With the President and First Lady headed for a 10-day trip to Asia, Marine One leaves the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. (Drew Angerer/ The New York Times)

** All photo copyright Drew Angerer and The New York Times **

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