The Best Behind-The-Scenes White House Photos From Obama's First Year

Whatever your opinion of President Obama's first year in office, it's undeniable that 2009 produced some amazing behind-the-scenes White House photography. Here are the best pictures of the president, his family and staff at work and at play from the White House flickr pool. Take a look and tell us your favorite:

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Comments

[mmj200]

12:05 PM on 01/05/2010

The best thing to do is to ignore the haters. That way they have nothing to feed on. They're minds are already made up...why respond to their frothy mouthed bile?

[fem56]

03:02 PM on 01/04/2010

Love that man and his lovely family! I think he has done a pretty darn good job for a first year president. He can into the office at one of the worst times in history and managed to make progress-no not the progress he would have liked to have made but progress. His expectations were very high but who knows what he can do in eight years. It will take a very long time to clean up all the messes he inherited and the world doesn't stand still for even a handsome new president. Nothing proceeds in a straight line which makes people nervous and angry but he and his team have their eye on the goal.

[Lara Ellinger]

12:43 PM on 01/05/2010

My thoughts exactly.

The behind the scenes pictures are fun look at his personal life. A president who was serious all the time and didn't take moments for himself (love the picture of him running down the hall with the dog) would probably get less accommplished. These show that while he is the leader of the free world he is also a family man and loves a laugh.

[Cheapthrills]

09:26 AM on 01/04/2010

I am not impressed by these photo ops, the idea of "hope", nor the prez's pretty speeches.
What would be impressive is some action and leadership.

[TakeBackAmerica]

10:12 AM on 01/04/2010

Give me a break. That's the most ridiculous comment I've ever seen on here. You are squarely in the "no matter what this President and Administration does, it's wrong, bad for the country and will result in death and destruction" camp.

[pporter]

08:57 PM on 01/04/2010

Amen!

[thegriot7]

08:06 AM on 01/03/2010

I'm so over these two.

[ultrabop]

08:03 PM on 01/02/2010

It's kind of repulsive watching him do the photo ops while the Repubs are rubbing their hands together, licking their chops, watching the door swing wide open.

He should have kneecapped the bastards when he had the chance. Instead he went halfway, with centrist policies that did nothing except to eat up a lot of money.

[DemocraticStraits]

02:56 PM on 01/03/2010

I thought Clinton was the photo op president. I had Bush fatigue, but Obama has cured me in less than a year.

[redheadwoman]

01:16 PM on 01/02/2010

Thanks for the pix---a happy start to 2010. The fact that over the past year both my left wing socialist acquaintances and my right wing racist acquaintances are all complaining about President Obama says to me that he's doing his job intelligently. Whether you like it or not, we've elected a moderate who really does value bipartisanship and will compromise to get at least part of his agenda passed through Congress. That's the way it's supposed to work.

[MomfromTexas]

02:44 PM on 01/04/2010

OMG! How rational of you!

[murphysgirl]

10:20 AM on 01/02/2010

Love the pic of Bo and Obama running down the hallway!! The Obamas are such a beautiful and loving family..Obama's 2nd year will be an uphill battle for sure..

[JaneQCitizen]

10:19 AM on 01/02/2010

Amazingly, Obama actually took big bites of all the issues on his plate this first year. He's a man with, seemingly, a tremendous amount of drive and energy. However, you can see that the enormity of the job has settled on his shoulders and face. Here's to seven more years of such dedication to family and country.

[norman60]

07:43 AM on 01/02/2010

This is a healthy president, with a healthy staff team and family. May the Lord give us a healthy nation.

[RealisticallyOptimist]

09:01 AM on 01/02/2010

Amen!

[peggy johannsen]

09:13 AM on 01/02/2010

I have been a very happy camper since January 20, 2009. I love seeing these vibrant, intelligent, creative two in the White House and savor every photo, whether casual or formal. I was an Obama supporter at the speech at the Democratic convention. I do not like the MSM piling on his failures, He came into our country at war and a Depression, The press and Congress do not like to use this word, but that is what it is, and no one can resolve these issues in a mere year. I don't like to hear Mr, President sullied because of issues he did not create. Please keep posting these photos for those of us who may never get to see him in person.

[PAsteelers]

07:13 AM on 01/02/2010

Darn, the Pres is fine. Our first lady is beautiful.
They make an absolutely gorgeous couple, family and
head of state. Life is good! Love the first pic the best.

[Jewel17]

11:07 AM on 01/02/2010

I agree! Happy New Year to you!

[MomfromTexas]

02:44 PM on 01/04/2010

X2

[Sandra Grass]

06:23 AM on 01/02/2010

Beautiful and inspiring. Let us stay behind this administration in spite of our frustrations of things not happening fast enough. We cannot afford to turn on the first great hope we have had in so long! Obama Biden next time around!

[RealisticallyOptimist]

09:17 AM on 01/02/2010

Well said!

[NevaforLeadership]

03:22 PM on 01/01/2010

Love looking at the White House pics. Thanks.

My favorite one is President Obama in the air with Bo.

The world -- yes, the world -- is lucky to have this president in the White House. Let's everyone get behind him to help him create even more change.

We don't want to be in the position of wondering what on earth happened, as Sarah Palin moves her bear-skin rugs into the White House.

Obama/Biden 2012 - 21016
Yes We Can

[JanSP1971]

04:38 PM on 01/01/2010

Agreed 200%!
Thank you for the beautiful pictures.

[Milinda]

06:15 PM on 01/01/2010

Obama/Biden 2012 - 21016
Yes We Can

No, no, Neva! Better we chant "Obama/Biden 2012-2016
Yes We WILL"

Yes, We WILL fight to get our POTUS re-elected!

[eden4barack08]

06:50 PM on 01/01/2010

AMEN! Yes we WILL!

[NevaforLeadership]

06:17 PM on 01/02/2010

Good point, Milida.

Yes We Will.

[Michele Himmel]

02:29 PM on 01/01/2010

Huffpost is behind today. Britains - daily mail .com - has pics of Michelle Obama in a bathingsuit and the girls surfing.

[Michele Himmel]

02:30 PM on 01/01/2010

whoops mailonline.com I meant. Here is the link.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1239816/Surfin-USA-Obamas-daughters-hit-waves-Hawaii-dad-hits-links.html

[Gretel1or2]

03:58 PM on 01/01/2010

The young lady in the first picture is not Malia...the younger one is not Sasha either....sorry to say but these are not the Obama girls.

[Gretel1or2]

04:03 PM on 01/01/2010

I meant to add that the Obama girls are featured in the very last picture only despite what the captions say..

[Jeanne Bridgforth]

01:33 PM on 01/01/2010

After 8 yrs of being disgraced by Bush-Cheney-Rove et al, these photos make me once again, proud of our country. The Obamas have brought grace, class, energy, trust, humanity and brilliance to the White House. As the world goes about blowing itself up with hate, guns, & bombs, the Obamas instill hope that the better angels will indeed prevail.

[DemocraticStraits]

02:59 PM on 01/01/2010

Denial is not a river in Egypt. Keep telling yourself all that.

[JanSP1971]

04:39 PM on 01/01/2010

Remember who was elected by the American people..... President Obama was.... so get over it and start supporting your country.

[oldandweary]

09:56 PM on 01/02/2010

Dem-straits, H.P. member for a little more than ONE MONTH: I know you've invested a lot of time here, perfecting the skill of being a jurk a$$, but the k k k called, and they really miss you at the rally.

[ultrabop]

08:10 PM on 01/02/2010

Get real. Having grace, class, energy, trust, humanity and brilliance doesn't work anymore. It is just a style. Style does not defeat ruthless greed and blood thirsty jingoism and hatred.

He was and is not strong enough to even put the criminals of the previous administration behind bars. Is it because he needs the reassurance that when he breaks the law, in turn, that the next generation will pardon his deeds as well?

[DemocraticStraits]

08:45 PM on 01/02/2010

Oh, sure, like he's going to put Dodd or Frank or Waters or Reid in jail.

But, that's how they do it in Mexico. Obama is turning the US into a 3rd world country.

[DnDCfromChi-town]

12:11 PM on 01/01/2010

Happy New Year my fellow patriots! I pray that 2010 brings peace, happiness, love and good health for you. For those of you that have not found employment I hope the new year brings that also…… I love the pics of my First Family.

Peace and Blessings

[Solja]

12:31 PM on 01/01/2010

Thank you for the well wishes! I prayed for a job in "early 2010". I need just that one blessing this year and I'll be fine as my blessings always pass on to others. Hope is still alive though!

Happy New Year to you in Chi-town from the Quad Cities! It's cold as beJesus out there!

[DemocraticStraits]

10:43 AM on 01/02/2010

So you're a conservative? Welcome on board!