P050809PS-0264

President Barack Obama bends over so the son of a White House staff member can pat his head during a family visit to the Oval Office May 8, 2009. The youngster wanted to see if the President's haircut felt like his own. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
This official White House photograph is being made available 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 or used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

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Comments

maxedaperture says:

Hah, that's awesome.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

ronin_z_e_r_o says:

so cute.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Richard- says:

Great one Pete. What was the verdict? Same feel?
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Oh Nuts says:

Cute and awesome.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Shamrockah says:

Classic capture and moment for that kid to remember forever.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

kimba714 says:

Love this!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Michael Saffle says:

Bowing again? Didn't he learn his lesson? ;-) Great pic!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

jdog1063 says:

Obama:
"And son, if you ever become President, this is what you do to a Saudi King, OK!"
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

sgtpepper23 says:

hey jdog1063,
why don't you go back to freerepublic, hotair, stormfront, limbaugh or malkin websites?
Your spamming is getting ridiculously embarrassing.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

bamalibrarylady says:

That is so cute!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

artbuste2000. says:

Angel Glitter Pictures
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

estei says:

Love this picture. Shows a president that isnt an angry old man.
Bush and the others might also be good with kids and the like. But they never allowed it to be shown.
This man is a natural, the genuine article.
Please keep photos like this coming.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

suswhit says:

sweet!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

MaryTClark says:

Super sweet. I love that he's a kind and approachable man.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Samden1 says:

Obama effect all the way to Scandnavia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1VccsxQ9GY
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

tamago says:

American child receives deeper bow than a king... news flash! ;-}}
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

rmcarrier1 says:

Hey JDog, would you prefer he kissed the man and held his hand, like Bush did? ;)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

KraftyMiles says:

See, it's these shots I enjoy, the more personal side to a public figure.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

missdorice says:

superbe clichée j'aimerais tant être à la place du petit garçon,beautiful and so cute
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

natsncats says:

Love this shot, so cute!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Felipe Cantillana Photo © says:

cool!!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

mad in love says:

super super cute.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

LaDeeVah says:

Absolutely charming.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

TheApiarist says:

i can't ever see our (British) Prime Minister ever doing that, more's the pity...
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

lvgraham says:

that is a true, African American moment -- the President really is like me. :-)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

ki.p says:

adorable
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

skomra says:

This will be one of the photographs his administration is remembered by. It's great that this comes directly from the White House, in this a new era of openness and access, and we get to see it immediately and without the filter of the corporate news media. Awesome.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

amy_b says:

death by cute.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

jcgr says:

Very funny!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

sahaskatta says:

i can't believe he bowed to that kid? first the Saudi King and now this?

/sarcasm
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

cpalmeno says:

awwww.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

randubnick says:

Great photo! This image captures something wonderful about the character of Barack Obama!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Linda Lee Hassan says:

Love it!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

rachel_ann94 says:

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

andyfox1979 says:

obama's hair looks less dense than the child's hair.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

purplepurr says:

This photo made me tear up. So touching and inspirational.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Exquisitely Bored in Nacogdoches says:

That's awesome.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

DanCleary says:

@sgtpepper23

Whether this photo warms the cockles of your heart or not, I think you're gonna have to expect a few references to the Saudi bow with a photo like this.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

mollyluise says:

heartwarming <3
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

drruss-47 says:

Knock,knock.......anyone Home in there?

.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

cageyness says:

Speaks to identity, dream building, and is a great example of the potential significance of this moment in history…doesn’t hurt that it’s toothache sweet either. :)

Can you say ‘Someday I want to be President?’
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Rezkojoe says:

Practicing for the next visit to Saudia Arabia?
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

ericlee_us says:

"Knock, knock....Anybody home? Guess not."
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

superhero says:

this makes me so happy.
:)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Lucky-me says:

Obama sure is fond of bowing...is He hiring Mini-Me or practicing for his first meeting with Ahmadinejad ????
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

natsncats says:

Y'know, he's not actually bowing...sheesh. He's leaning down so the kid can reach him.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

throwbooms says:

This sure isn't openness... it's pure fawning by the press. Socialism sucks, no matter what color skin it wears.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Shazz Mack says:

This wonderful photo captures this culturally-significant time in American history - shown through a very personal and human moment. Lovely.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

mollyluise says:

I pity all the sad people commenting who see this and twist it into something negative. Your lives must be pretty lame if that is how you view everything, even a kind moment between the President and a child.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

denslow_burhans says:

Photo ops with children are manipulative. It causes choruses of "Awwww" and fawning everywhere. Wise up people, everything politicians do is agenda driven. And they're hardly working for the best interests of the American people. It's criminal.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

parvo63 says:

One louse, two lice, three lice... Hey, Mr. President, you need a lice shampoo!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

JasonToddisBatman says:

"See, Son, and this is what I told the creditors of Chrysler and the American Tax Payers paying for the bailouts.... Bend over and take it..."
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

bklyntuff says:

The President became truly real for that little boy just then. I think it'll have a positive and lasting effect on the rest of the boy's life. What a wonderful moment.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

rjprytz says:

Great photo.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Gino says:

Some admin needs to award this one the Master Sword of Greatness.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Neeraj Mathur says:

He is the Prez a'ight of the US for the world. But for the folks in the US - he is one of their own - human with emotions who values family and kids. Go Prez Obama!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

minusbaby says:

That's intense.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Anne With An "E" says:

One photo, almost indescribable meaning.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Lori22033 says:

This made me happy in so many ways.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

serr8d says:

Obama sends home the bust of Churchill (annoying our British allies to no end) but keeps Ronald Reagan's Fredrick Remington statue?

The riding quirt should be about a foot or two longer...
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

WinaVD says:

So sweet Obama !!!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

akhardani says:

salut obama
c'est vous obama
qui peut aimer
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

vajra says:

President Obama is really really good with children. And this photo is a keeper.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Qj570 says:

Priceless!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] says:

This picture speaks for 1000s of voices.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

odan75 says:

Truly a man of the people. Cute as hell!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

myniyer says:

What a wonderful world, in which the President takes seriously the curiosity of a child.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

darkroom says:

What a beautiful photo. Shows the humbleness of the President.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

>>>WonderMike<<< says:

So adorable. Both of them!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Dave Kliman says:

That's adorable :-) & now my desktop wallpaper.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

alexisbellido says:

Nice pic. I wonder how it feels underwater :)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

sheep58 says:

Checking for lice and bugs, obviously, since odumbo is an animal.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

samochai says:

This little boy looks like a smaller version of President
Obama.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

optionthis says:

@sheep58 Fuck you.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

minusbaby says:

It's okay, optionthis, we're all animals; some of us, like an anonymous up there, just happen to communicate less gracefully than others. <);')
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

alexpaillon says:

Cool pic and great choice of scuplture in bg !:-)
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

tammygyrl says:

Humble yourselves as little children.....and stand as a MAN before the entire world. VERY good, Mr. President. Very good, indeed!!!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

judy, judy, judy says:

He's a good man and a good father. That's a trait that can't be hidden. Looks like he treats all children like he treats his own. How comforting is that for all of us??
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

wooac says:

Awesome shot and story. I can see the Children's Book already.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

zachwass2000 says:

Amazing. What a good influence on those youngins.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

miss-u says:

touches my heart :-)
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

happyspider says:

I love this - our president is so humble and good!! Beautiful.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

RobinLynne says:

Is this the Hair Czar? Badumtshhh.

--
http://www.theroot.com/blogs/oval-office/phot o-day-tiny-tot-inspects-presidential-do (?)
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

{ nina } says:

i loved this one too as soon as i saw it on national news. great capture. thanks so much for sharing this with the public.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

YFRONTGAZ says:

Congratulations to Mr Pete Souza,on capturing the priceless magic of yet another heartwarming moment in the life of this Father-in-Chief.
Thankyou for sharing this - and well done for hanging it on the walls of thw White House.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

2Serenity says:

Powerful image of innocence in the White House. Thank you!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

ACNegri says:

Great!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Zeech says:

My little nephew keeps making me, go back to this image so he can giggle and smile, and I am lost for words each time... so cute
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

greekgeek says:

I can't believe I actually like a president.

Competent was the most I hoped for.

Good-hearted?

I'll take two!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

TLoSavio says:

A man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

LadyDee's says:

Wonderful! So happy that he can see a reflection of himself in our amazing president!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

donnadoo2 says:

this gives me hope in mankind
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

GQAlex says:

all of you leaving these negative about the President about him bending over to let a child touch his head do have anything better to do. I think when it comes to being intelligent President Obama is probably the most intelligent President we've ever going to have. Look where the last moron that was in the whitehouse got us into, and I believe all of the negative posts being left on this photostream are being left by many morons that liked GWB
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

kingkongphoto123 says:

Truly Classic Image...
here is the old saying...in a photograph
A man never stands so Tall....
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

kingkongphoto123 says:

Lord ...this is yet another wonderful difference between
this White house...and the Last.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Nord_Flakes says:

Obama is bowing to a Muslim minor who is sieg-heiling at him. Rush's head is about to explode.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Regular Citizen says:

Sometimes, I have a feeling that this president enjoys driving conservative (Fox) crazy
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Bogota Colombia says:

nice photo!!

two
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

AsadZesiro says:

This picture is powerful, it has a psychological impact that all intelligent individuals will admire respect and embrace. The other morons will try to reduce it to something within the limits of their understanding. Screen Saver for the rest of the year for me.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

nzag says:

What GreekGeek said.

I love this guy.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

mckenny29 says:

This is an inspirational model. love this
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

tahnijoy says:

too cute!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Dave Simmons1 says:

Amazing picture, very cute !.
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

shahbasharat says:

former president G. W. Bush would have done the other way round (felt the kid's head to check if it felt like his)
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

Christophe S. H. S. says:

So endearing.

The real great minds are able to come down from their hights...
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
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