From dealing with crises at home and abroad to winning his historic re-election bid against Mitt Romney, 2012 was a busy year for President Barack Obama.
We've collected the most iconic images from the roller-coaster ride that was Obama's fourth year in office, as captured by photographers who have been on the scene for the most poignant moments, as well as the more light-hearted ones.
Obama embraces Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as he arrives on the House floor to deliver his State of the Union address.
President Barack Obama greets Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., as he arrives on the floor of the House Chamber to deliver the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Things get a little heated between Obama and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer during a greeting on the tarmac in Phoenix.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer points during an intense conversation with President Barack Obama after he arrived at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz. Asked moments later what the conversation was about, Brewer, a Republican, said: "He was a little disturbed about my book." Brewer had recently published a book, "Scorpions for Breakfast," something of a memoir of her years growing up and defends her signing of Arizona's controversial law cracking down on illegal immigrants, which Obama opposes. Obama was objecting to Brewer's description of a meeting he and Brewer had at the White House, where she described Obama as lecturing her. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)
Obama joins blues legends to sing "Sweet Home Chicago" at the White House "Red, White, and Blues" concert.
President Obama joins in singing “Sweet Home Chicago” during the “In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2012. Participants include, from left: Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, B.B. King, and Gary Clark, Jr. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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