President Barack Obama marked his 48th birthday on Tuesday with a full plate of meetings at the White House, and a luncheon with Democrats that also served as a final powwow on a healthcare reform bill before lawmakers take a month-long recess. In between, the President blew candles along with veteran White House journalist Helen Thomas, who turned 89 that day, and had a mountain in the Caribbeans named after him.
The nation's fifth youngest commander-in-chief, Obama on his first birthday at the White House made a surprise visit to the James Brady Briefing Room with a plate of cupcakes and singing "Happy Birthday" for Thomas. He was joined by an excited press corps that could not help but greet and ask him mid-song about his own birthday.