White House Releases Visitor Logs
The Obama administration on Friday released a list of hundreds of politicians, private citizens, activists and celebrities who have visited the White House since President Barack Obama took office in January, after months of criticism from conservatives.
Conservatives and Republicans have demanded the release of the logs, complaining that the White House was hiding the information from the public.
However, the list of names indicates that Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and other top White House staffers were in fact visited by scores of individuals over the past 10 months for a variety of meetings and events, ranging from a Congressional luau to meetings on small business.
According to the logs, individuals visiting the White House include actor Denzel Washington, TV host Oprah Winfrey, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern, Center for American Progress President John Podesta, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), evangelist Billy Graham and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).
Financier and progressive activist George Soros — a particular target of conservatives — visited the White House four times.