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Behind the Scenes of the Debt Deal -- PICTURES

By Chris Heller

Updated: August 3, 2011 | 1:46 p.m.
August 3, 2011 | 1:45 p.m.

President Barack Obama signs the Budget Control Act of 2011 in the Oval Office, Aug. 2, 2011. (Pete Souza/The White House)

White House photographer Pete Souza trailed President Obama during last month's debt negotiations. In the gallery below, Souza's photos illustrate the making of the deal. (All photos obtained from the White House's official Flickr photostream.)

(RELATED: The Debt Deal and the Five New Truths | Reactions to the Debt Deal | How Long Until We Hit the Debt Ceiling Again?)

The Debt-Ceiling Debate

<p>President Obama meets with House Speaker <strong>John Boehner</strong>, R-Ohio, on the patio near the Oval Office on Sunday, July 3.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p>Obama talks with members of his staff in the Oval Office following a meeting with the congressional leadership on July 7. Pictured with the president, from left, are: Chief of Staff William Daley; Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs Rob Nabors; Chief of Staff to the Vice President Bruce Reed; National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling; Principal Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Jason Furman; Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew; Senior Adviser David Plouffe; and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama meets with staff to discuss ongoing efforts to find a balanced approach to the debt limit and deficit reduction, in the Oval Office on July 11.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama meets with congressional leadership in the Cabinet Room of the White House on July 13. Pictured, from left, are: House Majority Leader <strong>Eric Cantor</strong>, R-Va., House Minority Leader <strong>Nancy Pelosi</strong>, D-Calif., Boehner, Senate Majority Leader <strong>Harry Reid</strong>, D-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader <strong>Mitch McConnell</strong>, R-Ky.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with Boehner and Cantor in the Oval Office on July 20.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama meets with senior advisers in the Chief of Staff's West Wing office on July 21. Pictured, from left, are: Sperling; Reed; and Assistant to the President and Special Adviser Phil Schiliro.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama and Biden meet with the Democratic leadership in the Oval Office on July 21. Pictured, from left, are: Senate Majority Whip <strong>Dick Durbin</strong>, D-Ill., Pelosi, and Reid. <p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama and Biden meet with congressional leaders in the Cabinet Room on Saturday, July 23. Pictured, from left, are: McConnell, Pelosi, Lew, Reid, and Boehner.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p>Obama and Biden walk around the South Lawn of the White House on July 24.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama and Biden talk with Pelosi following their meeting with Reid in the Oval Office on July 30. </p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama and Biden are briefed by Nabors during a meeting in Daley's West Wing office on Saturday, July 30.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama meets with senior advisers in Daley’s office on Sunday, July 31. Pictured, from left, are: Sperling, Daley, Reed, Nabors, Lew, Biden, and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama and Biden talk in a West Wing hallway in between meetings on July 31.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama talks on the phone with Pelosi and Reid in Daley’s office on July 31. Pictured, from left: Daley, Sperling, and Geithner.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama meets with senior advisers in the Oval Office about the debt ceiling on July 31. Pictured, from left, are: Geithner; Daley, Sperling, Lew, Jarrett, Reed, and Counsel to the President Kathryn Ruemmler.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Biden looks out the window as Obama talks on the phone with Boehner in the Oval Office on July 31.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama talks with senior advisers in the Oval Office on July 31. Pictured, from left, are: Biden, Nabors, Lew, Counselor to the President Pete Rouse, and Jarrett.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama talks on the phone with Pelosi in the Oval Office on July 31. Pictured, from left, are: Schiliro, Plouffe, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Nancy-Ann DeParle, Reed, Nabors, and Biden.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama and Biden shake hands in the Oval Office following a phone call with Boehner securing a bipartisan deal on July 31.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

<p> Obama signs the Budget Control Act of 2011 in the Oval Office on August 2.</p> - PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE

The Debt-Ceiling Debate

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