US News

President Obama’s year in numbers: speeches, golf, vacation days

As President Barack Obama’s second year in office comes to a close, an unofficial compilation of his activities in 2010 released Friday saw him signing more bills, taking more flights on Air Force One, giving more speeches and statements and yet taking more vacation trips than he did during his first year in office.

According to the list, compiled by meticulous CBS Radio White House correspondent Mark Knoller — who is also known as the unofficial White House historian — Obama kept a busy schedule, appearing in public on all but 24 days of the year, but still managed to find plenty of time to unwind.

In 2010, Obama met with 61 foreign leaders, delivered 491 statements and speeches and gave 107 interviews.

By contrast, he met with his Cabinet just six times over the course of the year, the same number of meetings he held during his first year in office.

When he wasn’t jetting around the world in one of the 172 flights he took on Air Force One, Obama held 17 town hall meetings and seven backyard chats across the country.

The president also signed 203 bills into law, including his domestic legislative priority of sweeping overhaul of the US health care system, a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy banning homosexuals from openly serving in the military, and comprehensive financial reform redefining US markets and firms for decades to come.

When it came time to unwind, Obama relaxed with six vacation trips that spanned all or part of 32 days. In 2009, he took four vacations over 58 days, according to Knoller.

Obama also managed to squeeze in 29 rounds of golf and shoot hoops no less than 20 times.