The White House mulled inviting House and Senate leaders to Camp David for a summit following the November midterm election in an effort to improve relations with Congress,
Politico magazine reported.
The idea was scrapped due to logistical problems during the 2014 lame-duck session, although Obama did host House Speaker John Boehner and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at a lengthy White House meeting.
Aides to the president still hope to revive the idea of holding such a summit during the new Congress, according to Politico.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday that he expected "that the president will have an opportunity to sit down with congressional leaders" in the next few weeks,
The Hill reported.
Shortly after the Republican Party's sweeping victory in the midterms, Obama pledged to reach across the aisle in hopes of reaching compromise agreements with Republican leaders on trade and taxes.
The president pledged he would "try different things — whether it's having a drink with Mitch McConnell or letting John Boehner beat me again at golf."
On Sunday, McConnell said the oft-discussed "bourbon summit" with the president would likely occur.
"Well, I think it will happen,"
McConnell told CNN. "The people in the industry in our state are sure hoping it's going to happen."
Previous efforts to hold such summits have fizzled in the past, however. The White House wanted to invite congressional leaders and their spouses to Camp David to improve relations among top officials, but first lady Michelle Obama's East Wing staff shot down the idea, according to "Double Down," a book on the 2012 election written by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.
White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley floated the idea, but
it was nixed by aides to Mrs. Obama, who argued "Who wanted to be cooped up on a cold day in the woods with Mitch McConnell?"
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