Prez Loves to Work the Phone

President Obama might love his Blackberry for the email, but the new commander-in-chief also spends a sizable amount of time working the phones with people ranging from close advisers to world leaders, reports the New York Times. Obama often makes more than two dozen calls a day in order to "connect outside the bubble,” says David Axelrod, himself the frequent recipient of 11pm calls.

The White House switchboard has connected with Kathleen Sebelius (to tell her she had been tapped for the Cabinet), former President Bush (to let him know the US will be withdrawing from Iraq), and to various Republican senators (for stimulus discussions). “He thinks the coolest thing about this,” says press secretary Robert Gibbs, “is that you can pick up the phone and say, ‘I need to reach so and so,’ and a minute later, the phone rings and they are on the line.” (More President Obama stories.)