In the waning days of summer, Washington, like the rest of the country, heads out on vacation. Congress is on a monthlong recess. President Barack Obama heads off to Martha’s Vineyard for a weeklong stay at the end of August.
And after months of grueling 12- and 14-hour days, senior White House staff also are fanning out for vacations, in many cases their first breaks since the administration took office in January facing a full plate of crises amid the worst economy since the Great Depression.
So whether it’s a vacation home in Michigan — a favorite retreat for many Chicagoans in the administration — or a tour of national parks, the Obama team is taking full advantage of the break.
“The pace is going to pick up again in the fall, no doubt about it,” said Josh Earnest, a White House spokesman. “We’ve been telling people: Even if you don’t think you need it, you’ll be sharper if you take some time.”
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