Moment Obama learned of Newtown horror: Photo Shows Obama Hearing of Sandy Hook Shooting

A new collection of White House photos includes an image of the moment on Dec. 14 when President Obama heard about details of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

A grim-looking Obama leans on a couch as his Homeland Security adviser tells him of the shooting.

"The President reacts as John Brennan briefs him on the details of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.," according to the caption provided by White House photographer Pete Souza. "The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of his Presidency."

Later that day Obama made televised remarks from the briefing room at the White House.

"The majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old," the president said of the 26 victims, pausing to collect himself. "They had their entire lives ahead of them, birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own."

The shooting at Sandy Hook began an ongoing national discussion about gun violence that has led the president to go from largely ignoring the issue to now listing gun control near the top of his second-term agenda.