Obama is also meeting privately Thursday with his defeated Republican rival Mitt Romney. The president has cast his victory over Romney as a sign that Americans back his tax proposals, which were a centerpiece of his re-election campaign.

In another twist in the scandal, court records indicate that Petraeus and Allen intervened two months ago in a messy custody dispute on behalf of Jill Kelley's sister.

He was closing parks, playgrounds and beaches, and property owners were ordered to secure construction sites.

He suggested bans on building in some sensitive beach areas, or requirements that homes be built farther from the ocean.