Watch The President’s Health Care Summit Live

WASHINGTON- President Barack Obama has opened the high-stakes health-care summit he hopes will break the political gridlock stalling a medical system overhaul.

His high expectations rested on a virtually unprecedented gathering of key congressional Democrats and Republicans, taking seats at his invitation at a hollow square table with name placards in a brightly lit room of the stately Blair House, the guest quarters for White House visitors.

Obama walked around the table and shook hands at the outset before convening the conference. Among the congressional figures gathered around the table was Sen. John McCain, the Republican who lost to Obama in the 2008 presidential election.