Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner speaks to reporters in the Capitol in Washington December 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner had a “frank” meeting about the “fiscal cliff” on Thursday, aides to both men said.

The two men met for some 50 minutes in the White House Oval Office.

Lines of communication remain open, both aides said.

Separately, in an interview with a Minnesota CBS affiliate, Obama said he was hopeful of getting a deal and was willing to make more spending cuts as long as revenue from tax rates going up on the wealthiest Americans was part of the deal.