Sen. Mark Kirk says his Monday conversation with the president was "positive."
In a tweet, Illinois' junior senator said he and his predecessor discussed gang violence, the nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran, and bipartisan budget solutions.
President Barack Obama's call to Kirk was among several he was making to Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate as part of the so-called "charm offensive" to broker deals on the sequester and other fiscal matters.
The president dined with several GOP senators last week and has meetings scheduled with Democratic and Republican caucus members in both the House and Senate this week. Kirk was not among the senators at last week's dinner.
