Tim Cook met with lawmakers in Washington last week to strengthen relationship and ‘open up a line of communication’

Jake Smith | May 28 2012 - 3:32 pm PT

Tim Cook with U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner—taken on May 15.

According to CNN Money, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook met with a number of U.S. Congressional leaders last Tuesday to strengthen Apple’s relationship with the government and develop an open line of communication between the two parties. The meetings were not exactly on legal issues, such as Apple’s current eBook battle with the U.S. Department of Justice, but rather a brief and “low key” introduction. One aide told CNN Money: “It was an act of opening up a line of communication, but it was a first step in what hopefully will be a growing relationship. They didn’t become best buds in one meeting.“

Apple’s late co-founder and once-CEO Steve Jobs did not really have an open relationship with the U.S. government and chose to stay away from political and law issues. However, there was one time he actually had dinner with President Obama and other key figures. The President supposedly looked to Jobs for economical advice, and he even said the U.S. should support peoples’ aspirations to become like Jobs.

Last week’s meetings may indicate Cook is looking to change a few things at Apple when it comes to dealing with the government. Of course, Cook will not be quick to change pressing issues as rapidly as he and others at Apple might like, but things could change soon with a new relationship.

Cook’s next public appearance will be tomorrow night as the opening speaker for AllThingsD’s D10 Conference at 9 p.m. EST. Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg will interview him, just like they did to Jobs at D8 and other past conferences. We will cover any interesting tidbits out of the talk, but it will most likely just be centered on how Cook is changing Apple and factory issues in China.