Vice President Joe Biden apologized to President Obama on Wednesday for getting ahead of his boss by coming out publicly in favor of same-sex marriages, sources familiar with the exchange told ABC News.

The conversation took place in the Oval Office before Obama sat down with ABC News' Robin Roberts for an interview during which he announced support for the unions, the sources said.

Biden set into motion frenzy over Obama's position on same-sex marriage after saying Sunday on "Meet the Press" that he was "absolutely comfortable" with the unions.

Obama told Roberts yesterday that Biden "probably got out a little bit over his skis, but out of generosity of spirit."

"I think Joe is an extremely generous loving person. And I think he was responding honestly in terms of how he felt," Obama said.

"Would I have preferred to have done this in my own way? In my own terms without there being a lot of notice to everybody that this is where we were going? Sure," Obama said. "But all's well that ends well."

Biden's comments Sunday were impromptu and not designed to nudge the president forward, sources familiar with his thinking said.  The vice president has expressed regret for stepping on the president's plan to announce his shift in views later this month.

"The President has been the leader on this issue from day one," said Biden spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff, "and the Vice President never intended to distract from that."

The apology was first reported by the New York Times.