Obama has private White House talks with Bush
Barack Obama spent two hours having private talks with President George Bush today as he visited the White House for the first time since becoming US president-elect.
It was the first time that Mr Obama, the first black US president-elect in history, has set foot inside the Oval Office.
The two leaders, who have both stressed the need for a smooth transition of power in a time of war and global economic crisis, did not speak to reporters during the visit.
But Josh Bolten, Mr Bush’s chief of staff, predicted before the meeting that “some of the most important issues of the day” were likely to come up.
Mr Obama and Mr Bush posed with their wives for photographs at the South Portico of the White House before the two leaders entered the Diplomatic Reception Room.
The president-elect’s arrival had the look of a visit from a head-of-state but there were no fife and drum bands, speeches or official pageantry.
The two men then waved to photographers as they walked in to the Oval Office for private talks.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said: “I don’t think any of us can understand what it’s like ... for two people who are going to be in a very small club, who understand what it’s like to be the commander-in-chief, to be the leader of our great country.
“And so they’ll have a private conversation. I’m sure they’ll talk about a range of issues.”
Mr Obama’s wife Michelle was given a tour of the couple’s future home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by first lady Laura Bush.
“We expect that the conversation will include topics such as raising a family in the White House and the support of the executive residence staff, which has been really unbelievable for the president and Mrs Bush and they are very grateful for it,” Ms Perino said before the visit.
As Mr Obama was flying from his home in Chicago to the White House today, Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed Mr Obama’s election as a source of “hope and inspiration” and he urged the US to join with Europe to build a new global order.
In his annual foreign policy address to the City of London, Mr Brown called on fellow world leaders to “seize the moment” and lay the foundations for the “first truly global society”.
Last week, during Mr Obama’s first press conference since his historic victory, he said now was a good time to “set politics aside” and “think practically about what will actually work to move the economy forward”.
“Undoubtedly there might end up being differences,” he said.
“The critical tone that has to be struck by all of us involved right now is the American people need help, this economy is in bad shape and we have just completed one of the longest election cycles in recorded history.”
The 47-year-old Democrat added: “We only have one president at a time and I want to be very careful that we are sending the right signals to the world as a whole that I am not the president and I won’t be until January 20.”
Earlier last week, with his eyes welling up, Mr Bush told members of his executive staff: “All of us must ensure that the next president and his team can hit the ground running.”
Later, Ms Perino said that Mr Bush described the meeting as “constructive, relaxed and friendly”, covering problems at home and abroad, and that he personally pledged a smooth transition.
Mr Bush gave Mr Obama a sneak peek at White House highlights, such as the Lincoln Bedroom and the president’s office in the residence, after their hour-plus talks in the Oval Office, she said.
Obama transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the president-elect thanked Mr Bush for both his hospitality and transition help.
“They had a broad discussion about the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation’s many critical economic and security challenges,” she said.
Outside, crowds built throughout the day with people pressing their noses through the fencing around the White House complex in hopes of getting a glimpse of the first family to be.
Street vendors operating nearby were already stocked with Obama-related merchandise.
Mr Obama’s motorcade has been upgraded from campaign mode to full-blown presidential level.
There were the two identical black, heavily armoured limousines – one a decoy - like those Mr Bush rides in, only without the seal or flying flags.
There was also a hazardous materials truck, a communications vehicle and an ominous-looking, armed-to-the-teeth counter-assault team filling the seats of an open-windowed Suburban.
Mr Obama’s staff, most in suits, remarked they had needed to buy “grown-up clothes” that better befitted a White House visit than the smart casual look they had adopted for the campaign plane.
