President Bush and President-elect Barack Obama meet in the Oval Office in this photo released by the White House. They spent about an hour there.
WASHINGTON – Barack Obama visited the White House yesterday for a long and cordial meeting with the man he will succeed, setting aside two years of withering criticism of President Bush’s record to discuss the economy and tour the presidential living quarters.
As hundreds of well-wishers crowded the wrought-iron fence outside, the president-elect and his wife, Michelle, joined Bush and first lady Laura Bush for a traditional visit that was short on substance but long on symbolism. The women hugged, the men shook hands, and all four posed for photographers.
Meeting without aides in the Oval Office for about an hour, Bush and Obama talked primarily about the economy, as Obama pressed his case for rapid passage of a new economic-stimulus package and help for the automobile industry, aides said. Then the pair strolled through the residence before returning to the West Wing.
Their wives embarked on their own tour of the building that will soon be home to the Obamas and their daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.
The Oval Office meeting came after two years of sharp, if indirect, skirmishing between Bush and his Democratic successor, whose candidacy was built as a rebuke to the Republican administration. Obama had condemned Bush’s "failed policies" and said John McCain, the GOP nominee, would represent "another four years" of the unpopular commander in chief. Bush once suggested that Obama was naive on Iraq and said at another point, "He’s got a long way to go to be president."
The two couples were all smiles yesterday, however, with no evidence of tension. Stephanie Cutter, an Obama spokeswoman, said that the Obamas were warmly welcomed and that the Oval Office meeting was productive and friendly.
"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. Obama thanked Bush "for his commitment to a smooth transition, and for his and first lady Laura Bush’s gracious hospitality in welcoming the Obamas to the White House."
Obama aides said the transition team had begun to review all of Bush’s executive orders and would move forward with decisions once Cabinet secretaries had been chosen. The men did not discuss those issues at the White House meeting yesterday, Obama aides said. Aides also have said there were no plans for Obama to announce Cabinet choices this week.
Yesterday’s meeting focused on the economy, and that is what aides say will be among Obama’s top priorities once he moves into the White House on Jan. 20. He promised a quick focus on middle-class tax cuts, health care, and energy independence.
Obama had never set foot in the Oval Office before yesterday and has had only a handful of direct interactions with Bush, most recently during a September meeting on the economic crisis.