President-elect Barack Obama and President George W. Bush met in the Oval Office Monday to begin the historic shifting of power to a new administration. Obama and his wife, Michelle, arrived at the White House early with President Bush and first lady Laura Bush waiting for them. The couples enjoyed a warm greeting, with smiles and handshakes then the two couples entered the Diplomatic Reception Room.
The president-elect and president strolled along the Colonnade and waved for the cameras while their wives began a meeting of their own. The president and the president-elect then headed into the Oval Office to talk about the future of the country. It was the president-elect's first visit to the White House since his landslide election victory — and his first visit ever to the Oval Office.
Their arrival had the look of a foreign head-of-state state visit. Upon arrival in Washington, Obama climbed into a black limousine with tinted windows, instead of his normal SUV; the limo looked just like the one that the president rides in, without the seal or flags. The entire motorcade was upgraded from campaign mode to presidential-level, with a second identical decoy limousine, a black haz-mat truck, a communications truck and the counter-assault team hanging out the back of an SUV.
Mrs. Bush was to give Mrs. Obama a tour of the first family's living quarters, including the bedrooms used by children of past presidents. The first lady and future first lady were expected to talk about living in one of the world's most famous building, from family life to the help provided by executive staff.
Unlike the incoming president, Bush knew his way around the Oval Office when he was elected in 2000 — his father had been president. Still, like many before them, President Clinton and President-elect Bush had their own private meeting, keeping up a tradition that temporarily puts the presidency above politics. The president-elect has made clear to the people of the United States and those watching around the world that there is only one president at a time and that's Bush. Obama is in the transition to power but does not assume the presidency until Jan. 20.
A Black man moving into the White House. Can you imagine what the people who fought in the Civil War would be thinking? Can you imagine what the slaves who built the White House would be thinking?
1 comment:
I heard recently that, despite all the perks that come with living in the white house, the first family still has to pay for any food that their private guests consume
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