Welcome To Your New Home, Obamas!
The Obamas visit the Bushes and White House | their soon-to-be home. See what happened.
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White House Visit - President-elect Barack Obama took another significant step toward assuming power Monday when President Bush gave him a tour of his new home – the White House.
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White House Visit - But before his visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Obama was seen helping his girls out of the car, giving them a kiss and sending them on their way to school in Chicago.
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White House Visit - Obama got to work a little early, arriving 11 minutes before the scheduled time. "Welcome," Bush said as Obama and his wife, Michelle, got out of a black blast-proof limousine in the driveway near the Oval Office.
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White House Visit - He and his wife, Michelle, emerged from their car and greeted the president and First Lady Laura Bush. Bush and Obama then walked along the Colonnade, as planned, before going inside.
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White House Visit - Dozens of journalists from across the country and around the world crowded the White House grounds, while hundreds of people pressed against iron gates, straining for a glimpse of Obama's motorcade, which now that he is president-elect includes a full police motorcycle escort, several Secret Service vans, and an ambulance. Crowds cheered as the motorcade arrived.
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White House Visit - The current residents of the White House, who have lived there since Bush replaced Bill Clinton as president in 2001, showed the Obamas around their home-to-be.
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White House Visit - Obama and Bush exchanged smiles and a handshake while their wives greeted each other warmly. It was their first face-to-face encounter following Obama's resounding victory over Republican John McCain in Tuesday's election, which will make him America's first Black chief executive. As the cameras clicked, the two couples entered the Diplomatic Reception Room.
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White House Visit - Neither Obama nor Bush had anything to say to reporters as they took the traditional stroll past the columns on the White House portico, pausing to pose for news photographers before going into the president's office for an hour.
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White House Visit - Obama stepped into the Oval Office, ushered in by Bush, and described the center of American power as "a really nice office.” The two met for substantive talks, and Obama learned firsthand from Bush about the challenges that await him on Jan. 20.
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White House Visit - The president and president-elect talked about the automotive industry, the mortgage meltdown and the prospect of a second economic stimulus package, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity so they could speak candidly about a private conversation, The Associated Press reports.
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White House Visit - As they talked, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama toured the White House living quarters and discussed the role of the first lady. Laura Bush shared some tips with Michelle Obama on how to survive in the White House – particularly with young daughters.
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White House Visit - Laura Bush and Michelle Obama toured the first family's private residence and discussed raising daughters in the White House, as Jenna and Barbara Bush were similar in age to Malia, who is 10-years-old, and Sasha Obama, who is 7-years-old, when they visited their grandfather, President George H.W. Bush, during his presidency.
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White House Visit - President Bush conducted his own tour of the living quarters for Obama, including the office he uses, the Lincoln bedroom and the bedrooms for the Obama daughters.
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White House Visit - The visit – the earliest in recent presidential history – was not tense or awkward as previous meetings between sitting presidents and their successors, or as might be expected after Obama won a resounding victory by tying Republican challenger John McCain to an unpopular president and his policies.
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White House Visit - About 3:45 p.m., Bush escorted Obama to his limousine.
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