Welcome to your new home: History as Bush shows Obama around 1600 Pennsylvania Ave

THE hand of history belonged to George Bush yesterday when he welcomed Barack Obama, the first black president-elect of the United States, into the White House.

Arriving 11 minutes early Mr Obama and his wife Michelle stepped out of a long, black limousine to be greeted by President Bush and the First Lady standing outside the diplomatic entrance at the White House.

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 president and his wife escorted the Obamas into the historic mansion that will become their next home in a little more than two months.

Television pictures showed Mr Bush and Mr Obama talking as they walked alone under the White House Colonnade, pausing for pictures before entering the Oval Office.

It was Mr Obama's first time in the presidential chamber.

President Bush allowed Mr Obama to enter the historic office first as the 43rd and 44th US presidents prepared for a private talk about the challenges of leading a nation freighted in this hand-over of power by a severe economic downturn and two wars. The country's troubles fall to Mr Obama when he takes office on 20 January next year.

Mr Bush, who had endorsed Republican John McCain, lauded Mr Obama's victory as a "triumph of the American story," as he issued a warm invitation for the next president and his wife, Michelle, to their future home.

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.

During the visit Mrs Bush gave Mrs Obama a tour of the first family's living quarters, including the bedrooms used by children of past presidents.

Dana Perino, White House press secretary, 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."

After arriving, the Obamas were taken to the Diplomatic Reception Room where they were to meet the chief usher of the White House, Ms Perino said.

After the meeting which lasted just under two hours, President Bush walked Mr Obama to a waiting black limousine as he left the executive mansion.

In 1901, Booker T Washington caused outrage when he became the first black man invited to the White House. Now, 107 years later, Mr Obama was feted as he stepped for the first time into the famous room from where he will govern the nation as its 44th president.

The Obama's two daughters, Malia, ten, and Sasha, seven, who will be the White House's youngest residents for more than 30 years, were at school in Chicago. Unlike the incoming president, Mr Bush knew his way around the Oval Office by the time he was elected in 2000 as his father had been president.

Mr Obama has been to the White House before, including an emergency leadership session to deal with the financial crisis in September. But an Obama spokeswoman said the president-elect had never been in the Oval Office.

Mr Obama won the presidency last week after running a campaign in which he relentlessly linked rival John McCain to the unpopular President Bush and what he lambasted as his failed policies. The tone changed after Mr Obama's win.

The president lauded the Democrats' victory, and Mr Obama, in turn, thanked him for being gracious.

Presidential address waits to welcome two excited sisters

THE next US First Lady yesterday met the current First Lady in private to discuss, among other topics, how the White House will become a home for the Obamas' two young daughters.

Not since 1977, when Amy Carter, nine, moved in, will there have been such young children at the White House.

The parents of Malia, ten, and Sasha, seven, have already pledged to give them as normal a life as possible.

Previously, Michelle Obama has said: "My first job is going to be mom-in-chief. Making sure in this transition, which will be even more of a transition for the girls, that they know they continue to be the centre of our universe."

Aides say Mrs Obama does not want to help shape policy.

She also had a chance to say thank you after Laura Bush came to her rescue early in the presidential campaign, when she was criticised for saying that only since her husband ran for president was she "proud of America".

In an interview with ABC, Mrs Bush said: "I think she probably meant: 'I'm more proud', you know." She said comments in a campaign could be misconstrued.