Obama-Bush meeting focuses on economy, foreign policy

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and the outgoing President George W. Bush wrapped up their talks at the White House Monday, without making any comments to the public.

Without going into the details, the White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the meeting was "good, constructive, relaxed and friendly."

President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama pause for photographs Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, on the Colonnade as the President welcomed his successor and Mrs. Michelle Obama to the White House. [White House photo by Eric Draper]

Bush and Obama held a private meeting in the Oval Office, while the first lady Laura Bush gave the incoming first lady Michelle Obama a tour of the residence.

The president and president-elect walked together along the colonnade by the Rose Garden before entering the Oval Office together.

They briefly waved to reporters along the way.

Obama and Bush spoke on camera following their meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours.

An aide to Obama said they were "going to let the pictures speak for themselves."

Before Obama arriving at the White House, crowds lined the streets of downtown Washington, cheering the president-elect as his motorcade made its way to and from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

While Obama has been to the White House a half-dozen times since he won a Senate seat four years ago, it was his first time inside the Oval Office.

Though leaving no comments, the common guess is that they had a substantive discussion not only about the transition of power, but also the critical issues facing the United States, especially the economy and a proposed stimulus package aimed at easing the country's financial woes.

Indeed, the economic crisis is believed to be the reason why their chat came far sooner than usual, less than a week after Obama made history by becoming the first black man to be elected president of the United States.