Special Report: the Road to the White House

A cold start | The candidates | Obama's controversial pastor | Doubts and celebrity | First Ladies of US comedy | Economy and the new world | Best analysis, opinion and wit | Novelist Ben Okri: a nation delivers

Many have wept in America this week. Barack Obama shed tears of grief at a “bittersweet” eve-of-election rally when speaking about his late grandmother, and there were tears of joy for his supporters the next night.

But none were more symbolic than those that welled in the eyes of President Bush on the White House lawn on Thursday, as he gathered staff together to talk of the transition to a new administration.

They could tell his hair had “gotten a little greyer” in the past eight years and may be getting anxious about finding a new job or a new place to live. “I know how you feel,” he said, “but between now and then, we must keep our attention on the task at hand because the American people expect no less. As we head into the final stretch, I ask you to remain focused on the goals ahead.”

Mr Bush bit his lip. “May God bless you,” he said, turning his head away. His wife, Laura, gave him a little hug.

On Monday, the President will host Mr Obama for talks on the transition in the Oval Office while the First Lady shows Michelle Obama around her new home.In a sign that emotions are running high throughout the First Family, his dog, Barney, later bit a reporter covering the speech.

Mr Bush has always been one of America’s more lachrymose presidents, often crying in public when describing the sacrifice made by the troops he has sent into battle.

Perhaps the tears were for his staff. “The honour is great, the work is temporary,” he said, reminding listeners what he said before his inauguration.

Eight years on, he has an approval rating of 27 per cent and has endured an election in which he was treated as a target by Mr Obama and an embarrassment by John McCain. He also had to witness a vast crowd outside the White House on Tuesday night celebrating Mr Obama’s victory.

The speech included an apparent plea to be still treated as relevant, saying he would ensure his officials briefed Mr Obama well.

“We’re in a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us, and they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people.”

It is possible that Mr Bush’s tears welled for the same reason that they rolled down the cheeks of Mr Obama’s supporters on Tuesday night. “This is an exciting time for our country,” he said.

Times Recommends

• Please help: maimed children of war want their lives back
• Cabal seizes diamond riches to buy power
• White House gatecrashers got to the president