Obama 'plans to close Guantanamo' | Palin: God will help me to White House | Gerard Baker: the passing of the baton

Barack Obama and President Bush shook hands and took turns to pat each other’s back. Michelle Obama kissed First Lady Laura Bush on the cheek. Then, from a crowd outside the South Portico of the White House, came a noise which has not been heard there often recently: cheering.

The 43rd President of the United States and the man who will become the 44th both wore blue ties and dark suits. Shortly before 2pm local time yesterday, they walked along the Colonnade by the Rose Garden and headed to the Oval Office to talk about pressing policy matters.

Mr Obama again touched the back of the President, perhaps giving him a psychological advantage as the man in charge – the patter-in-chief – before their hour-long conversation and a tour of the living quarters.

The White House described the talks as “good, constructive, relaxed and friendly”. The Obama transition team said the two leaders had discussed “the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation’s many critical economic and security challenges”. Gratitude was expressed for the “gracious hospitality” shown during a two-hour visit.

Mrs Bush showed Mrs Obama around her home of the past eight years, suggesting which bedrooms might be redecorated for the arrival of Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10. Later, Mrs Obama visited two expensive private schools in the capital, Georgetown Day School and Maret School, where the girls may be educated.

The Secret Service issued the incoming First Family with new codenames. Mr Obama is “Renegade” and his wife “Renaissance”. Malia is “Radiance” and Sasha is “Rosebud”.

It was all a far cry from the fractious election campaign and could, without question, have been so much more awkward. Here was one of the most unpopular men in the world meeting someone who, judging by the global outpouring of joy that greeted his victory, may rank as the most popular.

Indeed, a Gallup poll yesterday suggested that Mr Obama had a 68 per cent approval rating among American voters, while Mr Bush had the exact reverse – with 68 per cent disapproving of his performance.

But Mr Obama, having spent the past two years attacking the failed policies of this administration, has no desire to sour the transition by repeating his campaign rhetoric. And Mr Bush is intent on softening the edge of his legacy by ensuring that the final couple of months go smoother than the previous 94. He has already lauded the election of his country’s first black president as a “triumph of the American story” while Mr Obama has promised “a spirit of bipartisanship.”

Too many past transitions have been dysfunctional or disastrous. When the Clintons left the White House in 2001, they were alleged to have taken federally-owned furnishings with them while staff – preparing for the arrival of George W. Bush – were alleged to have removed the Ws from computer keyboards.

This year is different, with a recognition by both men that with the US facing financial crisis at home and fragile security abroad, it is not the time for political posturing. Mr Obama has emphasised that Mr Bush remains in power until January 20 and turned down an invitation to attend the G20 economic summit of world leaders in Washington on Saturday. There have also been suggestions he will ask Defence Secretary Robert Gates to stay on in the new administration.

Inevitably, there are differences between Mr Bush and Mr Obama on how to deal with the next two months. The President-elect has expressed support for an economic stimulus package proposed by Democrats in Congress and opposed by the White House. His transition chief, John Podesta, has also stated that Mr Obama will use executive orders to reverse Bush policies on stem cell research, offshore oil drilling and harsh interrogation techniques. There is also the not small matter of two unfinished conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. For his part, Mr Bush has been keen to convey his concerns about looming national security threats in Iraq and at home while the new administration is still finding its feet. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that Mr Bush would stress the transition period “can be one where a country is vulnerable to attack”. But when asked about Mr Obama’s criticism of the President, she replied that it would “just slide off his back”.

Mr Obama had never been to the Oval Office before yesterday. He did visit the White House in 2005 after his election to the Senate. “You’ve got a bright future. Very bright. But I’ve been in this town awhile and, let me tell you, it can be tough,” Mr Bush told him. “Everybody’ll be waiting for you to slip, know what I mean? So watch yourself.”

Mr Obama later recalled how an aide put “a big dollop of hand sanitiser in the President’s hand”. In the spirit of bipartisanship, Mr Bush then offered him some. “Not wanting to seem unhygienic, I took a squirt,” Mr Obama said.

Sir Paul McCartney has said that he would like to serenade Michelle Obama. The former Beatle, asked which song he would choose, began crooning Michelle. “I think sincerely [Barack] is the man for the job,” he said. “I hope to get the opportunity to sing . . . to his wife.” Sir Paul may strike lucky: he could be asked to sing at the inauguration celebrations on January 20.

Times Recommends

• 'New York has lost its edge'
• Copenhagen will fail – and quite right too
• More than 17,000 new underwater species found