Barack Obama to do the Colonnade walk at White House

It will be a moment of history unlike any other, a transition not just from one president to another but from a shameful and long chapter of racial prejudice in American history to a new beginning.

President-elect Barack Obama, the first African American elected to the highest office in the land, will take a photogenic walk along the White House Colonnade this afternoon with President Bush. In those few steps, they will cement the progress of the civil rights movement's "We Shall Overcome."

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino told reporters this morning that the Obamas will be greeted by the Bushes on the South Portico on their arrival at 2 PM Eastern, and then proceed to the Diplomatic Reception Room, where they will meet Adm.  Stephen Rochon, the chief usher, who runs the residence.

Then the two wives will assume their own schedule -- adjourning to the First Family's living quarters, where Mrs. Bush plans to show Mrs. Obama the bedrooms used by children of past presidents. The Obama daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, are the youngest children to live at the White House since John F. Kennedy's administration in the early 1960s.

As for Bush and his successor, Perino said they will "walk down the Colonnade into the Oval Office," where, his staff said, Obama has never been. On the agenda: the economic meltdown, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a peaceful transition. But no news conference is planned afterward.

In a C-SPAN interview, reporters from the Associated Press and the Washington Post asked Bush White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten what he thought the president would tell the man who ran against his policies. Bolten said:

I know the president will want to convey to President-elect Obama his sense of how to deal with some of the most important issues of the day.  But exactly how he does that, I don't know, and I don't think anybody will know.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Gerald Herbert /Associated Press

Comments

[liam]

The Library of Sanity called and wants America back, it's long overdue.

[Cathy C]

Thank you for this article and sharing with us this momentous occasion. God Bless America and all our leaders.

[Paraireplow]

Ms. Neuman, you giddiness is showing!

I'm so proud of our President - Elect Obama. It was just a great feeling to see
the Obama's enter into the White House doors to take the tour of their new
home. I'm still saying to myself Free at Last! Thank God, We're Free at Last.
I'm going to continue to pray for our new President and his Family, that God
will keep them safe always.

Justone_2005

[Calvin Lewis]

I think if Pres.Bush tries to tell Obama how to handle certain issues with different countries,he'll be making a fool of himself.Obama won't laugh in his face,but he'll laugh his self to death on the inside.One more thing.When the two wives have their alone time.I think that the first lady will apoloize for some of the things that Pres.Bush has said about Obama.