Bush to Obama: A private letter

WASHINGTON -- It's a tradition that dates back to Ronald Reagan, who scribbled a note to his successor, George H.W. Bush.

On a notepad with a turkey graphic, the Reagan-to-Bush note said, "Don't let the turkeys get you down."

Four years after that, Papa Bush left a note for incoming President Bill Clinton. And eight years later, Clinton wrote a note for George W. Bush, in which he included a copy of the note Clinton had received from his father.

In keeping with the tradition, said White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, Bush 43 left a confidential letter in the top drawer of the so-called Resolute Desk -- made from timbers of the British ship HMS Resolute. By the way, some in the design world have urged Barack Obama, a new president for a new generation, to choose a lighter desk without all that heavy history.

In any event, Perino was coy about providing details of the letter, but said "the theme is similar to what he's said since election night about the fabulous new chapter President-elect Obama is about to start, and that he wishes him the very best."

Perino said that in his last hours before greeting the Obamas and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife for the traditional coffee before the transfer of power, Bush, in the office at 7 a.m., phoned Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, national security advisor Stephen Hadley, former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card and T.D. Jakes, the pastor of a Dallas megachurch who preached at St. John's Church, which the Obamas attended this morning before going to the White House.

Then, Perino said, Bush "gave me a big kiss on the forehead, which I will never forget."

-- Johanna Neuman

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Photo credit: Joyce N. Boghosian / White House

Comments

[Tiffany Francine Allen]

Yes We Can Yes We Will Yes We Did. Yes I can Become a Nurse and with all my Power I will achieve. I send nothing but Love and Blessings to you and your Lovely family. I took place in voting for you. I will do it again, again and again.I know we together as one. You are my Role Model my friend my President. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GOD BLESS AMERICA...

[roger]

I am so relieved that W has been flushed to Texas. An idot in defense of extremism is no patriot. The Shrub almost destroyed our democracy and certainly damaged our standing in the world. God bless the age of Obama. It most certainly wil be better than the last eight years. America what were you thinking????

[ANTOIINETTE HUNTE]

CONGRATS MR PRESIDENT CHANGE HAS CERTAINLY COME NOT ONLY TO AMERCIA BUT TO THE ENTIRE NATION THAT I TIP MY HAT TO YOU THE ROAD WILL BE LONG AND ROUGH BUT I HAVE FAITH YOU CAN AND WILL OVERCOME THE DIFFICULITIES THAT LIES AHEAD OF YOU BARBADOS IS BEHIND YOU 100% SO MR PRESIDENT WITH GODS BLESSING AND GUIDANCE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BE OF GOOD CHEER.

[Hope Davis]

I don't see why everyone can be obsessed with Obama, when he really has done nothing so far. Why don't you wait to see his actions before you form an opinion on him? The one controversial action he has taken, was releasing all of the prisoners from Guantanamo Bay - and he did not even execute a plan for how to do this. I mean people say "change has come" - how is that possible when all Obama has done is make campaign 'promises' (and we know how often those are kept).

[Bella]

I find it funny when people gripe about obama not doing anything. He hasnt even been in office for two minutes.

CAlm down.

Mccain would have died already.

I wonder if president bush wrote the note himself, and if so, I sure hope they had someone check all his words.

I do hope that Obama delivers, though. It would be a huge dissapointment if another president messed America up.