Obama hails gathering of the presidents

Says he plans to learn from their successes

President Bush shook hands with President-elect Barack Obama as former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton flanked them yesterday in the Oval Office at the White House. Former president Jimmy Carter was also at the gathering. (Ron Sachs/ Pool photo/ Getty Images)

WASHINGTON - Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East in turmoil, Barack Obama turned yesterday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the US presidents' club.

In an image bound to go down in history, every living US president came together at the White House yesterday to hash over the world's challenges with the president-elect. There they stood, shoulder-to-shoulder in the Oval Office: George H.W. Bush, Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter.

"This is an extraordinary gathering," Obama said, looking plenty at ease in the humbling office that will soon be his.

"All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office," Obama said. "And for me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel, and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary. And I'm very grateful to all of them."

Bush, blistered without mercy by Obama during the campaign season, played the role of gracious host.

"All of us who have served in this office understand that the office transcends the individual," Bush said as Obama nodded in thanks. "And we wish you all the very best. And so does the country."

It was a moment of statesmanship that tends to happen when presidents get together, no matter how bitter their previous rivalries. In a photo opportunity that lasted less than two minutes, Carter, Clinton, and the senior Bush smiled but said nothing. They deferred to the nation's incoming and outgoing leaders.

Earlier, Bush and Obama met privately in the Oval Office in a chat expected to cover events of the day, mainly the troubled economy and the Middle East. The two have shown solidarity since Obama's win in November, with one previous Oval Office sit-down and at least a few phone calls in recent weeks.

All sides were determined to say as little as possible about what was discussed. Presidents - new, old, incoming - like to keep their conversations private.

Without offering any specifics, Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs said all the presidents "had helpful advice on managing the office as well as thoughts on the critical issues facing the country right now. The president-elect is anxious to stay in touch with all of them in the coming years."

From the White House, press secretary Dana Perino said the discussion was "wide-ranging" but declined to comment further. Before the gathering, she had said she could not imagine the leaders would meet without discussing the Middle East, where conflict rages in Gaza, or the economy, which is faltering.

"I just want to thank the president for hosting us," Obama said. When a reporter asked Obama what he could learn from the mistakes of the four presidents surrounding him, he smiled and said he planned to learn from their successes.

Carter, Clinton, and the two Bush presidents were last together at the Washington funeral of former president Gerald Ford in 2007, and presidents have gathered at other occasions over the years. But not since October 1981 - 27 years ago - had all of the living presidents gathered at the White House.