Bush leaves White House for last time

WASHINGTON — As he left the White House for the last time, President George W. Bush blew a kiss out the window of his presidential limousine, a goodbye gesture at the closing of a two-term administration that confronted the biggest terrorist attack on U.S. soil, war and recession.

Bush and his successor, President-elect Barack Obama, briefly stood inside the White House chatting before walking out of the North Portico and across a red carpet to a waiting presidential limousine that took them to the Capitol.

The incumbent and Obama, who is facing daunting domestic and international challenges, pulled out onto Pennsylvania Avenue and drove through huge throngs waiting with anticipation to see a slice of history.

Earlier, Bush welcomed Obama at the White House with a few hearty pats on the arm, a symbolic gesture to the transfer of power soon to take place.

Obama and his wife, Michelle, walked up the steps of the North Portico and exchanged handshakes, smiles and pecks on the cheeks with the outgoing president and first lady Laura Bush.

After posing for a photograph, the foursome went inside for coffee in the Blue Room with Vice President-elect Joe Biden, his wife, Jill, and leaders of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Keeping with a White House ritual, Bush left a note for Obama in his desk in the Oval Office, wishing him well as he takes the reins of power.

"I won't provide any details, but 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," outgoing White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

She said the two-term Republican incumbent wrote the message to his Democratic successor on Monday and left it in the top drawer of his desk, which was crafted from timbers from the H.M.S. Resolute and given to the U.S. by Great Britain in 1879.

Bush was in the office before 7 a.m. EST. He spoke on the phone with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, former White House chief of staff Andy Card and T.D. Jakes, the pastor of a megachurch in Dallas who will preach at a private church service that Obama is attending before the Inauguration.

Perino said the president's mood was good. "He's the president of the United States, the way he always is. He hasn't changed. He gave me a big kiss on the forehead."