"An Extraordinary Gathering"

The three living former presidents lunched today at the White House with Pres.-elect Barack Obama and President Bush.

Pres. Bush: "I want to thank the president-elect for joining the ex-presidents for lunch. One message that I have, and I think we all share, is that we want you to succeed. Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country. To the extent we can, we look forward to sharing our experiences with you. All of us who have served in this office understand that the office itself transcends the individual. We wish you all the very best, and so does the country."

Obama: "I just want to thank the president for hosting us. This is an extraordinary gathering. All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office. For me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary. I'm very grateful to all of them."