Obama, Bush dine with ex-presidents at White House

By Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush and his successor, Barack Obama, joined all the living U.S. presidents on Wednesday for a historic meeting at the White House two weeks before the country's next transfer of power.

Bush, a Republican, and Obama, a Democrat, met privately for about 30 minutes ahead of the wider gathering.

Then former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, both Democrats, and Republican George H.W. Bush, the current president's father, met Bush and Obama in the Oval Office for a photo session with journalists.

It was the first such gathering of former U.S. heads of state at the White House in 27 years.

"I want to thank the president-elect for joining the ex-presidents for lunch," the younger Bush told Obama, who stood next to him, nodding.

"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," Bush said.

The five men, who have not always had rosy relations, smiled broadly and stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a line in front of the president's desk, with Carter standing somewhat more to the side of the group.

The senior Bush stood next to Obama, with the current president next, followed by Clinton and Carter.