Obama has lunch with 4 presidents

US President-elect Barack Obama hailed a rare Oval Office gathering of all US presidents as an extraordinary event on Wednesday as the current occupant, President George W Bush, reminded his predecessors and successor that the office transcends the individual.

US President George W Bush (centre) poses with President-elect Barack Obama and former presidents, (from left) George H W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter yesterday in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. The five leaders shared a private lunch soon after posing for this picture. pic/ap

US President-elect Barack Obama hailed a rare Oval Office gathering of all US presidents as an extraordinary event on Wednesday as the current occupant, President George W Bush, reminded his predecessors and successor that the office "transcends the individual".

"I just want to thank the president for hosting us," the president-elect said, flanked by former President George H W Bush on one side and his son on the other. Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter stood with them.

"All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office," said Obama. "For me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary."

In a swift photo opportunity, the current president wished Obama well before all five men headed to a private lunch. "I want to thank the president-elect for joining the ex-presidents for lunch," Bush said, even though he's not quite a member of that club yet.

"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," said Bush.

"We wish you all the very best, and so does the country," he added.

Bush and Obama also met privately for roughly 30 minutes. That one-on-one meeting, coming just 13 days before Obama's inauguration, likely focused on grim current events, with war in the Gaza Strip and the economy in a recession.

Obama had suggested holding the gathering when he met Bush at the White House in November.

Considering the bond they hold in history, US presidents get together infrequently, particularly at the White House. And when they are in the same room, it is usually for a milestone or somber momentu2014a funeral of a world leader, an opening of a presidential library, a commemoration of history.

Not this time. "It's going to be an interesting lunch," Bush told an interviewer recently. When asked what the five men would talk about, Bush said, "I don't know. I'm sure (Obama's) going to ask us all questions, I would guess. If not, we'll just share war stories."

"All of us would love to be flies on the wall and listening to that conversation," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.u00a0