5 Living US Presidents gathered together...

The 5 living US Presidents on 7 January 2009

From left, Former President George Bush Senior, Future President Barack Obama, Present President George W. Bush, Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter

(missing from the list - should have been Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, NIXON, LINCOLN?? JOHN KENNEDY ? GEORGE WASHINGTON???)


This was the first time in 27 years that all of the living past presidents have gathered at the White House.

The last time was in 1981, when then-President Ronald Reagan met with former Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter prior to the funeral of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

But on Wednesday, 7 January 2009, there was a historic gathering at the White House of past, present and future U.S. presidents.

It was a chance for President-elect Barack Obama to sit down with the members of a very exclusive club - the men who have held the nation's highest elective office.

The president-elect said he has a lot to learn from the men who have preceded him."This is an extraordinary gathering," he said.

"All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office."It was Mr. Obama who first suggested the meeting.

President Bush who arranged it said "Whether we are Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country."

The two men posed for pictures with the three living former presidents in front of the carved wood desk in the Oval Office.

Mr. Obama said "For me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary," he said.

The actual discussions were held over a private lunch.

This kind of event is just like - Winston Churchill, John Major, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair having lunch together with Gordon Brown at 10, Downing street...

Or Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, King George V and King Arthur having lunch together at Buckingham....!!! served by Queen Latifah!!