-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Bush had a `` relaxed '' and `` friendly '' meeting with President-elect Barack Obama after he and first lady Laura Bush welcomed their successors to their future home Monday , a White House spokesman said . President Bush and Laura Bush welcome Barack and Michelle Obama to the White House on Monday . `` The president and the president-elect had a long meeting , described by the president as good , constructive , relaxed and friendly , '' White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement . `` The president enjoyed his visit with the president-elect , and he again pledged a smooth transition to the next administration . '' Perino said the two discussed national and international issues but did not provide specifics of the conversation . Bush also gave Obama a tour of the White House 's living quarters , including the Lincoln bedroom . Bush and Obama held a private meeting in the Oval Office , while the first lady gave incoming first lady Michelle Obama a tour of the residence . The president and president-elect walked together along the Colonnade by the Rose Garden before entering the Oval Office together . They briefly waved to reporters along the way . Obama and Bush were not expected to speak on camera after their meeting . The two met in the Oval Office for just over an hour . When President George H.W. Bush hosted President-elect Bill Clinton after the 1992 election , the two talked for nearly two hours . Monday 's meeting was a historic formality , but it was also a time for serious talks . It marked the first time Obama has visited the Oval Office . Watch Bush welcome Obama to the White House Â '' Bush and Obama `` had a broad discussion about the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation 's many critical economic and security challenges , '' said Stephanie Cutter , spokeswoman for Obama 's transition team . `` President-elect Obama thanked President Bush for his commitment to a smooth transition , and for his and first lady Laura Bush 's gracious hospitality in welcoming the Obamas to the White House , '' Cutter said . A day earlier , a leader of Obama 's transition team said the president and president-elect were expected to discuss `` a broad range of issues , '' focusing on the economy . `` It 's clear that we need to stabilize the economy , to deal with the financial meltdown that 's now spreading across the rest of the economy . The auto industry is really , really back on its heels , '' transition team leader John Podesta told CNN 's `` Late Edition '' on Sunday . Podesta said Obama will push Congress to enact `` at least part '' of an economic package before he takes office in January , but said the problems Americans face need short - and long-term approaches . The president and president-elect also were expected to talk about national security and the war in Iraq . Go inside the Oval Office Despite the negative tone of the campaign season -- in which Obama frequently campaigned against what he called Bush 's `` failed policies '' -- Bush has pledged to do everything he can to make sure they have a smooth transition . iReport.com : What 's your message for Obama ? `` When I called President-elect Obama to congratulate him on his historic victory , I told him that he can count on my complete cooperation as he makes his transition to the White House . Ensuring that this transition is seamless is a top priority for the rest of my time in office , '' Bush said in his radio address this weekend . Podesta said cooperation with Bush administration officials has been `` excellent '' since Tuesday 's election . Watch more on the transition to power Â '' Obama said he was `` gratified by the invitation '' to meet with the president and his wife . `` I 'm sure that , in addition to taking a tour of the White House , there 's going to be a substantive conversation between myself and the president , '' he said at a news conference Friday . `` I 'm going to go in there with a spirit of bipartisanship and a sense that both the president and various leaders in Congress all recognize the severity of the situation right now and want to get stuff done , '' he said . Given their drastically different views on foreign policy , Mark Preston , CNN 's deputy political editor , predicted an `` uncomfortable meeting at best . '' Watch CNN 's Mark Preston talk about the meeting Â '' `` Let 's not forget that Barack Obama ran against President Bush every day when he was taking on John McCain . While they will be cordial , I bet you it will be uncomfortable , '' Preston said . As the president and president-elect met in the Oval Office , Perino gave Robert Gibbs a tour of the White House press office . Gibbs was the communications director for Obama 's presidential campaign . He has not officially been named the incoming press secretary , but he is widely considered the top contender for the position . Cutter said that after Laura Bush gave Michelle Obama a tour of the residence , the first lady and her successor discussed raising daughters in the White House . `` Mrs. Obama was honored to finally meet the first lady , who was a gracious hostess , '' Cutter said .