CURL: The presidents meet

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By Joseph Curl POLITICAL THEATER

POLITICAL THEATER:

Editor's note: Today's Washington Times features the first installment of "Political Theater," a column in which political reporter and longtime White House correspondent Joe Curl will give readers a front-row seat to Washington's power players and their performances.

It may be the people's house, but for 13 more days, it's his house, and hisOval Office, even if three former presidents -- one of them his dad -- happen to drop by for lunch.

Unless, that is, the new tenant who has been measuring the drapes for months joins the foursome and, despite his repeated insistence that "there's only one president at a time," decides he'd like to make a little speech, too.

Gathering all the living presidents at the White House for the first time in 27 years, President Bush on Wednesday stood in the center of the quintet, gathered for the quintessential power lunch, and hurried a throng of reporters and cameramen into place so he could make a brief, magnanimous statement.

"I want to thank the president-elect for joining the ex-presidents for lunch," he said, nodding toward Barack Obama, who smiled and nodded and smiled again.

"And 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. And 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. And we wish you all the very best. And so does the country.

"Thank you all." Done, finished, over and out.

Junior White House staffers immediately bellowed "Thank you! Thanks, guys!" in an aggressive call for the press to vamoose. The giant "scoop" television lights that illuminated the members of the world's most exclusive club were quickly shut off as reporters and photographers began heading for the door.

But just then, the man who takes over the house on Jan. 20 on a long-term lease -- four years, with an option to renew for four more -- decided that the show wasn't quite over.