Bush Exits White House, Goes Home To Texas

After eight years in office, Bush flew home to Texas where he will spend the night at his Crawford ranch.

George W. Bush bid farewell to the politics of Washington on Tuesday, leaving with little fanfare as the country turned its attention to new President Barack Obama.

After eight years in office, Bush flew home to Texas where he will spend the night at his Crawford ranch.

Bush spent his last morning at the White House with a stroll around the grounds and on telephone calls in the Oval Office with long-time friend and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other officials.

"He feels good," his spokeswoman Dana Perino said. "This is a historic day. We wish the Obama team every success."

Bush greeted Obama on the steps of the White House with "Sir." The soon-to-be first lady Michelle Obama handed Bush's wife Laura a gift box wrapped in red ribbon and they all entered the White House for coffee.

When they emerged, Bush and Obama got into the limousine with the presidential seal to head to the inauguration. As the motorcade pulled out, Bush blew a kiss toward the White House.

Workers spruced up the executive mansion for the new residents. Offices in the West Wing received a fresh coat of paint, windows were washed, moving boxes arrived.

Bush leaves office with public approval ratings in the basement and signs of discontent with his presidency were evident around the inauguration festivities.

Moments before Obama's arrival at the White House to meet Bush, a crowd gathering in grandstands in front of the executive mansion taunted the outgoing president with a chant often used by fans of a winning sports team to the losers: "Na, na, na, na -- hey, hey, hey -- good-bye."

Some spectators waved "Arrest Bush" signs along the motorcade route and chanted "No more Bush" shortly before the swearing-in ceremony began.

During his inauguration address, Obama offered kind words to his predecessor: "I thank President Bush for his service to our nation as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition."

But he also alluded to some of the most controversial national security policies of Bush's presidency, saying, "as for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals."

Bush plans to open a presidential library and a public policy center called the Freedom Institute in Dallas from where he is expected to defend the policies of his controversial presidency.