January 7, 2009
Posted: January 7th, 2009 03:12 PM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) – When President Bush says "Thank you all," at the end of an Oval Office photo-op, that's usually the signal for White House press aides to usher journalists out - and fast.

But during Wednesday's historic gathering of five U.S. presidents - past, present and future - Bush's customary signal didn't have the desired effect. President Bush said “Thank you all” while shaking hands with President-elect Barack Obama, aides demanded the camera lights go off and started herding reporters and technicians towards the door...

But Obama launched into remarks of his own. Video of the event shows the television lights getting turned back on and quickly repositioning as the cameras continued rolling.

The official White House transcript does not reflect Mr. Bush's "Thank you all" at the end of his comments - but those cameras were rolling, and “thank you all” is on the tape. For the record, President-elect Obama ended the Oval Office photo opportunity thanking the President (according to the White House transcript):

“But, again, thank you, Mr. President, for hosting us.”

Filed under: President Bush • President-elect Obama


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