[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/13/art.cheney.ap.jpg caption=" The Cheneys and Bidens met Thursday."]WASHINGTON (CNN) – Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill arrived at their future home at Washington's Naval Observatory Thursday afternoon and were greeted as they exited their black SUV by its current residents, Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne.
The couples shook hands as Mrs. Cheney arranged the photo-op on the front porch, telling Mrs. Biden, “Now Jill, I was told that you were to be in the middle.”
As the foursome headed inside for what was billed as a private meeting followed by a tour of the mansion, a reporter asked Biden if he had been there before.
“I’ve been on the ground floor a couple times,” Biden responded.
Afterwards, a spokeswoman for the vice president wrote in a statement that the meeting lasted 50 minutes and that "it was a good visit."
"Vice President Cheney and his wife Lynne were pleased to welcome Vice President-elect Biden and his wife Jill to the Naval Observatory this afternoon," said spokeswoman Megan Mitchell. "It was a good visit. The Cheneys enjoyed giving the Bidens a tour of the residence and wished them well as they make it their home in January."
A spokesperson for Biden also said the visit went well.
"The Vice President-elect and Dr. Jill Biden met with Vice President Cheney and his wife Lynne at the Naval Observatory this evening. The Bidens thank the Cheneys for welcoming them into their home and for their gracious hospitality," said spokesperson for the Vice President-elect Elizabeth Alexander.
Chances are most of Biden's visits to the residence did not come over the past eight years. The future vice president has been a regular and fervent critic of Cheney, calling him “the most dangerous vice president probably in American history” at the vice presidential debate in early October.
In that same debate, Biden accused Cheney of not understanding that constitution says the job of VP falls under the Executive Branch. In his speech at the Democratic convention, he also joked about Cheney’s understanding of the document.
“For every American who is trying to do the right thing, for all those people in government who are honoring the pledge to uphold the law and honor the Constitution,” Biden said. “No longer will you hear the eight most-dreaded words in the English language, ‘The vice president’s office is on the phone.’”
The Delaware senator also couldn’t resist poking fun at the vice president when campaigning at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington in mid-October.
“I want to thank you for making this stadium today change, temporarily changing the name from Cheney Stadium to Obama-Biden Stadium for the day,” said Biden. “Besides, if it was Cheney Stadium, we’d be at an undisclosed location. You’d never have been able to find us.”
Biden used Cheney’s November 1 speech in support of John McCain and Sarah Palin to further the Democratic ticket’s case that their Republican opponents would continue the current administration’s failed policies, saying, “It’s not surprising. Dick Cheney has been wrong on everything for the last eight years, he’s on a roll.”
Cheney took on a far more powerful role as vice president than his predecessors had. Biden has said that he hopes to be a ‘confidante’ to president-elect Barack Obama, in the room for the important decisions and offering his judgment.
As for his new home: Biden has said he will still regularly go home to Delaware, though his grandchildren who live nearby in Washington are excited about the move because the new house has a pool.