Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

EARLY YESTERDAY morning, two rows of removal trucks drew up on the Ellipse next to the White House, one for George Bush and his family, and the other for Barack Obama. During the five hours from the moment Bush left for his successor’s inauguration to Obama’s arrival at the White House as president in the afternoon, all the Bush family’s belongings had been moved out and the Obamas’ were installed.

Among the items moved into the private apartments on the second floor was a Nintendo Wii, which Mr Obama gave his daughters Malia (10) and Sasha (7) for Christmas. The return of a family with young children to the White House has thrilled Washington, recalling the presidency of John F Kennedy, when children Caroline and John-John brought a rumbustious energy to the 132-room presidential mansion.