海角大神

In a cordial beginning to their transfer of power, President Barack听Obama听and President-elect Donald听Trump听met at the White House Thursday.听Obama听called the 90-minute meeting "excellent," and his successor said he looked forward to receiving the outgoing president's "counsel."

At the close of the Oval Office sit-down,听Obama听said to听Trump, "We now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed the country succeeds."

The two men, who have been harshly critical of each other for years, were meeting for the first time,听Trump听said. The Republican called听Obama听a "very good man" and said he looked forward "to dealing with the president in the future, including counsel."

Obama听blasted听Trump听throughout the campaign as unfit to serve as a commander in chief.听Trump听spent years challenging the legitimacy of听Obama's听presidency, falsely suggesting听Obama听may have been born outside the United States.

But at least publicly, the two men appeared to put aside their animosity. As the meeting concluded and journalists scrambled out of the Oval Office,听Obama听smiled at his successor and explained the unfolding scene.

This recognition of common ground at the highest levels of government could serve as a model for many individual Americans forced now to grapple with division in their homes and workplaces, 海角大神's Linda Feldmann wrote Wednesday:

And yet Americans are by nature a hopeful people, and for some, the epic election of 2016 has presented an opportunity for learning and growth.

鈥淚t鈥檚 given us a lens into how differently friends and neighbors see the nation and the issues we鈥檙e facing,鈥� says Parisa Parsa, executive director of Essential Partners, a dialogue group based in Cambridge, Mass. 鈥淭he opportunity in that is to come together, and ask what that means.鈥�

Not that the Clinton and Trump camps will be ready to link arms and sing听Kumbaya anytime soon. Or ever. Republicans and Democrats, too, face divisions within their own parties 鈥� especially the Republicans. Coming to national consensus on any big topics may be a bridge too far听for some time to come.

But the journey can be meaningful. Hashing out policy differences is what governing is all about.听All Americans ask for is civility.

If听Trump听makes good on his campaign promises, he'll wipe away much of what听Obama听has done during his eight years in office. The Republican president-elect, who will govern with Congress fully under GOP control, has vowed to repeal听Obama's听signature health care law and dismantle the landmark nuclear accord with Iran.

First lady Michelle听Obama听also met privately in the White House residence with听Trump's听wife, Melania, while Vice President Joe Biden prepared to see Vice President-elect Mike Pence later Thursday.

Obama听and听Trump听met alone, without any staff present, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters afterward.

"The two men did not relitigate their differences in the Oval Office," Earnest said. "We're on to the next phase."

Trump听traveled to Washington from New York on his private jet, breaking with protocol by not bringing journalists in his motorcade or on his plane to document his historic visit to the White House.听Trump听was harshly critical of the media during his campaign and for a time banned news organizations whose coverage he disliked from his events.

From the White House,听Trump听headed to Capitol Hill for meetings with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to discuss the GOP legislative agenda. Ryan, who holds the most powerful post in Congress, was a sometime critic of听Trump, was slow to endorse him and did not campaign with the nominee. Pence intended to join both meetings.

As scores of journalists waited to be admitted to the Oval Office to see听Obama听and听Trump听together, they saw White House chief of staff Denis McDonough walking along the South Lawn driveway with Jared Kushner,听Trump's听son-in-law. A handful of听Trump听aides trailed them.

The show of civility at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue contrasted with postelection scenes of protests across a politically divided country. Demonstrators from New England to the heartland and the West Coast vented against the election winner on Wednesday, chanting "Not my president," burning a papier-mache听Trump听head, beating a听Trump听pinata and carrying signs that said "Impeach听Trump."

Republicans were emboldened by听Trump's听stunning victory over Hillary Clinton, giving the GOP control of the White House and both chambers of Congress.

"He just earned a mandate," Ryan said.

In an emotional concession speech, Clinton said her crushing loss was "painful and it will be for a long time" and acknowledged that the nation was "more divided than we thought."

Still, Clinton was gracious in defeat, declaring: "Donald听Trump听is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead."

In Washington,听Trump's听scant transition team sprang into action, culling through personnel lists for top jobs and working through handover plans for government agencies. A person familiar with the transition operations said the personnel process was still in its early stages, but听Trump's听team was putting a premium on quickly filling key national security posts. The person was not authorized to discuss details by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to an organizational chart for the transition obtained by The Associated Press,听Trump听was relying on experienced hands to help form his administration. National security planning was being led by former Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers, who previously worked for the FBI. Domestic issues were being handled by Ken Blackwell, a former Cincinnati mayor and Ohio secretary of state.

Trump听was expected to consider several loyal supporters for top jobs, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for attorney general or national security adviser and campaign finance chairman Steve Mnuchin for Treasury secretary. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker were also expected to be under consideration for foreign policy posts.

As president-elect,听Trump听is entitled to get the same daily intelligence briefing as听Obama听鈥� one that includes information on U.S. covert operations, information gleaned about world leaders and other data gathered by America's 17 intelligence agencies. The White House said it would organize two exercises involving multiple agencies to help听Trump's听team learn how to respond to major domestic incidents.

Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.