First Meetings Between Presidents-Elect and Sitting Presidents

— -- The presidential transition began in earnest today as President-elect Donald Trump arrived in Washington for meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill.

A tour of the White House for the newly elected chief executive has become tradition in the aftermath of each presidential election, with the last visit taking place upon Barack Obama’s election to succeed George W. Bush in 2008.

Following today’s meeting in the Oval Office, President Obama signaled his intention to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible and urged the country to unite behind the president-elect.

“I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, to work together," Obama said.

At past encounters, the public often received images depicting outgoing and incoming presidents sharing private moments. This time, the traditional photograph of the president and the first lady greeting the succeeding family at the White House was nixed and reporters were not given access to covering the Trumps’ arrival on the South Portico.

The only video and images provided were of Obama and Trump in the Oval Office after their private meeting.

Here are other images in our country’s history of when a sitting president has welcomed his successor to the White House for the first time following an election: