President Barack Obama reads the letter left in the Oval Office Resolute Desk for him the previous day, by former President George W. Bush, Jan. 21, 2009.

President barack obama reads the letter left in the oval office resolute desk for him the previous day, by former president george w. Bush, jan. 21, 2009. The letter from the previous president to the incoming president has become a white house tradition. (official white house photo by pete souza).