Nastiest US election campaign to give way to civilised handover
It won't be easy for Donald Trump and Barack Obama to shake off what they've said about each other, but it's what America needs.
Thursday 10 November 2016 12:49, UK
President-elect Donald Trump has never had much respect for Barack Obama; but American democracy demands a smooth transition of power, so with the help of advisers who understand what is required, a new relationship will be have to be forged.
Later the two men will meet at the White House. They will shake hands and smile for the cameras. They will make conciliatory comments because it's in the best interests of the country to heal divisions.
It won't be easy because of what they have said about each other in the past. Donald Trump led the "birther" campaign which questioned Barack Obama's legitimacy to be President, suggesting that he was not American-born. He has accused him of creating so-called Islamic State and being the worst President in history.
In return, Mr Obama has mocked him as being unfit for office, and not to be trusted with the country's nuclear codes.
In 2011, Mr Trump was the butt of many of Mr Obama's jokes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner - an event the billionaire businessman attended. Some commentators believed Mr Trump was so humiliated that it was a factor in his decision to run for the White House.
But as President Obama noted when he addressed the cameras hours after Mr Trump had been named as his successor, he had had a similarly difficult relationship with his predecessor George W Bush.
Despite this, the handover of power between them was seamless - and Mr Obama has demanded his staff deliver the same courtesy to Team Trump.
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Eight years previously, there was controversy when Mr Bush's new White House team accused the departing staff of Bill Clinton of petty vandalism and removing the letter W from computer keyboards, though a full investigation suggested the level of damage was exaggerated.
Campaign rhetoric demands that politicians criticise their rivals in the most unflattering manner. But the time comes when they have to work together.
Being the American President is an exclusive club and its members respect and even like each other, putting aside their political differences once they leave office.
In 2005, I had a rare opportunity to interview two former Presidents side by side. Bill Clinton and George HW Bush teamed up to raise funds for victims of the Boxing Day tsunami.
We met at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, and I was struck by the warmth of their relationship - despite their attacks on each other during the 1992 election. Mr Clinton had deprived Mr Bush of a second term in office.
Recent pictures of Michelle Obama embracing George W Bush at an event showed that icy animosity can melt away in time.
Unlike Britain, where the transfer of power is sudden and removal vans arrive at Downing Street within hours of a General Election defeat, the US system is deliberately gradual. It's not just the leader of the country who is being replaced, it's an entire administration.
The British Civil Service serves all political parties. But in Washington, staff and advisers from senior to junior levels who owe their loyalty to the current President will have to find new jobs when his successor takes power. Replacing them all cannot happen overnight.
There's a 10-week gap between election and elevation to office. During that time, Michelle Obama is likely to welcome Melania Trump to the White House to offer tips on the role of First Lady.
They may possibly share a joke about speech plagiarism, but it's unlikely the topic of sexual assault will come up, despite Mrs Obama's powerful denunciation of Mr Trump's controversial comments about women.
On 20 January, Mr Obama and Mr Trump will ride together to Capitol Hill for the inauguration ceremony. The nastiest political campaign in history will give way to a civilised handover of power.
As Hillary Clinton said in her concession speech, it's a transition which Americans respect and cherish.
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