ABC's Ann Compton reports on the very dramatic, yet oh-so-American transfer of power...
Between now and 9pm tomorrow night, current White House staffers will go through the process of leaving their posts. White House IDs and security clearances will be turned in, as well as government-issued Blackberries and cell phones, among other things. Monday is a holiday and the Obamas move in on Tuesday, so all of this needs to be done by the end of business tomorrow. Three top Bush aides will remain at the White House in "on call" mode until Tuesday morning - Chief of Staff John Bolton, Adviser Ed Gillespie, and Press Secretary Dana Perino.
On Tuesday (Inauguration Day), the Obamas and the Bidens will arrive at the White House via the north entrance at around 9:30am or 10am for coffee and tea with the Bushes and the Cheneys. On the south side of the White House, two sets of moving teams will be ready to go. At about 10:30am, when both families leave for the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies, the Bushes' belongings will be placed into one set of moving trucks and taken back to Texas, and then the Obamas' belongings will be moved into the White House.
Secret Service Special Agent Donald White will shadow President Bush, guarding him as usual...riding in the "shot gun" seat across from the President for the drive to the Capitol, and behind him during the walk up to the inaugural platform. He will serve as Mr. Bush's lead Secret Service detail until 12 noon, ET.
At 12:00 and one second, White will take a few steps to his right and officially begin his term as Barck Obama's lead Secret Service agent.
After Mr. Obama's oath of office and inaugural speech, the new president will escort the now former president out of the Capitol to a waiting helicopter. The Bushes will be transported to Andrews Air Force base where, after greeting well-wishers, they will board an Air Force One aircraft for an afternoon flight back to Midland, Texas. Only...the aircraft will not be called "Air Force One." That is a designation for the plane only when the sitting president is on board.
