President Bush today vowed to help President-elect Obama transition into the White House, saying he will keep him informed about important matters and welcome him sometime soon for a visit.

During an appearance in the Rose Garden, Bush, an unpopular president who has been somewhat obscured by the presidential campaign and Obama’s march to victory, noted that he will “continue to conduct the people’s business” until Obama is sworn in on Jan. 20. Speculation is rampant about how deeply Obama, with his large mandate, will choose to immerse himself in the affairs of state before Inauguration Day.

Bush noted the historic significance of the election of the country’s first African American president. “I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride,” Bush said. The election represents a “triumph of the American story,” he said, noting that many never thought they would live to see a black president.