Bush Asks Obama if He Can Keep “Some of the Really Good Pens”

Washington – President Bush reportedly called President-elect Barack Obama today to ask if he would mind if Mr. Bush took “some of the really good pens – the nice, heavy ones, with the White House seal.” Mr. Bush told Senator Obama that he knows the tradition is for the pens to stay in the Oval Office for the next president, but Mr. Bush was hoping Mr. Obama would make an exception.

“I just tried to appeal to his generous side,” Mr. Bush told reporters following the phone call to Senator Obama. “And he was very generous. He told me I could take as many as I want. I mean, that’s awfully nice of him, but he might change his mind when he sees these pens. They’re absolutely fantastic. They probably write awfully good, too. I haven’t tried writing with them.”