Washington, November 07, SPA -- President-elect Barack Obama made his firstWhite House appointment on Thursday - picking Illinois CongressmanRahm Emanuel as his chief of staff, and will meet with PresidentGeorge W Bush to discuss the transition phase on Monday. Emanuel, a close friend of Obama's, served as a senior advisor informer president Bill Clinton's White House in the 1990s and oversawthe successful Democratic effort to regain control of the House in2006. "I announce this appointment first because the chief of staff iscentral to the ability of a president and administration toaccomplish an agenda. And no one I know is better at getting thingsdone than Rahm Emanuel," Obama said. Emanuel, who will take on what is widely considered the secondmost important job in the White House, said he was "humbled by theresponsibility" and promised "to do everything I can to help deliverthe change America needs." Facing the first wartime handover of power since Vietnam in 1968,Bush met with his cabinet Thursday morning to consider his finalpriorities and said he would ensure a speedy and orderly transitionover the next months, DPA reported. Obama received his first major intelligence briefing Thursday, andBush said his staff would immediately begin briefing Obama's advisorson policy decisions and the workings of the various federaldepartments. "We all share a steadfast devotion to the United States," Bushsaid in a statement on the White House South Lawn, flanked by hiscabinet members. "All of us must ensure that the next president andhis team can hit the ground running." Obama will hold his first press conference as president-elect onFriday in Chicago, after a meeting with more than a dozen keyeconomic aides who have been named as part of his transition team. John Podesta, chief of staff under former president Clinton, isheading Obama's transition team, along with senior campaign advisorValerie Jarrett and Pete Rouse, Obama's former chief of staff in theSenate. Bush and his wife Laura will greet Obama and his wife Michellebefore the two leaders retreat to a private meeting Monday afternoon. Obama said the talks would help ensure a "smooth, effectivetransition" between now and January 20. "I thank (Bush) for reaching out in the spirit of bipartisanshipthat will be required to meet the many challenges we face as anation," Obama said. White House press secretary Dana Perino said the two familieswould take a tour of the private residence, which will be Obama andhis family's home for at least the coming four years. The Obamas' twochildren, Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, will not be attending. Obama's chief of staff pick Emanuel will also be playing a keyrole in the transition. Currently the fourth-ranked Democrat in theHouse of Representatives, Emanuel is also a long-time Washingtoninsider known by some for an abrasive and direct style during histime in Congress.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/605181