In the impressive, civilised atmosphere of good natured transition from Republican President to Democrat President in Washington, some people are even finding a good word to say about President Bush.

This is a generous and touching media tribute. Note especially the care with which President Bush is preparing for a dignified but also operationally effective handover, especially where national security issues are concerned:

The President put a transition team in place months ago so that a smooth transfer of power could take place. President Bush didn’t have the same offer when he came into office. Lots of hurtful words since then. He wasn’t even running this year, but it seemed everyone, including his own party’s nominee was running against him all year. If he minded, he really didn’t show it.

I remember talking to the President on the White House south lawn about it. "Does it all bug you?" I asked him. "Nah," he said, shrugging his shoulders and adding simply, "I understand."

A man of the people and the nation seemingly at war with him, some for good reason, and others apparently lacking any reason. He did nothing personally, always handled himself with dignity, not by what he said but precisely what he did not.

I have read that the President is as kind to the elevator operator at White House as he is to a visiting [head of] state to the White House. Every time I see him, he sticks around and personally shakes the hand of each member of my crew. That is each member of my crew for one of our interviews, every single one of them, every single picture.

Now, I know [these are] little things, but to me these are big things, that speak of a man far bigger than the petty things I see in the press or I hear in a harsh campaign. That ended today with a quiet gesture today, from a President who would be in his right to wag a certain finger, but instead simply [offered] something else: his hand.

Not a popular thing to say, is it? But it was, it is, and he’s a good fellow.

A striking contrast to the way President Clinton left office?

I remember a story about Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister. A little girl dying of cancer wanted to meet her. As the 1987 general election was looming, the No 10 team made her a cake in the shape of a ballot box. This would have been a splendid PR opportunity – but the visit to No 10 and the cake were all kept private.

All great leaders show such private personal touches; maybe not such great leaders do so too. Worth remembering amidst all the stupid sneering and jeering of contemporary politics that these jobs are rather lonely places, and that it is in such lonely places that the real character of people shows itself.