Quiet Lunch Caps Contentious Campaign

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama at White House (White House)

The U.S. presidential candidates in the 2012 race met for lunch at the White House November 29.

Dining on turkey chili and Southwestern grilled chicken salad, Mitt Romney and President Obama conversed quietly, in stark contrast to their heated exchanges in campaign debates.

A post-election luncheon between former political adversaries is a tradition in American politics that dates back to 1960, when Senator (and President-elect) John Kennedy invited Vice President (and future President) Richard Nixon to join him for lunch.

On November 29, “Governor Romney congratulated the president for the success of his campaign and wished him well over the coming four years,” the White House said in a summary released that afternoon. “The focus of their discussion was on America’s leadership in the world and the importance of maintaining that leadership position in the future.”