President-elect Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón on Monday at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC. As a symbol of the ties between the two nations, incoming U.S. presidents traditionally meet with Mexico’s leader before other heads of state.

Monday’s meeting between Obama and Calderón was their first opportunity to address the global economic slowdown, drug violence along the border, immigration and trade.

At his final news conference Monday, Pres. George W. Bush kept it real with reporters, speaking on mistakes he made while in office and even warning President-elect Barack Obama to expect criticism and be prepared that some of his “biggest disappointments will come from your so-called friends”.

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