No word about topics of Bush-Gore meeting

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. President Bush and former Vice President Al Gore met privately before Bush's congratulatory meeting with this year's U.S. Nobel laureates.

After the public recognition of the Nobel laureates, Gore told reporters as he and his wife left the White House he would not reveal what the two one-time presidential rivals discussed.

During the public ceremony, Bush and Gore smiled and stood side-by-side in front of cameras.

"(We) have a great tradition in this country of political rivals being able to put the past behind them and to work together for the benefit of the American people," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said during an afternoon news briefing.

"The president was inviting him because he was part of the award winners, and because he does want to talk with him," Perino said.

Gore, who served as vice president under Bill Clinton, won the Nobel prize for his work on climate change, including the Oscar-winning movie, "An Inconvenient Truth." He has been a vocal critic of Bush's environmental policies.

He lost the presidential race to Bush in 2000 in a disputed race that came down to contested ballots in Florida, where Bush's brother was governor.