US President George W Bush telephoned his apparent successor, Democrat Barack Obama, to congratulate him on his "awesome night," according to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
"Mr President-elect, congratulations to you. What an awesome night for you, your family and your supporters. Laura and I called to congratulate you and your good bride," she quoted Bush as telling Obama.
"I promise to make this a smooth transition. You are about to go on one of the great journeys of life. Congratulations and go enjoy yourself," Bush told Obama late last night, she said.
The President also invited Obama and his family "to visit the White House soon, at their convenience," Perino said.
Bush was also to reach out to Obama's defeated rival, Republican John McCain, who conceded the fight shortly after 11:00 pm (0930 IST).
After Obama's victory, Bush telephoned the President-elect to congratulate him on his "awesome night."
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"Mr president-elect, congratulations to you. What an awesome night for you, your family and your supporters. Laura and I called to congratulate you and your good bride," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino quoted Bush as telling Obama.
In a statement, Hillary Clinton pledged her full support to Obama. "In quiet, solitary acts of citizenship, American voters gave voice to their hopes and their values, voted for change, and refused to be invisible any longer."
With victories in battleground states like California, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, Obama built a commanding lead over McCain, who had sought to distance himself from the unpopular President Bush during the final stages of his campaign.
Obama came into the national prominence with his electrifying speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention when he made his first run for the Senate.