George W. Bush standing next to his portrait in the East Room of the White House. (Photo: Getty)

Former President George W. Bush returned to the White House today for the unveiling of his official portrait. At the ceremony, Mr. Bush encouraged First Lady Michelle Obama to protect his portrait and gave some advice to President Barack Obama.

"When the British burned the White House ... in 1814, Dolley Madison famously saved this portrait of the first George W.  Now, Michelle, if anything happens there's your man," Mr. Bush said. "I am also pleased, Mr. President, that when you are wandering these halls as you wrestle with tough decisions, you will now be able to gaze at this portrait and ask, what would George do?"

President Obama also spoke at the unveiling ceremony. In his remarks, he thanked Mr. Bush for his leadership, particularly in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, and for assisting with the presidential transition.

"On a personal note, Michelle and I are grateful to the entire Bush family for their guidance and their example during our own transition," said President Obama. "George, I will always remember the gathering you hosted for all the living former Presidents before I took office, your kind words of encouragement.  Plus, you also left me a really good TV sports package. I use it."

The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Bush's wife, Laura, his father, former President George Bush Sr. and his wife, Barbara Bush, and Mr. Bush's erstwhile senior advisor, Karl Rove. Laura Bush also made a speech at the event after  brief introduction by her husband.

"It is my privilege to introduce the greatest First Lady ever -- sorry, Mom," he joked. "Would you agree to a tie?"

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George W. Bush speaking in Washington, D.C. earlier today. (Photo: Getty)

Mitt Romney's campaign still has yet to issue a statement or announcement following President George W. Bush's expression of support for Mr. Romney's candidacy earlier this afternoon. After we wrote a post about the conspicuous silence, Mr. Romney's spokeswoman, Andrea Saul, wrote back to assure us he's glad to have Mr. Bush's endorsement.

"We welcome the president's support, as we welcomed his father's," Ms. Saul said.

Though the Romney campaign is pleased to have Mr. Bush's backing, don't expect to see the ex-president stumping for Mr. Romney on the campaign trail.

Mr. Bush's father, former President George Bush Sr., endorsed Mr. Romney back in March. At the time, Mr. Romney and the elder Mr. Bush appeared togetherat a press conference in Houston. Ms. Saul told us she doesn't expect there will be joint appearances with Mr. Romney and the younger Mr. Bush.

"We're proud to have the president's support, but he made clear when he left office that he was not going to engage in political campaigns and we have no reason to believe that is going to change," Ms. Saul said.

The younger Mr. Bush ended his presidency in January, 2009 with a final job approval rating of 34 percent and a 61 percent disapproval rating. He is one of only three presidents in the postwar era to end his presidency with final job approval ratings in the low 30s, along with Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter. According to the most recent polls, he is still viewed unfavorably by the majority of Americans.

Mitt Romney

Former President George W. Bush expressed his support for Mitt Romney in a brief exchange with an ABC reporter as he boarded an elevator after a speech in Washington, D.C. today.

"I’m for Mitt Romney," Mr. Bush said.

Though ABC posted the story over two hours ago, Mr. Romney's campaign has yet to send out any official press release or statement trumpeting Mr. Bush's endorsement. On the other hand, the Obama campaign quickly pounced on the chance to tie Mr. Romney to Mr. Bush, who according to the most recent polls is viewed unfavorably by the majority of Americans.

"President Bush has endorsed Governor Romney, and Governor Romney has endorsed a return to Bush-era economic policies: massive tax cuts for the wealthiest and no accountability for Wall Street, which led to huge deficits and tepid growth. Now Romney wants to double down on those same, failed policies," Obama For America press secretary Ben LaBolt said in a statement sent out less than an hour after ABC published their story on Mr. Bush's comment.

"While President Obama has pursued policies that have helped create more than 4.2 million private sector jobs, revived manufacturing and the auto industry, Governor Romney would return to the same policies that dragged our economy down and punished the middle class," Mr. LaBolt said.

Though the Romney campaign hasn't issued any statement about Mr. Bush's endorsement today, they have hardly been quiet about other subjects. Mr. Romney's team has sent five other press releases in the two hours since the Bush news broke including a statement criticizing the effect of President Obama's economic policies on Iowa, two responses to quotes from the president's appearance on The View, an "in case you missed it" email announcing Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's endorsement of Mr. Romney and an email highlighting statements in support of Mr. Romney made by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on Fox News this morning.

As of this writing, the Romney campaign has not responded to a request for comment on this story.

Update: The Romney campaign responded to questions about Mr. Bush's endorsement by saying they "welcome" his support but don't expect there to be joint campaign appearances with Mr. Romney and Mr. Bush.

Anti-Romney protesters carrying a mock coffin and "job cremator" outside the Waldorf Astoria. (Photo: Hunter Walker)

Approximately 200 protesters affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement showed up to protest a Mitt Romney fundraiser at the Waldorf Astoria today. Aaron Black, an Occupy Wall Street organizer, said he wanted to demonstrate against the influence of money in politics.

"it was an auction happening in our city right under our noses--$2,500 a plate. Our government is not for sale," Mr. Black told The Politicker. "This is the root of all evil corporations are not people."

Protesters gathered about a block from the hotel where they were treated to a sermon by well-known local activist Reverend Billy Talen and his Stop Shopping Choir. Mr. Talen echoed the theme money is having a corrupt influence on American politics.

"Hallelujah! We are the 99 percent!" Mr. Talen said. "The corruption of our elected officials makes it impossible to do anything about homelessness, foreclosures and evictions … the illegal wars, the climate change."

In the crowd, protesters carried signs identifying Mr. Romney as "100 percent out of touch" and "Mr. One Percent." A contingent from United New York carried a banner supporting the DREAM Act and signs reading, "Veto Romney, Not The Dream Act." We also spotted Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, a longtime supporter of the Occupy movement who was arrested during the eviction of the demonstrators from their original headquarters in Zuccotti Park last November.

"I will continue being part of any initiative that the Occupy movement is involved in," Mr. Rodriguez said. "Being here today is very important. We are here today raising a voice against Romney who has a record of destroying jobs. He has a record against immigrants."

Other protesters criticized Mr. Romney's record on jobs by wearing masks with Mr. Romney's face, black robes and carrying scythes labeled "Job Cutter." They carried a coffin topped with an urn marked "Job Cremator."

The demonstrators marched around the hotel surrounded by a heavy police and Secret Service presence. However, the heavy security might not have been entirely due to Mr. Romney and the protesters. Former President George W. Bush is scheduled to speak at the Waldorf Astoria tomorrow night at the annual dinner of the Drug Chemical and Associated Technologies Association. Romney campaign spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said there was "no meeting" between Mr. Romney and Mr. Bush.

Inside the hotel lobby, we spotted a single protester wearing a suit and carrying a sign that said, "Mitt Romney bought my vote." We also saw a woman asking hotel staff for directions to Mr. Romney's event. She told us she was a Romney donor and declined to give her name, but she was willing to share her thoughts on the state of the campaign for the Republican nomination.

"I'm not giving my name. What do I think about the race? The Republicans are their own worst enemy," she said before walking away.

As of this writing, the protesters are continuing to demonstrate across the street from the Waldorf.

Updated with comment from Mr. Fehrnstrom 2:12 p.m. 

And, for the first time, the names of people killed in the attacks that day in Washington DC and Pennsylvania will be read aloud at the Ground Zero ceremony. In the past, only those who died in New York City were included.

Also expected to attend are New Jersey Governor Christe and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, along with the NY governor and mayor who were in office at the time of the attacks, George Pataki and Rudy Giuliani, respectively.

"And that's it," Bloomberg said, after rattling off the names of politicians who will be participating at the ceremony at Ground Zero during an appearance on WOR710 this morning.