Pay the suitcase and things before Mr. Obama runs out of office

Return the nuclear suitcase, find a new property, say goodbye to the people and associates, that is the list of things the US president needs to do before the end of his term.

Mr. Obama is in the final days of his second term while some White House employees start to quit from early January. Less than three weeks away, the US will officially have a new president.

In preparation for this, both of the predecessor and successor presidents operate at full capacity, with support from many government agencies.

However, changing a government is not simple. Before becoming ordinary citizens, predecessor presidents always had mandatory procedures. Others are "unwritten" practices.

Handover of nuclear suitcases

The nuclear suitcase and the activation card are always separate from all US presidents. The card containing the activation code for the nuclear weapons system will be returned by the incumbent president to the Ministry of Defense before being released.

A secret Pentagon process and successor president will take place to establish a new code and deliver this important suitcase.

The nuclear suitcase will be completely activated with a new process for the successor president.(Photo: Getty).

In the inauguration of the new president, the return of this nuclear suitcase only took place in the form. Because of national security, the time of password change and the process is completely hidden.

Historically, many US presidents have lost their card containing the activation code, preventing the country's security forces from suffering a headache. The last time, according to Reuters, President Bill Clinton did not remember where he left this important card, causing authorities to rummage through the White House and still fail to search.

President Obama repeatedly expressed concern when the code to activate nuclear weapons was managed by impulsive people like Mr. Trump. However, in order to use this system, the president always needs a strong and reliable advisory team.

Welcome successor

In order for the transition of power to go smoothly, the outgoing president's team often works closely with his successor. The two presidents will have meetings, conversations, and exchanges.

In November 2016, shortly after Mr. Trump won the election, President Obama invited him to the White House to discuss many issues. Although there are different points of view and opposing each other, the cooperation between the two presidents in this period is inevitable. That is a sign of American democracy.

On the day of the inauguration, the new president often went to the White House, chatting with his predecessor. They will then sit on the limousine to Capitol Hill, where the president swears to witness millions of people.

Almost immediately after this event, the outgoing president will leave the White House for his successor to move in and officially become the boss of the powerful building.

The couple and Obama and his wife and President Bush at the inauguration of Obama in 2009. (Photo: Getty).

Not only that, the previous president often sends a letter to his successor. This seems to have become a tradition in America. In 2009, President George Bush left a few lines for Mr. Obama on the table in the White House oval room. Mr Bush expressed his hope for the US led by Mr. Obama, welcoming the 44th President of the United States to a new page of life.

Holding farewell party and pardon prisoners

When the presidents ended their term, both the cabinet and their apparatus stopped working. To say goodbye, the White House boss often hosts an intimate party for his associates. Here, the president will say thanks and share memories during his years in office.

This year, President Obama will hold a party on January 6 in the White House campus. On January 10, he gave a farewell speech in his hometown of Chicago, where he would talk about his journey.

Patty Hearst's amnesty is one of President Bill Clinton's most controversial decisions in the last days of his term.(Photo: FBI).

Also during this period, some presidents often pardoned prisoners. This is considered a practice that has existed for many presidents. One of the reasons they did this at the end of their term was to take advantage of their powers while all attention was drawn to the new president, to avoid causing political trouble.

The last time, in 2001, President Bill Clinton debated the amnesty of Patty Hearst, the granddaughter of a media tycoon. The girl was convicted at 19 years of age by holding a gun to shoot people and rob the bank.

In just 8 years in office, President Obama has pardoned and reduced the crime for nearly 1,000 people, more than the number of 10 previous presidents combined. Therefore, the fact that he will pardon anyone in the coming days is a difficult question to answer.