President and Mrs. Bush's last day in The White House

With only one day left in his presidency, President Bush's last 24 hours inside the White House will be "mostly private," White House aides told FOXNews.com on Monday.

The president began his day by chatting with a host of foreign leaders, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown of England, President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia, President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea, President Shimon Peres of Israel, Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan, former President Vicente Fox of Mexico, President Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.

National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said that during the farewell calls, Bush thanked the leaders for the hospitality they had shown him and first lady Laura Bush over the years.

The president -- who will hold no public appearances until he greets President-elect Barack Obama at the White House's North Portico Tuesday -- is expected to hold meetings Monday with senior staff, according to White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto.

And he will hold the last intelligence briefing of his presidency on Tuesday morning, Fratto said.

Fratto said Bush's "mostly private" day will likely include spending "some time with the first lady in the residence."

And Secretary of Defense Robert Gates -- who will remain in his position under the Obama administration -- will be at an undisclosed location during the transfer of power Tuesday, White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

As for what awaits the Bush family post-presidency, Fratto said the president is focused on writing a book and "kicking off operations for the library and foundation that he's setting up."

After leaving the White House on Tuesday, the Bushes will head to Midland, Texas, for a "welcome home ceremony" before arriving at their new home in Dallas, aides said.

"The president does not plan to be in the limelight for a good while -- for the next year," Fratto said.