Gore was among the 2007 American Nobel Prize winners who were invited for a photo session with the president.
Gore got the the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on global warming.
The two men stood next to other, smiling for photographers and reporters.
They then had a 40-minute meeting in the Oval Office.
Gore, who left the White House on foot, said that he and Bush spent the entire session talking about global warming.
"He was very gracious in setting up the meeting and it was a very good and substantive conversation," Gore said.
They have not met privately since the then-president-elect Bush paid a visit to Gore's house in December 2000.
Photograph: Mandel AFP/Getty Images