BOSTON -- President Barack Obama had a "friendly, thoughtful conversation," with a Cambridge police officer and a Harvard scholar over beers at the White House Thursday after a controversial arrest brought the issue of race relations to the forefront.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., a black professor, was arrested by Sgt. James Crowley, who is white, and charged with disorderly conduct after he tried to break-in to his home when the front door would not open.

The charge was later dropped, but a dispute about the arrest was further fueled when Gates demanded an apology and Obama said the police "acted stupidly."

The men sat outside near the Rose Garden and spoke about the arrest and the fallout that followed.

"I have always believed that what brings us together is stronger than what pulls us apart. I am confident that has happened here tonight, and I am hopeful that all of us are able to draw this positive lesson from this episode," the president said in a statement.

Crowley said that no one apologized for their actions on the day of the arrest, but said Thursday's conversation was a "positive step in moving forward."

"We had a cordial and productive discussion today with the president, vice president and Professor Gates. We all agreed it is important to look forward, rather than backward," Crowley said. "Professor Gates and I bring different perspectives to these issues. We have agreed that both perspectives should be addressed in an effort to provide a constructive outcome to the events of the past month."

The officer said that he planned to have a meeting with Gates in the near future, but he would not disclose where or when.

"I would like not only to discuss, but to listen to Professor Gates prospective," Crowley said. "I think what you had today was two gentlemen who agreed to disagree. We spent too much time dwelling on the past, and we need to look to the future."

During the meeting, the men drank beer from clear glass mugs and munched on peanuts and pretzels. Obama drank Bud Light, Biden had a Buckler, Gates chose to drink Sam Adams Light and Crowley opted for a Blue Moon.

Earlier, Gates and Crowley brought their families to the White House and toured the East Wing together before the sit-down. While the men were chatting, their family members were given a tour of the West Wing.

Before the meeting, Obama said that he knows the meeting has been dubbed the "Beer Summit," but said it "is three folks having a drink at the end of the day, and hopefully giving people an opportunity to listen to each other."

Friends and colleagues of both men involved in the July 16 arrest speculated about what would happen at the meeting.

Mike Giacoppo said that Crowley is "anything but a racist cop."

"He's a true gentleman -- a very kind and caring person and I think this has hurt him deeply," Giacoppo said.

Giacoppo said Crowley wants resolution with Gates.

"Jimmy's the kind of guy that would shake his hand and meet him and sit at a table and go to a meeting, and if he was called upon to visit Professor Gates' class, Jimmy would," he said.

"I don't know Professor Gates other than as a noted scholar in his field, but I do know Jim," Crowley's friend Betsy Rigby said.

"You would love to have him as a neighbor. He's a friendly man, a funny man. He's a faithful friend," Crowley's friend Andy Meyer said.

He said Crowley will make a good faith effort to move forward.

"He will look him in the eye. He'll shake hands. He'll be his usual charming self, and he'll put them at ease," Meyer said.

That's what Gates' colleagues speculate will happen.

Published sociologist Jack Porter said reconciliation will take reflection on Gates' part.

"He'll go on and give lots of lectures, maybe write a book about it. But I hope that he gains some humbleness through this because he's also at fault," Porter said.

Admitting fault isn't likely from Crowley, others speculated.

"I think you'll see him meet the professor and engage him in a friendly way and shake his hand, and hopefully they can put this behind them. But no apology," Giacoppo said.