It was, rather, the much longer motorcade a few blocks away in front of the British Embassy compound that left those wishing to join Bertie Ahern for a pint stalled in their cars.
It turns out that President Bush went to the British Embassy to finish off his St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. He took his wife, Laura, and his father, former President George Bush, and his mother, Barbara Bush.
The president and first lady arrived at the British Embassy at the same time things were supposed to get under way down the road for the more traditional St. Pat’s venue.
“If you ever wanted confirmation of what this president thinks about Ireland, where he spent the evening of St. Patrick’s Day certainly speaks louder than words,” said one member of Congress who did not want to be identified.
The Irish Embassy, however, noted that it had not invited President Bush to its party, but he would have been certainly welcome if he’d wanted to stop in.
The two first couples arrived at 6:30 p.m. and left three hours later. President Bush and his wife are known in Washington social circles for rarely venturing out in the evening.
All were received upon arrival by British Ambassador Sir David Manning and his wife, Lady Catherine Manning.
They watched a play by an amateur troop, the British Embassy Players. Bush’s sister-in-law, Margaret, who’s married to his brother Marvin, played the role of “Clarissa” in Agatha Christie’s “The Spider’s Web.”
Those who opted for the Irish celebration down the street included peace broker and now chairman of the Disney Corporation, former Sen. George Mitchell, and Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy.