The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and President Clinton emerged from their first White House meeting calling for detailed negotiations on a settlement for Northern Ireland to begin without delay.
The President said he was "very impressed" and "very encouraged" by what has already been done. "I intend to stay personally involved in this in whatever way I can be helpful. I will do anything I can," he pledged.
The President said that it was now time for the negotiations "to get down to the detail".
There was a "very ambitious timetable which can be met" and the Irish people wanted this to happen. "So the political leaders will have to get down to the detail - the devil is always in the detail - where difficult decisions will have to be made, but that's what people in leadership positions have to do. I'll do all I can to help."
In Belfast last night, there was growing acceptance that the Stormont talks will adjourn for the Christmas period without the sought-after cross-party agreement on how to inject momentum into the process.
The special working group established to try to identify the key issues has so far failed to agree a new streamlined agenda for the rest of the talks, and there was growing consensus at Stormont last night that a breakthrough will not be possible at its final meeting this morning.
The British and Irish governments and the political parties played down any suggestions that the absence of agreement placed the overall process in jeopardy. The participants argued that rather than formulate an unsatisfactory agenda it was wiser to "exercise caution and return to the fray in January".
In Washington, the President and the Taoiseach stood together at the entrance to the West Wing of the White House with Christmas trees on each side to speak to the media. This was a break from usual protocol as the President almost never leaves with his guests to speak to the media but asks his press secretary to pass on his comments later.
This gesture by the President was an indication of the rapport that the two men established during their first meeting since Mr Ahern became Taoiseach. Officials present during the 45-minute meeting in the Oval Office said that President Clinton was in expansive mood and also wanted to talk to the Taoiseach about world problems outside of Northern Ireland.
Vice-President Al Gore, who was also present, asked several questions about the situation in Northern Ireland. The Vice-President makes a point of being present for such meetings and likes to keep himself fully informed on the issues.
President Clinton said that as the talks get into more detail next year, he and the Taoiseach would be "talking in a more regular way. By the time he comes back here for St Patrick's Day, we'll all be up to our ears in it."
The Taoiseach said that they had just had "an excellent discussion". He had briefed the President on the peace process "since the real talks started on 24th September right up to what's happening in Castle Buildings today".
It was most important that the President had continued to be so personally committed and involved. During last summer "when things were a bit scrappy, there were a number of phone calls which I greatly appreciated", Mr Ahern said.