US:A storm broke as Gordon Brown arrived in Washington, but it was purely of the meteorological variety. Not even the torrential rain that deluged Andrews air force base as the prime minister was whisked by helicopter to Camp David could mask his palpable delight in the trip
After two decades of visiting the US three or more times a year, for holidays and work, Mr Brown has finally made it to the president's Maryland retreat.
His pleasure in this historic change has echoes of Tony Blair's initial Camp David encounter with Mr Bush, when the president revealed that they used the same brand of toothpaste.
As Mr Blair used to do in the early days of his premiership, Mr Brown wandered to the back of the aircraft for a relaxed, no-notebooks chat with the travelling press pack.
Prime ministerial visits follow certain set patterns. But Mr Brown has ensured there are obvious contrasts with his predecessor on this, the first substantive overseas trip of his premiership.
Gone is Mr Blair's casual Camp David attire. As his spokesman says, Mr Brown "usually travels in a suit". Gone, too, is the array of carefully staged "casual" shots of the two world leaders relaxing together.
Downing Street disconcerted the White House by making it clear Mr Brown wanted as few photo opportunities as possible, preferring to focus on gritty talks on world trade and Darfur.
His wife is now noticeable by her absence.
"Mrs Brown is not on this trip [ because] it's not that kind of trip," Number 10 said.
The change effected by the transition from Mr Blair to Mr Brown is not simply sartorial or presentational. The British prime minister is using this trip for a subtle recalibration of the special relationship, attempting to widen the focus from his relations with a neocon president to embrace the wider ties between the two nations.
Mr Brown is determined to build links across the political divide, in part to try to ensure good working relations with whoever succeeds Mr Bush next year.
After lunch, Mr Brown went straight from Camp David to Capitol Hill for meetings with Democrat and Republican Senate leaders and members of Congress.
He has emphasised his affinity with the US on this trip - defining himself as a lifelong Atlanticist - rather than with its president.
Aides highlighted other links to the US that Mr Brown is developing, such as his acceptance of an invitation to deliver the "distinguished foreign visitor" lecture in Boston next year.
Alan Greenspan, the former US central banker and a long-time Brown ally, will come to the UK for the inaugural meeting of the prime minister's new business council this autumn.
None of this is intended as a snub to the White House. Mr Brown stamped on suggestions that he wants any cooling in relations with the president.
Whether he can maintain this stance, while building US ties that extend beyond the current Bush administration, remains to be seen. - ( Financial Times service)