The President, Mrs McAleese, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Andrews, arrives in Washington on Monday at the start of a five-day official tour (as opposed to State visit), which also brings her to New York. It is hoped she will meet President Bill Clinton on Tuesday evening before he departs on his much-hyped visit to China the next day, but confirmation from the all-powerful White House schedulers is still awaited.
Highlights will include lunch with US Chief Justice William Rehnquist at the Supreme Court, an address at Georgetown University, a session at the National Press Club, lunch with the Friends of Ireland on Capitol Hill. In New York, she will have a meeting with Kofi Annan, attend an editorial board meeting of the New York Times, have a night out at the award-winning Beauty Queen of Leenane and lunch at Gracie Mansion with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.