Derry scrubs up well for a former US president. Graffiti had been removed from the city walls, the Stars-and-Stripes was glimmering in the afternoon sun, and the foot-and-mouth mat in the Guildhall had made way for a plush red carpet.
About 3,000 people greeted Bill Clinton, well down on the crowd that welcomed him on his first trip to the city six years ago, but enough not to be an embarrassment.
Not everyone was friendly though. There were about 50 noisy protesters. "Preaching peace and making war," said one banner. Socialist Workers activists carried placards condemning the bombing of Iraq and Serbia. An Irish Republican Socialist Party banner voiced support for the Turkish hunger-strikers.
Mr Clinton was welcomed by the Sinn Fein mayor, Mr Cathal Crumley. "What an occasion this is for our city."
John Hume and Gerry Adams joined the dignitaries on the podium. Chelsea Clinton sat beside Mr Hume's wife, Pat. The North's Finance Minister, Mr Mark Durkan, and the Education Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, were present.
Mr Crumley paid several tributes to Ms Clinton, who he described as "a wonderful ambassador for young people and a tremendous model for young women".
Mr Crumley said Mr Clinton had offered hope to Irish children. "He kills foreign ones," shouted a protester. The mayor ignored the abuse and presented Mr Clinton with a picture of a US emigrant ship which had sailed from Derry. Mr Hume said people wanted to express their "deep gratitude and thanks" to the former president. He had put "peace on our streets" at the top of his agenda. Mr Clinton said he was delighted to be back in Derry. The protesters booed and the rest of the crowd cheered loudly. "You have come a long way since 1995 when I was here last time," he said. There was now "progress and prosperity" and "even some political dissent which has nothing to do with Ireland", he said, pointing to the protesters.
But he had come to talk about the peace process, and he said it was obvious that while progress had been made, there was still a long way to go. He urged the crowd to remember the alternative and "think of the children".
The protesters shouted about the children of Iraq. Mr Clinton departed from his speech again. "These people claim to be here because of Iraq," he said. "Their argument is that our sanctions are hurting the children because they don't have enough food or medicine or medication, and that's their argument. Here are the facts: in the last three years of my presidency the Iraqis got more money from their oil to spend on their country than they did before the Gulf War. They could have spent any amount of money they wanted to on the health of their children."
The protestors booed again. "Well if they can shout me down, I can shout them down. I'm the one with a microphone," he said. "Don't turn back," he urged. "Stay with the path of peace and the agreement you voted for and celebrate the best possible future for all the children of this wonderful island.".
Earlier several eggs were thrown at Mr Clinton as he arrived at the University of Ulster's campus at Magee. The eggs fell short of their target.