Despite the unfolding Monica Lewinsky drama on Tuesday, President Clinton, with Larry Cockell still minding him, turned up at the Georgetown mansion of Elizabeth Frawley Bagley to present this 5,600-year-old piece of Irish bog oak, created by Michael Casey for Bord na Mona, to the Irish American Peace Prize winner, Senator George Mitchell. The president was understandably subdued but Mitchell was sparkling and spoke of Clinton's midnight calls to save the Belfast Agreement.
Senator Chris Dodd tried to persuade Clinton to skip Ballybunion next month and visit his own house in Roundstone instead. Organised by the chairwoman of the Irish American Democrats in Washington, Mayo-born Stella O'Leary, who is in Dublin celebrating her 60th birthday today, the event raised $100,000 for the party.