IT was green everywhere in the White House. The Vice President, Al Gore, had his green tie. The Taoiseach, John Bruton, also had his green tie. Mrs Bruton had shamrock on her beige suit. The wife of the Irish ambassador, Maeve Gallagher, wore an all green suit.
At the White House, the traditional bowl of shamrock was handed over in the RooseveltRoom in the West Wing where Teddy, Franklin and Eleanor looked on from the walls and the mantelpiece. St Patrick was invoked and praised, although the Taoiseach felt obliged to point out that he "came from Britain".
This fitted in with the message that peace in Northern Ireland had to come from hearts and minds as well as all party talks.
You could have had a session of the talks in the magnificent residence of the British Ambassador, Sir John Kerr, where virtually all the participants gathered for a champagne reception and lunch. All the participants except the Irish government, whose leader had other business, and Dr Paisley's DUP, which is snubbing the Washington bash as usual.
Down at the White House, President Clinton, with his wounded knee, was discussing preparations for his summit meeting with President Yeltsin.
Outside, a small group noisily protested against how the president was allegedly "conning" Irish Americans about his role in the peace process while the full rigours of the law were being applied to Irish immigrants.
At 5 p.m. it was back to the White House for the reception in honour of the Taoiseach. Two girls' choirs from Belfast sang traditional airs.
By 8 p.m. the Irish Ambassador, Dermot Gallagher, played host in his residence to the visitors.
Even St Patrick would have found it a tough day.