November 8, 2001
Bush and Blair Trade Praise at White House Love Fest
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
ASHINGTON, Nov. 7 ? No one ever said they would be soulmates, and they aren't. But today President Bush and Prime
Minister Tony Blair of Britain stood side by side at the White House as unwavering allies joined by war, national self-interest and
what their aides say is a growing personal chemistry.
Although Mr. Blair is not nearly as close to Mr. Bush as he was to Bill Clinton, he has told his advisers ? just as Mr. Clinton has told
friends ? that they are wrong to underestimate the president.
"We've got no better friend in the world than Great Britain," Mr. Bush said this evening in a chummy news conference with Mr. Blair that
offered no new revelations in the fight against terrorism but projected a powerful image of a united America and Britain. "I've got no better
person I would like to talk to about our mutual concerns than Tony Blair."
Mr. Blair quickly returned the compliment, thanking Mr. Bush "once again for his leadership and his strength at this time."
The two stood behind identical lecterns, their hands clasped similarly in front of them, smiling or nodding agreeably at the other's words. At
one point Mr. Blair stepped in to finish a sentence of banter for Mr. Bush, who had told reporters that they were limited to asking one
question of either leader.
When a correspondent asked the president if the limit was an executive order ? a reference to an order last week restricting the release of
presidential papers ? Mr. Bush began laughing as Mr. Blair cheerily chimed in: "it looks like it."
The prime minister had no discernible reaction when Mr. Bu ...