No, it’s not about the rest of the country, or even those who operate outside the privileged confines of the crowded white tents on the South Lawn.
But the human urge to gather — especially after the worst of a protracted pandemic — is universal. Officials planning the event said Mr. Biden and Mr Macron desperately need to build a united front against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The strength of American soft power is vividly reflected,” he said. Gifford said. “These personal relationships are the crux of American foreign policy, which is why they are so important.”
gentlemen. Gifford kept an eye on the members of the French delegation to make sure they were enjoying themselves — and, crucially, the food, which included a selection of American cheeses and triple-cooked buttered potatoes.
“The plate is empty, the glass is empty,” he reported. In other words, none of the French pointed out that the dry rosé and chardonnay on offer were “American wines” after all, as the French ambassador did at a state dinner hosted by the Clintons in 1996.
If America’s old alliances are carefully preserved, a flash of bipartisanship could emerge that could surprise the lawmaker’s more tribal supporters. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, No. 1. 2 Democrat, close to Rep. California Republican Kevin McCarthy, who is trying to become the next House Speaker, shakes hands. This happened more than once.
A senior White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private conversation said the conversation with Republicans was lighthearted — sports topics replaced more controversial ones, such as looming oversight investigations. Guests were discouraged from working in the room for etiquette reasons, making it difficult to get a clear idea of who was doing what, one participant said.