P072108ED-0152President George W. Bush poses for a photo with Andrew Campbell, a member of the 2008 US Olympic Sailing Team, during the 2008 United States Summer Olympic Team visit to the White House Monday, July 21, 2008, in the Oval Office. White House photo by Eric Draper
After the phenomenal experience of the reception and comments from President Bush in the Rose Garden yesterday morning and our private showing of the Oval Office by the Commander in Chief later, we were treated to an amazing evening at the White House yesterday evening. Along with Ambassadors from China and Britain, Members of the Senate and the House, directors of the USOC, CEOs of major US Olympic Team sponsors, the 23 US Olympians were invited by President and Mrs Bush for an amazing dinner in the East Ballroom of the White House.
More and pictures below
Jacqueline and I were ogling the very famous portrait of George Washington, when a fellow introduced himself to us simply as Johnny, and explained to us how famous the painting was. Apparently Dolly Madison had rolled up that particular painting and saved it from being burned by the British when they burned Washington in 1812, and for that reason was the most famous and valuable piece of art in the entire house. (In a house full of Remingtons sculpture, and amazingly famous portraiture of the presidents and first ladies, its hard to have one rise above the rest, but have no doubt.) After chatting with the man about his involvement with the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, we realized we were talking with the senior Senator from Georgia Johnny Isakson.
We passed through a receiving line and took a quick photo with the President and the First Lady and were seated for an amazing meal by the White House chef. White House tradition demands that everyone is seated at a different table from their date, and so I was seated with some White House staffers, the Chief of Staff of the American Embassy in China, a member of the USOC board, and a member of the Softball team.
After dinner we headed back down to the Rose Garden for a few songs played by the Grammy nominated Bluegrass band “Seldom Scene.” About ten rows of seats were put down in the grass, and we sat across the aisle from Mr and Mrs Bush. He tapped his foot along with the beat the entire time, and when he asked the boys for an encore they made the easy decision to come back out and rip for another great song.
What an amazing experience, to say the least. I’m still pinching myself because I can’t quite believe it. Mr Bush made it a specific point to host athletes to send them off to the Games expanding the tradition of the White House to host medallists after the Games, and I cannot begin to describe the impression the experience made on me. It makes you realize how much bigger the Olympics are than just a sporting event in some far off place. As Mr Bush said, it is a showcase of the “triumph of the human spirit.” I’m so excited.
After spending two days in Washington after the Europeans in Belgium last week, I’m in San Diego for 36 hours before we go north to San Francisco for team processing at the end of this week. We’ll get our clothes and uniforms for the Games and then head to China on Saturday. It’s been a whirlwind week, but I’m enjoying every minute.
Jackie put up some of her photos from the White House as well. Please Enjoy!
