DILL BILL:

As Clinton Is Honored, a Brief Break From Politics. Very Brief. (DAVID E. SANGER, 6/15/04, NY Times)

Graciousness oozed from all sides. Mr. Bush praised his predecessor - upon whom he bestowed the honorific nickname "42" to mark an eight-year interregnum between Bushes - as a man "with far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit the Americans like in a president." He offered up an advance plug for Mr. Clinton's memoir.

His face reddening, his eye tearing a bit, Mr. Clinton returned the compliment, saying: "I had mixed feelings coming here today, and they were only confirmed by all those kind and generous things you've said. Made me feel like I was a pickle stepping into history."

He's in the White House for an hour and we get stories about oozing and pickles?

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 15, 2004 5:04 PM