PRESIDENT Robinson's State visit to Washington ended here with a glittering White House dinner for over 400 guests including leading figures from politics, the arts, business and the media.
As the hot evening sun went down, President Clinton and his wife Hillary stood on the steps of the White House to greet President Robinson, her husband Nicholas, and the other members of the Irish delegation.
Mrs Robinson arrived wearing her third change of outfit in a day which was crammed with high level meetings from light dress in the morning to mustard yellow suit for lunch and now a full length grape coloured evening dress. Mrs Clinton wore a black dress with a silver top.
Earlier, at a joint press conference, President Clinton said he had "a very high regard" for Mrs Robinson and that she would do "a good job in any position she might be considered for." But there was no discussion of her as a future secretary general of the United Nations, he said.
In an interview published yesterday in the Washington Post, Mrs Robinson said in answer to a question about the UN post that it was not vacant.
She added "suppose at the end of the day because I have a great commitment to human rights I couldn't decline to consider an offer were one to materialise."
After last night's dinner of seared salmon and rack of lamb in a huge marquee on the South Lawn, Irish singer Mary Black joined the American singer, Mary Chapin Carpenter, to entertain the guests. While the two Presidents and their spouses left before midnight, some of the guests stayed on to dance.
Many of the Kennedy clan were present, including the brother of the late President, Senator Edward Kennedy, and three of his sisters ambassador Jean, Eunice and Patricia. Also there were Caroline Kennedy and Congressman Joe Kennedy.
President Robinson's daughter, Tessa, was present, as was Dr Jane Robinson from Arizona, a sister of Mr Robinson.
Film and TV personalities included Liam Neeson, Paul Newman and actress Dana Delaney.
The literary world was represented by novelists Edna O'Brien, Cormac McCarthy, William Styron and Mary Gordon.
Leading members of President Clinton's cabinet and White House staff were also there. These included Secretary of State Warren Christopher, National Security adviser Tony Lake and his assistant, Nancy Soderberg, and Jack Quinn, counsel to the President.
Among the numerous politicians from both Democratic and Republican sides was Senator Chris Dodd, who heads the President's campaign to be re-elected and is tipped for a senior post in the next administration.
Media personalities included Washington Post columnist Mary McGrory, late night TV presenter Conan O'Brien, and Niall O'Dowd, publisher of the Irish Voice.