The Irish-American Republicans couldn't conceal their delight as President Bush walked into the crowded East Wing room of the White House for his first St Patrick's Day reception.
Just a fortnight ago, they were still fighting a battle to persuade the Bush administration not to cede the Irish issue to the Democrats.
And they won. Yesterday some 250 invited guests applauded the President as he entered the room. The Republicans cheered particularly raucously. "It sounds like we invited some rowdy Irish-Americans," remarked President Bush.
Some may have been rowdy: most were key movers and shakers in the Irish-American political and corporate worlds. The reception was considerably smaller than the evening affairs for over 1,000 guests hosted by the Clintons. But all the key Irish political leaders, together with US politicians and business people, were there.
President Bush made a short speech of welcome, pledging again that "the US stands ready to help". Then he invited guests to the other side of the White House for a buffet lunch. A band played, an Irish dancing troupe performed. It wasn't Clintonesque in scale, but it was much more lavish and warm than the much-predicted "quick cup of coffee".
Cabinet members present included Vice-President Mr Dick Cheney; the Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Ms Christine Todd-Whitman, Human Resources Secretary, Mr Tommy Thompson and the Interior Secretary, Ms Gale Norton.
Congressmen present included Mr Peter King, Mr Jim Moran, Mr Stephen Brady, Mr John Sweeney, Mr John Cunningham, Mr Jim Walsh, Mr Tom Davis and Mr Joe Crowley. Senator Ted Kennedy was also there.
The full complement of peace-process players was present, including the Taoiseach, the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, as well as Mr David Trimble, Mr Seamus Mallon, Mr John Hume, Mr Gerry Adams, Mr Reg Empey, Mr Sean Neeson, Mr David Ervine and Ms Monica McWilliams.
The Rev Ian Paisley made his first appearance at the White House for St Patrick's Day, although he did not socialise at the reception itself. He confined himself to the private reception for the North's politicians where President Bush toured the room with his incoming ambassador to Ireland, Mr Dick Egan.
Prominent business people present included the former Coca-Cola CEO Mr Don Keough; Mr Bill Flynn of Mutual of America; Mr Ted Smyth of HJ Heinz; Mr George Moore of Target Information Systems, and Mr Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Others present were the former education secretary, Mr Bill Bennett; Mr James Dugan and Ms Susan Davis of the Irish-American Republicans group; Mr Tom Donohue of the labour organisation, AFL-CIO; the publisher of the Irish Voice, Mr Niall O'Dowd, and the publisher of the Irish Echo, Ms Clare Grimes.
The previous night's American-Ireland Fund dinner raised over $1 million for the peace process. The dinner was in honour of two Irish-American politicians - one a republican, the chairman of the Friends of Ireland, Congressman Jim Walsh from New York, the other a Democrat, Senator Chris Dodd from Connecticut.
Among the large Irish contingent were Mr Albert Reynolds, Mr Dick Spring and Mr John Hume.
At a Sinn Fein breakfast for supporters and friends, Mr Adams gave his party's assessment of where the peace process stands.
He said that in meetings with local activists he had discerned no weakening in support for the process.