Presidential dance with an eye on the time

WASHINGTON - A tuxedo-clad George W. Bush celebrated his inauguration as President in whirlwind fashion, racing from ball to ball and dancing at each briefly - very briefly - with his wife, Laura.

"Now is not the time for speeches. It's the time for dancing," Bush told a cheering crowd at the first of the eight inaugural balls he was to attend.

At each event, the President joked about his bad dancing, sometimes shooting glances at his watch while he moved to the music.

For the 47,000 people spread across Washington at the various balls, the couple's triumphant visit at each was the highpoint of an evening that had little dancing in it.

The expensive tickets were highly sought after and doled out carefully to corporate sponsors and affluent campaign contributors, as well as to political and show-business celebrities.

Bush, a self-described "lousy dancer," turned the necessity of dancing into a personal endurance contest.

At his first ball he lasted only 24 seconds, doing a recently practised box-step as a waltz played in the background. The audience gave him a huge ovation.

The most embarrassing moment of the evening for the first family may have come at the Florida ball, when Bush danced first with his wife and then with each of his twin 19-year-old daughters.

As he attempted to twirl his daughter Jenna, she became entangled and the top of her dress loosened. She left the stage clearly unhappy.

- REUTERS

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