Gothamist loves to see awkward situations that we're not involved in, and that's certainly the case with our President and French leader Jacques Chirac. The Times shows that everyone else (at least White House reporters) is as interested in Bush-Chirac relations:
"How much thought has been given to the handshake with President Chirac?" a White House correspondent asked a senior administration official who was briefing reporters en route to France on Sunday morning on Air Force One.
"None," the official crisply replied, to laughter. "No, the president is going to do what the president does he's a friendly person, he's going to, I'm sure, shake President Chirac's hand, and we're looking forward to seeing him. He had an encounter with Chancellor Schröder last night; they shook hands."
The reporter persisted, "You know it's customary to kiss on both cheeks, right?"
"That's only if you are French, I think," the official replied. "We don't do that in the United States. In Texas they don't do that."
Ha - kissing on the cheeks is too gay French for Bush, but he sorta held Chirac's hand, however briefly.
The Washington Post called the handshake "pefunctory" and added that the President gave Chirac three leather-bound books on Native Americans.
