The old charm still works
Monday 19th July 2004

Like ageing rock stars who have seen better days, the Third Way family gathered on 12 July in the grandeur of London’s Guildhall for an evening of nostalgia. Bill Clinton did what he always does: he arrived more than an hour late (with his daughter, Chelsea) and proceeded to make people feel a little better about themselves for an all-too-brief moment. And they did the same for him. There was no word of the less-than flattering reviews of his biography, My Life. Each one of you here who has reached the age of 50 could write a book about yourselves, Clinton told them, and each of you has a story at least as interesting as mine...

If only, some of the guests complained over their glasses of champagne, every American president could be like this. The new Labour clan, past and present, turned out in strength – the likes of Alastair Campbell, Philip Gould (whose wife, Gail Rebuck, head of the Random House publishing group, had introduced Clinton), David Hill and Anthony Giddens. They were joined by luminaries such as Bob Geldof, Kevin Spacey and, naturally, Richard and Judy. Some people were invited for their moment with him. Others made sure they got there somehow.

But where was Peter Mandelson, and where were Messrs Blair and Brown and other members of the cabinet? Perhaps a clue lay in the presence of a certain Lord Butler of Brockwell, who smiled broadly as he mingled among the throng, talking animatedly about anything but his forthcoming report into the Prime Minister’s desperation to keep onside with that other American president as they prepared for war.

Clinton concluded his speech by rueing that now he is just another of those leaders whose moment has passed. With sales of more than one million for his folksy tale, however, he didn’t seem too sad.


This article first appeared in the New Statesman and may not be reproduced without permission.