by Mark Silva
Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, delivered the big address at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning.
President Barack Obama spoke, too -- the Washington gathering a tradition begun by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953.
Blair gave what amounted to the keynote.
Blair, who was President George W. Bush's best world-leader-friend overseas, told Obama: "You don't need cheerleaders but partners, not spectators but supporters. The truest friends are those still around when the going gets toughest.
"Great news about the BlackBerry," Blair added -- for a president who has insisted on the right to keep a personal communicator on him albeit with a highly limited mailbox.
Blair told a little story on himself: About his first mobile phone, which he picked up the day after he left 10 Downing. He sent a text message to a friend, without realizing his friend wouldn't know who it was from.
"Back came the reply: 'Sorry, who are you?'"
(Photos of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama applauding Tony Blair, and of Blair, by Ron Sachs / Bloomberg.)
Comments
Tony Blair is currently insignificant. Why was he there--and speaking?
Posted by: Vivian | February 5, 2009 2:02 PM