XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MON JAN 22, 2001 18:31:08 ET XXXXX
PERSONAL BOND DEVELOPS: BUSH, CLINTON HIT IT OFF
President Bush and President Clinton hit it off during one-on-one meetings in Washington. When Bush made his first post-election visit to Clinton "they just clicked", TIME magazine reports.
During a December meeting, Clinton "developed nearly as much affinity for Bush in two hours as he had for Al Gore in eight years. Clinton later told friends, 'Bush really connects. It's a mistake to underestimate him.' "
And after seeing Clinton in May at St. Patrick's Cathedral for John Cardinal O'Connor's funeral -- Clinton reaching across four mourners to grasp Bush's hand during the Sign of Peace -- Bush said, 'I don't always respect the guy, but you gotta like him.'"
"There is certainly no anger between the two," a well-placed Bush source told the DRUDGE REPORT. "President Bush asked Mr. Clinton if he could call him from time to time."
On his second-to-last night in the White House, Clinton was worried about how Bush would react to the timing of independent counsel Robert Ray's announcement of a Lewinsky settlement." Clinton turned to TV producer/director Harry Thomason to back-channel an apology through movie producer and Bush friend Jerry Weintraub.
Clinton reportedly apologized in person to Bush on Inauguration Day.