The St Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington came to an impressive climax in a huge tent on the lawn of the White House when President Clinton gave former Senator George Mitchell the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the US, for his role in the Northern Ireland peace process.
The President told the huge gathering, including the Northern Ireland political leaders: "I want everyone to leave here determined to get over this last hurdle [in the peace process]".
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, shared the platform with the President and Mrs Clinton and Senator Mitchell. The Taoiseach, who was introduced by Mrs Clinton, said the peace agreement was not "down to one issue" and he promised that "all our energies will be redoubled to make sure we do not lose the opportunity we have 99 per cent created".
Earlier in the day, the US Vice-President, Mr Al Gore, told cheering Irish-Americans he will be "tireless" in working for the implementation of the Belfast Agreement if elected president in 2000.
At a St Patrick's morning breakfast in the Capitol Hilton hotel near the White House yesterday, Mr Gore was endorsed by the Irish-American Democrats organisation for his presidential campaign.
Condemning the killing of the Lurgan solicitor Ms Rosemary Nelson, Mr Gore spoke forcefully. "Hear me well - we will fight the reckless violence of terrorism and we will never yield to terrorism, ever.
"I give you my commitment that I will be tireless in pursuing the implementation of the agreement that the people who are seeking peace in such overwhelming numbers have decided to pursue. I pledge to work hard for peace in Northern Ireland so that it can be a light to all of the nations of the world," he said.
Mr Gore welcomed the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, who arrived towards the end of his speech. He called on Mr Hume to join him on the platform where he was surrounded by other Irish-American members of Congress and Ms Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Lieutenant-Governor of Maryland and daughter of Robert Kennedy.
Ms Stella O'Leary, president of Irish-American Democrats based in Washington, praised Mr Gore's record on Northern Ireland. Warning that there were those who want to set aside the Belfast Agreement, she said: "We need the strength of a Gore presidency to ensure that all the elements of this agreement are fully implemented."