What politician would not rather be Bertie Ahern, sprained foot and all? He is living the dream script. His popularity ratings must be hovering close to 100 per cent. In Dublin Castle on Saturday evening he was the centre of the known universe; 1,356,835 voters had just supported the Belfast Agreement in the South; 71.1 per cent of Northern voters did likewise.
The result of the Amsterdam Treaty referendum was not so hot, but it seemed to pale into the also-ran category, a kind of side-show to the main event.
On an otherwise unblemished day, as the counters were still piling the Yes votes high, he went out for one of his twice-weekly jogs and ended up twisting an ankle. He did not come limping to the Castle but with arms raised in triumph, flanked by a tanned David Andrews, and Liz O'Donnell, stunning in white linen.
The Taoiseach's arrival at the Castle synchronised perfectly with the result from Limerick East, the last of the 41 constituencies to conclude counting. The pattern was identical to the end - over 39,000 in favour of the agreement and 2,432 against in the Limerick constituency.
The outcome in the Republic was so overwhelmingly one-sided that much of the anticipation had drained away, but that did not stop a media scrum as photographers jostled for pole position next to the Taoiseach while he awaited the returning officer's final announcement.
"Any of you know, did Ireland win?" he inquired. The air got hotter, the moments dragged on and the Castle manager, David Byers, got shirty with the photographers and told them all to calm down and push back.
"It's a shambles, it's chaotic. The Taoiseach should be on the podium, " complained a British journalist, shuddering at the agitation.
"No, no," replied the Fianna Fail handlers. "Check the protocol. It's not appropriate. Only the returning officer should be on the podium."
A huge screen had been erected at the Castle, showing the results as they came in from around the country, and politicians, wearing white peace ribbons, all beamed at each other. Well, almost all. Conor Cruise O'Brien sat outdoors, and P.J. Mara, the former Government Press Secretary and Fianna Fail's referendum campaign director, urged a photographer to go and take a picture with the caption, "The agony in the garden".
Albert Reynolds was beaming in expensive grey, fresh from the Curragh races, where he had two winners at 4/1. If he was wistful, there were no signs. "A great day," he told his many interviewers.
Then, shortly after 6 p.m. came the final result. "We will all move forward with confidence and trust in each other," declared the Taoiseach, and left with his beaming entourage for a press conference in the gloriously beautiful St Patrick's Hall. He paid homage to all on the island who, by their collective act of endorsement, had given the Belfast Agreement life.
"Their collective verdict transcends not just the Anglo-Irish Agreement but the whole 1920-'21 settlement. The All-Ireland vote, the first since 1918, has infused de Valera's constitutional vision with a new authority appropriate to the challenges and opportunities offered to us now at the close of one century and the opening of another," he said.
First on his list for tributes was John Hume, "statesman of the Troubles and now statesman of peace". David Trimble came next, "a man of tremendous moral courage and conviction". Tony Blair, "who has given of himself and put his heart and soul into the search for peace". Bill Clinton, "our supporter and counsellor". He had earlier thanked him personally by telephone.
To Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness "and all in the republican movement who have striven to beat swords into ploughshares" he also gave thanks . . .
Reminded of the bomb find in Dundalk, he warned that they should "forget it".
"Your ways are the ways of the past. If you cannot join us in the new enterprise that offers the only true partnership and reconciliation amongst the people of this island, then desist and return to the obscurity you deserve", he added.
Later he told journalists that nationalism and republicanism had moved into the times we live in. His own father "fought in a militant way" but canvassed for Dev's 1937 Constitution. Today, if his father was alive, he would be "very happy".
And what of decommissioning and participation in the Northern Assembly's executive. There would be no deviation from the Agreement, neither to the left nor to the right. The parties would have to sign up to peaceful means.
But, the woman from El Pais pointed out, there had been no handshake between the UUP and Sinn Fein. The Taoiseach hoped all leaders would come more closely together and a lot would have to change. They would, for example, have to look at security on the ground, at the "security machinery".