Name Dropping
10 Downing Street
After our visit to the American Embassy on 8 February, 2000, we--again with the other Fellows, their spouses and several British Council folks who seemed to materialise from thin air--walked to 10 Downing Street. We went through the guarded outer gates, walked up to the front door (black, with a brass "10" on it) and lined up for a couple of pictures. Then we stood around for a couple of seconds until someone wondered out loud what to do next. The police officer standing nearby suggested that we knock on the door. Strange customs here. So we did, and walked in, just like that.
We milled around the small foyer for a few minutes, getting in the way of people coming in or going out. We where met by a staffer who gave us a quick tour, which was obviously not rehearsed and was presented by someone who probably had real work to do at that moment. It was a nice change of pace from slick tour guides.
Our tour included the room where the Cabinet meets. We had all just sat down ("Not there because that's Tony's seat") when the door opened and Tony Blair breezed in and made his way around the table shaking hands and saying hello. He took a seat (in his chair) and talked for a few minutes, then we had some photos taken and he left. Jonathan Powell, his Chief of Staff, stayed on and spent 30 minutes talking with the group and answering questions. It turns out Powell was a force behind establishing the Atlantic Fellowship in Public Policy.
Blair was an impressive personality, and completely captured the room when he arrived. I think the group was most impressed that he had taken the time to come in during the day that he was trying to keep the Northern Irish peace process from unraveling--something he has invested a lot of time in. He wasn't with us for more than a few minutes, but he could have made for several phone calls in that time.