George W. Bush marked his 100th day as president by inviting Congress to lunch today to promote bi-partisanship, but only about 50 Democrats came.
The Republican president said his early months in office had helped bring about a new era of civility in Washington as tuxedo-clad waiters passed drinks to lawmakers, Cabinet members and top White House staff mingling in the Rose Garden.
"Today marks our 100th day of working together for the American people. We've had some good debates, we've made some good progress and it looks like we're going to pass some good law," Mr Bush told the lawmakers on a sun-splashed afternoon.
"Oh, I know we always don't agree, but we're beginning to get a spirit here in Washington where we're more agreeable, where we're setting a different tone," Mr Bush added."And it's OK sometimes to share a meal and that's why we're here."
Although basking in job approval ratings of 56 per cent to 63 per cent, Mr Bush has taken a beating from voters for suspending plans to cut arsenic levels in drinking water by 80 per cent and from foreign allies for abandoning the Kyoto Treaty to limit greenhouse gasses believed by some to cause global warming.
Mr Bush has won points in polls for his handling of a standoff with China and for advancing tax cuts in Congress, where the House of Representatives embraced his 1.6 trillion, 10-year proposal and the Senate approved a 1.2 trillion plan.
But some of his actions, including pushing tax cuts through the House on largely party line vote, have raised doubts about his commitment to bi-partisanship - a critical issue given that he lost the popular vote and became president in one of the closest elections in US history.
Mr Bush's 100th day was Sunday, but the White House decided to celebrate it by inviting the full Congress to lunch on Monday.