Early Birds Grab Aisle Seats for TV Exposure With Bush

Four hours before President Bush entered the Capitol for the State of the Union speech Tuesday, a handful of Republicans were in the House of Representatives, trying to appear casual as they sprinted to claim seats on the aisle.

What politician would pass up a moment on television with the President as he walks by?

An aisle seat virtually guarantees that the nation--and the voters back home--will see the member shaking hands with Bush. In the event there is no handshake he or she can, and usually will, be seen patting the President on the back.

The first to exercise squatters’ rights Tuesday were Reps. Tom Lewis and Michael Bilirakis of Florida and Christopher Cox of Newport Beach, Calif., all Republicans. Two hours before speech time, 15 Republicans and seven Democrats already were in place. Most of them were veterans of the annual game.

The jockeying for a brief brush with power is part of a yearly ritual that is carefully scripted. The television audience does not see the preliminaries; on TV, the curtain is raised moments before the President walks onto the stage.

On television, the State of the Union address begins when doorkeeper James T. Molloy announces, in his best fanfare tone: “Mr. Speaker! The President of the United States!”

With that, all the dignitaries the House can hold--members of Congress, the Supreme Court, four-star military commanders, Cabinet members and ambassadors--rise as one to hail the chief.

Long before then the first members of the House have arrived, their eyes darting for the best place to roost.