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Romanian Tennis Legend Invited For Lunch At The White House

Romanian former tennis player Ilie Nastase, world’s best player in 1973, waited for American president George W. Bush at Victoria Palace, after calling Romanian prime minister Calin Tariceanu on the phone and requesting permission to come to the Government’s headquarters.
Romanian Tennis Legend Invited For Lunch At The White House
04 apr. 2008, 17:12, English

Nastase held a friendly talk with Bush, after which he was invited to have lunch in Washington.

"I saw on television that president Bush was to arrive at the Government and, since I live two minutes away from the Victoria palace, I called prime minister Tariceanu on the phone, to ask him if I could join them. I know the American president, and the entire Bush family are tennis fans, especially Bush senior, with whom I have played tennis in 1973-1974," Nastase told MEDIAFAX.

He added that, in the brief conversation he had with George W. Bush, the American president told him he regrets not having the time for a separate meeting, but he invited Nastase to the White House.

"He invited me to have lunch with him, asking me what I would prefer: lunch or dinner? I told him that I am a great gourmet and that I would come to lunch, as well as dinner, and Bush agreed," Nastase added.