Bush Opts for a ‘Photo Op’ With Jackson

WASHINGTON — The upcoming U.S.-Soviet summit may have been the big story of the day, but President Bush didn’t let that get in the way of his opportunity to be photographed with pop star Michael Jackson.

In fact, he let Jackson become part of the summit story. The black-and-crimson clad singer, sporting shiny, silver ornaments on his black boots, stood at the President’s side outside the Oval Office today as Bush made the first comments about his newly announced May 30-June 3 summit meeting with Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev.

White House aides said Bush invited Jackson to the White House to congratulate him on being named entertainer of the decade by the Capital Children’s Museum in Washington.

The flamboyantly dressed Jackson, face framed by shoulder-length curls and dark sunglasses, stood out in the phalanx of dark-suited White House aides who accompanied the President and First Lady Barbara Bush to the Rose Garden for the occasion.

“I just wanted to welcome Michael Jackson here. And, named artist of the decade, and he has a tremendous following,” Bush said.

“He does good work--what we call the ‘points of light’ concept. I just wanted to bring him out here and officially welcome him to the White House once again.”