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Okay, Alice, are you ready to go back into the pressurised political environment of 2003?

When you put it like that, how could I ever refuse?

Then where better to start than the epicenter of power in America?

It's the 17th of July 2003. Tony Blair is in Washington.

He strides through statutory hall in the House of Representatives flanked by congressional leaders.

Marble Statues of prominent American citizens line the circular hall.

Clio, the muse of history, sits atop the chariot clock looking down.

The expectant audience rise, breathing in warning.

Members of the Congress, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Congressmen and women clap and cheer.

He's the man who stood shoulder to shoulder with the US in the invasion of Iraq.

And he's about to get his reward, the gold congressional medal of honor.

The audience rise to their feet. They give him 19 standing evations, a record.

19!

I mean, I don't even think the Beatles got that.

After maybe 14 or 15, I'd be like, okay, you're taking the mic now.

You know when you want to be the last one in assembly to be clapping?

It's that, isn't it?

It gets to the point where it's almost rude.

We're going to actually just, I've really got to make this speech now.

Tony Blair is on top of the world, surely nothing is going to change that.

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