Gee, I guess the Clinton jug band didn't make it past customs.

Artistic ambassadors

The classic music of Paderewski and Chopin will be performed at the Library of Congress this evening with the hope that such artistic works will be resurrected as an important part of U.S. diplomacy.

"When great music is wedded to cultural exchange, it transforms and raises the human spirit and allows for artistic values to traverse cultural and political differences," explains John Robilette, a concert pianist who will perform at the 7:30 p.m. program, entitled "Great Music, America and the World: The Emotional and Political Power of the Arts as Statecraft."

With the support of President Reagan more than two decades ago, Mr. Robilette established the Artistic Ambassador Program, which sent "musical ambassadors" from the United States to 63 countries to perform, teach and interact with students and artists.

The program had "extraordinary" impact during the Cold War, with the Bangkok Post observing: "With artistic ambassadors like these, why does America need a naval presence?"

Because it is more difficult to kill bad guys with a flute.

Tonight's performance will be hosted by Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, chairman of the Senate Arts Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who says the music exchange program is one proven way "to improve America's public diplomacy." (Thanks to Inside the Beltway/The Washington Times for the heads up.)