The Pope is visiting DC and President Bush takes him out for an afternoon on the Potomac ... sailing on the presidential yacht. They're admiring the

sights when, all of a sudden, the Pope's hat (zucchetto) blows off his head

and out into the water. Secret service guys start to launch a boat, but Bush

waves them off, saying, "Wait, wait. I'll take care of this. Don't worry."

Bush then steps off the yacht onto the surface of the water and walks out to the Holy Father's hat, bends over and picks it up, walks back to the yacht

and climbs aboard. He hands the hat to the Pope amid stunned silence.

The next morning, the Washington Post carries a story, with front page

photos, of the event. The banner headline is:

"Bush Can't Swim."

A-1