Bush Refers to Sharpton's Daughter as Wife

WASHINGTON — President Bush was coasting through a list of greetings for prominent African-American leaders at a White House ceremony yesterday afternoon when he came to one of his fiercest critics, the Reverend Al Sharpton.

"Rev. Al Sharpton, and his wife, Dominique — Reverend, it's good to see you," Mr. Bush said.

The only problem? Dominique Sharpton is the reverend's 21-year-old daughter, not his wife. An audience member quickly shouted a correction to the president, who winced as the audience broke out in laughter. "Daughter, daughter," he said, correcting himself with a sheepish grin. "I don't get them right all the time."

"But thank you for coming. And, Dominique, you're sure a lot prettier than your father," the president quipped, before moving on to the next guest.

Mr. Sharpton and his wife, Kathy, separated in 2004. He was one of several civil rights leaders and activists invited to yesterday's White House event celebrating African-American History Month, part of which was broadcast on CNN. Mr. Bush honored the longtime Georgia congressman, Rep. John Lewis, as well as William Coleman, the first black to serve as a clerk on the Supreme Court and who became President Ford's transportation secretary.

The president also condemned recent displays of nooses around the country as "deeply offensive." Mr. Sharpton, who made a failed bid to replace Mr. Bush in 2004, said in a statement he was encouraged to see the president address the issue.