Condoleezza Rice stands in for Laura Bush at dinner in Australia

Condoleezza Rice has been US President George W. Bush's foreign policy tutor, sports buddy, national security adviser and his secretary of state. Bush came up with a new designation Wednesday at a dinner in his honor. "She can be my date," the president said, reaching out his left hand to touch Rice's arm as they stood before the cameras at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister John Howard and his wife Janette at their residence, Kirribilli House. First lady Laura Bush had stayed in Washington, saying a pinched nerve prevented her from taking long flights.