The relationship between the press and the White House resembles the great stormy love-hate affairs of stage and screen: Bogart and Hepburn, Ralph and Alice Kramden, Shakespeare's Benedick and Beatrice. They squabble hilariously, break up tempestuously, then make up inevitably, because, frankly, who else would have them?

Yesterday, after a frosty period of many months, the White House made a peace initiative.