It sounded like a burst of machine-gun fire as President Bush was speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday but the noise apparently was produced by sound equipment in the room.The sound startled some listeners in the cavernous ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel and Bush paused for a second in his speech.
But then he went on without mentioning the sound. Several thousand people attended the annual prayer meeting.
The interruption occurred as Bush was talking about how American soldiers have been involved in reconstruction projects in Iraq."Seeing great need, our servicemen and women have rebuilt hospitals, repaired schools ... ," he said. At that point, there was a sound similar to automatic gunfire. After a second's hesitation, Bush continued, "and organized the donation of books and clothing and toys for Iraqi children."
"It was an interaction between wireless microphones and the sound system, akin to a feedback effect," White House deputy press secretary Trent Duffy said.
"It was not a 21-gun salute."
The Hilton is the same hotel where former President Reagan was shot in 1981 as he walked toward his limousine after a speech.
