As president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus heads a thriving democracy, but you would have thought he was a king from the royal reception he received here last weekend.

The Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis just published his book, On the Road to Democracy, and he came for the book's release.

Both of Texas' U.S. senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, turned up to welcome Mr. Klaus during a Sunday reception at the Harlan Crow Library at the Highland Park estate Harlan shares with his wife, Kathy.

Former Delaware Gov. Pete du Pont (he's chairman of the NCPA) was there, as was NCPA board member Dan Cook III, Bush-Cheney Texas Victory '04 chairman Fred Meyer, Medical City Dallas boss Robert Wright (he's chairman and CEO of Medical Cities Inc.) and his wife, Mary, arts patron Margaret McDermott, as well as NCPA president John Goodman (he edited President Klaus' new book) and his wife, NCPA senior vice president Jeanette Goodman.

The Crows' breathtaking library was only the first stop. Next President Klaus headed to a dinner in the presidential library at the Park Lane estate of oilman Cary Maguire and his wife, Ann.

Cary's collection of presidential memorabilia and his private oval office have been visited by both presidents Bush, as well as Gov. Jeb Bush, former Secretary of State Jim Baker and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Those at the Maguire dinner included Sen. Cornyn and big-time political donor Louis Beecherl and his wife, Julie.

Paying library dues

The aforementioned Mary and Robert Wright offered their private jet to Mr. Klaus and his security detail so they could travel to Washington, D.C., where the book was introduced at an NCPA-hosted dinner at the Library of Congress. And on Tuesday, President Bush received President Klaus at the White House.