It was like a reunion from the last decade, as former President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and others gathered Wednesday to honor former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

The occasion was the official hanging of Frist's portrait in the Capitol.

"I can assure you, Bill, that we are delighted to be here to watch you hang," Bush said as the crowd laughed. He then offered warm praise.

"I really admired the fact that Bill served during tough times," Bush said, notably during the Iraq war, "but he left the Senate in a gentlemanly way."

Bush got a standing ovation, and Frist said he felt "a sort of interlocking kinship" with the Bush family.

"And Mr. president, some day, there might just be -- it's kind of scary--a George Bush Frist," saying that if Bush hadn't run for re-election, Frist's eldest son would not have met his future wife, on the campaign.

"It's kind of frightening," Frist said, "but Ashley (his daughter-in-law) speed it up."

Everyone then headed for a nearby reception room, where they enjoyed wine and mini-beef tenderloin and cheese biscuits.