When Bono Dozed Off in the Lincoln Bedroom
Picture this: 62‑year‑old Bono, the lead singer of U2, wakes up in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House, all thanks to a night of dinner, drinks and a little mistake. He’s been doing the same kind of thing ever since the Obama administration – skipping a few hours of “real sleep” after a hearty meal with President Barack Obama.
The Great Sleep Debacle
- Why he fell asleep? A sneaky allergy to salicylic acid (which hides in wine, some foods, and even OTC meds) did the trick.
- What happened? While Obama was shaking up the “cocktails,” Bono opted for a couple of glasses of wine. As the wine hit him, he nodded off right at the table.
- Obama’s reaction? The President, fully awake, noticed Bono’s absence. He asked Ali Hewson, “Is he okay?”
- Ali’s answer? “Bono’s fine,” she said, but it was the National Leader’s curiosity about the Gettysburg Address that steered the mission to the Lincoln Bedroom.
- Finding him? They stalked Biden’s homestead, found the sleeping star in the bed that once slept Abraham Lincoln himself. “Out cold, head in the bosom of a free‑world icon,” Bono told his own memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.
More Sleepy Stories
It’s not the first time Bono has fallen asleep in a quirky spot. From the Sonic Youth DVD studio to a street corner and even a car bonnet, he’s had it all. “I’m told the White House was marvelous about it – I’ve had shoes that had no idea I’d sleep, but the White House got it right.”
Obama’s “Martini” Dilemma
Bono jokingly tells his audience that in his view, the President thinks his allergy is a rumor spun by Ali. “Sure, they say he made it up to cover for him… it’s all rubbish,” he says. “But he does know how to spin a bloody good martini.”
In short, it’s all in good fun: a legend asleep in the home of a great man, with a bit of confusion, a touch of humor and a reminder that even world leaders can’t see the lighter side of life.
— Sources: Bono’s memoir, BBC Radio 2 interview, White House archives
