Salvadoran President Jose Napoleon Duarte and Ronald Reagan exchanged the most genial of toasts, politicians and pundits mused on the just-awarded Nobel Peace Prize, and as after-dinner coffee was passed around, the new Miss America took it all in from the periphery of the White House Blue Room.

In the glow of soft light at last night's State Dinner, the chill autumn night was forgotten -- as were, no doubt, the hundred or so early evening demonstrators against U.S. involvement in Central America who had gathered across the street in Lafayette Park.

It was a relaxed evening, a time when Reagan and Duarte made much of their common concerns and mutual respect. Reagan never even touched upon his distrust of the Central American peace plan. And Duarte diplomatically declared himself "optimistic but cautious at the same time."

In his dinner toast, Reagan paid an elaborate personal tribute to Duarte, calling the Salvadoran leader "a hero of freedom" and saying he "has come to symbolize the struggle for democracy."

The president said he had "little doubt that our forefathers would see President Duarte as one of their own" and recounted the political trials that forced Duarte into exile for seven years before his return to his country in 1979.

Reagan said that "one of the most moving moments" of his presidency came two years ago when Duarte and his daughter Ines paid a visit to the Oval Office shortly after Ines had been freed by the kidnapers who abducted her in September of that year.

"Tonight," the president said, "can anyone doubt that President Duarte has not only survived, he has triumphed?"

Duarte responded by telling the guests that during the course of the dinner he had looked at the portrait of Abraham Lincoln hanging over the mantle in the State Dining Room and had mused over the 16th president's feelings during his troubled time in office.

Duarte then implored the guests to pray for the people of his country, "for the poor people, for the suffering people and also for the soldiers who die and the guerrillas who also die.

"We are all Salvadorans."

The domestic situation came up after dinner when the president was asked whom he will nominate for the Supreme Court vacancy if the Senate votes down Robert Bork, as is expected.

"We're thinking about a number of people," Reagan said. "We're hoping we don't have to choose another person. It's an uphill battle, but we're hoping {the Senate} will realize how they've been deceived."

Asked how Bork was holding up under the strain, Reagan responded, "He's very much in control of himself. I think he revealed his stature in his own statement."

Attorney General Edwin Meese, who was having a chat with Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), was even less forthcoming. "We're not considering anybody until it becomes necessary," he said.

"Alan Simpson and I were just discussing strategy. It's going to be a brilliant floor debate."

Duarte chatted with guests after dinner only a few feet away from Reagan in the Blue Room. Asked how his new autobiography, "Duarte: My Story," is selling, he said, "I never ask."

Had he spoken with Reagan about the issue of funding for the contras?

"I don't discuss that. That's internal politics."

But the Salvadoran leader did offer some opinions about his country's northern neighbor.

"The United States, the strongest democratic country in the world, needs to be united in a bipartisan policy," he said.

And later, "We in Central America found it was difficult to understand the American political situation. That's the reason we came up with this peace plan."

Among the arriving guests at the beginning of the night, there were many who had some thoughts on Costa Rican President Oscar Arias' Nobel Prize. But not all wanted to talk about it at length: "We've already congratulated him formally and informally," said Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams quickly as he arrived for the dinner.

Others were philosophical: "I think we have to wait and hope that the peace follows the prize," said former assistant secretary of defense Richard Perle, now a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "It doesn't always happen that way."

And House Speaker Jim Wright was very expansive on the subject of Arias. "I think it's a marvelous choice ... highly deserved. He's demonstrated vision to see a route to peace in a troubled area."

Others promenading through the corridors of the White House were simply enthralled to be there. Author Allan Bloom ("The Closing of the American Mind") said it was his first time at a White House dinner. Ditto for new Miss America Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, who was wearing a long black velvet dress with gold-pleated sleeves that she said was "made in America -- everything I wear this year will be." She professed to be nervous on her way in to dinner, and afterward she trilled, "Table 11, I'll never forget it, right across from the president. He made us feel so comfortable."

Talking about her reign, she said, "People have wagered on whether I'll go Hollywood. But I won't. This is the world I'm in for this year, and after that I'll go back to nursing."

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. was missing Game 7 of the Giants-Cardinals championship series, but he said he was taping it on his VCR. "Don't tell me how it ends," he said.

"Good Morning America" cohost Joan Lunden was there with her husband, producer Michael Krauss. She was talking about her plans for a new program, "The Daytime Show," debuting in the fall of 1988. "It's Michael's baby," she said. She would not say absolutely that she would leave "GMA" when the new show started, but she certainly made it sound probable: "This is probably going to be my graduation ceremony for getting up later in the day."

Ralph Lauren sat next to Nancy Reagan and afterward said, "I think I have a new girlfriend, I have a crush on her." He called her "a very easy lady to talk to, very warm," and said clothes did not come up. "It was a nice evening, we didn't get into anything heavy."

Secretary of Labor Bill Brock, on the eve of his resignation from the Cabinet in order to become chairman of Sen. Robert Dole's presidential campaign, said his mission would be "getting people to know Dole." Dole will formally announce his candidacy next month.

As usual, Reagan received guests in the Blue Room after dinner. People approached him to chat politely then hovered nearby. From there, everybody went into the East Room, where jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton and his combo entertained. "I've been a Reagan fan forever, since he was governor of California. I still say he's the greatest president we ever had," said Hampton.

He acknowledged Duarte's presence by dedicating a piece to "one of the great presidents from down there in that foreign country." Duarte laughed.

at a State Department luncheon in Duarte's honor, Secretary of State George Shultz never mentioned the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize in his remarks. But Duarte did a couple of times.

The first time was in the receiving line responding to a question about Arias' winning the prize for the peace plan signed by Duarte and four other Central American presidents Aug. 7 in Guatemala.

"I'm tickled to death," Duarte said. "I've been trying to call him but the line's always busy. Everybody's calling him."

Duarte, on the first day of a three-day state visit to Washington, later told the 140 luncheon guests he was "proud" Arias is being recognized for his efforts as architect of the peace plan, which Reagan has described as "fatally flawed" and which threatens his request for new aid to the contras.

As he had at the White House earlier, Duarte did not attempt to hide his gratitude to his hosts, whose support has helped keep him in office for three years.

"Thank you for helping my country, my poor country," he said, looking across the Benjamin Franklin Room at Shultz. "My goal is the land of the free."

He then walked over and presented Shultz with a copy of his autobiography.

Shultz said Duarte had indicated he knew who planned and carried out the September 1985 abduction of his daughter, "but you had it in your heart to say that you would grant amnesty. That is an act of faith and of love and of devotion to peace that is very moving and very real."

His daughter was on hand at the luncheon, together with his wife, also named Ines, and sons Alejandro and Napoleon Jr.

Duarte surprised everyone at the arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn after delivering his prepared remarks when he announced he was going to break protocol.

"I've seen through my life many times in which people with hate in their heart have put fire to the American flag," he said. "This time, permit me to go to your flag, and in the name of my people, to give it a kiss."

With that, Duarte left the platform where President Reagan stood, walked over to a U.S. military color guard and asked the captain's permission to kiss the flag.

"I thought, 'My goodness, is this something I didn't know about?' " Chief of Protocol Selwa Roosevelt said later. "There wasn't a dry eye in the place, from Mrs. Reagan and Mrs. Shultz on down." The guest list for last night's state dinner for Salvadoran President Jose Duarte:

El Salvadoran President Jose Napoleon Duarte and Maria Ines Duran de Duarte

Ricardo Acevedo-Peralta, minister of foreign affairs, and Nuria de Acevedo-Peralta

Guillermo Guevara-Lacayo, president of the Legislative Assembly

Fidel Angel Chavez-Mena, minister of planning

Julio Adolfo Rey-Prendes, minister of culture and communications

Gen. Adolfo Blandon, armed forces chief of staff

Ernesto Rivas-Gallont, ambassador of El Salvador, and Rina de Rivas-Gallont

Alejandro Duarte Duran, presidential adviser

Arturo Muyshondt, president, Agriculture and Livestock Association

Simon Parada, representative, Association Cooperatives of Integrated Agricultural Livestock Production

Raquel Mejia, representative, National Association of Postal Employes of El Salvador

Jose Napoleon Duarte Duran, son of President Duarte, and Maria Cristina Duarte

Ines Guadalupe Duarte Duran, daughter of President Duarte

Elliott Abrams, assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs, and Mildred Abrams

Philip Anschutz and Nancy Anschutz

Chet Atkins, country musician, and Mrs. Merle Russell

Fred Barnes, correspondent, The New Republic, and Barbara Barnes

Sidney Barthelemy, mayor of New Orleans, and Mickey Barthelemy

David Beckwith, White House correspondent, Time magazine, and Susan Beckwith

Allan Bloom, author, "The Closing of the American Mind"

Ernest Borgnine, actor, and Tova Borgnine, Tova Corp.

David Breul, editor in chief, European Travel and Life, and Gail Breul

William R. Bright, president, Campus Crusade for Christ International, and Vonette Bright

William E. Brock, secretary of labor, and Sandra Brock

Patricia Bush and William Prescott Bush

Manuel A. Bustelo, president, National Association of Partners of the Americas

Frank C. Carlucci III, assistant to the president for national security affairs, and Marcia Carlucci

Ward B. Chamberlin Jr., president, WETA-TV, and Lydia Chamberlin

Nien Cheng, author, "Life and Death in Shanghai"

David Christopher, managing partner, Price Waterhouse and Co., and Jacqueline Christopher

Edwin G. Corr, ambassador to El Salvador, and Suzanne Corr

George Delama, White House correspondent, Chicago Tribune, and Adelaide Reynolds

Edwin J. Delattre, Ethics and Public Policy Center, author, and Alice Delattre

Kenneth M. Duberstein, deputy chief of staff to the president, and Sydney Duberstein

Trude Feldman and Paul J. Limbert, general manager, Park Hyatt Hotel

Alan Greenspan, chairman, Federal Reserve Board, and Andrea Mitchell, White House correspondent, NBC

Lionel Hampton, vibraphonist (performing), and Jewel La Fontant

The Most Rev. James A. Hickey, archbishop of Washington

John J. Jachym and Audrey Jachym

Dr. Robert K. Jarvik, artificial heart specialist, and Marilyn vos Savant, columnist

Max Kampelman, counselor, State Department

Roger G. Kennedy, director, National Museum of American History, and Frances Kennedy

Lane Kirkland, president, AFL-CIO, and Irena Kirkland

Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute, and Evron Kirkpatrick, president, Heldref Publications

Ralph Lauren, fashion designer, and Ricky Lauren

Rep. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), and Tricia Lott

Joan Lunden, cohost, "Good Morning America," and Michael Krauss

Lorin Maazel, conductor, and Dietlinde Turban, actress

Sen. John R. McCain (R-Ariz.) and Cindy McCain

Susan McCone, fashion designer, and Mark Robertson, vice president, Hill & Knowlton

John McMullen, McMullen and Associates, and Jacqueline McMullen

Edwin Meese III, attorney general, and Ursula Meese

Rep. Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.) and Corrine Michel

Dionicio Morales, president, Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, and Maria Morales

Frederick D. Patterson, founder, United Negro College Fund, and Thelma Perkins

Richard N. Perle, resident scholar, American Enterprise Institute, and Leslie Perle

Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Miss America 1988

Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles, and Kelly Geer

Steven Rockefeller Jr. and Kimberly Rockefeller

Selwa Roosevelt, chief of protocol

George P. Shultz, secretary of state, and Helena Shultz

Sen. Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.)

John G. Smale, chairman, Procter and Gamble Co., and Phyllis Smale

William H. Webster, director, Central Intelligence Agency

Keith Wellin and Nancy Wellin

Rep. James C. Wright Jr. (D-Tex.), speaker of the House, and Betty Wright

Adm. Paul A. Yost Jr., commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, and Jan Yost

Articles appear as they were originally printed in The Washington Post and may not include subsequent corrections.