The nationalists may have slightly exaggerated the importance of this encounter, but that's what politicians do.
Labour has criticised the SNP:
"This is typical of the nationalists - while Labour ministers are promoting Scotland, Mr Swinney is standing in the crowd like a latter-day Monica Lewinsky, hoping for a handshake or even a friendly smile from a real politician," said a Labour spokesman.Now that's a bit below the belt. John Swinney as a "latter-day Monica Lewinsky"! The mind boggles. The question is: was Mr Swinney wearing his kilt when he met JFK (version 2)?
(Update: The SNP boss isn't too well known in the US as yet. My spellchecker recognises "Lewinsky" but not "Swinney".)