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 Home > News & Policies > December 2002

President's Christmas Message
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush stand before the Blue Room Christmas Tree Sunday, December 8, 2002 prior to hosting a reception for the Kennedy Center Honorees. Mrs. Bush is wearing a floor length gown designed by Arnold Scaasi. White House photo by Eric Draper.
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush stand before the Blue Room Christmas Tree Sunday, December 8, 2002 prior to hosting a reception for the Kennedy Center Honorees. Mrs. Bush is wearing a floor length gown designed by Arnold Scaasi. White House photo by Eric Draper. Full Story
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush attend the Pageant of Peace Tree Lighting on the Ellipse near the White House Thursday, Dec. 5. White House photo by Paul Morse
President George W. Bush marks Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with an address at the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., Thursday, Dec. 5. White House photo by Paul Morse
President George W. Bush watches as Daniella Wald, 12, lights one of the candles on the Menorah Wednesday, Dec 4 in the White House. President Bush presented one of the lighted candles to Daniella Wald, who lit the first three candles, and she presented the lighter candle to her sister, Alexandra Wald, 15, who lit the other three. Both of the girls are from Manhattan, and their father, Victor Wald, was killed in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. White House photo by Paul Morse.
Afghani teacher Rayhaanah of Kabul embraces Laura Bush during a visit of 13 Afghani women teachers to the White House Wednesday, December 4, 2002. The teachers are concluding a six-week training program in the United States to help them become master teachers and teacher trainers upon return to Afghanistan. White House photo by Susan Sterner
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush attend the Pageant of Peace Tree Lighting on the Ellipse near the White House Thursday, Dec. 5. White House photo by Paul Morse.
Laura Bush conducts a press preview of the White House Christmas decorations, Thursday, Dec. 5. White House photo by Tina Hager.
Laura Bush meets with Iran Brown, left , the 13-year-old victim of the Washington-area sniper, and his mother, Lisa Brown, after visiting with children in the neurology and orthopedic units at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Thursday, December 12, 2002. Mrs. Bush invited Brown to co-host the annual children's Christmas program. White House photo by Susan Sterner.
Laura Bush is accompanied by her Scottish Terrier, Barney, and Santa Claus as she visits Brittanie Morris at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Thursday, December 12, 2002. After spending time with children on the neurology and orthopedic units, Mrs. Bush hosted the annual children's Christmas program, during which she debuted a video tour of the White House Christmas decorations from Barney's perspective. White House photo by Susan Sterner.
Laura Bush hosts the annual Christmas program at the Children's National Medical Center Thursday, December 12, 2002 in Washington, D.C. During the program Mrs. Bush debuted a video of her dog Barney's tour of the White House Christmas decorations. White House photo by Susan Sterner.
From hanging the lights to lighting the President's portrait, staff and volunteers transform the stately Blue Room into a place glistening with holiday cheer. The White House Christmas tree is an 18-foot Noble fir.
Laura Bush conducts a press preview of the White House Christmas decorations, Thursday, Dec. 5. White House photo by Tina Hager.
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush stand before the White House Christmas Tree Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002. Mrs. Bush is wearing a floor-length gown designed by Arnold Scaasi. White House photo by Eric Draper.
Laura Bush receives the official White House Christmas Tree, a Noble Fir, from the Hedlund Family of Elma, Wash., at the North Portico of the White House Dec. 2. The Hedlund family was the winner of the National Christmas Tee Association's "Grand Champion" grower contest. White House photo by Tina Hager.
The West Wing entrance glows as the sun rises on a snowy day at the White House, Friday, Dec. 6, 2002. White House photo by Tina Hager. Marine One arrives from Camp David and lands on the South Lawn in an area cleared of snow, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002. White House photo by Tina Hager. One of the finest pieces of art in the White House, the portrait of Benjamin Franklin by David Martin, is the centerpiece of the Green Room. Topiaries of gold and green fruit stand on either side of the sofa and brilliant red poinsettias and fresh green pears. White House photo by Tina Hager. The Red Room is decorated with garlands and topiaries made of pomegranates, pears and magnolia leaves. A small cranberry tree surrounded by holly sits on an antique marble-top table. White House photo by Tina Hager. The calico pony and bright blue and gold macaw are part of the menagerie belonging to the family of President Theodore Roosevelt. Algonquin, the pony, rode the White House elevator to visit the Roosevelt's son, Archie, while he was sick. The macaw, named Eli Yale, was one of the pets kept by the Roosevelt family. President Roosevelt served from 1902 to 1909. White House photo by Tina Hager. On the southeast mantel are three sheep brought to the White House by President Woodrow Wilson during World War I to keep the lawn of the White House neat and trim. President Wilson served from 1913 to 1921. White House photo by Tina Hager.
Adorning the Entry Hall mantel are the pets of President George W. Bush and Laura Bush. The Bushes' cat, India "Willie" Bush, and Spot, their English Springer Spaniel, have been part of the Bush pet clan for more than a decade. Barney Bush, a Scottish terrier, was a birthday gift from the President to Mrs. Bush in 2000. White House photo by Tina Hager. The alligator, given to President John Quincy Adams by the Marquis de Lafayette, resided in a bathroom in the East Room for a time. President Adams served from 1825 to 1829. White House photo by Tina Hager. Rebecca and Rueben were pet racoons of President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace. Rebecca, who joined the family before Rueben, was a favorite. The racoons spent their evenings in an outdoor shed and occasionally roamed the White House during the day. President Coolidge served from 1923 to 1929. White House photo by Tina Hager. As a camera captures his every move, Barney follows behind Spot as they take a look at the bird ornaments on the White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room, Monday Dec. 9, 2002. White House photo by Paul Morse. An early winter snow transforms the White House and Lafayette Park into a winter wonderland, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002. White House photo by Paul Morse. The President takes a walk in the snow on the South Lawn with his dog, Spot, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002. White House photo by Eric Draper.
The Blue Room has long been the location of the official White House Christmas Tree. Ed and Cindy Hedlund and their son Thomas, of Hedlund Christmas Farm in Elma, Washington, presented this year's 18-foot noble fir to President George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush. White House photo by Tina Hager. Cheerful garlands and bright sprays of greenery decorate the mantel and cascade from wall sconces in the State Dining Room. Ed and Cindy Hedlund and their son Thomas, of Hedlund Christmas Farm in Elma, Washington presented this year's 18-foot noble fir to President George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush. White House photo by Tina Hager. Visitors to the Blue Room are greeted with views of the soft white landscape during an early winter snowfall, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002. White House photo by Tina Hager. A blanket of snow covers the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002. White House photo by Moreen Ishikawa. Whether inside the White House or outside on the South Lawn, keeping up with the spirited Scottish Terrier was a challenge for the camera crew of the Barney Cam, Monday, Dec. 9, 2002. White House photo by Paul Morse. Barney poses for the cameras under the White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room, Monday Dec. 9, 2002. White House photo by Moreen Ishikawa.
Laura Bush hosts the annual Christmas program at the Children's National Medical Center Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002 in Washington, D.C. During the program Mrs. Bush debuted a video of Barney's tour of the White House Christmas decorations. White House photo by Susan Sterner.          
 
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