Mrs. Bush Picks Christmas Theme: Home for the Holidays

WASHINGTON (AP) - Tiny replicas of presidential family homes are on display throughout the White House, part of Laura Bush's "Home for the Holidays" theme. But this year few people will see the holiday decor - a casualty of tightened security that followed the terrorist attacks. The White House has told organizations seeking the traditional holiday group tours that they will not take place this year, said spokeswoman Anne Womack. In addition, the daily tours that once drew some 3,000 people a day will remain suspended indefinitely, she said. President Bush often refers to the White House as "the people's house," but few members of the public will see the the "Home for the Holidays" decorations. Though she chose this year's theme in July, Mrs. Bush said Monday it carries special meaning in a year when millions of Americans shaken by the attacks are eager to reach the comfort of home and family. "Because this year's holiday season follows a national tragedy, both home and family have special meaning to all Americans," she said. "Gatherings of loved ones - familiar faces in familiar places - can be a tremendous source of strength and reassurance during this season of remembrance and goodwill." To highlight the theme, workers in the White House residence assembled replicas of 18 family homes of presidents, from George Washington's Mount Vernon to Franklin D. Roosevelt's Hyde Park. A replica of the only house Abraham Lincoln ever owned, in Springfield, Ill., is on display beneath former first lady Barbara Bush's portrait in the Ground Floor Corridor. Nearby, a model of a home once occupied by Ulysses S. Grant stands under a portrait of former first lady Betty Ford. There's also a replica of Lyndon Johnson's Texas ranch. In the Green Room, there is a model of a house known as Peacefield, home to presidents John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams. This year's gingerbread house is a recreation of the White House as it appeared in 1800 when John Adams became the first president to live there. It took three weeks to assemble the cake, which is made from 80 pounds of gingerbread and 30 pounds of chocolate. The White House Christmas tree will be an 18-foot Concolor fir from central Pennsylvania. Members of Congress and their families, White House staff and military and law enforcement officials will be invited to a series of open houses, Womack said. There will be an enhanced display at the White House Visitors' Center nearby, where tourists can see replicas of the homes of presidents Eisenhower, Truman and Hoover, and get a video tour of the White House. Five days after the attacks, Mrs. Bush chose a Psalm for the official White House Christmas card, which was designed by artist Adrian Martinez. The Psalm reads: "Thy face, Lord, do I seek: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!"

The White House has told organizations seeking the traditional holiday group tours that they will not take place this year, said spokeswoman Anne Womack. In addition, the daily tours that once drew some 3,000 people a day will remain suspended indefinitely, she said.

President Bush often refers to the White House as "the people's house," but few members of the public will see the the "Home for the Holidays" decorations. Though she chose this year's theme in July, Mrs. Bush said Monday it carries special meaning in a year when millions of Americans shaken by the attacks are eager to reach the comfort of home and family. "Because this year's holiday season follows a national tragedy, both home and family have special meaning to all Americans," she said. "Gatherings of loved ones - familiar faces in familiar places - can be a tremendous source of strength and reassurance during this season of remembrance and goodwill."

To highlight the theme, workers in the White House residence assembled replicas of 18 family homes of presidents, from George Washington's Mount Vernon to Franklin D. Roosevelt's Hyde Park. A replica of the only house Abraham Lincoln ever owned, in Springfield, Ill., is on display beneath former first lady Barbara Bush's portrait in the Ground Floor Corridor. Nearby, a model of a home once occupied by Ulysses S. Grant stands under a portrait of former first lady Betty Ford. There's also a replica of Lyndon Johnson's Texas ranch.

In the Green Room, there is a model of a house known as Peacefield, home to presidents John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams. This year's gingerbread house is a recreation of the White House as it appeared in 1800 when John Adams became the first president to live there. It took three weeks to assemble the cake, which is made from 80 pounds of gingerbread and 30 pounds of chocolate.

The White House Christmas tree will be an 18-foot Concolor fir from central Pennsylvania. Members of Congress and their families, White House staff and military and law enforcement officials will be invited to a series of open houses, Womack said. There will be an enhanced display at the White House Visitors' Center nearby, where tourists can see replicas of the homes of presidents Eisenhower, Truman and Hoover, and get a video tour of the White House.

Five days after the attacks, Mrs. Bush chose a Psalm for the official White House Christmas card, which was designed by artist Adrian Martinez. The Psalm reads: "Thy face, Lord, do I seek: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!"

INADVERTENT MISTAKE!!

I like Mrs. Bush, but I think there's the real possibility of a mixed message here.

Having just retired from the military, and having deployed to war zones and other locations prior to a Christmas Season, I wonder if she realizes how many military families will take this as a "hint" that perhaps their deployed family members will be "home for the holidays."

In other years this would be perfect, but this year with troops in Afghanistan the WIFE of the COMMANDER IN CHIEF should should be more careful in her selections.

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