At a press preview yesterday in the East Room, first lady Laura Bush unveiled the 2008 White House holiday decorations to reporters and photographers. For the Bush's final holiday season at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., the theme is "A Red, White, and Blue Christmas." Before this family says goodbye, there will be 25 holiday parties and seven dinners, and more than 60,000 guests will tour the house.
As usual, on the dessert buffet there were dark chocolate-covered cookies shaped like the first dog, Barney, and a gingerbread house. But Washington Post reporter Jura Koncius, who has covered countless holiday previews, noted in today's Style section that overall, the decor was understated, perhaps with a nod to lean economic times. "There were fewer trees than usual, but there was still a lot of twinkle and it was festive," said Koncius. "Usually, there are lots of marzipan figures on the gingerbread house. But this was minimalist, all in white chocolate."
Koncius added that red balls, pine cones, bunting, and snow dotted the 27 trees, while the Green Room had chunky silver eagles suspended from a garland on the mantel. In place of new concepts, there were recycled decorations pulled from storage, such as miniature reproductions of president's homes from 2001 and the 2007 ornaments with a national parks theme. In a sentimental address, Mrs. Bush thanked the house staff, especially chief White House florist Nancy Clarke. "Well, this is our last year here," Mrs. Bush said. "And so it'll be the people, of course, that we'll miss the most."
