    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [December 4, 1997]
    [Page 1718]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree
    December 4, 1997

        Thank you very much. I think, in the spirit of Christmas, the best
    gift I could give is a very brief Christmas message. [Laughter] Let me
    say to all of you, we've been doing this now for 85 years; for Hillary
    and me, Christmas begins with this wonderful ceremony. I want to thank
    all those responsible, and a special word of thanks to those who made it
    possible for the last 3 years for this beautiful Colorado spruce to be
    lit by solar energy.
        Now I want to call up Whitney and Joseph, and ask them to stand with
    me, and put their hands on the switch. And I'm going to count down
    three, two, one, and they'll flip the switch, and the Christmas tree
    will come on.
        Merry Christmas to all of you. Three, two, one, light the tree.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:50 p.m. on the Ellipse during the annual
    Christmas Pageant of Peace. In his remarks, he referred to Campfire Girl
    Whitney Symone Powell and Campfire Boy Joseph Sherren, who helped the
    President light the National Christmas Tree.