[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.