[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Pages 3062-3063]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree

December 11, 2000

    Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. First, I'd like to thank 
Peter Nostrand and all the people who work on the Pageant of Peace every 
year. They give us a wonderful night, and I think we ought to give them 
all a big hand. Thank you very much. [Applause]
    I'd love to thank these people who have come out in the cold to 
perform for us: our friend Kathy Mattea; Charlotte Church; Billy Gilman; 
the cast of ``Fosse;'' the West Tennessee Youth Chorus; Al ``Santa 
Claus'' Roker. [Laughter]
    I also want to thank Anastasia Wroblewski and Kwami Dennis, our Camp 
Fire Boy and Camp Fire Girl. They did a great job up here. It's not so 
easy to remember those speeches. [Laughter] I thought they were 
terrific.
    And I'd like to thank Thomas Kinkade for his beautiful portrait 
that's on the cover of our program, and the United States Navy Band. 
Thank you very much.
    On Christmas Eve more than 75 years ago, President Calvin Coolidge 
lit the first National Christmas Tree. He later said, ``Christmas is not 
a time or a season but a state of mind, to cherish peace and goodwill, 
to be plenteous in mercy.''
    Every President since President Coolidge has been part of that 
tradition, gathering around the Colorado spruce to rejoice in the spirit 
of Christmas and to celebrate a new season of peace and good will.
    Hillary, Chelsea and I always look forward to celebrating the 
Pageant of Peace with you, and the many traditions of the holiday 
season. Tonight, as we enjoy our last Christmas

[[Page 3063]]

season in the White House and the last time I'll have a chance to be 
here at the lighting of the Christmas tree, we are profoundly grateful 
for the gift you and all the American people have given us, the 
privilege to serve these last 8 years, to live in this marvelous old 
house, and to participate in wonderful ceremonies like this.
    For Americans of many faiths, this is a season of renewal, of light 
returned from darkness, despair transformed to hope, a time to reflect 
on our lives, rejoice in our blessings, and give thanks. Tonight, on 
this first Christmas of the new millennium, we celebrate an America 
blessed with unprecedented peace and prosperity and a nation that 
through more than 220 years and even the toughest times has held 
together by the enduring values enshrined in our Constitution.
    This is a time for us to reflect, too, on that good fortune and a 
time to rededicate ourselves to the lessons of love and reconciliation 
taught by a child born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. As we gather to 
decorate our trees and light our menorahs, let us remember the true 
meaning of the holidays by taking some time to give to those who need it 
most. And let us be thankful for the sacrifices of all those who serve 
us, especially those who serve us in the military who won't be home this 
year for Christmas.
    Let me say that when I leave you tonight, I'm going to Northern 
Ireland, to a small island where people were born that eventually came 
to America and gave us over 40 million of our citizens; a place where 
Saint Patrick brought the spirit of Christmas almost 1,500 years ago. I 
hope that we can finish the business of peace there and help, again, 
America to give a gift to the rest of the world.
    To all of you, again I say, this has been a humbling and wondrous 
gift. We thank you, all of us in our family, for the chance to serve 
yours. God bless you; merry Christmas, and let's light the tree.
    Thank you very much. Ready, set, go!

Note: The President spoke at 5:55 p.m. on the Ellipse during the annual 
Christmas Pageant of Peace. In his remarks, he referred to musicians 
Kathy Mattea, Charlotte Church, and Billy Gilman; television weatherman 
Al Roker, master of ceremonies, and Peter Nostrand, chairman, Christmas 
Pageant of Peace; and artist Thomas Kinkade.