[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 49 (Monday, December 15, 2008)]
[Pages 1501-1502]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Children's Holiday Reception

December 8, 2008

    The President. Welcome to the White House.
    Children. Thank you.
    The President.  Yes! We're excited you are here. And we're excited 
you're here for a couple of reasons. One, we love to see the wonder in 
people's eyes when they get to see the majesty of the White House at 
this time of year. And I'm looking in your eyes, and I'm seeing wonder.

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    Secondly, I am glad you're here because I wanted to thank your moms 
and dads for serving the United States of America. We love being with 
our military families, because it gives us a chance to express the 
sincere and deep appreciation of all Americans for the sacrifices that 
families make. So I want to thank you for standing by your moms and dads 
and telling them you're proud of them and telling them you love them.
    Thirdly, I'm going to ask you to do us a favor, and that is, when 
you email mom or dad, just tell them you came by the White House--
[laughter]--and the President and Laura, the First Lady, sent a special 
holiday greeting. So you'll be the messenger. So your job is to say, we 
respect your mom and dad, we admire your mom and dad, and we pray for 
your mom and dad. So would you do that for us?
    Children. Yes.
    The President. And fourthly, I'm glad to be here because I get to 
introduce my wife. [Laughter] It's a pretty neat thing, isn't it?
    Children. Yes.
    The President. Now, Laura tells me you've already seen Santa----
    Children. Yes.
    The President. ----had a few cookies----
    Children. Yes.
    The President. Yes? I'm surprised there's not more wiggling going 
on. [Laughter] At any rate, please welcome my dear wife, First Lady 
Laura Bush.

Note: The President spoke at 10:01 a.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
included the remarks of the First Lady.