First Lady Gets Anniversary Roses, Cake--but Not From Her Husband

It was a memorable 47th wedding anniversary Monday for Barbara Bush, with the President sending her 47 red roses in the morning and providing a three-tier, pink-and-white cake in the evening.

But the President was not her husband, George. It was the president of South Korea, Roh Tae Woo.

First, the host sent the big bouquet to the First Lady at the U.S. ambassador’s residence.

The “beautiful red roses . . . almost had Mrs. Bush in tears this morning,” Bush told reporters later. “I’m very grateful for that.”

And what did Bush give his wife?

“I don’t want to ruin the surprise--because I haven’t made up my mind yet,” said an abashed Bush.

Later, Bush thanked lawmakers at the South Korean National Assembly for making “us feel very much at home” on the anniversary.

Then Roh outdid himself with the lavish wedding-style cake, adorned with the words “Happy Anniversary,” at a state dinner in the Bushes’ honor. The couple cut it together with a huge knife.

The Bushes traditionally do not make a big fuss about giving each others’ presents on birthdays, at Christmas or for other occasions.

The Bushes were wed on Jan. 6, 1945, in Rye, N.Y., two weeks after he returned home from flying 58 missions in the Pacific. He was 20; she was 19.