Clinton Goes Christmas Eve Golfing, Shopping

Instead of dashing through the snow, President Clinton dodged raindrops Tuesday to play nine holes of golf before making one last trip to the mall for a final round of Christmas shopping.

As temperatures approached an unseasonably warm 60 degrees, Clinton teed off under cloudy, drizzly skies, with his brother-in-law, Tony Rodham, at the Army Navy Country Club in suburban Arlington, Va.

Later, Clinton stopped at the Fashion Centre mall near the Pentagon, where he searched for gifts among throngs of shoppers as the holiday hours ticked away. He emerged with a white plastic garment bag slung over his shoulder.

At the mall, Eyassu Teklu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian immigrant, gave the president one of two rhythm-and-blues compact music discs he had bought. “I told him I’m an Ethiopian, an American citizen and we love him,” Teklu said. “And then, he said ‘We love having you here.’ ”

In a videotaped Christmas message to the nation, Clinton wished a happy holiday “to all the peacemakers among us.” And Hillary Rodham Clinton, a longtime children’s advocate, urged holiday celebrants to think of needy children.

“I hope that during this holiday season we will remember our nation’s neediest children and extend the spirit of giving to them with our love, our prayers and our generosity,” she said.