Clintons Keep Hectic Pace With Christmastime Rituals

President Clinton and his family celebrated Christmas in the White House and sent greetings to “all the peacemakers among us, especially to our brave men and women in uniform who are away from home.”

The Clintons reserved the morning for opening presents.

One of the first lady’s stocking stuffers was a copy of “Mudville Diaries,” a collection of baseball memories by artist Mike Schacht, the White House said.

The president’s Christmas message to the nation was videotaped in advance. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a longtime children’s advocate, urged Americans to “remember our nation’s neediest children and extend the spirit of giving to them with our love, our prayers and our generosity.”

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Today’s quiet rituals followed a hectic Christmas Eve during which the president dashed through a round of golf, last-minute shopping, the ballet, a party and a church service.

Clinton joined throngs of last-minute shoppers Tuesday at the Fashion Centre mall near the Pentagon and emerged with a white plastic garment bag slung over his shoulder. He was in true form, his wife said.

“Another ritual for Bill is a last-minute shopping trip to the mall,” the first lady said in a Christmas Eve newspaper column distributed by Creators Syndicate. “I have noticed over the years that many men . . . become frantic mall-stalkers as they hunt for Christmas gifts.”

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.’ ”

After the president’s shopping, the first couple went to the theater to watch their 16-year-old daughter, Chelsea, perform for the fourth year in the Washington Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker.”

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Later the Clintons joined most of their family for dinner at the home of longtime friends Ann and Vernon E. Jordan Jr. and attended services at the National Cathedral.

With the sounds of their favorite carols in the background, the Clintons a few days ago decorated their 17-foot tree in the Yellow Room, right above the official tree that stands in the Blue Room downstairs, and reminisced about past Christmases.

Outside the Jordan home, Clinton mentioned a “good” conversation he had with Bob Dole last week. He and his former rival for the presidency met at the White House and recounted the events of the campaign.

“You would have loved to have been a fly on the wall,” he told reporters.