As Winter Retreat Kicks Off, First Family Is Hounded

It might have been the First Family’s 14th trip to the New Year’s gab fest of the country’s movers and shakers, but it was the presidential pooch’s inaugural flight on Air Force One.

“Buddy’s first plane ride. He’s a happy little camper,” President Clinton gleefully told reporters Tuesday before taking off for a holiday trip with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and daughter Chelsea, starting with a couple of days at the Renaissance retreat on this South Carolina island.

Buddy, the chocolate Labrador pup who has stolen the president’s heart, was already aboard Air Force One--sprawled out on the president’s couch in the front of the plane--even before the first family arrived at Andrews Air Force Base.

The presence of the first dog set a new tone for the Clintons’ annual trek to Hilton Head, where they will be among 500 families taking part in seminars on a wide array of topics--both homespun and intellectual.

After ringing in the New Year here, the first family plans to travel farther south to the Virgin Islands for a few days of fun and relaxation in the Caribbean sun.

Buddy stole the show when the Clintons landed in South Carolina at Beaufort Marine Corps base. He was carried down the gangway by the president himself. Clinton then walked him around the airstrip with a red leash emblazoned with the words: “I’m the one in charge.”

Buddy proved that claim by first dragging the president across the tarmac to get to some grass, and later by balking about climbing aboard Marine One, the president’s helicopter.

The crowds who had gathered at the airport to greet the first family were thrilled by the appearance of the presidential pup.

Conspicuously absent from the family vacation was Socks, the Clintons’ cat. The president conceded that Socks and Buddy are not yet the best of friends. But the president promised to attack the problem in his famous wonky fashion.

“I still haven’t reconciled him with Socks yet, but I’m working on it,” he said. “When I get back, it’s my first project.”

Phil Lader, co-founder of the Renaissance event and the U.S. ambassador to Britain, gave the president an official name tag for the pup, colored blue to indicate that he was a first-time guest.

Although he seemed cheered by the outing, Clinton lamented the changes that have taken place in Renaissance over the years. The gathering has swelled dramatically--from 60 families to 500--since it was first held 16 years ago.

In the old days, he reminisced, “it was an amazing experience” because it was small enough that the whole group could do things together. Now, he said, “it’s way too big.”

Renaissance is tailor-made for the president because it gives him a concentrated opportunity to do two of his favorite things--socialize and play golf.

“You get to talk to people about things they do with their lives,” he said.

Other guests included leaders in many sectors of the economy and society, religious and political leaders, Nobel prize-winning scientists, philanthropists and business executives.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Dr. Joyce Brothers were there, as were former Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh and Education Secretary--and former governor of South Carolina--Richard W. Riley.

The participants are attending sessions on subjects ranging from “morals, manners and shame in today’s pop culture” and global warming to “what my spouse is wrong about (3 minutes maximum for your own good!).”

The Clintons decided to combine their trip to Renaissance with a return visit to the Virgin Islands, as they did last year, because they liked following a visit with old friends with kicking back and enjoying some time among the three of them, said Joe Lockhart, a White House spokesman.

But of course this year it will be the four of them, since Buddy has joined the first family.