Bush Heads Back to Texas Ranch for Long Holiday

President Bush continued his Christmas holiday Thursday with a change in venue, flying to his ranch in Central Texas after spending five days at Camp David, Md.

The president arrived at midday for what aides said would be a 10-day visit spent largely out of public view, with a minimum of official visitors and, if his New Year’s holiday last year is any guide, a low-key schedule of family time and visits from friends.

Bush, his wife, Laura, and their 21-year-old twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, spent Christmas Day at the snow-crusted presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountains on Maryland’s border with Pennsylvania. They were joined by the president’s parents, former President Bush and his wife, Barbara; the president’s mother-in-law, Jenna Welch; his sister and two of his brothers. Of the siblings, only Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida, was absent.

On Thursday, the family went in different directions, with the former president and his wife heading for a three-night cruise from Port Canaveral, Fla., to the Bahamas with son Jeb Bush and several other family members.

The holiday trip to the ranch near Crawford is the president’s 10th visit here this year.

Bush purchased the 1,600-acre property about six miles outside this crossroads town shortly before becoming president nearly two years ago.

Bush stepped off Air Force One at the Texas State Technical College airstrip in Waco, with the active Barney, his Scottish terrier, tucked firmly under his arm. The more reserved Spot, an English springer spaniel, scampered down the steps from the plane on her own.

They all headed quickly to the Marine One helicopter for the roughly 30-mile flight to the ranch.

The president, who flew through the autumn at a frenetic pace campaigning for Republican candidates in the midterm elections, has slowed down considerably in December. His attention has turned largely toward a proposal to move up scheduled tax cuts to stimulate the economy, the looming possibility of war with Iraq and, now, tensions brought on by North Korea’s move to revitalize its nuclear program.

He spoke on none of those subjects in any public setting Thursday.

Also, a trip to Africa he planned during the second week of January -- which would have taken him out of Washington for three weeks out of four -- has been postponed.