When I’m 61
As he does every year, President Bush has invited some guests to keep him company when he and Laura watch the fireworks from the South Lawn tonight.
This year’s guests, according to a spokeswoman, include White House staff and their families, Cabinet members and their families, and several patients and their families from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center.
This year’s festivities also will function as an early birthday present for the commander in chief. The president turns 61 on Friday, and he and Mrs. Bush will host close family and friends to celebrate the occasion.
One group that won’t be joining them: members of the press corps. White House reporters were among the chosen few last year (they got printed invitations and everything), but this year they weren’t invited, so they’ll have to entertain themselves in their new briefing room and workspace.
“Since September 11, he’s invited different groups each year,” said ABC’s Ann Compton, incoming president of the White House Correspondents Association. The press’s only invitation came last year, said Compton, who “figured at the time it would be the last for us. What the heck — fireworks are better with beer and wine anyway.”
Reporters are divided on the issue. “People are very upset because this is not about the media — its about our families,” one White House reporter said. “The kids get very excited about getting to go.”
But another reporter said it wasn’t a big deal. “We’ll survive,” the reporter said.
