Crowded Holidays

The President, like many another U.S. citizen, crowded his days last week with pleasant holiday duties, deep attention to annual ritual and as much time as he could get with his kinfolk. For the 7,500 people gathered near the south White House lawn to watch the Christmas tree lighting, Ike had a word that he hoped would be heard across the seas: "I again give my solemn word on behalf of the American people to all the peoples of the world: that the people of the U.S. and their Government do not want war. The U.S. has pledged its national honor to work for peace. For us this pledge is no less than a sacred obligation. It is freely--but not lightly--given to the nations of the world." Then he touched a switch, and 7,000 lights spangled a 74-ft. spruce. Said he: "To all peoples--a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

There was one other pleasant chore for the President before he drove to his Gettysburg farm to spend the New Year holiday: the presidential gift to 1,100 White House employes, including the crew of the Columbine III, naval personnel from Camp David, motor-pool mechanics and servicemen who guard the presidential helicopter. Assembling at the White House, each staffer received a print of a new Eisenhower oil painting titled Deserted Barn--a weathered red barn with a ragged hole in the roof and a rusty old pump and a small wagon standing in a weed-rank yard. The President, explained Press Secretary Hagerty, painted it from his own imagination and memory.

Less than 30 minutes after his arrival at Gettysburg, Ike was settled in a comfortable chair on his heated, glass-enclosed porch facing out upon the battlefield. Then he went to work on the papers that lay before him--the draft of the State of the Union message to be delivered next week, and a preliminary draft of the presidential budget message to be delivered shortly thereafter.

At week's end he left off working on his messages, took his only grandson, David, 10, in tow and drove into town. Accompanied by Secret Service guards, Ike and the boy marched into a couple of shops, where the President explained that David was ill-prepared for Gettysburg's below-freezing weather, came out with a couple of brand-new outfits: insulated boots ($14.95), plaid wool shirt ($2.95), corduroy trousers ($4.95), knee-length wool socks ($1.50), single-breasted, charcoal, Ivy League-style suit ($27.50), and grey slacks ($8.95). Ike paid the $60.80 bill (plus sales tax) in crisp new currency and drove home.

Back at the farm, David bundled up in his new outdoor outfit, added a Davy Crockett hat (with tail) and a .410 shotgun, joined his genial grandfather in the fields for a brief try at rabbit hunting. All the rabbits got clean away, without a shot fired.

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