President Clinton crossed some more items off his Christmas gift list on Saturday when he cruised the shopping mall at historic Union Station.
A few tight-lipped shopping clerks tried to preserve the secret of the presidential purchases for Christmas morning, but others were only too happy to reveal his haul.Clinton whipped out cash and credit cards along the way to purchase, among other things, a black velvet hat from The Propper Topper, tea bags, two picture frames, a lollipop, shortbread cookies, a necklace of African amber, lapis, red coral and silver, and other pieces of jewelry.
Washingtonians surprised to have the "first shopper" in their midst gawked and gathered round wherever Clinton went, a few breaking into spontaneous caroling to sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
But the scene was far less hectic than last Monday in Manhattan, when Clinton went shopping at Rockefeller Center and wandered into Saks Fifth Avenue.
On Saturday, Clinton made several purchases at Appalachian Spring, which sells American handicrafts, but owner Polly Brooks refused to divulge any details.
"I think he's entitled to his privacy," she said.
Apparently, Clinton shared those sentiments. At several points, he turned his back to try to shield prying eyes from his purchases.
At Circle of One, clerk Ann Harding said the president purchased some jewelry but would reveal no more.
"We were asked not to tell, in case it was surprise for Christmas," she said.
Clinton's shopping companions were Associate Attorney General Webb Hubbell and White House correspondence director Marsha Scott, two longtime friends of the president's from Arkansas.