WASHINGTON -- With just a hint of melancholy in his voice, President Clinton on Monday kicked off his final Easter egg roll to the cheers of 30,000 children scampering across the South Lawn.
Clinton, who wore a tie decorated with colored eggs for the event, shook hands with a life-sized Easter bunny, said a few words to the crowd and then officially started the egg roll."Are they ready over there?" Clinton asked. "Wave your hand if you're ready. All right, on your mark, get set . . . ."
He blew a whistle, laughed and then pumped a fist into the air.
He shared the whistle-blowing job this year with master of ceremonies, Bernie Fairbanks, who has been attending White House egg rolls since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. The two blew whistles together.
Children, dressed in their Sunday best, tried their best to get a glimpse of the president and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and shake the president's hand. Fathers hoisted toddlers on their shoulders.
"I would say, 'Nice to meet you, Mr. President,"' said Sarah Williams, 7, who traveled from Pleasanton, Calif., to attend the egg roll. "I would tell him that I know a friend named Chelsea. She's in my Brownie class."
Mary Claire Veirs of Bethesda, Md., said it wasn't hard for her to get her sons, Colby and Hunter, up this morning to get to the egg roll. Their sleep patterns are still on European time.
"We were in England last week. We've come from Buckingham Palace to the White House," she said.
The White house dyed 7,200 hard-boiled eggs for the egg roll. Another 2,500 eggs are cooked for children to decorate. Also, 20,000 souvenir wooden eggs, printed with the signatures of the president and first lady, were distributed at the event.