2009 White House Easter Egg Party – change you can roll
By By Dave Cook | 04.13.09
Barack and Michelle Obama, echoing their campaign theme, brought change to the White House Easter Egg Roll.
The celebratory innovations at an event that dates to 1878 included:
• Distributing tickets online. That made for more inclusive festivities since families around the country could land tickets. In the past, tickets were distributed in Washington which put a premium on proximity. The White House says families from as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, and California will attend this year.
• Focusing on education. The theme of the event is “let’s go play.” The activities at the event are designed to “teach children about the fun ways to exercise your body and mind” a White House fact sheet said. They include healthy eating demonstrations, live musical performances, as well as dance and yoga workshops.
A White House press release also claimed that “this is the first time the activities at the White House Easter Egg Roll have been broadcast online.” Turns out that was an exaggeration. The Monitor’s online editor, Jimmy Orr, directed the website in the Bush White House and reports that Bush-era Easter Egg festivities were also webcasted live.
In any case, the Obama White House web site is offering four separate video feeds of the event at www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll.
The Easter Egg Roll is a massive logistical undertaking. Some 30,000 guests are expected. They will be broken into five groups which each will get to spend two hours at the White House.
The greenest eggs
Kids age 10 and under will get a colorful wooden souvenir egg signed by the President and First Lady. Lest you worry about the trees that gave their lives for the eggs, the White House assures that the eggs are made in the US from “environmentally and socially sustainable managed forests.” The Obama press shop claims the souvenir egg is the greenest in history. Here’s a link to it.
Those over age ten or who could not attend the festivities in Washington are being offered the chance to buy one of the eggs on line at https://www.nationalparks.org/about/store/products/.
The power of kids
According to official Easter Egg Roll history, First Lady Dolly Madison joined local Washington children to roll eggs at the Capitol in 1814. In subsequent years, eggs rolls made such a mess that in 1876 Congress passed the Turf Protection Law banning the use of the Capitol lawn as a playground. In 1877, the weather on Easter was bad. But in 1878, children gathered at the White House gates until President Rutherford Hayes invited them in for an egg roll. The White House Easter Egg Roll has taken place every year since. During World Wars I and II and during the White House renovation the event was held on the National Mall.
Most egg rollers do not end up moving in at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But in 1927, future first lady Nancy Reagan attended the festivities. First Ladies are the official hosts of the Easter Egg Rolls and Mrs. Reagan hosted eight of them when she and her husband lived at the White House.
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2. Ward Kelly | 04.13.09
I am curious what “environmentally and socially sustainable managed forests” look like?
If there are drunken Hobbits running around with Bilbo Baggins, then maybe it would shed light on the logic of the Obama Administration’s radical environmental policies.
3. Andy B | 04.13.09
What a great, feel good story. Keep it up President Obama! You are a real breath of fresh air!
4. Elaine Cornett | 04.13.09
Arlington County Public Schools announced with great excitement the distribution of Easter egg roll tickets to several of the county’s schools as part of the effort to make this the most diverse group of kids to participate in history. As the parent of a child with disabilities, it is my sincere wish that this effort to achieve diversity was fully inclusive, and brought in the kids that may not be as colorfully photogenic as others. When I look at the news reports, I hope to see a few canes, walkers, wheelchairs and kids with the indicators of Downs syndrome, autism and other challenges out there in the mix of able bodied and neuro-typical kids. We are a quiet population, the parents and families of kids with disabilities, but we do notice the void whenever it occurs. Thank you.
5. Beth | 04.13.09
Well, I just got back from the event and it was a logistical nightmare. We were supposed to be in line at 10:30 for our 11:30 entrance. We were. We did get through the first phase of getting wrist bands and then the security check fairly well. Then the nightmare began. We stood for an hour and did not get onto the lawn until 12:30 and then booted off at 1:20. So much for the 2 hours we thought we would be there. Some breath of fresh air…not impressed….
6. twilliam | 04.13.09
I know I feel great; except for darned old economy thing and those hilarious rascally old somalian pirates. Too bad we live in a racist counntry that our President has to go oversees to apologize for arrogant Easter Egg Rolls. We must really apologize to the Moslem community for celebrating such a horrible event like Easter.
7. MIKE Army guy | 04.13.09
I too was in the NUT roll of waiting on the Ellipse at 1030-1130 waiting for hours to get into South Lawn. Then having to leave at 130. Literally being forced out. It was sooo crowded that we could not even move. I think the funniest best part was the Secret Service dance party thing that was happening while we waited to get through the gates. I didn’t know the Secret service did a dance party…
8. Logistical nightmare | 04.14.09
We attended too and agree with Beth’s comment. The event was a logistical nightmare. In years past, participants could make choices on their own. The change this year was for the White House to herd everyone into groups and have handlers corral them around; most of the time standing around and waiting. I don’t know if change was necessary for this element of the administration.
9. Disappointment! | 04.14.09
This change was not a change for the good. What a nightmare! Hours and hours of waiting in line, and only 45 minutes left to “enjoy” the festivities. Basically what we got when we got inside was more lines. No fun.
10. Me | 04.15.09
Change is great. You know like when cable goes up, your tv show is cancelled or you lose your job.
They are like breath of fresh air, or wait in the car in winter is more like it.
11. Big Johnson | 04.17.09
I attended this chaotic event as well. No organization, zero guidance and way too many people for the small space. At least my daughter got a good hot dog from the vendor on Pennsylvania Ave.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. nell post | 04.13.09
How wonderful to have the Obamas in charge! Great day and much happiness!