WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 -- President Clinton briefly interrupted his Thanksgiving holiday weekend at Camp David Friday with a quick trip tothe White House to gather data he wants to study in planning his second inauguration and then returned to the mountaintop retreat. The president returned to the Executive Mansion with his wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea, 16. Along with him was Hollywood producer Harry Thomasson, who with his wife Linda Bloodworth Thomasson, a prominent sitcom writer, spent Thanksgiving Day with the Clinton clan at the mountaintop retreat. Clinton conferred with Thomasson in the Oval Office on his return and discussed preliminary plans for the inaugural on Jan. 20, including choosing a poem he will have read at his second swearing in as president. The Thomassons played a prominent role in writing the script for his first inauguration in 1993. The president, still suffering from a raspy voice, and ordered by his doctor to rest his vocal chords, carried a briefcase as he strolled to the waiting helicopter to return to Camp David. He wore a leather jacket and was followed by an aide carrying a huge box of inaugural papers. But before plunging into further study, Clinton arranged to take time out to play golf with Hillary's brothers at a course near Camp David. The first lady and Chelsea did not return to the presidential hideaway with him. Mrs. Clinton had the Christmas decoration of the White House to supervise as it got underway Friday and Chelsea had to attend a rehearsal for her performance in the Washington Ballet's annual Christmas performance of 'The Nutcracker Suite.'
In addition, an aide said Mrs. Clinton had to prepare for her trip to Bolivia Monday afternoon where she will attend the annual meeting of the first ladies of the Americas. Before she departs, she will host a press preview of the White House Christmas decorations. The president arranged to deliver his weekly Saturday radio address from Camp David. White House press secretary Mike McCurry said the subject would be: 'Thanksgiving.' Clinton plans to return to the White House on Sunday, and will face a busy week ahead as he makes important decisions on the make up of his next national security team. Clinton took a binder of recommendations with him to Camp David on possible Cabinet appointments prepared by his transition team. Most of the interest centered on who he would pick to succeed Secretary of State Warren Christopher who is leaving the Cabinet. The president wants to have his chief diplomatic and military advisers on deck before Christmas, and the entire new Cabinet selected by Inauguration Day. On the social side, next week the President and Mrs. Clinton will begin a series of nightly Christmas parties leading up to the holiday. The Clintons, in keeping with tradition, will spend Christmas in the White House.
