WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The White House on Tuesday defended the cancellation of its annual Christmas tours to the public and dismissed suggestions it sent a mixed message to the American people about returning to their normal routines.
"It's a fact that the president regrets very much, but unfortunately, and the president noted this last night, evil does not take time off for the holidays," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "The nation still is at terrorist threat and the White House is a target of terrorist activities, of course. And therefore, the same precautions that have been put in place since the (Sept.) 11th remain in place."
The suspension of public tours inside the executive mansion following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will remain in effect during the holidays. Fleischer said the cancellation was recommended by the Secret Service, which is charged with protecting the president and the White House complex.
Fleischer emphasized the move was not inconsistent with the administration's long-standing position that Americans should return to their normal routines following the Sept. 11 attacks that killed some 4,000 people. He said it would be difficult to prescreen visitors into what President Bush has commonly referred to as "the people's house."
Fleischer said Bush had emphasized the need to balance everyday life and the terrorist threat.
"The American people do understand the importance of going back to their daily lives, their normal routines, while at the same time being on a heightened state of alert," he said.
He said the public was aware the White House and other federal facilities were under heightened security since Sept. 11.
Since the attacks, the administration has appealed to Americans to return to their usual routines.
Presidential counselor Karen Hughes and Peggy Conlon, president and chief executive officer of the Ad Council, met with reporters to promote public service announcements filmed by Bush and the first lady promoting charitable giving and tourism.
The travel industry also asked the Bushes to appear in announcements aimed at bolstering tourism, which has been hit after the attacks. The ads were filmed at the couple's Crawford, Texas, ranch.
Hughes said she saw no contradiction in the message from the administration to travel despite the suspension of the White House tours.
"In fact, we encourage people from around the world to enjoy and visit America. Unfortunately, we are a nation at war, and as we know, evil respects no holidays and no holy days, as the president said last night," Hughes said. "And so, unfortunately, we are taking additional security precautions, both here at the White House and on our airlines."
Still, first lady Laura Bush is overseeing the decoration of the mansion for the holiday season in the theme she chose in July. This year, aides said, the theme is "Home for the Holidays" with replicas of 18 first family homes that were designed, built and decorated by White House staff.
Fleischer said some members of the public would get an opportunity to tour the mansion, but acknowledged they would be a finite number of invited guests such as police officers and firefighters who will be prescreened.
What those invited guests will see are replicas of past presidential homes from the original home plans. The 18 homes will be on display on mantels and pier tables throughout the White House and at the White House Visitor Center.
Additionally, a gingerbread house that recreates how the White House looked in 1800 when John Adams became its first resident will be the centerpiece in the State Dining Room. The house is made from 80 pounds of gingerbread, 30 pounds of chocolate and 20 pounds of marzipan.
And as is tradition, the official White House Christmas tree will stand in the Blue Room. This year's tree is an 18-foot Concolor fir, grown in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania. The fir has soft silvery-blue foliage with a distinctive citrus aroma. Artists from all 50 states and the District of Columbia designed miniature replicas of historic houses from their regions.
