WASHINGTON: It was not your usual night at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Saturday, with the White House lit up pumpkin-orange and thousands of little ghosts and goblins trick-or-treating the president of the United States.Barack Obama's first Halloween as president saw him dishing out candy and pastries baked by his chef to many of the estimated 2,000 children -- many in elaborate costumes -- from 11 area schools on the north portico of the White House, as some of his top staff stepped into frightful or fuzzy character.First Lady Michelle Obama by his side -- playing her part as a purring Cat Woman clad in an orange-and-black leopard print top, fuzzy ears and black eyeshadow -- Obama stayed in more presidential character, wearing slacks, a chequered shirt and a black sweater.Obama was heard wishing several of the children -- most ages six to 14 -- a simple "Happy Halloween" as he doled out packets of candy and dried fruit bearing the presidential seal, while one toddler burst out crying in his father's arms when he saw the president.A member of Obama's cabinet, Susan Rice, took the opportunity to stray from her ultra-serious role as US ambassador to the United Nations by dressing up as the Disney character Goofy.And assuming what many would consider -- or at least hope -- a darker role than his usual job in the Obama administration, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs suited up as Darth Vader from the movie "Star Wars."There was no immediate word on who was dressed as the film's Wookie character Chewbacca, or the Stormtrooper, both of whom stood near Obama as he greeted trick-or-treaters.Casting about the north lawn was a band of musicians in black and white "skeleton" leotards, walking "trees" on stilts and a pair of human butterflies inside giant rolling bubbles.Far more stationary was a trio of giant pumpkins, each weighing about 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms).But other than the unnerving sight of a massive black spider hanging from the mansion, the spirit was far more frolicsome than frightful, more treat than trick.Obama moved from the portico to the large East Room, where he hosted a few hundred military families and handed out more packets of candy to children, whom he warned about some of the large and potentially intimidating characters they might encounter in the mansion."Some of them are pretty big and scary," he quipped.But he also took a moment to address the families of the legions who have served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and beyond, saying "we are so grateful to you."After thanking staffers and their children, the first lady chimed in: "They're so cute!""They're adorable," the president added, "as is, by the way, my wife, a very nice-looking Cat Woman."
WASHINGTON: It was not your usual night at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Saturday, with the White House lit up pumpkin-orange and thousands of little ghosts and goblins trick-or-treating the president of the United States.Barack Obama's first Halloween as president saw him dishing out candy and pastries baked by his chef to many of the estimated 2,000 children -- many in elaborate costumes -- from 11 area schools on the north portico of the White House, as some of his top staff stepped into frightful or fuzzy character.First Lady Michelle Obama by his side -- playing her part as a purring Cat Woman clad in an orange-and-black leopard print top, fuzzy ears and black eyeshadow -- Obama stayed in more presidential character, wearing slacks, a chequered shirt and a black sweater.Obama was heard wishing several of the children -- most ages six to 14 -- a simple "Happy Halloween" as he doled out packets of candy and dried fruit bearing the presidential seal, while one toddler burst out crying in his father's arms when he saw the president.A member of Obama's cabinet, Susan Rice, took the opportunity to stray from her ultra-serious role as US ambassador to the United Nations by dressing up as the Disney character Goofy.And assuming what many would consider -- or at least hope -- a darker role than his usual job in the Obama administration, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs suited up as Darth Vader from the movie "Star Wars."There was no immediate word on who was dressed as the film's Wookie character Chewbacca, or the Stormtrooper, both of whom stood near Obama as he greeted trick-or-treaters.Casting about the north lawn was a band of musicians in black and white "skeleton" leotards, walking "trees" on stilts and a pair of human butterflies inside giant rolling bubbles.Far more stationary was a trio of giant pumpkins, each weighing about 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms).But other than the unnerving sight of a massive black spider hanging from the mansion, the spirit was far more frolicsome than frightful, more treat than trick.Obama moved from the portico to the large East Room, where he hosted a few hundred military families and handed out more packets of candy to children, whom he warned about some of the large and potentially intimidating characters they might encounter in the mansion."Some of them are pretty big and scary," he quipped.But he also took a moment to address the families of the legions who have served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and beyond, saying "we are so grateful to you."After thanking staffers and their children, the first lady chimed in: "They're so cute!""They're adorable," the president added, "as is, by the way, my wife, a very nice-looking Cat Woman."
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