Hillary wants to savor White House 24 hours a day

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Their White House days dwindling down to a precious few, Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that she and her husband President Clinton want to stay awake day and night to savor ever last minute.

"We're trying to stay awake 24 hours a day so that we can relish every single minute," Mrs. Clinton told reporters as she took delivery of the White House Christmas tree, an annual ritual that she was taking part in for the last time.

"My husband has a head start on that. ... He often stays awake long hours but I am quickly catching up," she added, standing in front of a horse-drawn wagon bearing the 18-foot tree that will grace the White House's Blue Room.

The Clintons will move out of the grand executive mansion, which this year marked its bicentennial, on Jan. 20, when the next U.S. president -- whether Texas Gov. George W. Bush or Vice President Al Gore -- moves in on Inauguration Day.

Mrs. Clinton, who made history this month by becoming the first U.S. first lady to win election to the U.S. Senate, said she will miss all the Christmas revelry at the White House.

But, as a senator representing New York state, she hopes to return.

"I'm going to miss being part of that celebration," she said. "I hope to come back for the congressional ball next year and see the White House again in all of its finery."

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