Security around the White House is always ramped up a notch or two or three whenever the prime minister of Israel comes to town, and such was the case today at the White House. At 2:50 this afternoon a secret service uniformed officer came to our temporary office at 12 Jackson Place and told us we had to evacuate. And, is often the case, they didn't tell us why, except they were examining a suspicious vehicle. So we put everything down, quickly strode down two flights of stairs and out in the 90 degree plus heat. Downtown traffic around the White house ground to a halt, and muttering members of the White House press corps tried to get some information to no avail for more than an hour and 25 minutes. Only then did we got a call back from the Secret Service with an explanation. The suspicious vehicle was a mini-van belonging to none other than the Israeli delegation. As it turned to enter the White House complex a bomb sniffing dog "hit" on it. Nobody is saying why, but the probable explanation is that at one point the van carried something that probably that contained chemical used in explosives. The "incident" was over at 4:15. Traffic returned to normal and we trudged back to our workspace.

Today was one of those rare Washington, D.C. days. This is a city that doesn't usually have a cloudless sky -- it's often either too hot or too cold -- but that was the backdrop as the Queen came to the White House and took part in an arrival ceremony that outdid other arrival ceremonies for heads of state. It's easy to get jaded in the White House press corps by all these events, but not this one. The audience was huge -- 7,000 men, women and children waving American and British flags and soaking up all the pomp and ceremony.

The President and the Queen reviewed representatives from all the U.S. armed forces who stood at attention on the South Lawn and later heard from the Old Guard Fife and Drum corps.

But one of the highlights at this morning's ceremony was not planned -- a malaprop. In his remarks, the president referred to ties between the U.K. and U.S.: "The American people are proud to welcome Your Majesty back to the United States, a nation you've come to know very well. After all, you've dined with ten U.S. presidents. You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 -- in 1976. (Pause for laughter) She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."

Tonight there's an elaborate state dinner with 134 VIPs who will be seated in the State Dining Room. Included in the U.S. delegation will be the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney, Secretary Rice, Secretary and Mrs. Gates, and General and Mrs. Pace. A member of the Bush Administration will serve as the table host at each of the 13 tables. Members of the British delegation will be seated throughout the room. Traditionally, couples are seated at different tables.

This will be a very fancy event. Attire is white tie -- the first time for this White House. President Clinton hosted three such events for leaders of Japan and Spain and on New Year's Eve in 1999 and President Reagan's inaugural balls in 1981 were also white tie.

Mrs. Bush planned the dinner menu with her Social Secretary Amy Zantzinger, Executive Chef Cristeta "Cris" Comerford and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses. The menu won't be released until 2:30 p.m. EDT, but we're told it will feature five courses: Appetizer/Soup, Fish, Meat, Salad and Dessert. I'll post the details shortly for all the foodies out there.

Or as we say in White House briefing room, "Who's in the first row?" By tradition, first row occupants have been members of the television networks and the wire services. But when United Press International (UPI) went belly up several years ago, its prime reporter, the dean of the White House press corps, Helen Thomas, stayed on in the front row. Now, there are rumblings that the White House Correspondents Association (which controls the seating arrangement) wants to take her front row perch away.

All this supposedly will happen when the press corps moves into its new digs in late spring.

Today, long-time briefing attendee Lester Kinsolving, who's known for his off-beat questions, posed this question to Press Secretary Tony Snow:

(Briefing transcript provided by the White House)
Kinsolving: Last night, CNN featured the president of the White House Correspondents Association saying of Helen Thomas: 'We love her, and we'll take care of her.' But CNN also reported that in order to accommodate one more network in row one, Helen, our senior-to-all colleague, is to be relegated to row two when we move back into the White House press room. And my question: Assuming that CNN is accurate, how can you allow this dean of our corps, senior veteran and undeniably colorful character to be back-seated as has been done to her at presidential press conferences? (Laughter) And what does this say about Bush-Snow treatment of senior citizens, who wonder how you and the president can allow a network such ageist favoritism over a veteran?
Snow: Number one, of course we love Helen. Number two, the White House does not make decisions about where people sit, so you can address that to the Correspondents' Association. And number three, regardless of the seating arrangement, you'll still be looking at the back of her head. (Laughter)
Kinsolving: Why do you allow this? Why do you and the president allow this discrimination against a senior citizen, who is our senior reporter? 
Helen Thomas: I don't need a defender, thank you very much.

Now, to other news at the White House...

The East Room of the White House was packed. A retired Army Lt. Col. stood at attention in his dress uniform adorned with ribbons and medals. As he gazed out at the audience he could see men in business suits sitting up front -- wearing around their necks Medals of Honor. He would soon be joining them. Bruce Crandall was more than a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. He was a hero.

There was the ceremonial "Hail to the Chief" as President Bush briskly walked in. The president spoke and told the tale of the heroics from that day in 1965 when Bruce Crandall's Assault Helicopter Battalion was pinned down by two North Vietnamese regiments. Men were wounded and some died. It looked like a massacre. But Crandall, along with Capt. Ed Freeman and no armament on their helicopter, bravely made run after run after run -- during 14 hours of flying time, they rescued 70 men. Freeman received the Medal of Honor in 2001.

Photo caption: President Bush awards the Medal of Honor to Bruce Crandall of Manchester, Wash., during a ceremony in the East Room of the White house today. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

The East Room is used for many events; news conferences, presentation of health plans, energy proposals, and introductions of sports teams who have won world championships.

But today was different. It was a reminder that there are East Room events and then there are EAST ROOM events. This was something special, as correspondent Bob Faw will show you tonight on the broadcast. 

Heady issues at today's White house briefing by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto. Reaction to Iran's nuclear activities, the Senate's possible vote on reauthorizing funding for U.S. troops in Iraq, North Korea, and VP Cheney's comments on Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.

But what amused reporters most was the back-and-forth about the Oscars. No presidential picks today, but a little insight into what he's seen.

Question: What are the President's Oscar picks? And has he screened any of the films? (Laughter.)
Fratto: But you're not interested in whether I've screened them, or my views on them?
Question: ...the President of the United States, for whom you are the assistant and...
Fratto: And film critic.
Question: Has he seen any...?
Fratto: He has. He has. He has seen -- I think for certain he has seen -- of the pictures nominated for best picture, he has seen "The Queen." He has seen "Letters from Iwo Jima." And not nominated for best picture, but a great picture, is "Last King of Scotland," which he saw also. So I'm not sure what else he might have seen.
Question: He saw "Amazing Grace," didn't he?
Fratto: Oh, yes. That was screened here...
Question: Does he agree with...?
Fratto: He doesn't share those with me.

So will President Bush watch Sunday night? No, he's hosting a big gala at the White House with the nation's governors. He can always catch the winners the next morning on the TODAY show.

So we're in the middle of our morning briefing known as a "gaggle" when there's an abrupt interruption. "We have to evacuate," is the word. A dog has tested positive on a vehicle not far from our temporary quarters just off the White House grounds. So we quickly exit and huddle in the cold in front of the New Executive Office Building. Ever since the "real deal," when we were moved on 9/11, there's more seriousness given to these events. There was the usual banter and camaraderie outside, but still in the pit of your stomach you never know. This time maybe it was some residue left in a or a dog having a bad day, but for 40 minutes, we didn't know for sure -- until the "all clear."

That's how it is these days.

Christmas is in the air here at the White House. There is no gaggle today, there is no briefing. All is calm, all is bright. President Bush has an empty public schedule, which would give the outward appearance that there is hardly a soul stirring. But nothing could be further from the truth.

With decisions soon to be made by the President on what direction to take the war in Iraq and whether to expand the Army and Marine Corps, there is very much happening here. But it's all very private as the President attempts to map out a strategy for victory that will play out well with his generals, the Congress and the American public. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will soon be back from Iraq to give the President his candid assessment on what needs to be done to get the job done.

Also in the not so distant future is the trial of Vice President Dick Cheney's former aide Scooter Libby -- scheduled to start in the middle of January. Libby, you might remember, is charged with perjury and obstruction after allegedly lying to an FBI agent and a grand jury investigating who outed Valerie Plame as a CIA agent.

And tomorrow, Friday, before the President and first lady depart for a Christmas holiday at Camp David -- a somber visit by them to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Silver Spring, Md., to visit veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's always an emotional visit for the First Family and a reminder of wars not finished.

The serenity of Camp David, with logs crackling away in its fireplaces and gentle walks in the woods, is a perfect Currier & Ives illustration for the front of a Christmas card. But what to write inside is a little more complicated.   

As Air Force One heads back to the U.S. after President Bush's meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, there was another side of the White House on display today. It involved chicken fried steak with white onion gravy, herb roasted lollipop lamb chops, asparagus in an aioli sauce and much more.

This marks the annual beginning of the holiday season at the White House. So the first lady brought along the chief florist, the greeting card decorators, the invitation designers and the chefs. The purpose: to introduce holiday themes and food, of course, to the members of the salivating press corps who were not on the trip. All this at 10:30 this morning.

There will be 25 White House holiday receptions this year and someone had to sample the food, so why not the media? Besides the items already mentioned were other entrees such as stuffed turkey breasts and sugar cured Virginia Ham. Desserts included chocolate truffles, Christmas log and red hat box mascarpone cake. The Christmas theme resonated along the State Floor corridors. A trio of Marine musicians played holiday music.

The decorations this year were inspired by the Red Room. The White House holiday program says: "It is difficult to imagine the gravity of Christmas 1941. Just a few weeks earlier Imperial Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor, drawing the United States into the Second World War." And since the president's traditional lighting of the Christmas Tree was a possible air raid target, the Secret Service asked President Roosevelt to cancel the ceremony.

This being Washington, there was a compromise -- the tree lighting was moved to the south grounds. The Red Room is near the south balcony, where in 1941 President Roosevelt and visiting Winston Churchill addressed 15,000 people who had gathered in the darkness.

Today, first lady Laura Bush was asked what her message was to families of military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. She acknowledged that there was a big burden on their shoulders and said the nation was grateful for their service. "The families bear the deep burden of worry over the holidays and the American people stand with them."

Another season of contrasts...

Chris Botek and his parents, Francis and Margaret Botek, of Crystal Spring Tree Farm present first lady Laura Bush with the National Christmas Tree. The Botek's children and grandchildren are riding in the back of the cart with the tree. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

There is a rhythm in Washington as November slowly becomes December, and that rhythm is perpetuated by annual holiday events. Today at the White House a horse drawn wagon plodded up the northwest driveway and delivered for the Christmas season a 18 1/2 ft. Douglas fir that will sit in the White House Blue Room. Welcoming the wagon was first lady Laura Bush and White House staffers who will begin decorating the tree later today.

Similarly, the tree that will sit on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol was also delivered today, a half hour before the one for the White House -- not that there's any significance there. The Capitol tree, however -- is grander -- a 65-foot Douglas fir that was trucked in from the National Forest on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. It comes complete with 10,000 lights and 3,000 ornaments.

And soon there will be a third tree -- supposedly the grandest of all -- the National Christmas Tree. It will be lit Dec. 7 on the Ellipse, south of the White House grounds. The president and the first lady will do the honors, illuminating the tree for this year's Pageant of Peace.

So in a city of monuments and memorials, every December brings holiday trees that embrace a common theme -- peace... a theme worth noting as 2006 draws to an end.

We heard the sounds of silence today, 9/11/2006, on the White House South Lawn... a marked contrast to the cacophony here five years ago. On that day, cooks, policy makers and grounds keepers were streaming away from the White House as fast as possible because they knew that the evacuation was for real. Not only had two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, but another had hit the Pentagon... and there were rumors that a fourth was heading for Washington and the White House might be the target.

For those of us at the White House that day who remember every millisecond of what occurred, today's dreary Monday in Washington has a special poignancy. In 2001, as we moved with warp speed off the White House grounds, I looked airborne and above the White House no higher than a couple of thousand feet was an unmarked 747 jumbo jet making lazy circles. Many of us on the ground feared the worst; that this might be another plane ready to attack, but it turned out it was an Air Force command and control plane sent into the sky to monitor conditions.

We were quickly ushered into the streets. Trying to cover the story -- becoming a part of the chaotic scene -- was like something right out of a science fiction movie. In the midst of the madness, I ran into a close friend who was a reporter for Knight Ridder. We embraced, talked about our sons and for a moment forgot that we were journalists and remembered we were soccer dads with families.

Other vivid memories of that day five years ago: An angry crowd's confrontation with a bicycle courier who was praising the attacks; walking for blocks from a temporary press operation to yet another set up a distance away at FBI headquarters. By then the streets were empty -- nothing except for an occasional wisp of wind blowing paper down the middle of the street. By evening, with President Bush back in Washington, we were allowed back inside the White House. As we waited for the president to speak, there was a press briefing in the office of Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. I peered out a side door and saw an ashen-faced Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta talking on the telephone. He had already ordered all commercial air traffic grounded.

Today,  Vice President Dick Cheney, along with current and former cabinet officials who were here five years ago, stood together with heads bowed in silence as Taps were played by a lone Marine bugler. Like a perfect coda to the bugler, the next sound we heard was a commercial jet flying from nearby Reagan National Airport through the low clouds to some distant location -- a reminder that as we seek normalcy in the post 9/11 world, the very word normalcy means something far different than it did five years ago.

So we're neatly moved into our new digs at the White House Conference Center across the street from the White House. The booths and furniture are squeaky clean -- give it a week or so though - the space is a millimeter or so larger than our previous home, but there are some problems.

The briefing room where Press Secretary Tony Snow does his daily session with reporters is slightly bigger, but acoustically it's noisier. So today -- twice during his Q&A -- Snow abruptly stopped in mid-sentence, gazed to the back of the room toward the area where camera crews are positioned, and above the banter asked, "Guys, can you hold it down?"

Nothing was said about points off for lack of class participation.

President Bush waves after starting the engine on a Harley while touring Harley Davidson Vehicle Operations in York, Pa. The man applauding, right, is Harley Davidson President and CEO Jim Ziemer. Photo by Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS.

Maybe it's the speed, the leather or the vroom factor, but there's a certain attraction between recent presidents and Harley Davidson motorcycles. Both Reagan and Clinton visited this factory in York, Pa., and today it was President George W. Bush's turn.

The congressman representing this district, Todd Platts, R-York Co., explained to a local newspaper that the White House wanted to do this event. "They raised it with us about two weeks ago, that they were looking to do an economic event in York... and were looking at Harley-Davidson," Platts said. 

Platts described Harley Davidson as "a company that's shown tremendous success in the world marketplace." Twenty years ago, the company nearly closed down, he said. "It went from the brink of closure to now leading the pack -- an American company that's doing great all over the world."

One wonders if the company were making flanges or bobby pins whether the presidential allure would be quite as great.