CSPAN - President Biden Visits Children's National Hospital
Aired: 2024-12-20
Duration: 09:56

[00:00:06]  We're good to go.
[00:00:12]  We're good to go.
[00:00:54]  Hi everybody.
[00:01:22]  Hello.
[00:01:31]  Okay, so do most of you know this story, The Night Before Christmas?
[00:01:37]  Yes?
[00:01:38]  Some people are saying no.
[00:01:41]  Okay, well this is the first time that you'll hear it, I guess.
[00:01:45]  Alright, this is a classic.
[00:01:48]  The night before Christmas, and all through the house, Richard was stirring, not even a mouse.
[00:01:57]  The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
[00:02:05]  The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
[00:02:14]  And Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled down for a long winter's nap.
[00:02:22]  When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
[00:02:33]  Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
[00:02:40]  The moon on the breast of the new -fallen snow gave luster of midday to objects below.
[00:02:46]  When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
[00:03:01]  With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.
[00:03:09]  More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
[00:03:16]  Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen.
[00:03:25]  To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall.
[00:03:28]  Now dash away, dash away, dash away all.
[00:03:33]  As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
[00:03:41]  So up to the housetop, the coursers they flew, with a sleigh full of toys in St. Nicholas too.
[00:03:48]  And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
[00:03:56]  As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney, St. Nicholas came to the bow.
[00:04:04]  He was dressed in all fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
[00:04:11]  A bundle of toys, he had one on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his sack.
[00:04:20]  His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
[00:04:34]  His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
[00:04:42]  He had a broad face and a round little belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.
[00:04:55]  He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.
[00:05:03]  A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
[00:05:11]  He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk, and laying his finger aside of his nose,
[00:05:22]  and giving a nod up the chimney he rose.
[00:05:30]  He sprang to the sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
[00:05:37]  But I heard him explain ere he drove,
[00:05:40]  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
[00:06:26]  We've never had a president join for four years in a row straight.
[00:06:30]  For your service to our country,
[00:06:45]  we are so grateful to both of you.
[00:06:48]  Thank you.
[00:06:49]  And thank you for continuing the 75 -year tradition at Tillman's National Hospital.
[00:06:54]  We wish you and your family a very happy holiday season.
[00:07:00]  Can I make a first name?
[00:07:02]  Absolutely.
[00:07:03]  Folks, we know this is a tough time of the year.
[00:07:06]  But it's going to get better.
[00:07:07]  We've been here.
[00:07:09]  Christmas time, we've been here as missions as well.
[00:07:12]  And so, keep the hope.
[00:07:14]  These guys are going to take care of everything.
[00:07:17]  President, there's a president right there.
[00:07:21]  So anyway, you're in our prayers, you're in our thoughts, and thank you for letting us join you.
[00:07:26]  Yeah!
[00:07:31]  Uh -oh.
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