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THE PRESIDENCY: Green Christmas

Upstairs and downstairs and into the First Lady's chamber went two workmen last week, lugging shiny green holly wreaths, one for each window of the White House. Downstairs all was Christmas rush. Bookkeeper Henry Nesbitt listed stacks of early gifts; Housekeeper Mrs. Nesbitt thumbed over the State linen, bargained with tradesmen, checked the storeroom's loaded shelves of cans and bottled goods. The cook pirouetted with dignity around the 24-foot electric stove, carefully sniffed the game rack, where hung pheasants, quail, ducks, grouse, and woodcocks waiting till they were high enough for a...

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President BARACK OBAMA, at NATO talks involving over 50 world leaders, describing the withdrawal of 130,000 combat troops from Afghanistan, planned for the end of 2014
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