This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Search form

First Lady Michelle Obama Visits Patients at Children's National Medical Center

Summary: 
The First Lady reads a Christmas story and talks to kids at Children's National Medical Center.
First Lady reads Twas the Night Before Christmas

First Lady Michelle Obama reads "Twas the Night Before Christmas" during a Christmas holiday program with children, parents and staff at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2011. Participants included 19 year-old patient Ashley Riemer, right, Bo, the Obama family dog, and Santa Claus. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Today, First Lady Michelle Obama visited patients at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., a tradition that dates back more than 60 years to First Lady Bess Truman. After touring the neonatal intensive care nursery and another unit at the hospital, Mrs. Obama settled in with Santa Claus and First Dog Bo to read T’was the Night Before Christmas to a group of children gathered in the hospital’s atrium.

After story time, the First Lady answered some questions about the Obama family’s Christmas Eve traditions (enjoying a big meal with extended family in Hawaii and waiting for Santa to arrive), her favorite Christmas movie (“It’s a Wonderful Life”), and what she’s getting the President for Christmas (it’s a surprise, of course!).

Bo at Children's National Medical Center

First Lady Michelle Obama and Bo, the Obama family dog, greet audience members at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2011. Mrs Obama visited and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" during a Christmas holiday program with children, parents and staff. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)