HOKKAIDO, Japan (CNN) – It was a birthday celebration in the skies, as President Bush turned 62 aboard Air Force One while en route to Japan where Bush is attending the summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
First Lady Laura Bush and White House staff members gathered in the conference room on Air Force One late Saturday night eastern time, where a steward dimmed the lights as the crowd waited for the birthday celebrant to arrive, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said.
On the table was a "large" coconut cake with a single burning candle and the words "Happy Birthday President Bush" on it.
The crowd called out "surprise" as President Bush walked into the room and then sang Happy Birthday, Perino said.
Bush "dutifully pretended to be surprised" and blew out the candle, Perino said. It was not known whether he made a birthday wish.
After cutting and serving the cake, the health-conscious president ate a "small" piece of birthday cake, she said.
There was no word on what he gifts he received from family members, but Perino noted the president was sporting a new teal-colored tie.
White House staffers presented Bush with birthday notes and cards - well-wishes delivered in a small wooden box with his initials carved on top.
The box was carved by a Texas woodworker with wood from an old Scarlett Oak tree that grace the north lawn of the White House until it fell last year.
The tree was planted in 1892 by the great granddaughter of President Benjamin Harrison, according to Perino.
From CNN Politics
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Give us a birthday present and resign.
Please begin impeachment proceeding now.
Since I can't say anything nice. I won't say nothing
Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
Your leadership in the face of emergencies at home and abroad has been truly inspiring. While we may disagree on some things, I could NEVER imagine the pressures and difficult decisions inherent in your position. You have my respect and admiration.
May God bless you and your family. Or, in another language you're fond of, ¡Que Dios le bendiga!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my fellow Cancerian. I don't agree with ANYTHING he says but a birthday is a birthday. It's too late to turn back the hands of time.
For the last 8 years he's had his cake and ate it too. All at our expense. John McCain was probably with him eating cake too and planning how to make it harder for us the 3rd Bush term.
¡Feliz cumpleaños a ti!
I don't care what the polls say, Americans have a LOT to thank you for, Sir...a resilient economy despite having inherited a dot com crash thru no fault of your own; a war that we are WINNING; unwavering defense for the innocent unborn; and no sexual scandals in the White House for 8 years.
History will be a better judge of your presidency, Mr. Bush, than the prevailing winds of popular sentiment. Thanks for being our leader!
Big Whoop! MY heart and thoughts and prayers go to the over 4000 Americans (and the other innocent folk all over the world) who will never have another birthday thanks to him and his administration (and to their families, of course).
What a joke who cares. We need to impeach, prosecute and execute all the traitors who helped coverup 911 and bring us the Patriot Act, illegal wiretapping etc..What a Tyrant we have in Bush/Cheney..
To the biggest coward in america!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please go away
who cares Bush is an idiot. McBush was attending to his party?
Yea, he is the worst president ever and has ruined our country. No doubt about that! But, he is human and a Christian. So I will let his disater ways go.....God will forgive him, no reason I shouldn't.
Obama in 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obama will get the US back on track!!!!!! Mcain wil not!!!!!! Mcain is GW Bush Jr...................
OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday President Bush!!! WOW, finally a report about Bush that is a positive one. Thank you CNN.
Here's my 4 reasons why Bush was a great president.
Liberated Afghanistan. (a new ally of the U.S)
Liberated Iraq (a new ally of the U.S)
Appointed 2 great supreme court Judges in John Roberts and Samuel Alito.
To all of those of you who hate Bush and think he will go down as America's worst president.......................just wait. Once Iraq is a successful democracy, Bush will go down in history as one of America's better presidents. And I know all the liberals want our military to lose more members in Iraq just so they can complain some more. Well, I can't speak for other people, but I hope that our military comes out victorious in Iraq, and that the Iraqi people finally have a free democracy to live in. That is what I hope for. If only all of congress would get behind our military, things would be so much better.
...and President Bush is an insult to the world.
Hey liberal bloggers. Why can't you all grow up? Seriously, you can get behind someone of your own political party, but you can't get behind the executive leadership of our own country. Our country is more important than any political party, and I'm all for NOT changing what our country was founded on.
So, If Obama tells you he wants change, Tell him you don't have any!!!
He is celebrating this B-day aboard of the Force One, because he knows that his birthday wouldn't be popular among of many people and he can end up with the wishes he was not looking for.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President! I second what Janey from Michigan wrote.
Don't kill when you have a Birthday!
It's too bad that the Republicans are spineless!
Dick Cheney would be impeached!
George Bush would be impeached!
Anyone, but McCain!
Vote BOB BARR!
Wonder what sort of farewell will be given to Obama, if elected, when he leaves office? I imagine a lot of his supporters might curse the day they voted for him. A disaster yet to come...
McCain for Prez!
Happy B-day to you, even idiots deserve a good wish or two. Now hurry up and just go away.
Obama 08 & 12
Happy Bday George! Now get out!
Happy Birthday President Bush:
Today is also my Birthday and this is the only thing we have in common. Have a good one. I wish you many more.
OBAMA 08
Birthday wishes to one of the few presidents that has had the courage to follow his conscience and not the polls. And for those of you worried about the gas prices and the American economy, how about celebrating the prez's birthday by trading in your 13 mpg SUVs or your Toyota? Ever thought the mess we have we may have created ourselves?
Happy Birthday, President Bush!
I didnt vote for you, never could!
But I think you have a nice Family...
Happy birthday Pres. Bush. Hopefully, you'll take the time to reflect on the fact that the decisions you have made have unnecessarily denied many of our valiant young service people something as simple as another celebration with a little coconut cake (not to mention the innocents abroad that have paid for your folly/greed with their lives).