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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-THANK YOU BRINGING BACK DIGNITY AND RESPECT IN THE WHITE HOUSE. TOO BAD
-for a scandle free administration
–I will always cherish my experience during your presidency.
-YOU ARE A GREAT LEADER
Have you people been living under a rock for the last 8 years???
Happy Birthday President Bush! Even though we're ideologically different, a moment like this calls for cheerful felicitations!
God Bless you Mr.President! Wishing you much happiness in the year ahead! From a life long Democrat.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President. We wish you the best and many many happy returns.
The Secret Service removes hecklers during his speech on the 4th? Since when is the Secret Service a politically interested organization? The people of America should be very concerned about this issue.
Mildred
If your kids were in Iraq as mine are, you wouldn't be thanking him for keeping America safe – members of the armed forces are citizens also, and he sacrificed 4100 of them so far, for what? People like you with no blood investment, but "patriotism" without substance make me sick.
Happy birthday Doubya. I got a surprise for you, "Chang we can believe in" Hope and Yes we can.
Yo my friend Mr. President, Happy Birthday to you and yours! Hope you give us a break too on where we are at this time. You probably had a middle good time I don't think you would have a full blown excellent birthday but at least you had one and the last one too. Because who knows where you gonna be after getting out of office. Good lick my fwen.
can't we just stop talking about the shrub? he is inconsequential, has always been and will always be...well maybe not always been, i mean we are seeing the worst economy in decades, an endless and endlessly expensive war, the worst decline in the heart of our constitution since the macarthy era (and likely much worse), a couple of supreme court justices who seem like they got their legal degress from barbazon...well, maybe inconsequential is the wrong word...let's try.....
he is an abomination....it's sad that i sit and hope that this is the last birthday i will ever hear about the "shrub" celebrating...very sad....
Happy Birthday president Bush. Thanks for the great job you have done as President. Welcome to new President McCain.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mr. President. I thank you for keeping all Americans safe. May you have continued health, happiness with your family and friends and fulfillment in the coming year.
I will be honored to place my vote for John McCain in November, rejoice iin his victory ,and continue to support the platform of the Republican Party.
Happy birthday Mr. President
Don't understand why you get all the blame when we have a congress run by the other party. If they are so great , why haven't they done something?
People love to bash Bush but he has kept us safe with no more attacks on the US soil.
Unfortunately for the liberals, Bush will go down in history as a good President in the way he handled some tough problems (the economy, terrorism, etc.).
Obama is already moving towards some of Bushes policies, with Faith based money for the needy, staying in Iraq until the job gets completed (backing away from his pull the troops out in 16 months), softening his stance on abortion, etc.
You far lefties are going to have to put up with Obama's move to the center if he has any chance of winning in November.
Happy Birthday pres Bush
happy birthday to one of our very best presidents.
Happy Birthday Mr. President,
Happy birthday # 232 America.
Now , Can we please get on to the PRESSING bussiness at hand?
We have fires in California & Drought, the Mid west is STILL under water,Gas prices are Higher than A jet propelled kangaroo, Our stock market is going in the opposite direction ,Unemployment is up, Houses are being forclosed left & right, We have 12,000,000 Illegal Ailean Criminals running around loose in this country & have been INVADED. We have a HOUSE & SENATE that puts out so much
B.S. that we could run this Country on METHANE alone for the next 100 years & on judgement day God is Going to have to Unscrew America out of the ground .
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
Kinda shows you he knows about his approval rating. He has to celebrate his birthday among the people who still like him - they all fit in a tiny aluminum tube well out of US airspace.
He should stay there - the worst President by many factors in any of our lifetimes would be best remembered living in exile abroad.
I hope that all of you morons who voted for the chimp enjoy your trips to the gas pump.
Come one people at least be decent. Our president did celebrate his birthday and by being petty, partisan, shows exactly your mindset. I choose to look at all the opportunities that this country holds, still! And as an immigrant, legal, to this country I am always surprised at the lack of respect shown, especially for such events. So yes a BIG Happy Birthday to our president, George W. Bush!
Mr.Bush needs to remember the people in this country that he is responsible to and spend less time for his birthday party.
These comments are making me sick.... may the merciful baby Jesus continue to smile benevolently down on this pathetic man-child for ever and ever that he may grow to understand the remarkable damage he's brought to our once fine nation and global community of which it is merely a part... idiot.
I submitted a comment this afternoon and rather disappointed that it was not posted. It was a positive comment containing praise of President Bush and his wife, Laura. I am interested in knowing why it wasn't posted and would appreciate a response as to the reason why. Thank you.
who cares this guy is the worst president ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
s. mcdougall, just curious about exactly which planet you live on? Let me know, so I can go there too!
Who cares! This guy is a complete idiot!