WASHINGTON—US President Barack Obama put the cares of nurturing the economic recovery and being a wartime leader briefly to one side Monday – to stand side-by-side with the Easter Bunny.
Obama made two appearances as around 30,000 Moms, Dads and kids thronged the South Lawn of the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll, a presidential tradition dating back to 1878.
He opened festivities from the Truman balcony of the White House, then greeted guests and read with First Lady Michelle Obama, proudly watched daughters Malia and Sasha read to kids at a “Storytime Stage.”
The president also officiated at an egg roll race and showed off his prowess shooting basketballs on the White House tennis court.
Michelle Obama said the theme of the event “Get Up and Go” had been framed to publicize her healthy eating campaign.
“I’m a big proponent of getting up and going, making sure we’re moving and eating healthy,” she said, as she appeared with Obama, her daughters and someone in a man-size Easter Bunny costume.
“This Easter Egg Roll reflects all of that, so while you’re here in addition to listening to some great music and dancing a little bit, you can roll your eggs.
“You can do some yoga. You can do some obstacle courses, play basketball and tennis.”
Obama later made a second appearance on the South Lawn to see starlet Willow Smith, daughter of Hollywood star Will Smith, perform her hit “Whip My Hair.”
Each child younger than 12-years-old who attended the egg roll took home a souvenir hardwood egg stamped with the signatures of the Obamas.
The first White House Easter Egg Roll took place in 1878 when president Rutherford Hayes invited local children to roll eggs on the South Lawn.
The egg roll has been held at the White House every year apart from the dark days of World War I and World War II and later when ex-president Harry Truman was renovating the presidential mansion.