Saturday November 10 11:56 AM ET

Texas-Sized Welcome Set for Putin at Bush Ranch

By Patricia Wilson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin will dine on tenderloin cooked by cowboys at a chuckwagon while a quintet croons about tumbleweeds when President Bush treats the Russian leader to a night on his Texas ranch next week.

The former KGB chief and his wife Lyudmila will wind up the evening with pecan pie and a serenade from the wild coyotes that roam the remote 1,600-acre property.

First lady Laura Bush revealed their plans for next Wednesday at Prairie Chapel, about 24 miles from Waco, during an appearance at the National Press Club in which she was alternately funny, charming and engaging.

``I hate to tell this. Can I tell it so early?'' she asked hesitantly, glancing around to her aides for help.

``We're going to have a chuckwagon out on the lawn with cowboys cooking and we're going to have beef tenderloin of course and pecan pie ... we have hundreds of pecan trees on our ranch,'' she said.

Throwing caution to the wind, Bush added: ``We have a great little Texas swing band, just five members -- acoustical -- who sing those great western songs like 'Driftin' along with the Tumblin' Tumbleweeds.' I think they'll really like it and I think it will be a beautiful evening.''

The first lady, plagued by several bursts of coughing she blamed on allergies, delivered a speech about the new spirit she saw in America since the Sept. 11 suicide plane attacks.

``We've been living in an age of self-absorption and self-indulgence,'' she told the audience of media and guests. ''But the amazing thing is that in one day, it all stopped and we started to rethink things.''

Every generation had its unforgettable ``day of infamy,'' she said. ``Now we've experienced another one of those days in our national life, a day so horrifying it'll be permanently seared in the hearts and memories of all of us who witnessed it.''

Bush, a former librarian and primary school teacher, then faced questions about everything from her reading habits to the color of the president's hair.

Like her husband, she said she read to relieve stress, calling it ``a diversion when I'm anxious.'' Her most recent choices were two poetry collections and a mystery novel.

Asked if she contemplated writing a book after leaving the White House, Bush took a rare and amusing jab at her predecessor Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has signed a multimillion-dollar deal for her memoirs.

``I guess it will be whether or not I can get that $8 million advance or whatever it is,'' Bush said. ``Only kidding,'' she added with a smile. ``I am a great reader. I love to read. I'm not really a writer.''

The first lady, who likes to take long walks on the ranch but has been unable to indulge her passion in Washington, also revealed she had even started exercising at the White House.

``Can you all tell?'' she quipped.

The Bushes' twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, who will turn 20 later this month and have had several scrapes involving underage drinking, are usually off limits when it comes to questions from the press.

But Bush revealed that the college sophomores were doing well, were very proud of their father and not overly concerned about their parents' safety.

``They're probably slightly worried but they don't really tell us that that much,'' she said.

As for her husband, the first lady denied that the president's hair had turned grayer since the Sept. 11 attacks and the start of the U.S.-led war on terrorism, but she acknowledged he had turned more serious.

``I knew he had that focus. He's a very focused and very disciplined person,'' she said. ``He always has been. I knew he was that tenacious. Certainly he's more serious now.''

``I don't think his hair's really grayer. I'll have to look again. I wouldn't say he was tense. I wouldn't say he was tired. I'd say he is very resolved,'' Bush added.

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2001

Answers

``We're going to have a chuckwagon out on the lawn with cowboys cooking and we're going to have beef tenderloin of course and pecan pie ... we have hundreds of pecan trees on our ranch,'' she said.

My neighborhood sure knows how to throw a party! :-) I've been wondering if I'll be able to hear them flying to the ranch; often can hear Marine One flying nearby when they're down here. Ya' reckon Putin will wear his Tony Lamas and a string tie? ;-)

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2001

Betcha after a few beers they get him doing the polka too.

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2001