THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250477
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Eleven-year-old Christopher J. Wilson may be too young to vote for President Clinton, but he's a confirmed fan of Bill's.
Back in December 1993, when he was 10, Christopher mailed the president a crayon drawing he had made of the White House, thinking that the man of the house might want to hang it on the wall.
Earlier this month, Christopher and his family received a surprising bit of news in the mail from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.: His drawing is the cover art for a White House booklet.
``The White House, The House of the People'' is distributed to visitors and also sent to children across the country. It contains a history of America's most famous residence, as well as brief biographical sketches of the first family and Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper.
``I was like, `Yes!' '' Christopher said.
``We were hugging and we were really thrilled,'' said his mother, Sandra Wilson. ``We didn't think anything would come of it.''
Christopher, who wants to become either an artist or a musician - he plays the organ for his church every third Sunday - was one of six youngsters nationwide whose drawings were picked for the booklet.
Christopher said he got the idea after seeing a photograph of the White House in an encyclopedia.
``Since he lives in the White House and everything, I thought it would be nice to hang on the wall or something,'' Christopher said. ``I thought it was good enough, and then I wanted to let him see that one of his citizens drew it.''
The sixth-grader said President Clinton is doing a good job. And, he actually did vote for him in a mock election at his school, Christ The King Catholic School, during the 1992 presidential campaign.
``He's nice,'' Christopher said. ``He won the votes at school, too.''
In January 1994, Clinton wrote first wrote Christopher: ``Thank you for sharing your wonderful artwork with me. I appreciate your hard work and creativity. Young people like you are the future of our country. I am honored to be your president.''
Then last September, the White House notified Christopher that his drawing was being considered for the booklet. He didn't hear anything more until earlier this month, when six copies of the booklet arrived in the mail, along with another letter from Clinton.
The president gets about 2,500 letters a day from children, said Debra S. Wood, director of presidential student correspondence.
``Not every kid who writes the president sends him a drawing of the White House,'' Wood said.
Christopher's mother and father, James Wilson, and his grandmother, Vivian Wray, took him to his favorite restaurant, the Golden Corral, to celebrate.
``We're keeping our fingers crossed that maybe they'll invite him to the White House,'' said his mother. ``He (Clinton) just seems to be with the people and the kids.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Christopher J. Wilson hopes he'll be invited to the White House for
a visit.
by CNB