PARK CITY, Utah — “I’m sorry Mr. President, but this credit card won’t go through.”
That’s what a bookstore clerk had to tell President Bill Clinton Monday in this ski resort where he was vacationing with his wife and daughter.
Clinton remained holed up in a condominium while the first lady and first daughter went skiing at the Deer Valley ski area over the weekend. He strayed outside only briefly for a walk down a part of Main Street to shop in a few local businesses.
He had made the same trip last year. Chelsea Clinton loves Park City. It has been her choice for a birthday gift two years in a row. This year the president was the last family member to arrive. Little was made of the sudden departure of the first family a day earlier than scheduled, but sources say there was “good reason to break up the party early, but that’s all I’m going to say.”
Clinton made the trip to Park City’s famous restored Main Street alone. Just as he did last year, he stopped for coffee in the Main Street Deli, where his coffee was on the house.
He then headed across the street to Dolly’s Bookstore and picked up three or four books, including two on India, and “The Testament” by John Grisham. When he brought them to clerk Courtney Gannon, he handed her his credit card.
It was March 1, and the president’s credit card expired on the last day of February.
“It’s never fun to tell someone their credit card’s expired, especially when it’s the president,” said Gannon.
Clinton paid the $66 for the books with cash, which included a discount of 10 percent normally given to residents.
The reason for the earlier than planned breakup of the first family? A White House spokeswoman made excuses by saying only that “they have a full schedule and need to get back.”
All three had arrived separately. Only Mrs. Clinton and Chelsea hit the slopes, and Mrs. Clinton lasted only for half a day. Chelsea skied with Secret Service agents the next two days.
One skier told the press he heard Mrs. Clinton complaining about other skiers during the short time she was out. The president did not ski last year either. He said he spent his time relaxing and reading in the borrowed condominium.
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