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White House Christmas Trees
White House Christmas Trees
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy introduced the tradition of Christmas Tree themes in 1961 with a "Nutcracker Suite" theme featuring trimmings derived from the ballet by Tchaikovsky. Ornaments included gingerbread cookies, tiny toys, wrapped packages, candy canes and straw ornaments made by disabled or senior citizen craftsmen throughout the United States.
The White House Collection
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy introduced the tradition of Christmas Tree themes in 1961 with a "Nutcracker Suite" theme featuring trimmings derived from the ballet by Tchaikovsky. Ornaments included gingerbread cookies, tiny toys, wrapped packages, candy canes and straw ornaments made by disabled or senior citizen craftsmen throughout the United States.
 
2001 White House Christmas Tree. White House photo by Tina Hager. The 1966 Johnson tree was based on an early American theme featuring nuts, popcorn, fruit, wood roses from Hawaii, a paper maché angel and gingerbread cookies.
The President and Mrs. Bush stand next to the 2001 tree, an 18-foot Concolor fir that was grown in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania. For ornaments, artists from all 50 states and the District of Columbia designed miniature replicas of historic houses from their regions. The 1969 Nixon tree featured velvet and satin balls representing each of the 50 states made by disabled workers in Florida. The ornaments were embossed with the flower of each state.
President Herbert Hoover and his family posed in front of the 1931 National Community Christmas Tree. Like many First Ladies, Lou Hoover was active in community service throughout her life. When her husband served in the Cabinet, Mrs. Hoover played the role of Mrs. Santa Claus at a Washington, D.C. Children's Hospital. The 1974 Ford tree featured homemade items that emphasized thrift and recycling. Trimmings included patchwork and handmade ornaments. Blue moire swags lined with patchwork encircled the tree.
President Roosevelt delighted in giving gifts, but he rarely opened his during the holidays. On several occasions, the President left his gifts unopened for days after the holidays ended. Two weeks after the end of the holidays in 1941, a staff member found the President's unopened gifts in the second-floor sitting room. The 1977 Carter tree featured trimming made by disabled men and women of the National Association of Retarded Citizens. The ornaments were made from nut pods, eggshells, foil, and painted milkweed pots.
President Truman and his family took a picture in front of the White House Christmas Tree in 1947. The following year, the White House interior was undecorated because of the home was undergoing a much-needed remodeling. The President and Mrs. Truman took up residence at the Blair House across the street from the White House. The 1986 Reagan tree featured decorations based on the theme, Mother Goose Christmas. The trimmings included wooden gingerbread cookie ornaments, state balls, Christmas card ornaments, soft sculpture miniature geese and a soft sculpture angel on top. At the base of the tree were 15 soft sculpture scenes of characters from Mother Goose rhymes.
The silver-tinseled 1954 Eisenhower Tree was the sight of busy activity for the President's family. The Eisenhower grandchildren enjoyed the excitement of opening their presents under this beautiful tree. The 1991 Bush tree featured needlepoint tree ornaments, red glass balls, a turn-of-the-century needlepoint village and needlepoint figurines from Noah's Ark.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy introduced the tradition of Christmas Tree themes in 1961 with a "Nutcracker Suite" theme featuring trimmings derived from the ballet by Tchaikovsky. Ornaments included gingerbread cookies, tiny toys, wrapped packages, candy canes and straw ornaments made by disabled or senior citizen craftsmen throughout the United States. The 1998 Clinton tree was based on the theme "A Winter Wonderland." The tree featured fabric snowmen ornaments, knitted mittens and hats, and painted wooden ornaments.

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