History of White House Christmas Trees - Part 2 (Johnson)

(This article is part 2 of the on going series: "History of White House Christmas Trees". Here is part 1 )

Lyndon B Johnson was vice president from 1961-1963. In 1963 JFK was shot and Johnson suddenly found himself leader of the "Great Powerful Nation of the United States" (later shortened to just "United States"). He had a decent reign that lasted until 1969.

During his time in office the Blue Room Christmas tree was decorated with mostly flowers, seeds, dried fruit and other things children hate to get in their stocking. Claudia Johnson had indeed found a way to be mundane. But there was one year during the Johnson years that was a little different.
That year was 1968 and it featured a White pine that was cut and hauled over from Indianapolis.

(Pictured is tree with Lynda Johnson (Lyndon and Claudia's daughter) with her infant daughter Lucinda.)

Claudia finally deviated from her random dried goods tree to one with a 19th century American and gingerbread theme.

Although she kept the flowers...

(Pictured is Lynda with Lucinda and her son, Patrick.)
'Twas a beautiful tree but poor Patrick never outlived the photo where his mom dressed him in lederhosen.



"History of White House Christmas Trees" will continue to continue!