History of White House Christmas Trees - Part 1

Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes, but some of the most eye-catching are the larger than life ones. You know, the ones that typically exists only in malls, outdoor festivals, British royal mansions or the Castle of the Supreme Dictator - Otherwise known as the White House.

The White House didn't always have a Christmas Tree and when the tradition began can be disputed. However, it seems that most sources believe that Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) was the first president to put up an indoor Christmas tree in 1889.

This was before the days of the Blue Room (room where White House Christmas tree is put up today) so the tree was put up in the Yellow Oval Room. (Don't you love how the government color codes everything?)

Anywho, it was First Lady Caroline Harrison who helped decorate the first White House Christmas tree.

Unfortunately, the camera that took this photo exploded soon after. No one was hurt but society had to wait until the 20th century before another camera was made. Because of this tragedy there are no existing photos of her Christmas tree .

It was up to the official White House sketch artist to memorialize the occasion:

'Twas a joyous occasion filled with much gay and festiveness.

But alas, the tradition did not stick after the Harrison reign. Many years had passed before the White House Christmas tree tradition came back.

And so went the years and rulers of the White House:

Grover Cleveland (1885 -1889)

Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)

Grover Cleveland (again??)

William McKinley (1897 -1901)

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)

William Howard Taft (1909-1913)

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

Warren G. Harding(1921-1923)

Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)

and then...

Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)

In wasn't until 1929 that the first "official" White House Christmas Tree would be erected. First Lady Lou Henry Hoover may not have been the first wife to decorate the tree in the White House but it was her idea to start the tradition of having the woman decorate the tree.

However, there still wasn't really a "set" tradition with the White House and it's Christmas tree. It seemed like trees may or may not appear for the festive holiday. They may or may not be in a certain room and the president may or may not care.

It was chaotic. The citizens were getting restless. They simply wanted to know what room the Christmas Tree was going to be in, what color said room would be, who would decorate it and what the theme would be.

Despite numerous promises in the following years by the rulers of the White House:

Franklin D. Roosevelt - "Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air. Imagine how pure the air will be inside the White House if we bring the forest home with us for every Christmas!"

Harry S Truman - "I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

I shall advise them to put up a Christmas tree!"

Dwight D Eisenhower - "What counts is not the size of the tree at Christmas - it's the size of the Christmas in the tree!"

No president could really get this tradition idea down nor deliver a suitable White House Christmas tree.

The citizens had had enough. After so much dismay and anarchy, there was a new guy who was ready to step up to the Christmas tree tradition with all it's holiday splendor. This man, was going to finally put an end to the charade and make clear-cut rules about how the Christmas Tree would be decorated, where it would be erected and who would be responsible. This man, was none other than:

John F. Kennedy.

But, he couldn't do it alone.

So in stepped:

Jacqueline Kennedy

They made promises to the American people to define the clear cut traditions for the Christmas tree. But there was still the matter on the theme and style of the Christmas tree. Who would make these important decisions and how?

Well that answer came to the young presidential couple one fine winter morning in 1961. The Christmas tree had been left overnight in the Blue Room undecorated. As Jackie went to the room to look at the Balsam fir she could see that Old Johnny boy had beat her to it. He was hanging up little army men as his ornament as choice.

Jacqueline gave him a look.

Then told him that it didn't fit with her Barbie theme.

Old Johnny Boy shuddered at the thought of a Barbie endowed Christmas tree so he defended his decision with the ole "Support the troops" argument.

But Jackie would have none of it. She defended her decision based on the late First Lady Lou Henry Hoover's politics of having the First Lady decide what goes on the tree.

Old Johnny Boy was defeated and accepted the fate of the tree.

But Jackie girl wasn't done with her clever ideas:

"How about we compromise! Let's hang up both the Barbies AND the army men!"

"wwwahhh??" Johnny replied.

"Let's make the the tree a Thematic Tree! A tree with a theme. That theme can be the Nutcracker."

"You see" an excited Jackie continued, "The little toy soldiers are like your green army men and the fairies and what nots are like my Barbies. It's perfect!"

It was indeed perfect. But it didn't end there. This idea of a "Nutcracker Suite" theme was the basis for all the White House Christmas trees to come. From then on, all Christmas trees in the White House had a theme (Americana, winter wonderland, etc) that was chosen by the First Lady.

This is part of an ongoing series titled "History of White House Christmas Trees".
Click here to check Claudia Johnson's Tree in Part 2.