The White House Christmas Tree, also known as the Blue Room Christmas Tree, is the official indoor Christmas tree at the residence of the

president of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

, the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

. The first indoor Christmas tree was installed in the White House sometime in the 19th century (there are varying claims as to the exact year) and since 1961 the tree has had a themed motif at the discretion of the First Lady of the United States.

History

1962 White House Christmas Tree - John and Jacqueline Kennedy 1

First tree

There are two claims to the "first" genuine White House Christmas tree. President Franklin Pierce is said to have had the first indoor Christmas tree at the White House during the 1850s, variously reported as 1853History of Christmas trees
, ''National Christmas Tree Association'', archived December 23, 2006. or 1856. More credible sources state that it was, in fact, President

Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833March 13, 1901) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 23rd president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia–a grandson of the ninth pr ...

's who had the first indoor tree (either in 1888,Decatur Republican, December 27, 1888, page 6, ''Mrs. Cleveland has returned to Washington from the Quaker City. And it is asserted that despite the late disaster to his business, Grover did not reduce her allowance of pin money, with which she purchased what-ever trinkets, she deemed indispensable, for the decoration of the Christmas tree at the White House. And when the doors of the famous East Room are thrown open next Monday night there will be a tree laden with gifts, for most of the prominent people about Washington.'' 1889,White House Christmas Trees
, photo gallery, Whitehouse.gov, 2001, accessed April 1, 2009. or 1891A Christmas Reversal
, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' December 25, 1994, accessed March 29, 2009.). First Lady

Caroline Harrison Caroline Lavinia Harrison (; October 10, 1832 – October 25, 1892) was an American music teacher and the first lady of the United States from 1889 until her death. She was married to President Benjamin Harrison, and she was the second first la ...

helped decorate the tree, which was installed in the second floor oval parlor, today's Yellow Oval Room.The Start of a Holiday Tradition
, ''

White House Historical Association The White House Historical Association, founded in 1961 through efforts of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, is a private, non-profit organization that works to preserve the history of the White House and make that history more accessible to the pub ...

'', accessed September 19, 2012. There is an 1880 reference to President

John Tyler John Tyler (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862) was the tenth president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the tenth vice president in 1841. He was elected vice president on the 1840 Whig tick ...

in the 1840s, hosting a children's party at which there was a Christmas tree with gifts.

General

Following the Harrison administration indoor trees were not always used at the White House. First Lady

Lou Henry Hoover Lou Hoover (née Henry; March 29, 1874 – January 7, 1944) was an American philanthropist, geologist, and First Lady of the United States from 1929 to 1933 as the wife of President Herbert Hoover. She was active in numerous community organizatio ...

began the tradition of presidential wives decorating the White House tree with the first "official" White House Christmas tree in 1929. In 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme for the White House Christmas tree by decorating with a

Nutcracker A nutcracker is a tool designed to open nuts by cracking their shells. There are many designs, including levers, screws, and ratchets. The lever version is also used for cracking lobster and crab shells. A decorative version portrays a person w ...

motif.Jacqueline Kennedy Refines the Season
, ''White House Historical Association'', accessed February 25, 2023.

Years without a tree

As stated, there were years where no indoor White House Christmas tree was installed at all. It is verifiable that there was no Christmas tree in the White House in 1902,
, ''The New York Times'', December 24, 1902, accessed March 30, 2009. 1904,
, ''The New York Times'', December 25, 1904, accessed March 29, 2009. 1907,"WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS PLANS :Members of President's Family Will Observe Day Without Formality—Possum for Dinner.. ",
ProQuest link
''

Chicago Daily Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television are ...

'' (1872–1922), p.6., December 25, 1907, accessed November 5, 2011, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849–1987). and 1922.Harding Christmas Quiet; Mrs. Harding's Illness Prevents Celebration in White House
, ''The New York Times'', December 24, 1922, accessed March 30, 2009. The lack of a tree in 1902 was due to the fact that President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

had not ordered one by December 23. Additionally, other presidents never displayed a tree in the White House. First U.S. President George Washington held office at a time when there was no White House, thus it is impossible for him to have displayed a tree there.George and Martha Washington
, ''Christmas at the White House'', ''

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and burial place of Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st president of the United States (1929–1933), located on the grounds of the Herbert Hoover National Historic S ...

'', accessed March 31, 2009. There is no evidence that Abraham Lincoln ever displayed a Christmas tree in the White House.Abraham and Mary Lincoln
, ''Christmas at the White House'', ''

'', accessed March 31, 2009. In 1922, First Lady

Florence Harding Florence Mabel Harding (née Kling; August 15, 1860 – November 21, 1924) was the first lady of the United States from 1921 until her husband's death in 1923 as the wife of President Warren G. Harding. Florence first married Pete De Wolfe ...

's illness led to a more subdued Christmas celebration at the White House and no Christmas tree.

Controversy

In 1899 the White House of President

William McKinley William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. As a politician he led a realignment that made his Republican Party largely dominant in ...

received letters urging the president to forgo participation in the "Christmas tree habit". The letter writers, which the ''

'' noted had taken up the "forestry fad", referred to "arboreal infanticide", according to the ''Tribune''. Those opposed to a tree in the White House that year also termed Christmas trees "un-American" because it was a historically German tradition. At least one tree was displayed in the White House that year, in the kitchen department, for the maids. The

Nixon administration Richard Nixon's tenure as the 37th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 1969, and ended when he resigned on August 9, 1974, in the face of almost certain impeachment because of the Watergate Scanda ...

's choice of tree topper, the atomic symbol of peace rather than a traditional star, was criticized.Olshan, Jeremy.
Impeach Bush for Christmas
, ''

Salon.com ''Salon'' is an American politically progressive/ liberal news and opinion website created in 1995. It publishes articles on U.S. politics, culture, and current events. Content and coverage ''Salon'' covers a variety of topics, including re ...

'', December 3, 2008, accessed March 30, 2009. The 1995 Blue Room Christmas Tree sought ornaments made by architecture students from across the United States. Contest winner Rene Spineto stirred up some controversy when she designed an ornament that depicted two

stocking Stockings (also known as hose, especially in a historical context) are close-fitting, variously elastic garments covering the leg from the foot up to the knee or possibly part or all of the thigh. Stockings vary in color, design, and transpare ...

s, one marked "Bill" and the other marked "Newt" (in reference to President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich). While the stocking marked "Bill" was filled with candy and presents, the one marked "Newt" was filled with coal. The Clinton administration hung the ornament on the tree without censorship. In his 1998 book ''Unlimited Access,'' former-FBI agent Gary Aldrich describes what he claims he saw in the White House during the Clinton administration. The book, published by an established conservative publishing house,

Regnery Publishing Regnery Publishing is a politically conservative book publisher based in Washington, D.C. The company was founded by Henry Regnery in 1947, and is now a division of radio broadcaster Salem Media Group. It is led by President & Publisher Thomas ...

, Stephanopoulos, George. ''All Too Human: : A Political Education'',
Google Books
, Back Bay, 2000, p. 417, (). states that the 1994 White House Christmas Tree was decorated with condoms and

drug paraphernalia "Drug paraphernalia" is a term to denote any equipment, product or accessory that is intended or modified for making, using or concealing drugs, typically for recreational purposes. Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methampheta ...

.Aldrich, Gary. ''Unlimited Access'',
Internet Archive
, Regnery Publishing, 1998, pp. 103–107, (). George Stephanopoulos called the book a "work of fiction"; it has also been called "infamous". Confessore, Nicholas.
Hillary Was Right
, ''

The American Prospect ''The American Prospect'' is a daily online and bimonthly print American political and public policy magazine dedicated to American modern liberalism and progressivism. Based in Washington, D.C., ''The American Prospect'' says it "is devoted t ...

'', November 30, 2002, accessed April 4, 2009. In 2008 one of the ornaments designed by a

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...

artist, Deborah Lawrence, was rejected for inclusion on the Blue Room Christmas Tree. The rejected ornament was a red and white striped ball with the words "Impeach Bush" emblazoned on it. The ornament was the only one of about 370 submitted that was rejected."Hackett, Regina
Seattle ornament banned from White House Christmas tree
, ''

Seattle Post-Intelligencer The ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' (popularly known as the ''Seattle P-I'', the ''Post-Intelligencer'', or simply the ''P-I'') is an online newspaper and former print newspaper based in Seattle, Washington, United States. The newspaper was f ...

'', December 3, 2008, accessed March 29, 2009.

Tree

Description

The White House Christmas tree is selected from various growers nationwide.Mitchell, Monte.
Officials choose White House Christmas tree in Ashe County
, ''

Winston-Salem Journal The ''Winston-Salem Journal'' is an American, English language daily newspaper primarily serving Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, North Carolina. It also covers Northwestern North Carolina. The paper is owned by Lee Enterprises. ''The Journa ...

'', October 21, 2008, accessed March 29, 2009. Growers in the state of

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

have provided 14 trees, more than any other state. The state of

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

has the second-highest total of trees provided for the White House with 11, as of 2022.Pennsylvania farm wins White House Christmas tree contest for second time
, ''Philly Voice'', October 11, 2022, accessed October 12, 2022. The White House Christmas tree has been displayed in the Blue Room many times since 1961. It has also occasionally been displayed in the

Entrance Hall The Entrance Hall (also called the Grand Foyer) is the primary and formal entrance to the White House, the official residence of the president of the United States. The room is rectilinear in shape and measures approximately 31 by 44 feet. ...

. Generally, there is more than one Christmas tree in and around the White House, for instance, in 1997 there were 36, in 2008 there were 27.McBride, Anita.
Ask the White House
, ''Whitehouse.gov'', December 16, 2008, accessed March 30, 2009. Traditionally, the tree in the Blue Room is the official White House Christmas tree. The White House Christmas tree usually stands nearly tall and the crystal chandelier in the Blue Room must be removed for the tree to fit the room. World Book Inc. ''Christmas in Washington D.C.''
Google Books
, World Book .com, 1998, pp. 23–24 (). Frequently, the tree's height is reported as Silverman, Stephen M.

, ''

People A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...

'', November 29, 2007, accessed March 30, 2009.White House Christmas tree again comes from NC
, ''

WWAY WWAY (channel 3) is a television station in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States, affiliated with ABC, CBS, and The CW Plus. Owned by Morris Multimedia, the station has studios on Magnolia Village Way in Leland, and its transmitter is l ...

'', October 22, 2008, accessed March 30, 2009. or tall.Grace, Francie.
White House 2002: Merry Pet-mas!
, '' CBS News'', November 21, 2002, accessed March 30, 2009. The Blue Room tree is donated each year by the

National Christmas Tree Association The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) is a professional organization in the United States of over 5,100 "Christmas tree professionals" in various capacities. The group focuses its work into three areas: promotion and research, federal repre ...

(NCTA). The NCTA has donated the tree since 1966; it is chosen through a contest among members of the trade group.It's a Fraser fir for White House Christmas tree
, ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...

'', November 30, 2008, accessed March 30, 2009.

Official list (1961–2022)

Other known White House Christmas trees

References

External links

*Jackson, Lawrence.
Behind-the-Scenes Look: Time-Lapse Of The White House Christmas Tree
, (video), '' The White House Blog'', December 2, 2010, accessed December 3, 2010.
White House Christmas Ornaments
, '' snopes.com'', October 14, 2009, accessed November 2, 2009. {{DEFAULTSORT:White House Christmas Tree Furnishings of the White House Individual Christmas trees Christmas in Washington, D.C. Individual trees in the District of Columbia 19th-century introductions