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 White House. 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

First tree

Depending on which sources are consulted, the White House never had a Christmas tree until the 1850s or 1889. 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 1853 or 1856. Others claim the first tree was during President Benjamin Harrison's administration (either in 1889, or 1891). First Lady Caroline Harrison helped decorate the tree, which was installed in the second floor oval parlor today's Yellow Oval Room. Harrison was credited with installing the first White House Christmas tree by the White House web site during the presidency of George W. Bush.

General

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

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, 1904, and 1922. The lack of a tree in 1902 was due to the fact that President Theodore Roosevelt 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. There is no evidence that Abraham Lincoln ever displayed a Christmas tree in the White House. In 1922 First Lady Florence Harding's illness led to a more subdued Christmas celebration at the White House and no Christmas tree.

Tree

Description

The White House Christmas tree is selected from various growers nationwide. Growers in the state of North Carolina have provided 11 trees, more than any other state. The state of Wisconsin has the second highest total of trees provided for the White House with six. 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.

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. Traditionally, the tree in the Blue Room is the official White House Christmas tree. The White House Christmas tree usually stands nearly 20 feet tall and the crystal chandelier in the Blue Room must be removed for the tree to fit the room. Frequently, the tree's height is reported as 18 or 18½ feet tall. The Blue Room tree is donated each year by the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA). The NCTA has donated the tree since 1966; it is chosen through a contest among members of the trade group.

List of White House Christmas trees (1961-2009)

Year	Species and location grown	Ornamentation notes	First Lady	Location	Theme
2009	Douglas fir, Shepherdstown, West Virginia		Michelle Obama	Blue Room
2008	Fraser fir, Crumpler, North Carolina	Ornaments designed by artists from around the country selected by members of Congress. The ornaments had a patriotic theme.	Laura Bush	Blue Room	A Red, White, and Blue Christmas
2007	Fraser fir, Laurel Springs, North Carolina	Each ornament represented one of the 391 National Park Service sites.	Laura Bush	Blue Room	Holiday in the National Parks
2006	Douglas fir, Lehighton, Pennsylvania	Crystals and ornaments of iridescent glass	Laura Bush	Blue Room	Deck the Halls and Welcome All
2005	Fraser fir, Laurel Springs, North Carolina	White lilies, crystal spheres and light-catching garland	Laura Bush	Blue Room	All Things Bright and Beautiful
2004	Noble fir, Rochester, Washington	Musical instruments hand-painted by members of the Society of Decorative Painters.	Laura Bush	Blue Room	A Season of Merriment and Melody
2003	Fraser fir, Wisconsin	Ornaments first used by Barbara Bush in 1989.	Laura Bush	Blue Room	A Season of Stories
2002	Noble fir, Elma, Washington	An artist from each state designed an ornament based on a native bird.	Laura Bush	Blue Room	All Creatures Great and Small
2001	Concolor fir, Middleburg, Pennsylvania	An artist from each state designed miniature replicas of historic houses from their region.	Laura Bush	Blue Room	Home for the Holidays
2000	Douglas fir, Auburn, Pennsylvania	Ornaments were from the First Lady's past.	Hillary Clinton	Blue Room	Holiday Reflections
1999	Noble fir, Elma, Washington	Doll makers fashioned toys of American historical figures for this tree.	Hillary Clinton	Blue Room	Holiday Treasures at the White House
1998	Balsam fir, Endeavor, Wisconsin	Knitting Guild of America and the Society of Decorative Painters worked together with fabric artists from each state on the ornaments.	Hillary Clinton	Blue Room	Winter Wonderland
1997	Fraser fir, Grassy Creek, North Carolina	Members of the National Needlework Association and Council of Fashion Designers of America joined with glass artisans to design the trimmings.	Hillary Clinton	Blue Room	Santa's Workshop
1996	Colorado blue spruce, Coshocton, Ohio	Woodcraft artisans and professional ballet companies helped with the ornaments.	Hillary Clinton	Blue Room	Nutcracker Suite
1995	Fraser fir, North Carolina	Ornaments contributed by American architecture students and members of the American Institute of Architects.	Hillary Clinton	Blue Room	A Visit From St. Nicholas
1994	Blue spruce, Missouri	Ornaments contributed by American art students.	Hillary Clinton	Blue Room	The Twelve Days of Christmas
1993	Fraser fir, North Carolina	More than 1,000 artists contributed angel-themed ornaments.	Hillary Clinton	Blue Room	Angels
1992	Grand fir, Oregon	White House florists made 88 gift-giving characters.	Barbara Bush	Blue Room	Gift-givers
1991	Noble fir, Salem, Oregon	Saintly Stitchers of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston created a needlepoint village and 92 pieces for a White House staff built Noah's Ark.	Barbara Bush	Blue Room	Needle work tree
1990	Fraser fir, North Carolina	Used miniature porcelain dancers.	Barbara Bush	Blue Room	Nutcracker Suite
1989	Fraser fir, Pennsylvania	White House staff created 80 soft-sculpture literary characters.	Barbara Bush	Blue Room	Family literacy
1988	Balsam fir, Montello, Wisconsin	Reused hand-blown glass ornaments from the Eisenhower administration, and reused Nixon's state flower balls. White House carpenters made 300 wood candles.	Nancy Reagan	Blue Room	Old-fashioned tree
1987	Fraser fir, West Virginia	Miniature instruments, notes and sheet music made by patients at Second Genesis, drug-treatment program.	Nancy Reagan		Musical theme
1986	Fraser fir, Washington	15 soft-sculpture nursery rhyme scenes and 100 geese made by patients at Second Genesis, drug-treatment program.	Nancy Reagan	Blue Room	Mother Goose theme
1985	Blue spruce, Michigan	1,500 Ornaments made by patients at Second Genesis, drug-treatment program.	Nancy Reagan	Blue Room	Ornaments made from Christmas cards sent to the Reagans in 1984.
1984	Fraser fir, North Carolina	Ornaments made by patients at Second Genesis, drug-treatment program.	Nancy Reagan	Blue Room	Ornaments made from plant material and other handcrafted natural ornaments.
1983	Noble fir, Orting, Washington	Reused 1982 ornaments and added old-fashioned toys lent by Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum.	Nancy Reagan	Blue Room	Old-Fashioned toys.
1982	Fraser fir, North Carolina	Ornaments made by patients at Second Genesis, drug-treatment program.	Nancy Reagan		Foil paper cones and metallic snowflakes
1981	Douglas fir, Pennsylvania	Nancy Reagan's first tree did not involve Second Genesis. The ornaments were loaned by the Museum of American Folk Art.	Nancy Reagan	Blue Room	Ornaments from the Museum of American Folk Art.
1980	Douglas fir, Bristol, Indiana	Dolls, hats, fans, tapestries and laces.	Rosalynn Carter	Blue Room	Victorian theme
1979	Douglas fir, West Virginia	Corcoran School of Art created ornaments from balsa wood, fabric and dried flowers.	Rosalynn Carter		American folk art of the colonial period
1978	Veitch fir, New York	Victorian dolls and miniature furniture lent by the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum.	Rosalynn Carter	Blue Room	Antique toys
1977	Noble fir, Washington	National Association for Retarded Citizens made eggshell ornaments.	Rosalynn Carter	Blue Room	Painted milkweed pods, nut pods, foil and eggshell ornaments.
1976	Balsam fir, Wisconsin	Natural ornaments made by the Garden Club of America.	Betty Ford	Blue Room	"Love that is the spirit of Christmas"
1975	Douglas fir, New York	Used ornaments from 1974 plus experts from Colonial Williamsburg made ornaments from paper snowflakes, acorns, dried fruits, pinecones, vegetables, straw, cookies and yarn.	Betty Ford	Blue Room	Old-fashioned children's Christmas
1974	Concolor fir, Michigan	Ornaments made by Appalachian women and senior citizens groups.	Betty Ford	Blue Room	Handmade crafts, thrift and recycling
1973	Fraser fir, North Carolina	In honor of James Madison	Pat Nixon		Gold theme
1972	Noble fir, Washington	Reused 1969 ornaments, added 3,000 pastel satin finish balls, and 150 gold federal stars.	Pat Nixon		Still Life with Fruit and Nature’s Bounty, paintings by Severin Roesen
1971	Fraser fir, North Carolina	Reused 1969 ornaments, added Monroe fans, and gold foil angels.	Pat Nixon		American Flower Tree
1970	White spruce, Wisconsin	Reused 1969 ornaments, added 53 Monroe fans.	Pat Nixon	Blue Room	American Flower Tree
1969	Blue spruce, Ohio	Disabled workers from Florida made velvet and satin balls featuring each state's state flower.	Pat Nixon	North Entrance	American Flower Tree
1968	White pine, Indianapolis	19th century American style with gingerbread cookies.	Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson	Blue Room	19th century gingerbread tree
1967	Blue spruce, Ohio	Same as 1965-66 but with silver baubles, silver stars, and round mirrors added.	Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson	Blue Room	Early American
1966	Balsam fir, Wisconsin	Traditional ornaments: nuts, fruit, popcorn, dried seedpods, gingerbread cookies and wood roses from Hawaii.	Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson	Blue Room	Early American
1965		Traditional ornaments: nuts, fruit, popcorn, dried seedpods, gingerbread cookies and wood roses from Hawaii.	Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson	Blue Room	Early American
1964	Balsam fir		Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson	Blue Room
1963			Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson
1962		Reused ornaments from 1961 plus other ornaments made by disabled and senior citizens.	Jacqueline Kennedy	North Entrance	Childhood
1961	Balsam fir	Toys, birds, and angels modeled after Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite ballet.	Jacqueline Kennedy	Blue Room	Nutcracker Suite

List of other known White House Christmas trees

Year	Species and location grown	General notes	First Lady	Location	Theme (if any)
1954		Silver tinsel, Eisenhower grandchildren opened presents under this tree.	Mamie Eisenhower	East Room
1947			Bess Truman	East Room
1944		Elliot Roosevelt: ". . . the Christmas tree was in place and decorated, the piles of presents were ready for the unwrapping - each person's pile heaped on a separate chair."	Eleanor Roosevelt	Family quarters
1937		". . . gleamed with snow and silver trimming."	Eleanor Roosevelt	East Room
1934		Multiple trees were installed in the White House, some for public viewing and others for private enjoyment of the Roosevelts.	Eleanor Roosevelt
1929		First "official" White House tree.	Lou Henry Hoover
1926		Mrs. Coolidge chose to display three Christmas trees at the White House.	Grace Coolidge
1923	Norway spruce	White House had two Christmas trees.	Grace Coolidge	Blue Room, and family quarters
1917			Edith Bolling Galt Wilson
1916			Edith Bolling Galt Wilson	Library
1914			none	White House library
1912			Helen Taft	Blue Room
1903		Tree decorated solely by young Archie Roosevelt.	Edith Roosevelt	Living Room (The President's Den) (then Archie Roosevelt's bedroom)
1895		Tree featured electric lights.	Frances Cleveland
1894		"Beautifully trimmed and decorated".	Frances Cleveland	Library
1891			Caroline Harrison	Library
1889	Foxtail hemlock	Glass balls and pendants, gold tinsel. Four-sided-lanterns used candles used for lighting. Credited as the first White House Christmas tree though the claim is disputed (see above).	Caroline Harrison	Yellow Oval Room
1853 or 1856		Decorated for a group of Washington, D.C. school children. Credited as the first White House Christmas tree though the claim is disputed (see above).	Jane Pierce

Controversy

The official White House Christmas tree has several times been seen as controversial by some. The Nixon administration's choice of tree topper, the atomic symbol of peace rather than a traditional star, was criticized. The 1995 Blue Room Christmas tree sought ornaments made by architecture students from across the United States. Rene Spineto stirred up some controversy when she designed an ornament that depicted two stocking, one marked "Bill" and the other marked "Newt" (in reference to President Bill Clinton 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, states that the 1994 White House Christmas tree was decorated with condoms and drug paraphernalia. George Stephanopoulos called the book a "work of fiction"; it has also been called "infamous".

In 2008 one of the ornaments designed by a Seattle artist, Deborah Lawrence, was rejected for inclusion on the Blue Room Christmas tree. The rejected ornament was a red and white striped 9-inch ball with the words "Impeach Bush" emblazoned on it. The ornament was the only one of about 370 submitted that was rejected.

See also

• National Christmas Tree
• Capitol Christmas Tree
• The Tree at Rockefeller Center

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Further reading

• Moorman, Margaret. " Rough Rider Spares That Tree", The New York Times (Books), December 20, 1998, accessed March 30, 2009.
• Morello, Carol. " Christmas tree farm refills tall order for White House", Washington Post, October 21, 2009, accessed November 2, 2009.
• " White House Christmas Ornaments", snopes.com, October 14, 2009, accessed November 2, 2009.
• Christmas at the White House A fifty year expose' of Christmas at the White House. 500 rare photos, interviews with the first ladies.