A look at the White House Christmas themes and decor through the years

By Riya Peter
Published on : 06:27 PST, Dec 19, 2023

Bill Clinton with Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama with Michelle Obama, and Joe Biden with Jill Biden in their Christmas portraits from the White House (Wikimedia Commons/Clinton Digital Library, Barack Obama/Facebook, Getty Images)

White House Christmas through the years: Where tradition and vision hold sway

John F. Kennedy, wife Jacqueline Kennedy (L), and George W. Bush and Laura Bush (R) during Christmas celebrations in the White House (Kennedy Library Archives/Newsmakers, Mark Wilson/Getty Images) — John F Kennedy, wife Jacqueline Kennedy, and George W Bush and Laura Bush during Christmas celebrations in the White House (Kennedy Library Archives/Newsmakers, Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The White House is decorated for the most celebrated holiday season. The walls adorned with stunning Christmas-themed decorations and rooms filled with Christmas trees, make the President's official residence the most beautiful. During the Hoover administration in 1929, the first official Christmas tree was placed in the White House, leading to tradition. Since then, the First Lady has chosen the theme for the holiday decorations. Amid criticism of First Lady Jill Biden's holiday theme and decorations this year, which have sparked controversy for breaking with tradition, let's reflect on past holiday decor, beginning with the John F Kennedy administration.

John F Kennedy: 1961-1963

U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963) (C) and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994) pose with their family on Christmas Day at the White House, Washington, D.C., December 25, 1962. (L-R): Caroline Kennedy, unidentified, John F. Kennedy Jr. (1960 - 1999), Anthony Radziwill (1959 - 1999), Prince Stanislaus Radziwill, Lee Radziwill, and their daughter, Ann Christine Radziwill. (Photo by John F. Kennedy Library/Courtesy of Getty Images) — US President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy pose with their family on 1962 Christmas Day at the White House (John F Kennedy Library/Courtesy of Getty Images)

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme for the official White House Christmas tree in 1961. According to the White House Historical Association, she chose the 'Nutcracker Suite' to honor the ballet for the family's first year in office. She also reused these ornaments in her children's Christmas tree in 1962.

Lyndon B Johnson: 1963-1969

Lyndon B. Johnson and his family on Christmas Eve in 1968 at the Yellow Oval Room in White House (Wikimedia Commons) — Lyndon B Johnson and his family on Christmas Eve in 1968 at the Yellow Oval Room in the White House (Wikimedia Commons)

President Lyndon B Johnson and First Lady Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson continued many White House holiday traditions. The family used to celebrate the holiday in Texas but opted to stay in the White House in 1967. The Johnsons hosted traditional Christmas receptions inside the White House, and the First Lady continued to choose a theme for the decor just like her predecessor, Jacqueline.

Richard Nixon: 1969-1974

Washington: President Nixon and his family pose in front of the Christmas Tree in the Blue Room of the White House on Christmas Eve. They will celebrate the holiday in the Executive Mansion and will be joined later in the day by Mamie Eisenhower and her son and daughter-in-law, former Amb. and Mrs. John Eisenhower. Left to right: Tricia and her husband, Edward Cox; Pres. and Mrs. Nixon; and Julie, and her husband , Ens. David Eisenhower. — President Richard Nixon and his family pose in front of the Christmas tree in the Blue Room of the White House on Christmas Eve (Getty Images)

In the five years of Richard Nixon in the White House, First Lady Pat Nixon brought some new traditions to the holiday celebrations. She started to adorn the Executive Mansion for the holiday season, which every First Lady since then continues to follow. It was during the Nixon presidency the White House became more accessible to more people, according to the White House Historical Association website. “At Christmas, the Nixons, more than any previous First Family, allowed their private home to become the most public house in America," said Mary Evans Seeley, a chronicler of the holidays at the White House.

Gerald Ford: 1974-1977

President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford in front of the Blue Room tree (Ford Presidential Library )

The White House Christmas during Gerald Ford's presidency had limitations as the country was in the grip of a recession, which prevented extravagant decorations and celebrations. First Lady Betty Ford chose a patchwork theme for their first Christmas in the official residence in 1974. This emphasized the frugality and simplicity representing the nation's financial state.

Jimmy Carter: 1977-1981

Portrait of the US First Family as they pose in front of the Christmas tree located in the Blue Room of the White House, Washington DC, December 20, 1977. Pictured are (rear) US First Lady Rosalynn Carter and President Jimmy Carter, with their daughter, Amy Carter. (Photo by Karl Schumacher - White House via CNP/Getty Images) — President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter and their daughter, Amy Carter pose in front of the Christmas tree located in the Blue Room of the White House (Karl Schumacher - White House via CNP/Getty Images)

President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter with their children celebrated their first Christmas in the White House in 1977. According to the White House archives description, the 1977 Christmas tree featured trimming made by disabled men and women of the National Association of Retarded Citizens. The ornaments were made from materials like nut pods, eggshells, foil, and painted milkweed pots.

Ronald Reagan: 1981-1989

President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan hang ornaments here, made for them by the two Korean children that they brought back from Korea on Air Force One for heart surgery, in their residence on December 24th. The Reagans will spend Christmas in the White House before flying to California for the New Year. — President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan hang ornaments on a White House Christmas tree (Getty Images)

Former President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan had been in the White House for eight Christmases, allowing the latter to select the holiday theme for nearly a decade. The themes varied from year to year. In 1981, she used ornaments lent by the Museum of American Folk Art, while in 1982, they were oil paper cones and metallic snowflakes. They also used reused materials to adorn the trees.

George H W Bush: 1989-1993

George Bush, the 41st President of the United States, reading a Christmas story to his grandchildren on the 1991 Christmas Eve at the White House, Washington DC. (Photo by Susan Biddle/Keystone/CNP/Getty Images) — Former President George Bush reading a Christmas story to his grandchildren in 1991 on Christmas Eve at the White House (Susan Biddle/Keystone/CNP/Getty Images)

George H W Bush, the 41st President of the country, and First Lady Barbara Bush celebrated five Christmases in the Executive Mansion. With a big family of children and grandchildren, the Bush holiday celebration at the White House was a joyous family affair. A 'Champion of Literacy', the former President read stories to his grandchildren during the holiday season

Bill Clinton: 1993-2001

President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton read ''A Night Before Christmas'' to children at the White House December 22, 1998 in Washington, DC. (Hhoto by Mike Holmes/Getty Images) — President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton read 'A Night Before Christmas' to children at the White House on December 22, 1998 (Mike Holmes/Getty Images)

Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton are another family to celebrate eight Christmases in the White House. During her eight holiday seasons at the White House, the First Lady highlighted the talents of America's artistic communities. Their 1998 Christmas tree was based on the theme 'A Winter Wonderland' featuring fabric snowmen ornaments, knitted mittens and hats, and painted wooden ornaments.

George W Bush: 2001-2009

President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush stand in front of the official White House Christmas Tree during the 2004 holiday season in the Blue Room of the White House December 5, 2004 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Eric Draper/White House via Getty Images) — President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush stand in front of the Christmas Tree during the 2004 holiday season in the Blue Room of the White House (Eric Draper/White House via Getty Images)

The very first Christmas of George W Bush and Laura Bush in the White House had an emotional touch owing to the 9/11 attack. So, for her first holiday in the official residence, the First Lady chose 'Home for the Holidays' as the theme. For the eight years of the two-term presidency, the Bush family kept up the tradition of adorning the Blue Room with the Christmas tree. In 2003, the family also reused the ornaments the President's mother, Barbara, used when she was the First Lady.

Barack Obama: 2009-2017

A topiary of the first family's dog, Bo, made from plastic sits in front of the fire place in the Library during the first viewing of the 2011 White House Christmas decorations November 30, 2011 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — A topiary of the first family's dog, Bo, made from plastic, was placed in front of the fireplace in the White House, as part of the Christmas decoration in 2011 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's Christmases in the White House had many original ideas along with the traditions. For her holiday celebration in the White House in 2011, Michelle decorated the residence with the theme “Shine, Share, Give'. Their pet dog Bo was represented throughout the White House. Bo could be found in nearly every room, from small ornaments to life-size topiaries made from everyday materials like felt, buttons, candy and even trash bags!

Donald Trump: 2017-2021

More than 40 red topiary trees line the East colonnade as part of the holiday decorations at the White House November 26, 2018 in Washington, DC. The 2018 theme of the White House holiday decorations was 'American Treasures,' and featured patriotic displays highlighting the country's 'unique heritage.' (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — More than 40 red topiary trees lined the East Colonnade as part of the holiday decorations at the White House in 2018 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Donald J Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's 2018 White House holiday decorations featured a decidedly red color palette. The crimson topiary trees lining the East Colonnade specifically jumped out, while the rest of the decor was a bit more subdued, and centered around the theme 'American Treasures', which, per a White House statement, recognized the country's "unique heritage." The 'official' White House Christmas Tree was an 18-foot-tall, Fraser Fir from North Carolina decorated with over 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon embroidered in gold with each state and territory's name.

Joe Biden: 2021-Present

The Cross Hall between the East Room and the State Dining Room is lined with frosted Christmas trees during a media preview of the 2023 holiday decorations at the White House (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) — As part of the holiday decor in 2023, the Cross Hall between the East Room and the State Dining Room in the White House is lined with frosted Christmas trees (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden decorated the residence for their first Christmas in the White House with the theme 'Gifts from the Heart'. Numerous Christmas trees and more than 50,000 lights adorned the Executive Mansion. However, the public did not receive the First Lady's 2023 theme and decorations well as they found it unconventional.

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