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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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.