In continuing with the Christmas theme of late, Claire has every Christmas tree ornament that the White House Historical Association has ever produced.
The White House Historical Association has released a Christmas tree ornament every year, beginning in 1981. All ornament sales support the mission of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Association to protect, preserve, and provide public access to the history of the White House.
The first ornament in 1981, “Angel in Flight,” depicted a copper weather vane inspired by those atop many historic American buildings, such as Mount Vernon and Independence Hall.
Some of the ornaments have included a fire truck, a steam train and even a helicopter — because the decorations are not only meant to brighten people’s homes, they are intended to shine a light on lesser-known stories from America’s political past. The fire truck was inspired by the time Herbert Hoover’s Christmas Eve was interrupted by a blaze in the West Wing (1929,) and the helicopter alludes to Dwight Eisenhower becoming the first President to regularly fly in one.
Each year’s design is based on a different presidency or, occasionally, a key White House anniversary, with the president-focused ornaments beginning with George Washington and progressing in chronological order. Each ornament comes with an information booklet, making each one a historical education tool.
The WHHA was founded in 1961 by Jackie Kennedy. The decision to feature a different presidency every year was made early on — the system helps the nonpartisan organization avoid any contentious discussions about what the focus should be in any given year.
Since Christmas occurs more often that presidents are elected, the ornament will catch up with the present day fairly soon. When this happens, the design will either start again with Washington or, more likely, move on to other themes inspired by White House history.
The White House Chief Usher, Rex Scouten, arranged to have the Association’s first ornament hung on the Blue Room Christmas tree in 1981. This started the tradition of hanging the Association’s ornament on that official tree each year.
Every ornament is American-made in Lincoln, Rhode Island by ChemArt Manufacturing. The company has made all the ornaments since the first one in 1981.
All the ornaments are on display on our Christmas tree….
— 30 —