1934
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The White House East Hall christmas tree was to be admired by visitors, while President Franklin Delano Roosevelt also had a family tree on the second floor.
1939
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1941
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Just as America entered World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Roosevelts welcomed Winston Churchill to the White House for Christmas.
1957
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The 26 trees decorated throughout the White House during the Eisenhower administration held a record until 1997.
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1958
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President Eisenhower poses for a Christmas portrait with his family outside the White House.
1960
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The Eisenhower family stands in front of their Christmas tree, hung with silver tinsel, on their last year in the White House.
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1961
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The White House tradition of decorating in Christmas themes began with Jacqueline Kennedy when she chose to decorate the tree with ornaments from the “Nutcracker Suite.”
1962
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President Kennedy poses in a candid family photo with his wife, children, dogs, and in-laws on what would be his last Christmas.
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1965
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On a visit to the United States in 1965 just before the holidays, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and his wife are shown the White House Christmas tree by Lady Bird and President Johnson.
1967
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You might call the White House Christmas tree decorations of 1967 almost psychedelic: Lady Bird Johnson opted for strands of popcorn and an eclectic mix of colors and ornaments.
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1969
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The Nixons’ dogs, Pasha and King Timahoe, pose in front of a miniature Christmas tree with the Eisenhowers’ poodle Vicki.
1970
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Since the Hoover administration in 1929, decorating the official White House Christmas tree has been a responsibility of the First Lady. In 1970, Patricia Nixon trimmed the tree with glass ornaments and tinsel.
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1971
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Richard Nixon and his wife Patricia pose with their daughters and sons-in law in front of the Blue Room Christmas tree.
1972
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Patricia Nixon shows off the White House’s Cross Hall decorated for Christmas with holly and trees.
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1974
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For her first Christmas as First Lady, Betty Ford chose to decorate the Blue Room tree with ribbons and an array of classic ornaments.
1975
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Betty Ford decided on a less formal look when she decorated the 1975 Christmas tree with paper chains, popcorn strands, and wooden ornaments.
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1977
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1978
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In 1978, Carter decorated the Blue Room tree with antique toys lent to the First Lady by the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum.
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1981
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Although Nancy Regan decorated the Blue Room tree as well, the Reagans pose here in front of a more casual tree in the White House living quarters.
1982
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First Lady Nancy Reagan chose to pair white lights with gold and angel ornaments for her second Christmas in the White House.
Lyndsey Matthews is the Destination News Editor for AFAR; previously she was a Lifestyle Editor across all of Hearst Digital Media’s brands, and a digital editor at Martha Stewart Weddings and Travel + Leisure.
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