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This glass locket containing the hair of President Thomas Jefferson and his daughter Martha was acquired for the White House Collection in 1975 during the Gerald R. Ford presidency. The locket is attributed to Fossin et Fils, a prestigious Paris jewelry company that provided goods to King Louis-Philippe of France (1830–1848) as well as other European heads of state, and was produced circa 1825 to 1868.
Bruce White for the White House Historical Association/White House Collection
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This punch bowl was created by Tiffany and Company in 1874. The punch bowl features an intricate and realistic design of pine needles with eagle's heads and talons around the brim of the bowl. The design of the punch bowl is attributed to James H. Whitehouse and Eugene Soligny is attributed with the modeling and chasing. An "M" stamp at the bottom of the bowl indicates the bowl was made under the leadership of Edward C. Moore during his tenure at Tiffany and Company. This piece was donated to the White House Collection in 2005 during the George W. Bush administration.
Bruce White for the White House Historical Association/White House Collection
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This photograph, taken by Pete Souza on October 31, 2014, shows the South Portico of the White House festively decorated for a Halloween celebration hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for local children and military families. The decorations included large inflatable pumpkins and facades of trees with autumnal leaves.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
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This photograph was taken during a Halloween party hosted by Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence at the vice president's residence at the United States Naval Observatory on October 30, 2019. The festivities included trick-or-treating, a "pick your own pumpkin" field, pumpkin decorating, and thematic decorations including dry ice and lighting displays. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also celebrated Halloween by inviting local school schoolchildren and military families to trick-or-treat at the White House on October 28, 2019.
Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour
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This photograph of the White House Historical Association’s Official White House Christmas Ornament was photographed by David Wiegold. The 2021 ornament honors Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States who took office on November 22, 1963 following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The front of the ornament captures Robert H. Laessig’s painting of the 1967 Blue Room Christmas tree. Laessig, a designer with American Greetings, painted the tree at the request of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson for the Johnson family’s Christmas card that year. The card was sent to members of the White House staff, family, and friends. The back of the ornament features an engraving of a quote from President Johnson’s address to a joint session of Congress on March 15, 1966 in response to the violence in Selma, Alabama and the attack by law enforcement and counter protestors on Civil Rights activists. Johnson stated, “Our mission is at once the oldest and the most basic of this country: to right wrong, to do justice, to serve man,” calling on Congress to support a bill that would protect the right to vote and outlawing discriminatory actions that would inhibit African Americans from voting. The speech is most recognized for Johnson’s plea that, “We shall overcome.” Surrounding Johnson’s quote on the back are Texas bluebonnets to honor Mrs. Johnson’s dedication to beautification projects. The bluebonnets were a favorite of Mrs. Johnson’s and are the Texas state flower, a nod to the Johnson family’s home state.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
In this short video, White House Historical Association historian Dr. Matthew R. Costello shares the history of the Blue Room. This video was part of a series created to enhance the White House Historical Association's White House Experience app. The video was shot in 2020, during the Donald Trump administration. The videos were made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. This is a high-resolution version without subtitles. See 1130958 for high-resolution with subtitles, 1130956 for low-resolution with subtitles, and 1130957 for low-resolution without subtitles.
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FINAL FORWARD TEST This photograph of White House Executive Pastry Chef Susan "Susie" E. Morrison with the White House Gingerbread House was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 2023 White House Gingerbread House, on display in the State Dining Room, commemorated the 200th anniversary of the publication of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The display featured a sugar cookie replica of the book and Santa’s sleigh soaring over the White House grounds. 1:17
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
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In this photograph, President George H. W. Bush laughs during the turkey pardoning ceremony while his grandson, Sam LeBlond, gets caught in the shot. Presidents and their families have received turkeys for the holidays since the 1870s. The origin of the turkey pardon is said to have started with President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, after he offered a clemency to a turkey purchased for Christmas dinner at his son's request. However, the pardoning of a Thanksgiving turkey became a formalized tradition during the Ronald Reagan administration.
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
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This memorandum was written by members of President Richard M. Nixon’s staff to the president on December 21, 1970. The memorandum outlined a request by American musician Elvis Presley to meet with President Nixon that day, including talking points to discuss with Presley.
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
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This letter was written by American musician Elvis Presley to President Richard M. Nixon around December 21, 1970. Presley – known to the world as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – wrote the letter while on an American Airlines red eye flight from Los Angeles, California to Washington, D.C. Upon landing in D.C., Presley delivered the six-page letter to a guard at the White House at 6:30 am, requesting a short meeting with President Nixon to deliver a “personal gift.” He instructed the White House to contact him at The Washington Hotel, where he was staying under the name Jon Burrows. His letter included several unusual requests, including being named a “Federal Agent at Large” and to help curb American drug abuse.  This is an image of page one of six. To see the letter in full, see asset 1136064 in the Digital Library. The text of the letter reads: Dear Mr. President: First, I would like to introduce myself. I am Elvis Presley and admire you and have great respect for your office. I talked to Vice President Spiro Agnew in Palm Springs three weeks ago and expressed my concern for our country. The drug culture, the hippie elements, the SDS, Black Panthers, etc., do not consider me as their enemy or as they call it the establishment. I call it America and [End of page one] I love it. Sir, I can and will be of any service that I can to help the country out. I have no concerns or motives other than helping the country out. So I wish not to be given a title or an appointed position. I can and will do more good if I were made a Federal Agent at Large and I will help out by doing it my way through my communications with people of all ages. First and foremost, I am an entertainer, but all I need are federal credentials. I am on this plane with [End of page two] Senator George Murphy and we have been discussing the problems that our country is faced with. Sir, I am staying at the Washington Hotel, Room 505-506-507. I have two men who work with me by the name of Jerry Schilling and Sonny West. I am registered under the name of Jon Burrows. I will be here for as long as it takes to get the credentials of a Federal Agent. I have done an in-depth study of drug abuse and Communist brainwashing [End of page three] techniques and I am right in the middle of the whole thing where I can and will do the most good. I am glad to help just so long as it is kept very private. You can have your staff or whomever call me anytime today, tonight, or tomorrow. I was nominated this coming year one of America’s Ten Most Outstanding Young Men. That will be in January 18 in my home town of Memphis, Tennessee. I am sending you the short autobiography about myself so you can better understand this [End of page four] approach. I would love to meet you just to say hello if you’re not too busy. Respectfully,  Elvis Presley  P.S. I believe that you, Sir, were one of the Top Ten Outstanding Men of America also.  I have a personal gift for you which I would like to present to you and you can accept it or I will keep it for you until you can take it. [End of page five]
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum/NARA