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The History of Wine and the White House
Featuring Frederick J. Ryan, author of “Wine and the White House: A History" and member of the White House Historical Association’s National Council on White House History
What Do the Images on the 2015 White House Christmas Ornament Represent?
Gallery
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The 2015 White House Christmas Ornament honors the administration of Calvin Coolidge and depicts the first National Christmas Tree, which he lit in 1923. The tree is decorated with ornaments of its own, each one representing a part of President Coolidge's unique life and presidency.
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The General Store
Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872, in a one-and-one half story house attached to the two-story family general store. In 1924, President Coolidge adapted the second floor of the store or “ballroom” as his summer White House office.
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The Baseball
President Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge were baseball fans and temporarily transferred their allegiance from the Boston Red Sox to the Washington Senators. They enjoyed going to watch the Senators, who won the World Series in 1924 and the American League championship in 1925.
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The Fishing Basket
As president, Coolidge enjoyed fishing at White Pine Camp in the Adirondacks above Saranac Lake, New York, and at the “Summer White House” in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
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The Eagle Feathers
On June 2, 1924 President Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted full citizenship to Native Americans. In 1926 he appointed a commission to examine federal programs for Native Americans and to investigate life on reservations.
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The Distinguished Flying Cross
On June 11, 1927 President Coolidge awarded Charles Lindbergh the first Distinguished Flying Cross for his nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic on May 20 and 21, 1927.
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The Cowboy Hat
Calvin Coolidge enjoyed wearing a cowboy hat and Western garb while on a 2-month vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1927. Movie star Tom Mix, with his trademark 10-gallon hat, was just one of the famous celebrities to visit Calvin Coolidge at the White House.
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The Kerosene Lamp
President Calvin Coolidge’s swearing-in took place in John Coolidge's family parlor at Plymouth Notch, Vermont by the light of a kerosene lamp at 2:47 a.m. on August 3, 1923 after word had arrived by telegram of President Harding’s sudden death in San Francisco.
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The Cannon
Coolidge was born on July 4 and as a teenager is said to have joined other boys of Plymouth Notch in stealing a cannon from nearby Plymouth Union; boys from Plymouth Union would steal the cannon back in a back-and-forth ritual that went on for years.
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The White House
The White House always had an attic, but a full third floor was not created until the Coolidge Administration. When problems with the roof structure were discovered, architects increased the pitch of the roof and lowered the floor to accommodate new guest and service rooms. At Mrs. Coolidge’s request a sunroom facing south toward the river was added.
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The Radio Microphone
On December 6, 1923 a presidential address was broadcast on a radio network for the first time as President Coolidge spoke to a joint session of Congress. The speech was heard by about half of the nation.
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The Campaign Button
With no 25th Amendment yet in effect, the office of vice president remained vacant for the first one year and seven months of Coolidge’s presidency. On June 12, 1924 Charles G. Dawes was nominated by the Republican National Convention and sworn in as vice president on March 4, 1925.
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The Raccoon
A little raccoon was sent from Mississippi to be part of the White House Thanksgiving meal in 1926, but the Coolidge’s liked her so much they adopted her as a pet instead. The raccoon was named Rebecca on Christmas Eve 1926 and soon became a White House fixture.
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Mount Rushmore
On August 10, 1927 President Calvin Coolidge attended the dedication ceremony of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.
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The Socks
Shortly after their marriage in 1905 Calvin Coolidge presented his new wife Grace with a basket containing pairs of socks to mend. When she asked him if he had married her to get his socks darned, he replied, “No—but I find it mighty handy.”
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CollectionThe 2021 White House Christmas Ornament
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CollectionNative Americans and the White House
Native Americans hold a significant place in White House history. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples, including the Nacotchtank and Piscataway, lived in the Potomac Valley prior to the construction of the White House. Since that time, Native Americans have come to the Executive Mansion to share their cultural heritage, meet with presidents, protest, and advocate for Indigenous rights. In
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CollectionThe Decatur House Slave Quarters
In 1821-1822, Susan Decatur requested the construction of a service wing. The first floor featured a large kitchen, dining room, and laundry; while the second floor contained four rooms designated as living quarters. By 1827, the service wing was being used as an urban slave quarters. Henry Clay brought enslaved individuals to Decatur House, starting a trend that was solidified by
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CollectionThe Nixon White House 1969 - 1974
On January 20, 1969, Richard Nixon was inaugurated as the thirty-seventh president of the United States. During his time in the White House (1969–74), President Nixon sought to unite a divided nation after the social, political, and cultural turbulence of the 1960s. Before becoming president, Nixon served in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as
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CollectionPresidential and First Lady Portraits
Since 1965, the White House Historical Association has been proud to fund the official portraits of our presidents and first ladies, a long-standing tradition of the White House Collection. Recent presidents and first ladies typically select their respective artists before leaving the White House and approve the portraits before their formal presentation to the public and induction into the collection. The
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CollectionThe 2022 White House Christmas Ornament
Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament. These unique collectibles — honoring individual presidents or specific White House anniversaries — have become part of the holiday tradition for millions of American families. In this collection, explore the history behind our 2022 design and learn more about President Richard Nixon. Buy the
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