Focused Christmas Read in 2-5 minutes,
depending on how far you choose to go
Personal Commentary ~
Just feeling nostalgic this week about the presidency of the United States as we celebrate the Holiday
Season and move into the 2018 mid-term elections so, below you will
find my top five favorite presidential couples, a Christmas story and four White House Christmas cards, courtesy of “White House Christmas
Cards.”
One of my favorite
Presidential couples, John and Abigail Adams, didn't send out
Christmas cards but apparently began the celebration of Christmas at
the White House in 1800, as you will read below, so their companion
visual is a painting:
White House in John
Adams's Presidency: The President's House, December 1800
This painting of a New
Year's Eve reception at the White House was created by artist Tom
Freeman in 2000, during President Bill Clinton's administration. As
part of a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the occupancy of
the White House, the White House Historical Association commissioned
this painting depicting guests arriving at the south entrance of the
President's House in 1800 for a levee hosted by President John Adams.
Following
the Adams, you will find the Roosevelts, the
Kennedys, the Clintons and the Obamas.
Merry
Christmas!
🎄
The Adams
"When the second President
of the United States, John Adams and his wife Abigail, moved into
what would come to be known as the White House [in November 1800],
the residence was cold, damp, and drafty. Sitting at the edge of a
dreary swamp, the First Family had to keep 13 fireplaces lit in an
effort to stay comfortable. It is in this setting that the
cantankerous president held the first ever White House Christmas
party in honor of his granddaughter, Susanna. It could be said that
the invitations sent for this party were the very first White House
Christmas cards, though in those early days, the building was
referred to as the President’s Palace, Presidential Mansion, or
President’s House.
The affair was planned in
large part by the vivacious First Lady, Abigail Adams, and was
considered a great success. A small orchestra played festive music in
a grand ballroom adorned with seasonal flora. After dinner, cakes and
punch were served while the staff and guests caroled and played
games. The most amusing incident of the evening occurred when one of
the young guests accidentally broke one of the First Granddaughter’s
new doll dishes. Enraged, the young guest of honor promptly bit the
nose off of one of the offending friend’s dolls. The amused
president had to intervene to make sure the incident didn’t take an
uglier turn. ...”
President John Adams
Term: March 4, 1797 –
March 4, 1801
Home
State: Massachusetts
Wife: Abigail
Smith
Children: Abigail “Nabby”, John Quincy, Susanna,
Charles, Thomas Boylston, & Elizabeth (stillborn)
You can read more here
🎄🎄
The Roosevelts
“Franklin Delano
Roosevelt began his first term as the 32nd President of the United
States in 1933. That year, the White House received a record 40,000
Christmas cards from the American public; the number was so large
that a staff had to be hired to handle the influx of mail. The
Roosevelts sent Christmas cards to close family and
friends. The card they ordered was single-sided and featured an
etching of the White House, hand engraved by A.B. Tolly.
That same year marked the
10th anniversary of the lighting of the National Christmas Tree.
5,000 people attended the ceremony, during which Roosevelt gave the
longest speech to date. Roosevelt’s speech established the
tradition of the president speaking directly to the American people
during the tree lighting ceremony. … “
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Term: March 4,
1933 – April 12, 1945
Home State: New York
Wife: Eleanor Roosevelt
Children: Anna Eleanor, James, Elliott, Franklin, Jr., & John Aspinwall
Home State: New York
Wife: Eleanor Roosevelt
Children: Anna Eleanor, James, Elliott, Franklin, Jr., & John Aspinwall
You can read more here
🎄🎄🎄
The Kennedys
“ … For the Kennedys’
first Christmas in the White House in 1961, as a Christmas gift to
their staff they gave a photograph of little Caroline Kennedy’s
ducks in the fountain on the South Lawn with the White House in the
background. Caroline, who was only five-years-old at the time, had
raised the yellow-beaked white ducks from baby ducklings. After
several months of trying to keep the Kennedy’s terrier, Charlie,
from eating her fine-feathered friends, they were transported to
safer grounds in Rock Creek Park located in northwest D.C. Before the
ducks’ transfer, the President’s personal photographer, Cecil
Stoughton, snapped the memorable picture of the ducks in the
fountain.
… Edward Lehman, an
advertising illustrator, was commissioned to sketch some renderings
of the rooms for the home furnishings section of the Philadelphia
Bulletin. The First Lady took a particular liking to Lehman as well
as his artistry, and at his request, he was invited back to the White
House to paint a 20 x 30-inch watercolor of the Red Room for the
Kennedys. The President and First Lady were so impressed with
Lehman’s watercolor that they had it reproduced for their 1962
Christmas gifts to their White House staff.
… Hallmark reproduced
the gift prints, and similar to the year prior, each was accompanied
by a red protective folder. The Kennedys gave out 2,000 Christmas
gift prints to their staff at the annual Christmas party held on
December 12. Cabinet and executive staff members also received a red
leather-bound copy of The White House, An Historic Guide, the
first book published by the First Lady’s newly created White House
Historical Association. … “
John F. Kennedy
Term: January 20,
1961 – November 22, 1963
Home State: Massachusetts
Wife: Jacqueline Bouvier
Children: Arabella (stillborn), Caroline, John Jr., & Patrick
Home State: Massachusetts
Wife: Jacqueline Bouvier
Children: Arabella (stillborn), Caroline, John Jr., & Patrick
You can read more here
🎄🎄🎄🎄
The Clintons
“ … In 1995, the First
Lady turned her attention to the renovation of the Blue Room. This
redecorated chamber was chosen as the setting for the 1995 White
House Christmas cards and Thomas McKnight was again commissioned to
create the design. The prior year, McKnight had painted a more formal
Blue Room scene which wasn’t used. For ’95, he composed one which
exuded more warmth. Socks again appeared curled up under a blanket
below a decorated tree. And Mrs. McKnight’s dog again made an
appearance, relaxing behind Socks. As the artist does not duplicate
existing paintings, James Madison’s portrait was replaced by a
painting of Mr. McKnight’s Litchfield, Connecticut neighbor’s
backyard, with the famed Sheldon Tavern (where George Washington once
stayed) also appearing in the framed rendering. The Washington
Monument is visible outside one window, under a trademark full moon.
It was very important to
First Lady Hillary Clinton that the newly refurbished Blue Room
appear accurate in color and design. Samples of the drapery were
actually sent to American Greetings to compare to their color proofs.
For the season, the company printed 300,000 official White House
Christmas cards and 15,000 gift prints. The deckle-edged design was
burnished by a gold foil border and a blind embossed Presidential
Seal. … “
President William J. Clinton
Term: January 20,
1993 – January 20, 2001
Home State: Arkansas
Wife: Hillary Rodham
Children: Chelsea
Home State: Arkansas
Wife: Hillary Rodham
Children: Chelsea
You can read more here
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
The Obamas
“It should come as no
surprise that even though President Barack Obama is the most recent
edition to the list of our nation’s leaders, there is already a
wealth of information regarding the First Family’s White House
Christmas cards, where they spend the holidays, as well as their
other holiday-related activities. Having two young children as
members of the family certainly ensures that lots of attention will
be paid to the Obamas’ goings-on during Christmastime.
During their first year in
the executive mansion, the President and First Lady Michelle Obama’s
selection of their White House Christmas card caused some controversy
in that there was no mention of the word “Christmas” anywhere on
the front or inside of their card. The front of the very stylish,
cream-colored card, featuring a gold wreath surrounding a gold
presidential coat of arms and containing a maroon border, said
“Season’s Greetings,” with “2009” centered below. The
inside verse offered good wishes to the Presidential Christmas cards’
recipients: “May your family have a joyous holiday season and a new
year blessed with hope and happiness.”
The fact that there was no
printing of a biblical passage (as there was on White House Christmas
cards for each year sent out by George W. and Laura Bush) nor an
artist’s depiction of decorations in one of the rooms in the White
House (as on Bill and Hillary Clinton’s selections) certainly
brought out the critics. Among those voicing their opinion on the
matter was Representative Henry Brown, a Republican from South
Carolina, who introduced a resolution calling for the defense of the
sacredness of the Christmas holiday. He said, “I believe that
sending a Christmas card without referencing a holiday and its
purpose limits the Christmas celebration in favor of a more
politically correct holiday.” More than 40 Democrats and
Republicans co-signed the bill.
A White House spokesperson
indicated that certainly no slight was intended and that the
Presidential family recognized that many Americans celebrate
different holidays at the end of the year and at the beginning of the
new year, and the Obamas’ White House Christmas cards reflect that
thought. Besides, the Obamas’ holiday cards did not break
any new ground; George W. Bush’s distributed White House Christmas
cards that did not mention the word “Christmas” either. Barry
Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of
Church and State, has said, “It makes sense for a president of all
the people to send out a card…without referring to any one specific
religion.” … “
President Barack Obama
Term: January 20,
2009 – Present
Home State: Hawaii & Illinois
Wife: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson
Children: Malia Ann & Natasha “Sasha”
Home State: Hawaii & Illinois
Wife: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson
Children: Malia Ann & Natasha “Sasha”
You can read more here
Per First Lady Abigail Adams: remember "the ladies" ~
You can view the letter here
Abigail Adams
Eleanor Roosevelt
Jackie Kennedy
Hillary Clinton
Michelle Obama
*
The above story excerpts are courtesy of "White House Christmas Cards & Messages of
the Presidents of the United States."
( You can find more information on Presidents Adams, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Clinton and Obama and others, as well, here )
All of the First Lady images are courtesy of "The National First Ladies' Library"
( You can see more here )
*
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.
→ Direct sources for Democrats:
* ( Personal favored and most informative follows are shared here with the understanding that readers will always apply their own critical thinking to any information provided anywhere by anyone. #StrongerTogether does not share sources of information lightly but -- no one is perfect! -- so always #DistrustAndVerify I am using a star rating that is strictly based on my situational experience with the work of the media personality specifically in relation to issues of interest to me. )
The Democratic Party Website
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Website
The National Democratic Redistricting Committee
Also
C-SPAN (a good place for speeches & hearings direct source (s))
→ Fact checking organizations courtesy of the Society of Professional Journalists
in alphabetical order...
follows on Twitter include:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ US Intelligence | Author | Navy Senior Chief | NBC/MSNBC
⭐⭐⭐ Federal Government Operations | Vanity Fair | Newsweek | MSNBC Contributor | Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Voting Rights/Voter Suppression | Author | Mother Jones
→ Some of the most credible media -- at the moment:
📰📰📰 Mother Jones
→ Some of the most credible Talking Heads -- at the moment -- and their Twitter handles:
( ⬆⬆⬆ Wallace is new to the job but for right now
her work on Trump GOP has been credible, IMO)
...for Networking for Democrats today!
.
.
.
(Linked) "...is our 2016 platform...a declaration of how we plan to move America forward. Democrats believe that cooperation is better than conflict, unity is better than division, empowerment is better than resentment, and bridges are better than walls.
It’s a simple but powerful idea: We are stronger together."
(Remember 2018...)
*
Curated by Gail Mountain, with occasional personal commentary, Network For #StrongerTogether ! is not affiliated with The Democratic Party in any capacity. This is an independent blog and the hope is you will, at a glance, learn more about the Party and you will, with a click or two, also take action on its behalf as it is provided!
( You can also find me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GKMTNtwits )
*
See the League of Women Voters website:
Vote411 here
Thank you for focusing!
g., aka Focused Democrat
✊ Resisting "Fake News"
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