Review
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Title: Christmas Greeting From The Presidents
Author: (Compilation)
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: U.S. History
Year Published: 2016
Number of Pages: 88
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN13: 978-1-629-72-220-7
Price: $14.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association For Mormon Letters
Let me begin this review by stating one very important fact: I LOVE this book! Shadow Mountain has delivered a very fascinating book, just in time for the Christmas season!
The tradition of decorating the “National Community Christmas Tree” on the Ellipse in Washington D.C, was started during the first year of President Calvin Coolidge’s administration. The year was 1923 and he lit the 3,000 light bulbs on the balsam fir that was brought to D.C. from his home state of Vermont. The public was quick to embrace this new tradition, but it was not until 1927 that President Coolidge offered the first Presidential Christmas greeting to the country. That year the message was a brief, handwritten note that was printed in major newspapers throughout the country.
Since 1927, the annual lighting of the tree has been accompanied by a presidential message. The collection of Christmas messages in this book includes at least one address from each president since Calvin Coolidge. What makes them so fascinating is that these pages also include historical data describing was happening in the country and world during the different administrations.
I remember brief glimpses of these Christmas messages being shown on the television when I was growing up, but I doubt any of them were shown in their entirety at that time. There was so much more to them than the brief edited 5-15 seconds the media presented to show only the “flipping” of the switch to turn on the lights of the tree. The actual messages reflected the times and seasons and mood of the country,and the prayers, hopes and dreams for the new year.
The reader will learn which president was unable to attend the lighting ceremony his first year in office, and why he was not present. Other interesting tidbits include: the president who was in office when a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that having a nativity scene on the premises represented “excessive entanglement” of government in religion, which first lady changed the planned color scheme of the national tree and why. This book also describes the times in American history that the tree was only partially lit or not lit at all, and why, which president had a candle placed in a window of the White House, and why he asked all Americans to do the same, and which president made a last minute decision to throw an impromptu Christmas party at the White House for all the members of congress and their spouses, leaving the White House staff only five hours to prepare.
I was struck by the devout religious tone to most of the presidential Christmas messages. They were uplifting, inspiring and often meant to calm a troubled nation during perilous times.
I was deeply moved to read how at great personal risk to his life, Winston Churchill had secretly crossed the Atlantic Ocean, just a few weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, to stand with President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the balcony of the White House on December 24, 1941, to jointly address the American public, by radio, about the importance of observing Christmas, “with all of its memories and all of its meanings,” despite the uncertainties and gloom of war which lay ahead.
1941 also was the last time President Roosevelt would push the button to light the National Tree. While the tradition continued, the tree remained unlit for the next four years due to wartime conservation of electricity and blackout restrictions. Chimes were hung in place of lights, and school children collected old and new ornaments to help decorate the tree.
I have had to exercise great personal restraint to not detail more of the interesting stories from these messages and times in American history. Suffice it to say that each short chapter is filled with facts and little-known stories surrounding the Christmas season, insights into the thoughts and hopes and dreams of our leaders, and their wishes and prayers for the new year.
Each chapter includes pictures of the presidents, their families, and at least one of the decorated trees in the White House during their time in office. The National Christmas Tree is often pictured, and of course the fascinating stories of what was happening politically, both nationally and internationally, and its impact on our country and its leaders, is included along with the actual Christmas messages.
This is the perfect gift to purchase for those hard-to-buy for friends and relatives on your Christmas gift list. It would make a perfect host or hostess gift. The beauty, wisdom, and knowledge of this well thought-out book will appeal to everyone. The documentation from the Library of Congress, Presidential libraries, and the White House Historical Association will make this a memorable and meaningful volume for yourself and everyone on your list.
This is a rare volume — short and compact but full of meaning and purpose.