History was made this Presidents Day at the Nixon Library with the first ever West Coast unveiling of the White House Historical Association’s Official White House Christmas Ornament.
For the last 40 years, the ornament has been an annual tradition of celebrating White House history and supporting the White House Historical Association’s mission dedicated to preserving our collective history and discovering untold stories. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association and Jim Byron, President of the Richard Nixon Foundation joined five presidential impersonators and Nixon Foundation Board Member Christopher Nixon Cox in a countdown to reveal the design of this year’s ornament.
The featured ornament design commemorates the White House legacy of President Richard Nixon and Pat Nixon. During her time as First Lady, Mrs. Nixon made lasting contributions to White House history including adding over 600 paintings and furnishings to the White House Collection, reinstating the tradition of lighting the White House exterior at night and establishing candlelight Christmas tours. This year’s ornament features the White House in gingerbread form— a tribute to the treasured tradition Mrs. Nixon started in 1969 by adding a gingerbread house to the decorations displayed in the State Dining Room. The annual White House gingerbread display is now one of the mainstays of White House Christmas decorations.
Event attendees from a packed East Room were able to be among the first to purchase the ornament which comes presented as a beautifully gift-boxed keepsake with a gingerbread scented booklet and recipe card featuring a gingerbread recipe from First Lady Pat Nixon’s time at the White House. In honor of Presidents Day, museum visitors also received cherry pie from Polly’s Pies and were able to interact with President Washington, President Lincoln, President Teddy Roosevelt, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and President Andrew Jackson.
The festivities kicked off a year-long partnership with the White House Historical Association that will illuminate the Nixons’ White House legacy through educational programming and onsite events.
The Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament can be purchased at the Nixon Library Gift shop or online at store.nixonfoundation.org throughout the year.
