Christmas at the White House

In 1912 while President and Mrs. Taft were away on an inspection of the Panama Canal, their children Robert (22) and Helen (20) hosted the family celebrations and held a Christmas tree party in the Blue Room for their young cousins. The huge tree decorated with thousands of electric lights, set a precedent for decorating a tree on the State Floor for guests.

Although absent, President and Mrs. Taft still provided gifts for friends and each employee of the White House received a fat turkey, a practice began by presidents in the nineteenth century.