Lyndon and Ladybird Johnson

A Gingerbread Tree, 1968

Gingerbread Tree click image for enlarged view

_Lyndon and Ladybird Johnson spent four of their six presidential Christmases in Texas rather than Washington. Each year it seemed President Johnson faced a different crisis, so he liked to return home to his beloved ranch on the banks of the Pedernalas for Christmas to relax and renew his spirit. However, the holiday season in Washington begins long before December 25^th and the Johnsons loved to entertain, so they didn't miss out on Christmas in the White House. Whenever dignitaries were lucky enough to visit the the President and First Lady during the holidays, they were entertained with traditional elegance using a Christmas theme, including a decorated tree such as this one, patterned after a gingerbread theme once used by Lady Bird Johnson.

The Christmas of 1967 was special for the Johnsons because their daughter, Lynda, was married to Charles Robb in the White House on December 9^th with 650 guests in attendance. The celebrating continued during Christmas week and the First Lady decided, over her husband's objections, that they would spend that Christmas in Washington, the first time in seven years!

The Johnsons final Christmas in the White House in 1968 was a time of reflection for them and the opportunity to say goodbye to their friends. On December 23^rd, President Johnson sent Christmas greetings to the American troops in Southeast Asia, which included his two sons-in-law. In Drew Pearson's syndicated column, he noted that Christmas at the White House for the Johnsons was "not as gay this year as last."