This is an image from the official White House Christmas greeting sent by President Johnson and Lady Bird in 1967.
Apparently there are a few people upset about this year's official greeting.
Click on over to my newest posting at American Presidents to learn more about this White House tradition.
Cool post...I love to hear about Christmas and history. What an interesting blog
ReplyDeleteWell, compared to the Johnsons' 1967 Christmas card, the one sent out by the Bush White House in 2006 is rather dull and uninspiring. "Season's Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas" doesn't offend me. What does offend me is the prominent display of the presidential seal on the card, as though Mr. Bush were the spirit of the season (i.e. generosity and liberality) incarnate. Not a good move for a man who cuts taxes for the rich and steadfastly ignores the pleas of the poor, for whom, if Scripture is to be cherished and emulated, God has an especial tenderness and mercy--and so should we.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy, I really appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteCTG, I understand where you are coming from, I really do. It would seem from the little bit of research I've done that the politicizing of cards began with the Nixon White House. There was also a huge backlash during the Clinton years regarding their list and if they were targeting recipients for campaign donations.
I wonder if sometimes the placement of certain items on the cards such as the seal, the White House, various rooms, etc. isn't done sometimes with the card's value in mind. There are folks out there that collect these and pay a great deal of money for them. Certain items printed on the card would decrease or increase the value. Either way it is an interesting event every year to see the card unveiled and to reflect on the reaction.
I'm just glad I'm not under such scrutiny......
I vote for the red-white-and blue Christmas tree one. Christmasy and American. Love it.
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