The Guild 12-07-2002 Past White House Christmas Cards

The White House ^

[BigWaveBetty]

Written on White House stationary in his own hand in 1927, President Calvin Coolidge issued the first official Christmas message to the American people. As a response to numerous requests for the President to send a holiday greeting, President Coolidge asked newspapers across the United States to publish his holiday greeting to the American people. Although he didn't speak, he participated in the first ceremonial tree lighting for the event now known as the Pageant of Peace.

President Eisenhower expanded the list of Presidential Christmas cards recipients significantly in 1953; the President sent season’s greetings to American ambassadors abroad, members of the Cabinet and Congress, foreign heads of state and government officials. Thereafter, the official Presidential Holiday Greeting was the White House Christmas card.

Artist Adrian Martinez of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, designed the 2001 holiday card which features the Second Floor Corridor of the White House with Mary Cassatt's 1908 painting, Young Mother and Two Children. Mrs. Bush selected the Psalm for the card on September 16. At Camp David, the chaplain based his sermon on the Psalm, which was outlined in the lectionary for that September Sunday.

2001 White House Tree

The President and Mrs. Bush stand next to the 2001 tree, an 18-foot Concolor fir that was grown in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania. For ornaments, artists from all 50 states and the District of Columbia designed miniature replicas of historic houses from their regions.

See the past cards from The White House from Hoover to to Bush 41.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Thanks for the link to RedBloodedAmerican's card. I had no idea that Jesus could play the piano.

[Endeavor]

I did go to the link but I guess I somehow missed what the card looks like this year - it must be the same pic w/o Jesus at the piano (no doubt warming up to play for the disciples).

Honestly, people must have lots of time on their hands to worry about whether the scripture is old or new testament. They're lucky to have a scripture at all. And, don't people realize that Bush is president of the US - where religious tolerance is a key tenet - that means all religions can practice here doesn't it? (except for gross distortions of religions which promote and fund terrorism).

I can think of better things to get my knickers in a twist about. Thanks for cluing me in.

[Carolina]

They're lucky to have a scripture at all.

President Bush's cards broke new ground in that he's the first President to include a Scripture verse. But it's not enough because Jesus isn't mentioned and Christmas is not stated. Just season's greetings.

Well, we posted pics of previous cards from Coolidge onward that say, guess what? Season's Greetings. Somehow, the piano in this year's card offends people.

Well, here's FDR's. Real cheer there, eh?

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

You are correct, this year's card is the piano without Jesus. It's a lovely, simple, and elegant card. I was delighted when I received mine. I was not offended in any way.

[mountaineer]

There's a certain faction here (and a certain mob over at LP) that will find fault with every single thing Pres. Bush does, even something as benign as sending Christmas cards. Instead of intelligent discussion of whatever policy differences they may have with him (and I have no problem with reasoned disagreement with the president), they attack him personally, adjudge - in all their selfrighteous glory - that he's not really a Christian and basically, like a bunch of children, engage in namecalling. It's really quite tiresome.

[mountaineer]

The silly thread is here.

[Carolina]

in all their selfrighteous glory

Dare we say, Pharisees?

[mountaineer]

I'll just say those folks wear me out, which is why I didn't bother responding to them on the silly Christmas card thread.

In other news, a woman after my own heart:

. Laura Bush was spotted Christmas shopping at Neiman Marcus in Washington over the weekend. “She bought women’s clothing and gifts,” reports our spy. “The store is having a 40 percent-off sale, and, as far as I could tell, everything she bought was marked down.” MSNBC

[mountaineer]

Has anyone heard of this nutcase?

The New York Times recently sang the praises of an alleged pedophile. Under the headline “A Friend in India to the World,” the paper of record earlier this month ran a gushing profile of Sai Baba, which described at length “the appeal of the unusual holy man.”

There was, however, no mention of serious charges against the controversial guru, including allegations that his sexual partners include the children of his followers. Last year, UNESCO pulled out of its co-sponsorship of a conference with Sai Baba, noting that it was “deeply concerned about widely reported allegations of sexual abuse involving youth and children that have been leveled at the leader.” MSNBC

Of course, I googled:

His influence seems to be pervasive among some of the world's elite. ...Fergie, the Duchess of Windsor visited Sai Baba. ... Michael Jackson is also reputed to be a follower, as reported in the Link Newspaper in Vancouver. Hillary and Bill Clinton's advance party went to Puttaparthi but no visit occurred. Sai Devotees even claim Al Gore as sympathetic. link

It may be that Hillary has met with him, according to this nearly incoherent website, although this one says she only tried to visit this self-proclaimed god, but couldn't make it.

[Endeavor]

Thanks for the Christmas card update. Maybe one reason its hard to follow this guru dude is because of poor reporting, "Fergie, the Duchess of Windsor visited Sai Baba" -- Fergie being the Duchess of York. Unless of course, the guy talks to the dead and in that case, perhaps he and the late Duchess of Windsor have been having tea parties. I will go look at the Christmas card thread - I could use a laugh today! Thanks for the link, mountaineer.

[Utah Girl]

I accidentally came across Anna Nicole Smith's show while I was channel surfing. Yikes, the woman is a basket case, I kind of feel sorry for her, being laughed at. She is out in the ozone somewhere. I quickly removed the E! channel from my remote though...

[BigWaveBetty]

Hey Carolina! I've missed you too. Glad to see you again! I just got back online from this morning and saw your post, so I wanted to say hey before I went back to that thread to see what happened. Boy, what ever happened to Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men?! Such pettiness!

You're right, some people are just unhappy about everything. And I'm wondering how much of that bile is directed at GWB personally.

I'll be in and out the next couple of days but hope your real life will allow you to come by more often. :-)

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Finally, a New Thread