PRESIDENT LIGHTS 1ST NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On Christmas Eve 1923, President Calvin Coolidge pushed a single button which illuminated 2,500 red, white and green bulbs on the first National Christmas Tree.
The Vermont balsam fir was gifted by Paul Moody* president of Middlebury College**.
*Paul Dwight Moody (1879-1947) was born in Baltimore, MD., son of a well-known evangelist. PDM was president of Middlebury College 1921-1943.
**Middlebury is a private 4 year liberal arts college located in Vermont. It was founded by Congregationalists in 1800 & was the 1st operational college in the state.
JFK+50 NOTE
The lighting of the National Christmas Tree has been a tradition since this first event of 1923. FDR was the 1st POTUS to give a speech at the lighting ceremony. JFK participated in the event only once during his presidency, December 17, 1962. His father had suffered a stroke forcing JFK to have LBJ substitute for him, and JFK died in November 1963.
SOURCE
"Coolidge Lit The First National Christmas Tree 89 Years Ago," JFK+50, December 24, 25, 2012, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/
