How Halloween parties at the White House vary depending on the president

Fall means Halloween in the White House! Here's a fascinating look at how presidents juggle the conflicting responsibilities of being commander in chief and in charge of trick-or-treating.

Stewart D McLaurin
| Opinion giver

Given the daily responsibilities of the President of the United States, it is remarkable that he can go from important meetings in the Situation Room to greeting costumed children in the South Portico on Halloween. It's a reminder that the White House is both the president's office and residence – combining the importance of national security with the joy of lighter, family-friendly traditions. Presidents must do everything!

Every Halloween, this festive event adds a light touch to the otherwise serious atmosphere of the White House. The holiday, originally brought to the United States by European immigrants in the 19th century, didn't make its presence felt at the White House until 1958.

Halloween comes to the White House with Eisenhower

First Lady Mamie Eisenhower introduced the first formal Halloween decorations when she filled the State Dining Room with jack-o-lanterns and hung skeletons from the lights. She added witch heads and black cats to the chandeliers in the foyer, setting a playful tone that would become a treasured tradition.

It was President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy who brought their young children Caroline and John-John trick-or-treating to the White House. This tradition has been carried on for decades and enjoyed by first-generation presidents and families, especially those with young children like Amy Carter, Chelsea Clinton, and Malia and Sasha Obama.

Some presidents, like Richard Nixon, found other ways to engage with the holiday.

Even though his daughters were grown, the Nixon White House hosted Halloween events for hundreds of local children and one year transformed the north entrance into the opening of a 17-foot-tall pumpkin. The East Room was full of Halloween delights, from clowns and wizards to fortune tellers and puppeteers. Even the famous TV vampire Barnabas Collins from “Dark Shadows” made an appearance.

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy celebrated her 10th birthday with a Halloween party. She and her friends watched the original film “Frankenstein,” a classic that gave the evening an eerie atmosphere.

The following year, the Carters took Halloween to the next level with an adult party featuring a 16-foot-tall plaster jack-o-lantern, an appearance by Broadway star Carol Channing and a one-man musical called “Ghosts of the.” White House,” which brought historical figures like Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson and John Tyler back to life for the night.

Halloween gives presidents a break from the pressures of the job

George H. W. Bush's White House hosted a massive Halloween party on the South Lawn in 1989, inviting 600 local school children to join in the fun.

The Clintons also embraced the holiday, hosting annual costume parties for friends and co-workers. In 1993, Bill and Hillary Clinton dressed up as President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison, adding a historic touch to the celebrations.

In recent years, the Obama and Trump administrations have invited local schoolchildren and military families to celebrate Halloween on the White House grounds.

The Bidens have continued the tradition: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden host festive Halloween events with elaborate decorations and handing out treats to children. The Bidens welcomed costumed children of frontline workers to trick-or-treat at the White House. The south portico is decorated in fall colors and bright pumpkins, making the celebration a fun and memorable experience for young visitors.

It's truly fascinating how presidents juggle such conflicting responsibilities. One moment they're lost in the gravity of decision-making and the next they're handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. Halloween at the White House is a reminder that even under the pressures of the presidency, there is room for celebration and community. It's an event that combines the solemnity of government with the joy and imagination of childhood, bringing a little magic to America's most famous residence.

As the seasons change and the South Lawn fills with ghosts, goblins and superheroes, the White House is transformed once again, showing how the People's House can be simultaneously a stage for history and a playground for celebration.

Stewart D. McLaurin is president of the White House Historical Association and director of The People's House: A White House Experience.

Halloween gives presidents a break from the pressures of the job

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