So, what was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Robert KC Johnson at Cliopatria noted:

It's not exactly reassuring to hear White House press secretary Dana Perino confess that, when asked by a reporter, she didn't know what the Cuban Missile Crisis was.

Her theory? "It had to do with Cuba and missiles, I'm pretty sure."

Well, at least she figured out the missiles and Cuba part...

The White House Press Secretary is a PR agent and does not have much of a voice in policy decisions. Her historical ignorance only hurts her ability to spin stories. Still, she ought to know about this relatively recent historical event. At least, she probably should not being admitting she doesn't know something like this.

The story Johnson referenced is at http://rawstory.com/news/2007/White_House_press_secretary_admits_she_1210.html.

And thus ends a rather rare foray into current events here at the American Presidents Blog.

The Official White House Christmas Card---2007

Right after Thanksgiving I began searching for something…..anything regarding the 2007 White House Christmas Card. I had so much fun last year researching the article I wrote and published here at American Presidents titled Have You Received Your Christmas Card From the White House Yet?, and I wanted to make sure I posted this year’s design as soon as it was made available.

Day after day….nothing. Nada. Zilch.

I couldn’t find anything.

Then suddenly what to my bleary eyes should appear…..but one tiny mention in the official White House Christmas Program seen here.

I hurriedly read the program cover to cover and discovered the following:

Nestled in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden beneath the branches of an Osage orange tree is Sylvia Shaw Judson’s bronze statue Gardener---the scene depicted on the 2007 White House Christmas Card, painted by David Drummond. Mr. Drummond is a watercolorist whose landscapes represent the beauty seen at out national parks. Look for Mr. Drummond’s original watercolor painting of the 2007 Christmas card in the East Foyer, along with an original painting by wildlife artist Michael Glenn Monroe, whose illustrations decorate this holiday booklet.

So, I knew who the artist was, I knew what the scene would be, but no image.

I was amazed. Wasn’t there an official showing of the card? Didn’t some White House photographer snap it as they took other official photos? Apparently not.

As in year’s past wasn’t there an outcry regarding was was on it or not included on it? Nope, at least not yet.

Perhaps the Bush family was as behind in their holiday preparations as I am and were going to be late sending the annual White House greeting…..

Last night my daily Google search since Thanksgiving paid off. Finally…..I saw this:

There’s the statue in the garden named for Jackie Kennedy and as promised it is a watercolor.

Here’s the inside that contains a verse from Nehemiah (9:6)

A huge thank you goes to Michael Swartz at monoblogue. He actually had the honor of receiving the card you see in the images above. He receives my undying gratitude for giving me his permission to post the pictures here in what seems to be the second time the official White House Christmas Card for 2007 card has had a mention along with an image on the Internet to date.

Silent Cal and White House Christmas Traditions

The other day while I was waiting for students to complete an assignment I noticed one particular little girl had removed her shoes.

I made a big circle around the rows of desks and as I passed the little girl I tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Can you put your shoes back on for me, please?”

She looked up and said, “Oh, Mrs. Elementaryhistoryteacher…..my feet hurt so bad. I’m wearing new shoes and they’ve rubbed a blister on both my heels.”

“Ouch!,” I said as I noticed the red puffy blister on each heel. I directed her to follow me to my desk where I gave her a Q-tip with Neosporin and two Band-Aids specifically for blisters. I mimicked with my own feet what she should do and sent her off to her desk again.

Once the class had finished we still had a few minutes remaining. Not wanting to waste a minute I first asked the little girl if she had done what I had asked and then told her she should find it easier to get her shoes back on. Then I asked the class if they would like to hear a little story that involved a blister and the National Christmas tree.

Of course everyone said they would……

While there are many firsts involving what we refer to as the National Christmas tree in Washington D.C. it was First Lady Grace Coolidge that gave permission for the first tree to be erected on the grounds of the White House. Who knew when she gave permission to the District of Columbia Public Schools in 1923, a tradition would begin that continues to this day? The tree was placed in the President’s Park, now referred to as the Ellipse, and President Coolidge was given the honor of lighting the tree.

By 1924, however, it looked as if the tradition would end before it ever reached year two. The Coolidge family had been devastated in July, 1924 when their youngest son, Calvin Coolidge, Jr. passed away from pathogenic blood poisoning.

Today if a student of mine receives a blister from new shoes or because they stubbornly didn’t mind their mom about wearing socks, its not real big deal except for a little pain and discomfort and an ‘I told ya so’ or two. However, in 1924 there were no antibiotics. Calvin, Jr. received a blister after playing a game of tennis on the south lawn of the White House on June 30, 1924. He wore sneakers without any socks and didn’t tell anyone about his blister. By July 3rd the infection had reached his bloodstream, and he was listless and had a high fever. He was tranferred to Walter Reed General Hospital.

(This picture is Calvin, Jr. and was taken on a farm. His father usually hired the boys out as farm hands when the family was on vacation.)

In his book, Calvin Coolidge: The Quiet President, Donald R. McCoy quotes President Coolidge stating, “He [Calvin, Jr.] was asking me to make him well. I could not.”

Calvin, Jr. was 16 years old when he died July 7, 1924. McCoy states President Coolidge took the boy’s passing extremely hard and planning for his campaign for the upcoming election was left to drag. Coolidge later said that when his son died, the power and the glory of the presidency went with him. Many of his scheduled campaign speeches were left to others.

It’s understandable that the Coolidge family was not in a festive mood when it came time to light the National Tree again, but Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge pressed on with the second National Christmas tree as well as finishing his second term. Robert H. Ferrell wrote in his book, The Presidency of Calvin Coolidge, the passing of that slender youth was so much like him, both in looks and in quiet earnestness, undoubtedly drove him back to work, taking refuge in the day-to-day routine rather than contemplating his triumphs or looking ahead to others.

Another first that involved the Coolidge presidency was he issued the first official Christmas message to the American people in 1927 on White House stationary. Because so many people requested a greeting from the president he asked newspapers to print it so everyone could see it.

This Christmas card (at left) is identified at many sites as the Coolidge Christmas card for 1927. It is the source of a Christmas quotation attributed to President Coolidge….Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Who was born here?

This picture looked so nice and summery compared to the icy rain we are currently having, so I couldn't resist. Do you know who was born here?

Poll: Who was the most effective early President?

The poll has closed for the question, "Who was the most effective early President?" Thanks to those who participated by voting.

George Washington won handily with 60%. Thomas Jefferson came in a distant second with 18%. James Monroe received 11% and John Adams got 5%. James Madison came in last with 3%.