Beltway Confidential

The first White House Christmas during the Great Depression was bad enough — then the flames started

By J. Mark Powell

Published December 22, 2018 5:00am ET

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The first White House Christmas during the Great Depression was bad enough — then the flames started — U.S. President Herbert Hoover, third from left, poses with his family at the Washington community Christmas tree after lighting the tree on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1931. From left to right are, Allan Hoover, son; first lady Lou Henry Hoover; the President; daughter-in-law Margaret Hoover and her husband, Herbert Hoover Jr., and Colonel James A. Ulio, aid to the president. The grandchildren are Herbert III, known as Pete, left, and Peggy Ann, holding the president's hand. | (AP Photo)

Not all Christmases are the same. Some are dazzling and lovely. Some are sentimental. And every so often one comes along that’s just plain lousy, even when you live in the White House. Consider what happened to President Herbert Hoover.

Taking the presidential oath on March 4, 1929, he roared into the glory days of the Roaring 20s. Jazz was playing, employment was up, and Wall Street was enjoying record highs.

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