Christmas Greetings from Presidents Jackson and Reagan
Ray and I have enjoyed visiting several homes of presidents through the years. My parents took me on my first visit to a president’s home when they took me to the Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, when I was a child. The home is only an hour and a half from our house, so Ray and I have been able to visit it several times. I took this picture on the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans in 2015.
As you can see, it was a very cold January day.
The most exciting visit we made to the Hermitage was in November of 2017 when we saw Gerald Dickens, great-great grandson of Charles Dickens, perform his one-man show of A Christmas Carol.
Future president Martin Van Buren served as vice president during Jackson’s second term. Van Buren was elected president following Jackson, serving from 1837 to 1841. On December 26, 1840, Jackson sent this message to President Van Buren.Â
“Me and all my household greet you with the joys of the season . . . “
The two remained friends for the rest of Jackson’s life. Van Buren visited Jackson at the Hermitage in 1842. James K. Polk was also a good friend of Jackson. He made many visits to the Hermitage.
Many presidents have visited the Hermitage since Jackson’s death in 1845. These include Millard Fillmore, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump.
Five presidents have been honored to have a meal in the Hermitage dining room, including Van Buren, Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson.
President Theodore Roosevelt arriving at the Hermitage in 1907.
Photo by H. O. Fuller, courtesy of the Library of Congress.
President Theodore Roosevelt in the Hermitage dining room.
Photo by H. O. Fuller, courtesy of the Library of Congress.
President Franklin Roosevelt had deep respect for Jackson. For his 1937 inauguration, he had a replica of The Hermitage façade constructed on the front lawn of the White House and used it as a reviewing stand.
The inspiration for this blog post was an email I received from The Hermitage that included President Jackson’s Christmas greeting to President Van Buren. This week I would like to share with you some of the Christmas messages that a few presidents have given to the American people.
President Ronald Reagan visited The Hermitage in 1982 to celebrate Andrew Jackson’s 215th birthday. This was Reagan’s Christmas greeting in 1983.
It is a very special pleasure for Nancy and me to extend warmest greetings and best wishes to all of you during this most joyous of holiday seasons.
This festive occasion is celebrated in many different ways. We exchange gifts, attend church services, decorate our homes and Christmas trees, and enjoy a family dinner. But perhaps the tradition that most warms the heart is the sound of Christmas music.
Of all the songs ever sung at Christmastime, the most wonderful of all was the song of exaltation heard by the shepherds while tending their flocks on the night of Christ’s birth. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and said: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of voices praising the Heavenly Father and singing: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations we forget that the true meaning of Christmas was given to us by the angelic host that holy night long ago. Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, whose message would truly be one of good tidings and great joy, peace and good will. During this glorious festival let us renew our determination to follow His example.
Won’t all of you join with Nancy and me in a prayer for peace and good will? May a feeling of love and cheer fill the hearts of everyone throughout this holiday season and in the coming year.
We hope this Christmas will be especially wonderful and that it will usher in a new year of peace and prosperity.
— Ronald Reagan
May God bless you as you continue to celebrate this blessed season with your loved ones.
We have seen and testify
that the Father has sent the Son
to be the Savior of the world.
1 John 4:14