Presidents At Christmastime: A Look Back (PHOTOS)

Merry Christmas! To celebrate the holiday in HuffPost Style style, we're taking a look back at our commanders-in-chief and how they've celebrated.

Which president had 26 trees, including one in the laundry room? Who began the tradition of trimmings with a theme, anyway? Who had to cut back on energy? Which first lady distributed decorating instructions to families around the country? And who sang on-stage with Mary J. Blige?

Check out our album of presidents during Christmastime.

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The Roosevelts

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In this Dec. 25, 1939, file photo it was a family Christmas at the White House in Washington for the Roosevelt's in the East Room as the family watches Johnny Boettiger, son of Anna Roosevelt Boettiger crawl on the floor. Seated on floor, left to right: Eleanor "Sistie" Dall; Diana Hopkins, daughter of Harry Hopkins, Secretary of Commerce; and Curtis "Buzzie" Dall, Jr. Seated, left to right: Mrs. Sara Roosevelt, the president's mother; Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt, Jr., with Franklin III on lap; the president; Mrs. John Boettiger, the president's daughter, mother of Johnny; Mrs. J.R. Roosevelt, the chief executive's sister-in-law; and Mrs. John Roosevelt. Standing, left to right: Franklin, Jr., John Roosevelt and John Boettiger. (AP Photo/File)

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In this Dec. 25, 1939, file photo it was a family Christmas at the White House in Washington for the Roosevelt's in the East Room as the family watches Johnny Boettiger, son of Anna Roosevelt Boettiger crawl on the floor. Seated on floor, left to right: Eleanor "Sistie" Dall; Diana Hopkins, daughter of Harry Hopkins, Secretary of Commerce; and Curtis "Buzzie" Dall, Jr. Seated, left to right: Mrs. Sara Roosevelt, the president's mother; Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt, Jr., with Franklin III on lap; the president; Mrs. John Boettiger, the president's daughter, mother of Johnny; Mrs. J.R. Roosevelt, the chief executive's sister-in-law; and Mrs. John Roosevelt. Standing, left to right: Franklin, Jr., John Roosevelt and John Boettiger. (AP Photo/File)

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Comments

[linaya]

10:04 PM on 01/03/2011

The family dog is biting Nancy Reagan!

[linaya]

10:03 PM on 01/03/2011

If Nixon is "romping" then I'm sitting here doing a triathalon....

[Ljilja]

04:16 PM on 12/28/2010

I absolutely love the Christmas picture of the Roosevelt family - the baby makes the whole scene warm and informal. The expressions on people's faces are priceless!

http://graciouslivingdaybyday.com/

[KIVPossum]

09:16 PM on 12/26/2010

Little heavy on Obama pix

[Cakey4814]

08:45 AM on 12/28/2010

"Little heavy on Obama pix"..how does it feel to always look for the negative when doing something as mudane as looking thru photos?

[delphinium]

02:01 PM on 12/26/2010

I really liked Betty Ford's pic.

[LeftieLefty]

12:01 PM on 12/26/2010

Yeah, why so many Obama pictures?? Why not focus on the Eisenhowers?? I mean, it's 1953, right? Oh, wait...

[sweetwhine]

12:28 AM on 12/26/2010

First Mother-In-Law has a radiant smile.

[lillibelle]

05:38 PM on 12/26/2010

She certainly does! A look of joy.

Merry Christmas, my friend! May the 2011 be filled with much love for you and your family!

[sweetwhine]

02:56 PM on 12/29/2010

The same for you lillibelle! Thanks for calling me your friend :)...that sure is something coming from you!

[marywooo]

09:28 PM on 12/25/2010

Awwwww....his visit to Hawaii was less than perfect? Well, stuck here with skyrocketing bills and cuts in hours thanks to state budget shortfalls, having difficulty buying presents for the kids as well as paying the bills, and generally making do with less, trust me when I say I really feel the Obamas' pain. Truly.

[dbl48]

11:20 AM on 12/26/2010

Really?
You just sound jealous to me....

[Chloe33]

02:38 PM on 12/26/2010

Oh, not again. The 2 favorite words here are 'racist' and 'jealous' if anyone dares say anything that is unfavorable toward this administration. And neither word is EVER relevant. But nice try.

[ipresumelikely]

06:27 PM on 12/26/2010

Jealous? Do you also say that to people who criticize those in the financial industry for destroying the economies of the entire Western world in order to make hand over fist money for themselves and their families? So, when somebody points out corruption, they are just jealous they weren't able to perpetrate it? Tool. Peasant.

[blueplano]

09:15 PM on 12/25/2010

The Obamas are the BEST.

[kapalabhati]

02:52 PM on 12/25/2010

I love Gramobama!

[sweetwhine]

12:29 AM on 12/26/2010

Beautiful smile.

[Ferrante Photo]

01:19 PM on 12/25/2010

Why do the Obamas hate Christmas. They should be on vacation in Alaska closer to the North Pole instead of warm Hawaii. I bet Sarah is there like person who truly believes in Xmas, I mean Christmas. LOL SARCASM !!!!!!!!!!! But I bet Fox would run with it, though. Merry Christmas to the beautiful First Family, the Troops and America.

[Madison Lib]

12:25 PM on 12/25/2010

Captions we should have seen with these photos:

Johnson - "Wow, a beagle under the tree! Lets pull him outta there and have a look at him."

Reagan - "Uh, Nancy...something has tricked down my leg from that dog."

Barbara Bush - "Someone get W's car out from under that tree and get him some coffee."

Hillary Clinton at the tree - "Bill....what are you doing under there?"

Laura Bush and the gingerbread house - "George, I thought you said it was supposed to be built on sand?"

[naschkatze]

04:38 PM on 12/25/2010

Pretty good. I especially like Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton.

[Mondayboy]

11:42 AM on 12/25/2010

The Clintons and Bushes destroyed our country.

[kapalabhati]

02:52 PM on 12/25/2010

Wow, aren't you spreading the Christmas joy today. Bet you're a blast at the holiday dinner table.

[naschkatze]

04:40 PM on 12/25/2010

Truth is more important than holiday joy.

[WesternModern]

09:32 AM on 12/25/2010

Too bad there was nothing with the Trumans. A very close family.

[RockyBlue3]

12:59 PM on 12/25/2010

They liked tuna noodle casserole. I have Bess Truman's recipe if you want it.

[isis]

03:07 PM on 12/25/2010

Sure!

[naschkatze]

04:40 PM on 12/25/2010

Yes, please post it.

[EvasDaddy]

09:20 AM on 12/25/2010

Where is Eleanor Roosevelt? Whose foot is that sticking into the left side of the Roosevelt picture?

[RockyBlue3]

12:57 PM on 12/25/2010

It might be Winston Churchill's foot. He stayed there on Christmas Day one year.