This is the illustrated side of a holiday card that was presented to White House Executive Chef Henry Haller from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson in December 1968. The card features an illustration by Robert Laessig of the South Grounds as seen from the South Portico, with the Jefferson Monument and Washington Monument visible in the distance. The card includes a note from the presidential couple, declaring "appreciation" and "warmest wishes" for "all the years ahead." The Johnson's 1968 holiday card marked both the passing of the holiday season as well as the end of the Johnson administration, with the inauguration of President Richard M. Nixon the following month. To see the full card, see 1128399. This card is part of a personal collection belonging to Chef Haller. In the position, Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests from 1966-1987.

This is the interior of a Christmas card that was presented to White House Executive Chef Henry Haller from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson in December 1967. This was Haller's second Christmas at the White House, though he was to remain executive chef until 1987. The card features an illustration by Robert Laessig of the official White House Christmas tree, positioned in its traditional spot in the center of the Blue Room. The back of the card discusses the tradition of Christmas trees in the White House. To view the card in its entirety, see 1128401. This card is part of a personal collection belonging to Chef Haller. In the position, Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests from 1966-1987.

This Christmas card was presented to White House Executive Chef Henry Haller from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson in December 1966. This was Haller's first Christmas at the White House, though he was to remain as executive chef until 1987. The card features an illustration by Robert Laessig of the North Portico, festively decorated for the holidays. The opposite side of the card includes a description of the American Elm tree featured in the illustration, which was planted by President Woodrow Wilson in December 1913. To view the card in its entirety, see 1128398. This card is part of a personal collection belonging to Chef Haller. In the position, Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests from 1966-1987.

This is the interior of a Christmas card, circa 1968. The card contains the message "season's greetings from the presidential crew." The exterior of the card featured images of two aircraft used by the president during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration: Air Force One (SAM 26000) and a Lockheed JetStar. To see the exterior of the card, see 1128412. For a full pdf of the card, see 1128413. The Christmas card is part of a private collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This is the exterior of a Christmas card, circa 1968. On the card, two aircraft used by the president during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration fly side-by-side. The image features Air Force One (SAM 26000) and a Lockheed JetStar. The interior of the card contains the following printed message: "Season's Greetings from the Presidential Crew." This Christmas card is part of a private collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987. To see the interior of the card, see 1128411. For a full pdf of the card, see 1128413.

The Christmas card was part of a private collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. On the outside of the card, two aircraft used by the president during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration fly side-by-side. The image features Air Force One (SAM 26000) and a Lockheed JetStar. The interior of the card contains the following printed message: "Season's Greetings from the Presidential Crew."

This is the back of a Christmas card that was presented to White House Executive Chef Henry Haller from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson in December 1967. This was Haller's second Christmas at the White House, where he was to remain executive chef until 1987. The card features an illustration by Robert Laessig of the official White House Christmas tree, positioned in its traditional spot in the center of the Blue Room. The back of the card discusses the tradition of Christmas trees in the White House. To view the card in its entirety, see 1128401. This letter is part of a personal collection belonging to Chef Haller. In the position, Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests from 1966-1987.

This holiday card was presented from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson to White House Executive Chef Henry Haller in December 1968. The card features an illustration by Robert Laessig of the South Grounds as seen from the South Portico, with the Jefferson Monument and Washington Monument featured in the background. The card includes a note from the presidential couple, declaring "appreciation" and "warmest wishes" for "all the years ahead." President Richard M. Nixon was inaugurated in January 1969, so the Johnson's 1968 holiday card reflects on both the passing of the season as well as the conclusion of the presidential administration. This card is part of a personal collection belonging to Chef Haller. In the position, Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests from 1966-1987.

This Christmas card was presented to White House Executive Chef Henry Haller from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson in December 1966. This was Haller's first Christmas working at the White House, where he was to remain as executive chef until 1987. The card includes a description of an American Elm tree, which was planted near the North Portico by President Woodrow Wilson in December 1913. The opposite side of the card includes an illustration by Robert Laessig of a festively decorated North Portico. To view the card in its entirety, see 1128398. This card is part of a personal collection belonging to Chef Haller. In the position, Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests from 1966-1987.

This is the message side of a holiday card presented from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson to White House Executive Chef Henry Haller in December 1968. President Richard M. Nixon was inaugurated in January 1969, so the Johnson's 1968 holiday card reflects on both the passing of the season as well as the conclusion of the presidential administration. The opposite side of the card features an illustration by Robert Laessig of the South Grounds as seen from the South Portico, with the Jefferson Monument and Washington Monument in the background. To see the complete card, see 1128399. This card is part of a personal collection belonging to Chef Haller. In the position, Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests from 1966-1987.

This Christmas card was presented to White House Executive Chef Henry Haller from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon B. Johnson in December 1966. This was Haller's first Christmas at the White House, where he was to remain executive chef until 1987. The card features an illustration by Robert Laessig of a festively decorated North Portico. The opposite side of the card includes a description of the American Elm tree featured in the illustration, which was planted by President Woodrow Wilson in December 1913. This card is part of a personal collection belonging to Chef Haller. In the position, Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests from 1966-1987.

This photograph shows a German A-frame gingerbread house created by White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert for the 1973 holiday season, during the Richard M. Nixon administration. Raffert's gingerbread houses had been a holiday tradition since 1969. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph shows a German A-frame gingerbread house created by White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert for the 1977 holiday season, during the Jimmy Carter administration. Raffert's gingerbread houses had been a holiday tradition since 1969. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph shows a German A-frame gingerbread house created by White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert for the 1978 holiday season, during the Jimmy Carter administration. Raffert's gingerbread houses had been a holiday tradition since 1969. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph shows the official White House Christmas tree positioned in the center of the Blue Room for the 1984 holiday season. Known for her "Just Say No" campaign, First Lady Nancy Reagan was dedicated to combating drug use and addiction. Starting in 1982, Mrs. Reagan arranged for the people of Second Genesis, a drug treatment program in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, to provide ornaments for her Christmas trees. In 1984, Second Genesis fashioned ornaments out of plant material to compliment natural pieces crafted by the Brandywine Museum in Pennsylvania. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph shows the official White House Christmas tree positioned in the center of the Blue Room for the 1981 holiday season. This was the first Christmas that President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan celebrated in the White House. The tree featured ornaments lent by the Museum of American Folk Art. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph, taken on December 14, 1973 during the administration of Richard M. Nixon, shows the East Room decorated for the holiday season. Featured in the center of the photograph is a 1938 Steinway piano, a gift to the White House from Steinway & Sons of Long Island City, New York. This piano replaced an earlier piano given to the White House by Steinway in 1903. The piano is supported by three gilded, eagle-shaped legs in the Art deco style. President Nixon was an accomplished piano player, and occasionally accompanied distinguished performers at the White House, including jazz legend Duke Ellington. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken December 16, 1985, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan pose in front of the official White House Christmas tree, positioned in the center of the Blue Room. Known for her "Just Say No" campaign, Mrs. Reagan was deeply interested in combating drug use and addiction, and, starting in 1982, arranged for the people of Second Genesis, a drug treatment program in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, to provide decorations for her Christmas trees. In 1985, the Reagan's Executive Residence staff and Second Genesis made 1,500 ornaments from holiday cards sent to President Reagan in 1984. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph shows the State Dining Room decorated for the holiday season in December 1973, during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. Over the mantelpiece, the 1895 landscape painting "Under the Palisades, in October" by Jasper Francis Cropsey replaces the painting of Abraham Lincoln by George Healy that customarily hangs in that spot. Due to its brooding depiction, the Lincoln portrait was temporarily moved to the East Room in 1973, however it was returned to the State Dining Room during the Gerald R. Ford administration in August 1974. Also noteworthy in this photograph is a German A-frame style gingerbread house, an early example of the annual tradition of the official White House Gingerbread House, created by White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert and, on the long dining table, is James Monroe's 13-foot gilded bronze surtout de table centerpiece or plateau that is the oldest object in the State Dining Room. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph, taken December 14, 1973, shows the Entrance Hall festively furnished for the holiday season. To match the "gold" Christmas theme selected to honor former President James Monroe, First Lady Pat Nixon had the columns in the Entrance Hall covered in shining wrapping paper, so they appeared to be made of gold, and the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room decorated with miniature gilded fans. This would be the last Christmas that the Nixons would celebrate in the White House. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Henry Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph shows a German A-frame gingerbread house created by White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert for the 1970 holiday season. This was the second year that Raffert created a distinctive A-shaped gingerbread house, which soon became an annual tradition during the Richard M. Nixon administration. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as the executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph, taken on April 20, 1987 by White House photographer Pete Souza, presents an aerial view of the South Grounds during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. During the beloved tradition, first held in 1878, local children and their families descend upon the White House South Grounds for springtime games and festivities. As President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan were in transit following a vacation to their California ranch, Vice President George H. W. Bush and Second Lady Barbara Bush presided over the 1987 festivities. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph, taken December 14, 1973, shows the Cross Hall festively furnished for the holiday season. To match the "gold" Christmas theme selected to honor former President James Monroe, First Lady Pat Nixon had the columns in the Cross Hall covered in shining wrapping paper, so they appeared to be made of gold, and the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room decorated with miniature gilded fans. This would be the final Christmas that the Nixons would celebrate in the White House. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as the executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller receives a turkey in the lobby of the West Wing. The turkey was presented by United States Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen of Illinois (far right) and representatives from the poultry and farming industries on November 10, 1966. President Lyndon B. Johnson was at his Texas ranch for Thanksgiving 1966, which fell on November 24th. While presidents have received turkeys for the holidays as far back as the 1870s, and President Abraham Lincoln did not slaughter a turkey purchased for Christmas dinner at his son Tad's request in 1863, the formalized tradition of a turkey pardon did not start until the 1980s during the administration of Ronald Reagan. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Henry Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken on July 4, 1986, President Ronald Reagan speaks at a podium on Governors Island, New York, as international ships parade in New York Harbor. The Statue of Liberty stands tall in the background. July 4, 1986 marked not only the 210th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, but also the centennial year of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, as overseen by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886. To celebrate the centennial of the Statue of Liberty and its corresponding restoration, ships from around the world participated in "Operation Sail," a goodwill demonstration of predominately tall mast ships sailing together. This was the third "Operation Sail" that had been held and, like the others, took place during a major American celebration. The first "Operation Sail" was held in the summer of 1964 at the New York World's Fair, having been endorsed in May 1963 by president and sailing enthusiast President John F. Kennedy. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.