Pol Light Moment #163 happened on December 19, 2018, when Barack Obama visited the Children's National Hospital in Washington DC to hand out gifts. Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States. He served as President of the United States from 2009-2017.
Barack Obama visited the hospital to pass out gifts and talk to the children and their families. The following is a video from NBC News on Barack Obama's visit to the Children's National Hospital and his remarks.
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Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
The photo of Barack Obama is in the Public Domain as his official photo.
Pol Light Moment #156 occurred on November 30, 2017, when Donald Trump presided over the annual lighting of the national Christmas tree. Donald Trump is the 45th and current President of the United States, serving from 2017 to the present.
The tradition of Presidents presiding over the lighting of the National Christmas tree in Washington DC began in 1923 with Calvin Coolidge. Here is the full text of the speech Donald Trump gave at the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in 2017.
Today's the day that I've been looking very much forward to all year long. It's one that we have heard and we speak about and we dream about and now as the President of the United States, it's my tremendous honor to finally wish America and the world a very Merry Christmas. I want to thank everyone who has come together here right in front of the White House, that beautiful, beautiful White House, and everyone watching from home to see the lighting of this incredible national Christmas tree. For nearly a century, through good times and bad, every president has taken part in this wonderful tradition, first started by President Coolidge. But I was informed tonight that the weather we have is the best it's been in 25 years. In fact, I said, ‘Is it always like this?’ And the secretary said, ‘Hasn't been like this for a long time.’ So, we are very lucky. Finally, in 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed legislation making Christmas a Federal holiday. And I sort of feel we are doing that again. That’s what's happening. From the earliest days of our nations, Americans have known Christmas as a time for prayer and worship, for gratitude and good will, for peace and renewal. Melania and I are full of joy at the start of this very blessed season. We're thrilled to think of the people across the nation and all across the continent whose spirits are lifted by the miracle of Christmas. For Christians, this is a Holy season – the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Christmas story begins 2000 years ago with a mother, a father, their baby son, and the most extraordinary gift of all, the gift of God's love for all of humanity. Whatever our beliefs, we know that the birth of Jesus Christ and the story of this incredible life forever changed the course of human history. There’s hardly an aspect of our lives today that his life has not touched: art, music, culture, law, and our respect for the sacred dignity of every person everywhere in the world. Each and every year at Christmas time we recognize that the real spirit of Christmas is not what we have, it's about who we are – each one of us is a child of God. That is the true source of joy this time of the year. That is what makes every Christmas ‘merry.’
And that is what we remember at today's beautiful ceremony, that we are called to serve one another, to love one another, and to pursue peace in our hearts and all throughout the world. And so tonight, I thank the millions of Americans who light our lives and brighten our wonderful communities. I thank those who are serving the needy during the season and throughout the year. I thank our military men and women who are stationed around the world keeping us safe. I thank our law enforcement officers who protect our streets and secure our homeland. I thank America's teachers, pastors, and all those religious, and those people that have taught us so much, for their leadership in our communities and our society. And, especially tonight, I thank America's families. At Christmas, we are reminded more than ever that the family is the bedrock of American life. And so, this Christmas we ask for God’s blessings for our family, for our nation. And we pray that our country will be a place where every child knows a home filled with love, a community rich with hope, and a nation blest with faith. On behalf of Melania, myself, Barron, all of my children, all of my grandchildren — they're here with us tonight — I want to thank you. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas everybody. Merry Christmas. Happy new year. Thank you.
Donald Trump has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view other posts search the blog with the label Donald Trump.
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
The photo in this post of Donald Trump is in the Public Domain.
Pol Light Moment #35 occured in December of 1856, when Franklin Pierce put up the first Christmas Tree in the White House. Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States, serving from 1853-1857. Pierce also was a United States Senator from New Hampshire from 1937-1942.
Franklin Pierce put up the Christmas tree for the enjoyment of a group of children from a Sunday School class in Washington (Hyms and Carols of Christmas, The White House Christmas Trees). Gifts from around the tree were passed out to the children and the song Hark, the Herald Angels Sing was sung.
Kevin Rawlings' book We Were Marching on Christmas Day indicates that the Sunday School class was from the historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. However at the time that Pierce attended services in the building it was known as the Second Presbyterian Church. The place of worship for the Second Presbyterian Church would later become the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church when it merged with another congregation (New York Avenue Presbyterian Church History).
For more information on Franklin Pierce putting up the first Christmas Tree in the White House read these articles.
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
The photo of Franklin Pierce is in the Public Domain.
