President Jimmy Carter: Faith, Family, and a Presidency
Featuring Jonathan Alter, journalist and author of “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life"
Main Content
This photograph of the East Entrance to the White House was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the People’s House. At the East Entrance, which is the entrance to the East Wing, visitors were welcomed to the White House with a large, golden starburst, trees decorated with gold lights, and wreaths full of gold baubles.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the East Colonnade was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. Down the long length of the East Colonnade were bells to represent the peaceful sounds of the holiday season. The bells included brass bells suspended from the ceiling and small sleigh bells adorning the archways.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the East Garden Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. In the East Garden Room, guests were greeted by a horse-drawn carriage full of presents and displays of White House holiday cards from the presidents of the past and present.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Ground Floor Corridor was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The archways of the Ground Floor Corridor – which runs the length of the Executive Mansion – were adorned with green garlands and Christmas trees, all decorated with gold lights and ornaments.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Library was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. A collection of small, ceramic Christmas trees decorated the Library along with jars of holiday sweets.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Vermeil Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. Red and pink flowers and trees, made from an assortment of materials like ribbon, were on display in the Vermeil Room.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the China Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The China Room featured a baker’s bench with a display of breads in recognition of the diligent and thoughtful process of baking bread.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Diplomatic Reception Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. For the first time, the Diplomatic Reception Room was open to the public in 2024 through efforts made by Dr. Biden. In recognition of this addition to the White House tour, the trees in the Diplomatic Reception Room were decorated with fruit and flowers as symbols of hospitality in diplomacy.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. Snow inspired the East Room’s décor in 2024, with reflecting pieces of material suspended from the ceiling, silver, white, and crystal ornaments adorning two large Christmas trees, and snowy displays in the windows and on the mantels. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Red Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The center Christmas tree in the Red Room was decorated with white paper doves carrying red envelopes bearing messages of peace. Throughout the room were also letters sent by children to President and Dr. Biden, a white and red floral garland across the mantel, and the traditional Red Room cranberry tree.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Green Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. Colorful and glittery glass ornaments and prisms were on display in the Green Room, decorating a large Christmas tree in the middle of the room, draping garlands on the mantel, and wreaths in the windows.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Blue Room Christmas Tree was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The Blue Room Christmas Tree, on display in its traditional location, was an 18 ½ foot Fraser fir from Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in North Carolina. The tree was decorated with the names of every state, territory, and the District of Columbia, and was surrounded by a rotating carousel with festively decorated animals.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the State Dining Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The décor in the State Dining Room was dedicated to Dr. Biden’s work with the Joining Forces initiative in support of military families, and featured paper chains constructed by the families of the USS Delaware and the USS Gabrielle Giffords, which Dr. Biden served as a sponsor of. The trees in the State Dining Room featured self-portraits made by school children from across the country. The traditional White House Gingerbread House was also in display in the State Dining Room.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the White House Gingerbread House was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The 2024 White House Gingerbread House, on display in the State Dining Room, featured a golden starburst atop the White House and an ice skating rink – complete with skaters – on the South Lawn.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the White House Gingerbread House was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The 2024 White House Gingerbread House, on display in the State Dining Room, featured a golden starburst atop the White House and an ice skating rink – complete with skaters – on the South Lawn.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Cross Hall was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. In the Cross Hall – which runs the length of the Executive Mansion – white doves were suspended from the ceiling with Christmas trees featuring plaid ornaments and presents on either side of the doorway to the Blue Room.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Cross Hall was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. In the Cross Hall – which runs the length of the Executive Mansion – white doves were suspended from the ceiling with Christmas trees featuring plaid ornaments and presents on either side of the doorway to the Blue Room. Visible in this photograph is the Blue Room Christmas Tree through the doorway.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the Entrance Hall was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. Featured in the Entrance Hall was a vintage red truck with a stuffed teddy bear behind the wheel as well as several festive Christmas trees.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This close-up photograph of the Official 2024 White House Christmas Ornament in the Diplomatic Reception Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. For the first time, the Diplomatic Reception Room was open to the public in 2024 through efforts made by Dr. Biden. In recognition of this addition to the White House tour, the trees in the Diplomatic Reception Room were decorated with fruit and flowers as symbols of hospitality in diplomacy, alongside the 2024 ornament which honored the presidency of Jimmy Carter.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
This photograph of the North Portico decorations was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. A large wreath was placed atop the pediment of the North Portico—an addition to the exterior holiday decorations that Dr. Biden oversaw for the first time in 2021—alongside smaller wreaths in the windows.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical AssociationAbout this Gallery
The White House and its residents share the holiday cheer felt by all of the country this time of year. Since 1961, the Executive Mansion decorates its halls with a holiday theme. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. Browse our gallery for a closer look at the 2024 White House holiday decor.