1974 National Christmas Tree Lighting

This photograph is of President Gerald R. Ford congratulating Boy Scout James Williams after he pushed the button to light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse. Karl Schumacher photographed this event on December 17, 1974. The lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a cherished holiday tradition in Washington, D.C. When President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree in 1923, the celebration attracted more than 6,000 spectators. The opening ceremony and nightly holiday concerts have annually drawn hundreds of attendees.