Cross Hall Decorated for Christmas, Nixon Administration

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.