"I would rather have peace in the world than be President."
--Harry S. Truman (1884–1972), U.S. Democratic politician, president. Christmas Message, 24 Dec. 1948, Independence, Mo.
There is something about the Bush/Cheney Administration that propels me back into American history, to search for comparisons and contrasts, for inspiration and renewal. Cleansing, too!
Below the fold are quotations from some Presidential Christmas messages.
Some were made during times of war.
Many should remind us all of what Presidents of stature sounds like. Political themes do permeate the speeches but their efforts to unite, uplift, and guide us are admirable.
I look forward to the future.
Excerpted from
History of the National Christmas Trees Written by Laura Schiavo
http://www.nps.gov/...
Emphasis is mine.
1934
Standing by the statue of Andrew Jackson, the President, in his Christmas greeting, spoke of Jackson's patriotic character, "unstained and unafraid." President Roosevelt spoke of what all Americans might learn from the former President about "the union of hearts and minds of people devoted with unity to the welfare of the country." [Washington Post, December 25, 1934.]
1935
The President pointed to the statues of German, Polish, and French Revolutionary War heroes in Lafayette Park as types of diversity found among the American people, saying that the spirit of Christmas knows no race or creed. [Evening Star, December 25, 1935.] Introductory remarks were made by First Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Theodore A. Walters. [Evening Star, December 24, 1935.]
1938
"At this time let us hope that the boon of peace which we in this country and in the whole Western Hemisphere enjoy under the providence of God may likewise be vouchsafed to all nations and all peoples. We desire peace. We shall work for peace. We covet neither the lands nor the possessions of any other nation or people." [NPS -WPP, "Christmas Pageant of Peace Binders," unidentified and undated newspaper article, ca. December 1938.]
1939
The President decried war, invoked the beatitudes of Christ, and called on "belligerent nations to read the Sermon on the Mount." He spoke of 1939 as filled "with dread of evil things to come" and ending with "the horror of another war adding its toll of anguish to a world already bowed under the burden of suffering laid upon it by man's inhumanity to man." [Washington Post, December 25, 1939.]
1940
Speaking while war raged in Europe, the President said that happiness can only be possible during wartime "if by happiness we mean that we have done with doubts, that we have set our hearts against fear, that we still believe in the golden rule of all mankind, that we intend to live more purely in the spirit of Christ, and that by our works, as well as our words, we will strive forth in faith and in hope and in love." The President also asked that the holiday be made merry for the children. [Evening Star, December 25, 1940.]
1941 December. After Pearl Harbor. Churchill and Roosevelt were together in Washington, DC
Their messages, transmitted throughout the world by radio, focused on the war and the meaning of Christmas Day. President Roosevelt encouraged listeners "to arm their hearts" "for the labor and suffering and the ultimate victory which lie ahead." Prime Minister Churchill appealed to listeners to "Let the children have their night of fun and laughter. Let gifts of Father Christmas delight their hearts; let us share in the full in their unstinted pleasure before we turn again to the stern tasks in the year that lies before us. Now, by our sacrifice and daring, these same children shall not be robbed of their inheritance or denied the right to live in a free, and decent world."
1944
The President assured both civilians and soldiers that "the tide of battle has turned slowly but inexorably against those who sought to destroy civilization." [Washington Post, December 25, 1944.]
1945 Truman lights the tree for the first time since war years
"This is the Christmas that a war-weary world has prayed for through long and awful years. With peace come joy and gladness. The gloom of the war years fades as once more we light the National Community Christmas Tree." [Public Papers of the Presidents, December 24, 1945.]
1947
The President spoke about those in Europe who found themselves homeless at Christmas and asked that American extend aid "to our less fortunate brothers." [Public Papers of the Presidents, December 24, 1947.]
Likely having in mind his bill to let another 134,000 displaced persons into the country, the President spoke of the fate of the homeless in Europe and pleaded for the acceptance of the United States as a haven for war refugees. "We must not forget that there are thousands and thousands of families homeless, hopeless, destitute, and torn with despair on this Christmas Eve. For them as for the Holy Family on the first Christmas, there is no room in the inn." [Evening Star, December 25, 1949; Public Papers of the Presidents, December 24, 1948.]
Noteworthy sidebar:
Ten men dressed in Santa Claus costumes, representing the Committee for Amnesty, War Resisters League, Peacemakers, and the Central Committee of Conscientious Objectors, picketed the White House seeking amnesty for conscientious objectors. [Washington Post, December 25, 1949.]
1950
In his pre-recorded address the President called "for a peace which is the fruit of righteousness." Thinking of the war in Asia, President Truman asked that the nation think of the "thousands of our boys...on the cold and dreary battlefields of Korea." The President said, "We are all joined in the fight against the tyranny of communism. Communism is godless. Democracy is the harvest of faith -- faith in one's self, faith in one's neighbors, faith in God." [Public Papers of the Presidents, December 24, 1950.]
1951
President Truman expressed his sadness about the suffering and the sacrifice of the American soldiers fighting in Korea. The President spoke of the need to avoid the kind of total world war that was the reality ten years earlier in 1941, and to achieve a real peace - "a peace that shall be a positive reality and not an empty hope; a just and lasting peace." [Evening Star, December 25, 1951; Public Papers of the Presidents, December 24, 1951.]
1952
As in 1950 and 1951, President [Truman] spoke of the men and women fighting in Korea, saying, "Tonight, our hearts turn first of all to our brave men and women in Korea...." The President made a plea for world peace and prayed for the nation's enemies. About the war, the President said, "Our efforts to establish law and order in the world are not directed against any nation or any people. We seek only a universal peace, where all nations shall be free and all peoples shall enjoy their inalienable human rights." [Evening Star, December 25, 1952; Public Papers of the Presidents, December 24, 1952.]
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The above cited "History of the National Christmas Tree" has pictures and notes about the sponsors and participants and goes further into the era of televised ceremonies. The magic started to wear off for me then, but you might find it instructive and educational to see how other presidents wove war and peace into their messages.
If you Google an extended quotation you will probably find an entire Christmas message on Google books, etc.
---------ROYAL MESSAGE
P.S. When I lived in England, I got hooked on "The Queen's Speech" on Christmas Day . It set a tone, tied together the year's loose ends, and provided starting points for further serious discussion as well as the inevitable parodies. Today she will be the first royal to broadcast on youtube.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/...
http://en.wikipedia.org/...