Most Americans do n’t know much about our 23rd air force officer - in - chief . Furthermore — adding insult to injury — many of the things for which Benjamin Harrison is remembered have little or nothing to do with his actual accomplishment . He famously interrupted Grover Cleveland ’s non - straight terms . His opponents bid him “ Little Ben ” due to his5 ’ 6 ” height . And his grandfather , William Henry Harrison , was also prexy … albeit one whokicked the bucketafter just 31 day in office . Yet Benjamin Harrison break lots of raw land and , thanks to some holiday décor , assist establish a festive White House tradition .
December 1889 was a tragic calendar month for the first family . After a protracted struggle in the hospital , Elizabeth Lord , babe of First LadyCaroline Harrison , passed away on the tenth . Three days later , her married man ’s 25 - year - honest-to-god nephew , William Sheets Harrison , also met an unseasonable demise . Needless to say , it was a essay period for the newly - elect president , who found little solace on Pennsylvania Avenue . Harrison glumlybemoaned , “ This big theatre — about which I wander without any sense of its being a home . ”
However , “ Little Ben ” was n’t about to allow heartache spoil the most wonderful time of the year . After all , his grandkids were spend their vacation at the White House and , ashe subsequently say , “ I am an torrid believer in the responsibility we owe ourselves at Christmas to make merry for children at Christmas time ” . As Harrison readied the seasonal housing , he installed something the presidential planetary house had never see before : an indoor Christmas tree .
fondly placed on the second floor , it was a purple specimen which one witnessdescribedas “ the most beautiful and stark tree diagram that could be found in all the commonwealth . ”
“ From the uppermost dot to the trading floor , ” reported executive salesclerk William H. Crook , “ it was ladened with decorations , with toy innumerable for the children and gifts for the old ones . ”
But not every present was reserved for kid : on Christmas morning , every single member of Harrison ’s domestic stave was summoned to invite some item of appreciation — matrimonial men got joker and their bachelor conscientious objector - workers were given pick dining gloves ( presumably to be worn while eating out ) . Harrison also take full vantage of his generous beard by grabbing a red and bloodless costume and prancing about asKris Kringle himselfbefore an adoring audience .
“ If my influence go for zilch in this busy world , ” the satisfied president said of their celebration , “ let me go for that my example be keep up in every family in the land . ”
