• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Celebrity

Inside the White House at Christmas

Inside the White House at Christmas
By · Updated October 29, 2020
01
Christmas in the White House

Washington, D.C. has been popping with holiday parties this month, but the most coveted tickets in town were for the White House soirees. This holiday season President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have hosted 17 parties and 11 open houses for members of Congress, White House staff, journalists and tourists from around the country—racking up to 50,000 holiday visitors in total. Among these guests were ESSENCE Washington Correspondent Cynthia Gordy, Executive Editor Dawn Baskerville and Deputy Editor Tatsha Robertson, who were on tap for the White House holiday party for print journalists.

Inside the White House at Christmas
Getty
02
The Tree Arrives

The official White House Christmas Tree arrives at the North Portico of the White House on November 27, 2009 in Washington, DC.

Inside the White House at Christmas
Getty
03
Warm Welcome

After waiting in a winding line outside the Treasury Building with very tight security and—in keeping with the strict guidelines reinstated after the State Dinner “gatecrashers”—a closely monitored guest list, we entered the White House through the East Entrance. Walking through the foyer, filled with jubilant classical music from a teenage string ensemble, guests were personally greeted by Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, who shook every hand before directing us to the main event.

Inside the White House at Christmas
04
White House Gingerbread house

The White House’s first floor was open for roaming, so guests walked from room to room checking out the holiday finery, official portraits, display cases of presidential china and silverware, the impressively detailed gingerbread White House.

Inside the White House at Christmas
Getty
05
The Vermeil Room

Here’s a shot of ESSENCE Executive Editor Dawn Baskerville in the Vermeil Room, by Jacqueline Kennedy’s famous White House portrait painted by Aaron Shickler.

Inside the White House at Christmas
06
Blue Room

The White House holiday decorations include six living Christmas trees. Here’s Washington Correspondent Cynthia Gordy by one in the Vermeil Room, and behind her is the official White House tree in the Blue Room. Décor throughout the House was understated, drawing from natural materials such as pinecones, garlands and berries.

Inside the White House at Christmas
07
White House Christmas Tree

In the East Room, we were treated to swinging jazz versions of holiday tunes, performed by the Eli Yamin Quintet, and amazing eats including sushi, roast beef and sugar cookies shaped like Bo the First Dog. And though the party was packed with journalists and members of the Obama administration, including Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, the vibe was cheerful, fun and loose (the rather strong eggnog may have also had a hand in this)!

Inside the White House at Christmas
Getty
08
President Obama Greets Santa

And where were the President and First Lady during the festivities? They spent the whole time working a long receiving line, where everyone had a chance to take a photo with them. Despite hours of picture taking, and with hundreds of journalists who scrutinize them daily, President Obama and Mrs. Obama were in good spirits, graciously shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries before each camera flash. “Let’s get in close!” Mrs. Obama said laughingly before our official photo, which will be distributed by the White House.

Inside the White House at Christmas
Getty
09
Wishing Tree

On the way out, I stopped to put a wish in the White House “Wishing Tree,” a nine-foot cardboard construction with slots for inserting colorful, rolled up pieces of paper with personalized wishes written on them. Left to right: ESSENCE Executive Editor Dawn Baskerville, Washington Correspondent Cynthia Gordy and Deputy Editor Tatsha Robertson outside the East Entrance at the surreal, yet fun-filled, night’s end. Happy holidays!

Inside the White House at Christmas
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now