How the White House Halloween parties vary from president to president


Fall means Halloween in the White House! Here’s a fascinating look at how presidents juggle the conflicting responsibilities of being commander-in-chief and in charge of trick-or-treating.

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Given the day-to-day responsibilities of the President of the United States, it’s remarkable that they can switch from high-stakes meetings in the Situation Room to greeting costumed children in the South Portico for Halloween. It’s a reminder that the White House is both an office and home for the president—balancing the weight of national security with the joys of lighter, family-friendly traditions. Presidents must do it all!

Every Halloween, this festive event adds a light touch to the otherwise serious atmosphere of the White House. The holiday, originally brought to the United States by European immigrants in the 19th century, did not make its mark in the White House until 1958.

Halloween arrives at the White House with Eisenhower

First Lady Mamie Eisenhower introduced the first formal Halloween decorations when she filled the State Dining Room with jack-o’-lanterns and hung skeletons from the lights. She added witch heads and black cats to the foyer chandeliers, setting a playful tone that would become a beloved tradition.

It was President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy who brought trick-or-treating to the White House for their young children, Caroline and John-John. This tradition has endured for decades, enjoyed by presidents and first families, especially those with young children, such as Amy CarterChelsea Clinton and Malia and Sasha Obama.

Some presidents, like Richard Nixon, found other ways to engage with the holiday.

Even though his daughters were grown, the Nixon White House hosted Halloween events for hundreds of local children, transforms the northern entrance into the mouth of a towering 17-foot pumpkin a year. The East Room was filled with Halloween delights, from clowns and magicians to fortune tellers and puppeteers. Famous TV vampire Barnabas Collins from “Dark Shadows” even made an appearance.

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter’s daughter, Amy, celebrated her 10th birthday with a Halloween themed party. She and her friends watched the original “Frankenstein” movie, a classic that added a spooky atmosphere to the night.

The following year, the Carters took Halloween to the next level an adult party with one 16 foot plaster jack-o’-lanterna performance by Broadway star Carol Channing and a one-man musical called “Ghosts of the White House,” which brought historical figures like Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson and John Tyler back to life for the night.

Halloween gives presidents a break from the pressures of the job

The The George HW Bush White House hosted a massive Halloween party on the South Lawn in 1989, inviting 600 local school children to join in the fun.

The Clintons also embraced the holiday, holding annual costume parties for friends and staff. In 1993, Bill and Hillary Clinton dressed up as President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madisonwhich adds a historical twist to the festivities.

In recent years have Obama and Trump administrations sent invitations to local school children and military families to celebrate Halloween on the White House grounds.

The Bidens have continued the tradition, with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden host festive Halloween events with elaborate decorations and handing out treats to children. The Bidens have welcomed costumed children of frontline workers to trick-or-treat at the White Housewith the South Portico decked out in fall colors and glowing pumpkins, making the celebration a fun and memorable experience for the young visitors.

It is truly fascinating how presidents juggle such conflicting responsibilities. One moment they are immersed in the seriousness of decision-making and the next they are handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. Halloween at the White House serves as a reminder that, even under pressure from the presidency, there is room for celebration and community. It’s an event that bridges the solemnity of government with the joy and imagination of childhood, bringing a bit of magic to America’s most iconic home.

As the seasons change and the South Lawn fills with ghosts, goblins and superheroes, the White House transforms once again, highlighting how Folkets Hus can simultaneously be a stage for history and a playground for celebration.

Stewart D. McLaurin is chairman of The White House Historical Society and director of Folkets Hus: An experience in the White House.