White House Christmas tree the White House of President William McKinley received letters urging the president to forgo participation in the "Christmas tree habit". The letter writers, which the "Chicago Daily Tribune" noted had taken up the "forestry fad", referred to "arboreal infanticide", according to the "Tribune". Those opposed to a tree in the White House that year also termed Christmas trees "un-American" because it was a historically German tradition. At least one tree was displayed in the White House that year, in the kitchen department, for the maids. The Nixon administration's choice of tree topper, the atomic symbol of peace rather than a
Franklin Pierce Holland Franklin Pierce Holland Franklin Pierce Holland (September 22, 1852 – January 18, 1928), publisher, was mayor of Dallas in 1895–97. Franklin Pierce Holland was born September 22, 1852 in Galveston, Texas to Dr. Gustavus Holland, a native of Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany and Evelyn Compton of Louisiana. He married Pamelia Allen, daughter of Joseph D. Allen and Pamelia Roberts on 25 Dec 1877 in Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas. They had six children: Franklin P. Holland, Jr., Reginald Vincent Holland, Ira Holland, Augusta Holland, J. Porter Holland, and Marsh W. Holland. Following his schooling at Redding, Fairfield County, Connecticut, F. P. Holland