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

Each Halloween, this festive event provides a lighter 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, didn’t make its mark at 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 witches’ heads and black cats to the foyer chandeliers, setting a playful tone that would become a cherished 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 carried on for decades, enjoyed by presidents and first families, especially those with young children, such as Amy Carter, Chelsea 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, transforming the North Entrance into the mouth of a towering 17-foot pumpkin one year. The East Room was filled with Halloween delights, from clowns and magicians to fortune tellers and puppeteers. The famous TV vampire Barnabas Collins from "Dark Shadows" even made an appearance. 

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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 an eerie atmosphere to the night.

The following year, the Carters took Halloween to the next level with a grown-up party featuring a 16-foot gypsum jack-o’-lantern, a 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 George H.W. Bush White House hosted a massive Halloween party on the South Lawn in 1989, inviting 600 local schoolchildren 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 Madison, adding a historical twist to the festivities. 

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In more recent years, the Obama and Trump administrations extended invitations to local schoolchildren 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 hosting festive Halloween events featuring elaborate decorations and handing out treats to children. The Bidens have welcomed costumed kids of front-line workers to trick-or-treat at the White House, with the South Portico adorned in fall colors and glowing pumpkins, making the celebration a fun and memorable experience for the young visitors. 

It’s truly fascinating how presidents juggle such contrasting responsibilities. One moment they’re immersed in the gravity of decision-making, and the next, they’re handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. Halloween at the White House serves as a reminder that, even amid the pressures of 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 residence. 

As the seasons change and the South Lawn becomes filled with ghosts, goblins and superheroes, the White House once again transforms, highlighting how the People’s House can simultaneously be a stage for history and a playground for celebration.

Stewart D. McLaurin is president of the White House Historical Association and director of The People’s House: A White House Experience.