The Presidents at Christmas: William McKinley
President William McKinley celebrated four Christmases in the White House, but would not live to see the first Christmas of his second term in office. McKinley died on September 14, 1901, after being shot by Leon Frank Czolgosz eight days earler.
On memorable Christmas for President McKinley and his wife, the former Ida Saxton, was celebrated in 1898 in the White House. The manner in which the McKinleys celebrated Christmas would depend on Mrs. McKinley’s health. 1898 was the second year of President McKinley’s first term, and he and the first lady decided to spend the holidays at the White House. Just prior to Christmas, Mrs. McKinley was feeling strong enough to make a special trip to New York to purchase gifts for the White House servants. Several of their friends from Ohio arrived to spend Christmas in Washington. When attending church services, the minister spoke of God’s Christmas gift of freedom to an oppressed people. Later in the afternoon the couple went for a drive. The following newspaper clipping recalls that Christmas:
During the Christmas Season in 1899, the McKinleys were sent what was described by one newspaper as "the fattest, juiciest turkey from Rhode Island", which had been sent to the White House compliments of the turkey farmer. Mrs. McKinley was unwell during that Christmas. The McKinleys invited their nieces to the White House to celebrate Christmas with them along with a few other family members, making the gathering quite small by White House standards. Because of her illness, Mrs. McKinley was unable to travel to New York or anywhere else to purchase gifts for the White House staff. Instead, she crafted unique and thoughtful gifts for all the unmarried staff. It was customary for all married staff members to receive a turkey for the holidays.
White House Christmas celebrations were sad reminders for President and Mrs. McKinley. Their first daughter Katherine (“Katie”) had been born on Christmas Day in 1871 and passed away four short years later of typhoid fever. Their second daughter, Ida, was born in 1873 and passed away within four months of her birth, also close to the time that Mrs. McKinley’s mother had died. Ida suffered a breakdown following the death of their two daughters and never made a full recovery. She spent her remaining Christmases as an epileptic. President McKinley was reputed to be very devoted to his wife. Protocol was often dismissed at formal dinners to allow the President to sit next to his wife in case she experienced one of her frequent seizures.
Immediately after being shot by Czolgosz, McKinley's first concern was for his wife. He told his friend and aide George Cortelyou: “My wife, be careful how you tell her - oh, be careful!”
On memorable Christmas for President McKinley and his wife, the former Ida Saxton, was celebrated in 1898 in the White House. The manner in which the McKinleys celebrated Christmas would depend on Mrs. McKinley’s health. 1898 was the second year of President McKinley’s first term, and he and the first lady decided to spend the holidays at the White House. Just prior to Christmas, Mrs. McKinley was feeling strong enough to make a special trip to New York to purchase gifts for the White House servants. Several of their friends from Ohio arrived to spend Christmas in Washington. When attending church services, the minister spoke of God’s Christmas gift of freedom to an oppressed people. Later in the afternoon the couple went for a drive. The following newspaper clipping recalls that Christmas:
During the Christmas Season in 1899, the McKinleys were sent what was described by one newspaper as "the fattest, juiciest turkey from Rhode Island", which had been sent to the White House compliments of the turkey farmer. Mrs. McKinley was unwell during that Christmas. The McKinleys invited their nieces to the White House to celebrate Christmas with them along with a few other family members, making the gathering quite small by White House standards. Because of her illness, Mrs. McKinley was unable to travel to New York or anywhere else to purchase gifts for the White House staff. Instead, she crafted unique and thoughtful gifts for all the unmarried staff. It was customary for all married staff members to receive a turkey for the holidays.
White House Christmas celebrations were sad reminders for President and Mrs. McKinley. Their first daughter Katherine (“Katie”) had been born on Christmas Day in 1871 and passed away four short years later of typhoid fever. Their second daughter, Ida, was born in 1873 and passed away within four months of her birth, also close to the time that Mrs. McKinley’s mother had died. Ida suffered a breakdown following the death of their two daughters and never made a full recovery. She spent her remaining Christmases as an epileptic. President McKinley was reputed to be very devoted to his wife. Protocol was often dismissed at formal dinners to allow the President to sit next to his wife in case she experienced one of her frequent seizures.
Immediately after being shot by Czolgosz, McKinley's first concern was for his wife. He told his friend and aide George Cortelyou: “My wife, be careful how you tell her - oh, be careful!”