December 20, 2007 -- Christmas Tree Trivia

Franklin Pierce was the first president to introduce the Christmas tree to the White House in 1856 for a group of Washington Sunday School children.

TRIVIA QUESTION:

Which president banned Christmas trees from the White House?


TRIVIA ANSWER:

In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt decided to set an environmental example for the nation and voiced his concern along with other naturalists and conservationists who were urging Americans to forgo the Christmas tree tradition.

This self-imposed ban failed when Roosevelt found one of his sons smuggled a tree into his bedroom closet. The defied Roosevelt sent his errant son to Gifford Pinchot, new head of the National Forest Service, for a lecture regarding his wayward behavior.

Fortunately, Pinchot did not defend Roosevelt's position. Instead, Pinchot explained that fire, not the cutting of Christmas trees, posed the worst threat to our national forests. He explained proper cutting actually could be beneficial to forest lands. Christmas trees were allowed back in the White House.

Today, Christmas trees are grown much like any other agricultural crop. In fact, about 112,000 acres in the Northwest are planted with about 11 million trees.

These trees are shipped across the United States and overseas to China, Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Guam, Puerto Rico and Samoa.

The Northwest is the largest growing area in the nation and is the world's largest producer of Douglas firs.

Enjoy your Christmas tree. It has a long and rich tradition. Happy holidays.


>>>>>>>> NET CHECK IN's <<<<<<<<

Congratulations to all who got the answer to tonight's Trivia Question and a hearty thank you to everyone for playing along. Here is the list of stations that checked in to tonight's net along with their answers:


* WB6A - Pat - No Answer
* AC6AJ - Lee - Dwight D. Eisenhower
* KE6CZH - Robert - Harry S. Truman
* KG6DBL - Bill - Hillary Clinton (!)
* W6DTS - Ted - Theodore Roosevelt
* K6FCC - Khalil - Franklin D. Roosevelt
* KF6GKR - Terry - No Answer
* N6HY - Ernie - Franklin D. Roosevelt
* KD6JEV - John - Theodore Roosevelt
* N6KAS - Andy - William McKinley
* KG6KTC - Leon - Herbert Hoover
* NY6L - Jay - Lyndon B. Johnson
* K6LMN - Roger - Franklin D. Roosevelt
* KE6MSS - Thomas - Herbert Hoover
* N6NGU - Leigh - Herbert Hoover
* W6NVY - Gary - Franklin D. Roosevelt
* KD6OBM - Jason - Harry S. Truman
* KF6PIH - Scott - Lyndon B. Johnson
* K6QVZ - Joe - Lyndon B. Johnson
* KG6RDA - Sidney - Checked in by N6ZZK
* AD6UP - Louie - Theodore Roosevelt
* KF6YBM - Henry - Franklin D. Roosevelt
* KF6ZQM - Harry - Checked in by N6ZZK
* N6ZZK - Theo - Franklin D. Roosevelt
* KG6MQE - Jim - Lyndon B. Johnson
* KF6MKN - Brad - Franklin D. Roosevelt
* W6ELL - Jim - Herbert Hoover
* KI6LDI - Ken - Harry S. Truman

I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season. Merry Christmas to all!

de N6CIZ