President Reagan walking back to the oval office after a St. Patrick’s day luncheon at the U.S. Capitol. March 17 1988.
Since the days of Thomas Jefferson, various, individual Presidents have chosen to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day.
For much of the 19th century and early 2oth century, it was a matter intended less to honor Irish-Americans and more to seek the support of their political power as it grew, particularly after the Civil War and particularly within the Democratic Party machine of northern cities like New York, Boston and Philadelphia.
Eleanor Roosevelt in an affectionate gesture towards her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt on St. Patrick’s Day in the Oval Office, which was also their 36th wedding anniversary.
It was not until the latter half of the 20th century that Presidents began to participate in a ceremony with the Irish Embassy, involving the presentation of shamrocks to mark the day.
It’s uncertain just who presented Franklin D. Roosevelt with his box of shamrocks in 1937, which also happened to be the day of his wedding anniversary, but it is established that Harry Truman was the first to accept such a gift, though not in person.
A box of the Irish symbol was sent by John Hearne, Ireland’s first Ambassador to the U.S., helping establish the first diplomat relations between the two nations.
In 1961,Kennedy became the first President to accept shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day, starting a new tradition.
Everything changed with President John F. Kennedy, the only chief executive who was of full Irish ancestry and a Catholic.
In 1961, less than two months after his inauguration, President Kennedy welcomed the gift of shamrocks presented in Waterford Irish crystal bowls and vases, and a scroll detailing his Irish ancestry.
From that point on, the custom became a tradition.
Ronald Reagan also participated in a unique custom.
Reagan and Tip O’Neill shake on St. Patrick’s Day.
Despite his famous rivalry, which sometimes became combative, with Democrat and Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, each year the President accepted the Speaker’s invitation to join him for a lunch of corned beef and cabbage at the U.S. Capitol.
Said Reagan at the time, beneath their political differences, they were both just “fellows who love to give each other a bit of blarney.”
The President enjoying a cold one on St. Patrick’s Day. (globalgrind.com)
During their incumbencies, five Presidents have made visits to the towns and villages in Ireland where some of their ancestors have immigrated to the United States: John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
Even fewer have had St. Patrick’s Day receptions or parties in the White House, the most notable being Richard Nixon and Barack Obama.
With diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States firmly established in the latter 20th century, it was a natural fit that many an Irish Prime Minister and President came to visit the American Presidents on St. Patrick’s Day.
The Clintons pose with Irish Prime Minister John Bruton two days before St. Patrick’s Day in 1996.
Bill Clinton had the holiday consistently celebrated, the largest such event in White House history taking place in his second term, culminating his Administration’s role in helping to finally negotiate a lasting peace treaty between Catholic Ireland and Protestant Northern Ireland.
Here’s an illustrated archives articles telling the history of Presidents and St. Patrick’s Day and the Clinton parties from carlanthonyonline.com entitled “Presidents, the Irish & the Clinton St. Patrick’s Day Party.”
White House green champagne for St. Patrick’s Day during the Obama years.
During the Obama presidency, as the President put it, there was not so much a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, but “St. Patrick’s Week,” denoting the numerous days of activities at the White House involving the President and First Lady.
If you missed it, here’s the link to yesterday’s article about “First Ladies You Mightn’t Know Were Irish,” including Dolley Madison, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon and Michelle Obama.
Finally, here’s a brief gallery of Presidents and some of their family members celebrating the annual “wearing of the green” in different ways.
President Harry Truman meets his 1948 rival for the presidency, New York Governor Thomas Dewey in New York at that year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
As the first Irish President to make an official state visit to the United States, Sean T O’ Kelly came on St. Patrick’s Day and pinned shamrocks on President Dwight Eisenhower’s lapel when Ike came to welcome him at the airport, 1959.
Congressional candidate John F. Kennedy walking in south Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. (Corbis)
While a US Senator, Jack Kennedy didn’t mind donning a green paper hat for St. Patrick’s Day.
Jackie Kennedy surprised her brother-in-law, Senator Robert F. Kennedy as he paraded up Fifth Avenue in the 1966 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. (Corbis)
Peeking out a window of their Fifth Avenue apartment, former First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her son watch the end of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1968, and smile when they spot Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
In the Fifth Avenue apartment where he lived with his mother and sister, John Kennedy, Jr. with his cousin William Smith on St. Patrick’s Day in 1966.
President Lyndon B. Johnson enjoys a joke after accepting his crystal bowl of shamrocks from Irish Ambassador William P. Fay, 1967.
President Richard Nixon got both a crystal bowl of shamrocks and one pinned on his lapel.
President Nixon looks over a Milhouse family record before visiting the Quaker cemetery in Ireland of his ancestors.
The program for the 1970 Nixon trip to Ireland.
President Nixon eft his motorcade to greet some Irish citizens on horses during the 1970 Nixon Ireland trip.
Gerald Ford as Vice President on St. Patrick’s Day.
First Lady Rosalynn Carter reviewing the New York St. Patrick’s Day parade with Mayor Ed Koch, and New York’s two U.S. Senators Pat Moynihan and Jacob Javits.
As his Chief of Staff Don Regan looks on, President Reagan is happily interrupted by a “leprechaun” during a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon with his Cabinet, 1986.
President Reagan laughs it up with aide Ed Hickey during a 1981 White House St. Patrick’s Day party the President hosted for staff.
During his visit to the Irish town of his ancestors, President Reagan receiving a beer during a Visit to O’Farrell’s Pub in Ballyporeen. June 3, 1984.
President Reagan holding his coat of arms during an Arrival Ceremony in Shannon Ireland, June 1984.
Reagan at another pub in Ireland.
President Reagan attending the annual St. Patrick’s Day luncheon at the U.S. Capitol, hosted for him by House Speaker Tip O’Neill, 1983.
President George Bush receives his shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day 1990.
Bill Clinton gets his Waterford glass bowl of St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks from Prime Minister Bruton in 1996.
Bill Clinton receives his first shamrocks as President, 1993.
President Bill Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds join in song during a State Dinner held in the latter’s honor, the day after St. Patrick’s Day 1994.
Sinn Fean’s Gerry Adams meeting with President Bill Clinton on St. Patrick’s Day in 1995.
The Clintons and Social Secretary Ann Stock have a laugh before a St. Patrick’s Day reception for Prime Minister Bruton, 1996.
Frank McCourt read from his Pulitizer Prize winning books Angela’s Ashes, tlling of his impoverished lin in Limerick at the 1998 Clinton White House St. Patrick’s Day reception.
At the 1999 Clinton St. Patrick’s Day White House reception, the President awarded Senator George Mitchell with the Medal of Freedom for his role in the successful Northern Irish peace accord.
St. Patrick’s Day in Washington. Bill Clinton receives Gerry Adams, John Hume and David Trimble at the White House, March 17, 2000.
Hillary Clinton in a St. Patrick’s Day parade during her 2008 presidential campaign.
George W. Bush gets his annual bowl of shamrocks.
First Lady Laura Bush shared in the shamrock ceremony one year.
In the Oval Office, President Obama meets with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on St. Patrick’s Day, 2011.
Michelle Obama withFionnuala Kenny, the Irish Prime Minister’s wife during the 2011 White House St. Patrick’s Day reception.
With Nancy Pelosi, President Obama at the St. Patrick’s Day luncheon hosted by the Speaker of the House during his first term.
The President and First Lady accepting the St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks, 2013.
St. Patrick’s Day White House fountain, 2011.
Categories: Diversity, Holidays, St. Patrick's Day, The Clintons, The Kennedys, The Nixons, The Obamas, The Reagans
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