Trump White House Continues Garden Tour Tradition that Was Founded by Pat Nixon
Nixon scholar: “The tour of 1973 very much looks like the tour of 2025.”
Visitors to the annual Spring Garden Tour of the White House arrived on Sunday for the public viewing of the grounds. The event, which was originally scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday, was shifted at the last minute by First Lady Melania Trump to only Sunday in response to a massive anti-Trump protest taking place the day before in Washington, D.C.
The tour was also the last opportunity for visitors to take a close-up look at one of the oldest trees on the grounds—a Southern magnolia—which was planted by former President Andrew Jackson in memory of his wife, Rachel Donelson Jackson, who died just prior to Jackson being sworn in as president.
Yet, it is the rare access and the historic nature of the grounds that led another first lady to establishing this now time-honored tradition. Indeed, it was Pat Nixon in 1973 who decided in a matter of weeks to throw open the grounds to the public, an action in line with her priorities as first lady to make the residence more accessible to Americans. Nixon, according to Bob Bostock, a Nixon scholar, loved being outside and was an avid gardener. The former first lady had already created White House tours for the blind, had ramps installed in the East Wing for people who use wheelchairs and created a candlelight tour for people who worked during the day who would otherwise not be able to see the White House Christmas decorations.
“The Garden Tour was part of this whole series of events that she created to make the White House more accessible to people,” Bostock tells East Wing Magazine in a phone interview.
It was 52 years ago when Nixon decided to open up the grounds to the public with less than a month before the first public garden tour would take place.
“The tour of 1973 very much looks like the tour of 2025, which, I think, really speaks to Mrs. Nixon’s vision for this tour,” Bostock says.
In an archived White House press release dated April 5, 1973, plans for the first-ever White House Grounds and Gardens tour were announced. The event was scheduled for April 14 and 15 of that year with tours underway from 2 to 5 p.m. and included performances from the United States Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Army bands.
Leading the tour alongside Mrs. Nixon would be a small group of local elementary school children who entered a poster contest with a beautification theme.
The route took visitors entering from the East Gate through the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, around the South Drive, through the east end of the Rose Garden. It continued along the Ground Floor corridor and then upstairs through the State Floor rooms. People would make their way out the North Entrance and exit at the Northeast Gate, according to the press release. During that time, reservations were not required and admission was free.
To help put the gardens into context, Nixon had tour officers and other members of the White House staff stationed along the route to answer questions about the historic trees and shrubs. Specifically, the 1973 press release makes note of the commemorative trees planted on the grounds by former presidents. Spotlighted at the time were an American elm planted in the 1820s by John Quincy Adams and the Southern magnolias planted by former President Andrew Jackson.
Earlier this year, one of the Jackson Magnolias tethered to a steel pole was deemed a danger. Arborists warned the White House that the tree could fall, putting people, motorcades and other nearby historic trees at risk. On Monday, the White House removed the historic Jackson Magnolia and replaced it with a 12-year-old descendant sapling.
Nixon’s 1973 press release went on to describe how some of the White House grounds were used.
“The East Garden was dedicated in 1965 to Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy and Mrs. Nixon uses it often in nice weather for her official duties and for entertaining friends,” it reads.
Also noted was the Rose Garden, where the president hosts “small official ceremonies and receptions.”
The 1973 tour also gave visitors a peek at the Children’s Garden, presented to White House in 1969 by President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson.
“I was so shocked when I got to see that they had not even a month to plan the whole thing,” Bostock says. “But that’s typical of the White House, right? You ask them to do anything they could to pull it together on a moment’s notice, which they did, and it’s been one of the most popular public events at the White House now for 52 years.”
Melania Trump’s first public White House Garden Tour since returning to the residence gave visitors views of the flower garden, The Rose Garden, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, the Children’s Garden, the Kitchen Garden established by former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009 and the Floral Cutting Garden established by former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in 2021.
“It’s a special opportunity for visitors of all ages to experience the gardens that have been cared for by dedicated staff and enjoyed by generations of first families,” Nicholas Clemens, director of communications at The Office of the First Lady, told FOX News.
Along the route on Sunday, tourists could view images of Mr. And Mrs. Trump in the gardens that were taken during their first term in the White House. Crowds also had a closer look at “The Beast,” the presidential limousine that was parked outside during the tour.
Melania Trump Urges Passage of Legislation Aimed at Outlawing Deepfakes, Sexually Explicit Images
First Lady Melania Trump in a social media post Wednesday thanked the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for their nearly unanimous support of the Take It Down Act, legislation that the first lady advocated for at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. last month.
“I remain dedicated to championing child well-being, ensuring that every young person can thrive and ‘Be Best.’ Thank you to the House Energy & Commerce Committee for advancing the Take It Down Act. This marks a significant step in our bipartisan efforts to safeguard our children from online threats,” said Trump in a statement. “I urge Congress to swiftly pass this important legislation. Together, we can create a safer, brighter future for all Americans!”
Congressman Brett Guthrie, a Republican from Kentucky and chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, along with lawmakers on Tuesday voted 49 to 1 in favor of the Take It Down Act.
The proposed legislation has been forwarded to the full House of Representatives.
“No man, woman, or child should be subjected to the spread of explicit AI images meant to target and harass innocent victims,” said Guthrie.
Last month, Mrs. Trump hosted a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill on the legislation that would outlaw the publication of nonconsensual sexually explicit images.
“It’s heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content like deepfakes,” Trump said during the meeting.
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