William (Bill) W. Schonely (June 1, 1929 – January 21, 2023)

On December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge touched a button
and lights up the first national Christmas tree to grace the White
House grounds.

Not only was this the first White House “community” Christmas
tree, but it was the first to be decorated with electric lights—a
strand of 2,500 red, white and green bulbs.

The balsam fir came from Coolidge’s home state of Vermont and
stood 48 feet tall. Several musical groups performed at the tree
-lighting ceremony, including the Epiphany Church choir and the
U.S. Marine Band.

Later that evening, President Coolidge and first lady Grace were
treated to carols sung by members of Washington, D.C.’s First Congregational Church.

According to the White House Historical Association, President
Benjamin Harrison was the first president to set up an indoor
Christmas tree for his family and visitors to enjoy in 1889. It
was decorated with ornaments and candles.

On December 23, 1823, “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” perhaps
the most famous and influential Christmas poem ever was
published in the Troy Sentinel newspaper in New York by
an anonymous author.

It wasn’t until nearly 20 years later, in 1844, that American
writer Clement Clarke Moore claimed authorship after
seeing the poem misattributed in the Washington
National Intelligencer.

Moore took credit for the poem, claiming to have authored 
“some lines, describing a visit from St. Nicholas, which I
wrote many years ago, not for publication, but to amuse
my children.”

Suspense is a radio drama series broadcast on CBS Radio from
1940 through 1962

One of the premier drama programs of the Golden Age of Radio,
it was subtitled "radio’s outstanding theater of thrills" and focused
on suspense thriller-type scripts, usually featuring leading
Hollywood actors of the era.

Approximately 945 episodes were broadcast during its long run,
and more than 900 still exist.

Lurene Tuttle (left) and Rosalind Russell.

The world’s first cloned cat—CC, or Copy Cat—was born in
a biomedical lab at Texas A&M University. CC, who lived for
18 years, had all the physical attributes and indifference
toward humanity of any other kitty. Her birth kickstarted
a global pet-cloning industry.  

 CC with her surrogate mom, Allie.

Rainbow, the genetic donor cat.

Photo of C.C. taken in 2008.

On March 3, 2020, CC died at 18 years old in College Station, Texas.

CC went on to have her own kittens, who were healthy and genetically unique.