Today in history
Throwback Thursday: On this day in history, Dec. 24, President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson enjoy the White House Christmas tree in 1967 and Bob Hope entertains the troops in 1970. Click through for a look back at these and other events today in history.
In this photo, President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, along with their dog Yuki, pose beside the family Christmas tree, a Norway spruce, in Washington, in the Yellow Oval Room in the second floor of the White House, Dec. 24, 1967. Yuki takes a stand atop some of the family Christmas gifts arranged under the tree. The president returned from his round-the-world journey.
Flying chaplain blesses cadets
Continuous night bombing schedule of the intensive bombardier training program allows no time out for Christmas Eve worship. Lt. Eugene F. McCahey, flying chaplain of San Angelo Army Air Field, brings the Christmas message to the bomber flight line, Dec. 24, 1942.
The cadets received the chaplain's blessing before continuing their practice blasting of the 18,000 acres of this bombardier school's night target bombing ranges in San Angelo, Texas. Chaplain McCahey is himself a pilot.
Heart surgeon Dr. Christian Barnard
Dr. Christian Barnard of South Africa, and two other noted heart surgeons, confer, Dec. 24, 1967 in Washington, before appearing on the CBS television program "Face the Nation." Dr. Barnard is credited with performing history's first human heart transplant.
Clustered around a model of the human heart are, from left: Dr. Barnard, Dr. Michael DeBakey of Houston, Texas, and Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz of Brooklyn, New York.
Eleanor Roosevelt - Christmas charity
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt distributes Christmas gifts to needy children in a theater in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 24, 1934.
National Christmas tree
Starred with many lights is the national Christmas tree which was lit on the White House grounds at ceremonies in Washington on Dec. 24, 1940 in which President Franklin D. Roosevelt participated.
The president, standing in a platform at the right, touched a button lighting the tree and then broadcast his Christmas wishes to the nation.
Bob Hope entertain troops
Bob Hope entertains the troops in Danang, South Vietnam in this Dec. 24, 1970.
Hope is the only civilian to ever be named honorary veteran of the U.S. Armed forces.
George S. Patton's burial
General George S. Patton, who was fatally injured in a motor-crash in Mannheim, Germany, was buried at Hamm, Luxembourg on Dec. 24, after a service was held in Christ Church, Heidelberg, Germany on Dec. 23.
The burial took place in the U.S. Military Cemetery at Hamm. The coffin is carried along a troop-lined path in the cemetery for burial. The bearer at left front, Master Sergeant William G. Meek, served as the general's orderly for eight years.
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras revelers gather to cheer the King of the celebration during the parade along Canal Street in New Orleans, Dec. 24, 1945. The monarch paraded for the first time since 1941.
St. Peter's Square
A view of St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Dec. 24, 1984, with a Christmas tree and a nativity scene.
Stan Musial
Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinal slugger, is shown sitting at an electronic computer that predicted his 1961 batting average would be .303 on Dec. 24, 1960 in St. Louis. Said Musial, "I'll settle for that."
The $3-million-dollar "Brain" digested the records of Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie and Honus Wagner in computing Stan's 1961 output. The computer is located at the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation's Automation center.
Jerusalem Christmas family reunion
Two sisters weep as they and their brother meet on the Jordanian side of the Mendelbaum Gate crossing point between Israel and Jordan, Dec. 24, 1965.
Thousands of Christian Arabs living in Israel crossed to Jordan on special three-day Christmas passes.
Albert Einstein
Professor Albert Einstein and his wife, Elsa, are shown aboard the Hamburg-American Line's M.S. Portland at Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone, awaiting canal transit to the Pacific Ocean en route to California, Dec. 24, 1931.
Einstein, "The Father of Relativity," is en route to the Mount Wilson observatory at Pasadena, Calif., where he will carry on the work which he started in 1930. The Einsteins have traveled with as little ostentation as possible in keeping with the professor's wishes.
Earth shines over Moon's horizon
The Earth shines over the horizon of the Moon in this Dec. 24, 1968 photo shot by the astronauts on Apollo 8. Apollo 8 was launched from Cape Canaveral on Dec. 21, 1968.
Charles Manson
A smile crosses the face of Charles M. Manson as he leaves a Los Angeles court where a judge reluctantly gave him permission to act as his own attorney when he is tried on murder and conspiracy charges, Dec. 24, 1969.
The court told the cult leader he will be making a "sad and tragic mistake" in conducting his own defense. He and members of his clan are accused of multiple killings in the deaths of actress Sharon Tate and others.
Pope Pius XII
The Pope Pius XII is greeted by thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square, as he is carried on his portable throne to St. Peter's Basilica for the closing of the holy door ceremony, Dec. 24, 1950 Christmas eve - ending the 25th jubilee of the Catholic church.
His holiness laid the first brick of the wall which, for the next 25 years, will block up the holy door.
Christmas eve - Troops in Korea
The spirit of Christmas was in the air, but for these three GIs it meant moving into positions atop "Little Gibraltar" on Korea's western front, Dec. 24, 1951.
The trail up is rugged and they stopped for a rest.
From left to right are: Pfc. William Mitchell, Compton, Calif.; Pfc. Merry Upshaw, Pittsview, Ala.; and Pfc. Larry Cummings, Perris, Calif.
President Truman & carolers
A smiling President Harry S. Truman stands on the porch of his home in Independence, Missouri, Dec. 24, 1949, to listen to 43 carolers from the Hilltop School for Girls, led by 16-year-old Nadine Rothgeb (facing camera, in front of the president).
The Hoovers distribute Christmas presents
Mrs. Herbert Hoover, wife of President Herbert Hoover, and Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Jr., were among those in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 24, 1931, who aided in the distribution of Christmas bundles at the Central Union Mission. They are shown as they helped Santa Claus distribute presents to the children in the foreground. Mrs. Herbert Hoover is in front and Mrs. Herbert Hoover Jr., is behind her.
Battle of the Bulge
Troops from the American First Army cautiously search a wooded area in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec. 24, 1944 during World War II. They were looking for German parachute troops.
Christmas eve shopping
A Christmas Eve shopper with a crated rocking horse tries to hail a cab outside Macy's department store in New York City on Dec. 24, 1946.
Hungarian refugees Christmas eve
Two Hungarian refugee sisters, Judith Kristof, 5, left, and Andrea Kristof, 7, kneel in Christmas Eve prayer by a tree in the home of relatives in Vienna, Dec. 24, 1956, after escape from strife-torn Hungary.
The girls' shoes are placed near the Christmas tree in hopes that the shoes will be filled with presents, a European custom. The girls expect to travel to Canada with relatives.