MEN’S CLUB
Decorating the White House for Christmas
BY HOWARD ARKIN
Photos courtesy of
THoward Arkin his month’s speaker at the
monthly Men’s Club meeting
was Frank Lazzaro. Mr.
Lazzaro served as a decorator
for the White House for holiday
and state dinners beginning in
the 1970s. He spent 12 years at
the executive mansion during
the Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations.
Mr. Lazzaro gave
an informative presentation on
White House history, focusing
on its many renovations as well
as some personal anecdotes of
its occupants. He also gave us a
brief autobiography of his own life
and the events that led him to his
career at the White House.
George Washington and Irish
architect James Hoban, the winner
of the White House design competition,
were the two individuals
who were most influential in the
construction. George Washington
was instrumental in choosing the
location for the presidential residence,
but unfortunately never got
to live there. He died in 1799, one
year before its completion. Sadly,
the first major occurrence to take
place at the White House was its
destruction. The British set fire to
the White House during the War
of 1812 (“Revenge is sweet!”) in
retaliation for the American attack
on the city of York in Canada. After
being rebuilt, things remained
somewhat quiet for the remainder
of the century.
As the modern age of the 20th
Century emerged, it was decided
that in 1908, during Theodore
Roosevelt’s administration,
more room was needed at the
White House. It was during
this period that the West Wing
was added. During World War
I, President Woodrow Wilson
brought in a flock of sheep to
graze on the White House lawn.
While somewhat unusual to
see sheep on the front lawn of
the most prestigious residence in
the United States, the sheep saved
manpower by cutting the grass.
They also contributed wool, which
earned money for the Red Cross
through auction. President Wilson
felt it was important for his family
to aid in the war effort as well as
show solidarity with the American
troops fighting abroad.
In 1927 President Calvin
Coolidge had a third story added
to the building. This addition is
barely visible in most pictures, but
it nevertheless is actually there.
In 1948, President Truman had a
balcony added to the north portico.
Rumor has it that Harry had
the balcony added so that Bess
could spend more time there with
her Missouri lady friends and not
return home so often. However,
much to his disappointment, it
did not work. The following year
in 1949 the entire interior of the
building was completely gutted
and a huge renovation was begun.
After many years of neglect during
the depression and years of war,
the White House was in disrepair
and in actual danger of imminent
collapse.
It was almost twenty years
later, in 1968, that our speaker
Frank Lazzaro was drafted into
the Army. While stationed at Fort
Bragg in North Carolina, he rose
to the rank of sergeant. Knowing
of Frank’s floral background, his
commanding officer asked Frank
to find and decorate the army base
Christmas tree. The fact that the
base didn’t have a Christmas tree
made the task even more daunting.
As one can imagine, decorations
were also in short supply, but
Frank “rolled up his sleeves” and
got to work. The “tree problem”
was solved by Frank digging up a
fir tree he found located on some
land near the base. Decorations
proved to be more difficult, but
a few dozen Schaefer Beer cans
made it onto the branches and
served as ornaments.
It was obvious that Frank had
a flair for creativity. After the war
ended, Frank wrote a letter to
the White House explaining
that he was a veteran and
was interested in the position
of floral decorator. In
early 1974, a letter from the
White House arrived at the
Lazzaro home in Richmond
Hill, Queens. The White
House was offering Frank a
job and, as they say, “The rest
is history.”
MEN'S CLUB
SCHEDULE OF
EVENTS FOR
MAY 2019
• Breakfast every Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday at
Buffy's 9am
• Member/ Guest Dinner:
Monday, May 6 at 7pm - La
Baraka, 255-09 Northern Blvd.,
Little Neck. Soup, salad and
choice of chicken, fish, or steak
plus dessert and beverage; also
unlimited red and white wine.
$42 per person complete.
• Events Committee meeting:
Tuesday, May 7 after breakfast
(9:45) at Buffy's
• Men's Club Meeting:
Thursday, May 9 at 7:30 in the
large card room, Building 2
• Speaker Irwin Pfeffer,
Graphologist and Author.
Topic: “Graphology: A Mirror
To Ourselves”
• Monday, May 13, Current
Events: 10:30am in the Coleridge
Lounge, Building 3
• Thursday May 23, 12 noon:
Mets Baseball Game At Citi
Field
$45 Per Ticket - Handicapped
seats available
Tuesday, May 21 at 12:15
Members Only luncheon at
JOLLY FISHERMAN Order
from lunch menu Appetizer,
main course, beverage and
dessert. Cost to be shared by
table. Approximately $30-33
per person complete
Sunday, May 26 BINGO at
7:30pm in the large card room
Building 2
Call Jerry Siegel
(347-235-4513)
if you have any questions
Frank Lazzaro shares White House history
Revenge is sweet…
No lawnmowers necessary! 34 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ May 2019