presents an author talk
and book signing with
Matthew Litt author of
CHRISTMAS 1945:
THE GREATEST CELEBRATION
IN AMERICAN HISTORY
Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
Henry A. Wallace Center at the
FDR Presidential Library and Home
HYDE PARK, NY -- The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum presents an author talk and book signing with
Matthew Litt author of
CHRISTMAS 1945: THE GREATEST CELEBRATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY on Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home.
This is a free public event but registration is required.
Synopsis:
After four somber holidays -- muted by war -- America was bursting with patriotism and spirit resulting in
CHRISTMAS 1945: THE GREATEST CELEBRATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY. In his book, CHRISTMAS 1945, Matthew Litt explores the American spirit and the role of the first Christmas holiday after World War II. President Truman declared a four day Christmas weekend for federal employees, a hiatus unique to American culture. The U.S. Military launched "Operation Magic Carpet" to get tens of thousands of GIs in Europe and Asia home for Christmas.
At home, the U.S. Army and Navy launched "Operation Santa Claus" to process those thousands of GIs for discharge in time for Christmas. With happy spirits, the veterans set out for home, clogging rail depots, bus stations and airports creating, at that time, the greatest traffic jam in the nation's history. Some of the more fortunate were driven thousands of miles home by grateful citizens demonstrating the Christmas spirit in their own unique way. Across the nation, people crowded churches praying with gratitude for the peace in place, and reached out to wounded veterans, children who lost fathers, and neighbors who lost sons. Americans in big cities and small, participated in displays of the intrinsic love so indicative of the American spirit.
Matthew Litt, a practicing attorney, is a member of the United States Supreme Court Historical Society and the Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York. A graduate of Ithaca College and the University of Connecticut School of Law, he has written numerous articles about the law and the American Federal age.
Please contact Cliff Laube at (845) 486-7745 with questions about the event.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
