The 2006 White House Christmas ornament honors President Chester A. Arthur (1881–85). After serving for just six months as vice president to James A. Garfield, Arthur assumed the presidency in September 1881 when Garfield was killed by an assassin's bullet. He brought a luxurious style to the White House signaling the nation's return to prosperity after the economic troubles of the late 1870s.
The design of the 2006 ornament is inspired by period motifs and the rich decor of President Chester Arthur's White House. The North Portico of the White House is depicted in the center beneath an American bald eagle. The two translucent ovals that flank the center depict American dogwood blossoms incorporated in a large screen of red, white, and blue glass, which stood in the Entrance Hall until the turn of the century. Naturalistic leaves comprise the gold-plated outer wreath of the ornament and are derived from murals painted in the Entrance Hall.
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