the traditional new year's day reception at the white house

~the tradition was started by George Washington  - to allow
people to shake hands with the President

~John Adams held the first New Year's reception at the
actual White House on January 1st, 1801

~Thomas Jefferson continued the Presidential
Tradition of Shaking Hands With The People
by actually shaking hands with each and every
visitor - and also enjoyed exchanging friendly
greetings

~Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation
Proclamation on January 1st, 1863 - only
after shaking thousands of hands

~The New Year's Day Tradition was broken
when President Herbert Hoover left town for
the Holidays