 In 1941, however, the National Christmas Tree was relocated to just inside the south fence on the South Lawn of the White House.President Roosevelt personally made the request (after having discussed the issue with Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt on December 24, 1940) so that the ceremony could be a more "homey" experience.Two live, high Oriental spruce trees were taken from the White House grounds itself and planted north of the south fence of the White House (each about off the north-south axis with the Jefferson Memorial).