Dwight Eisenhower actually said...
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, it is hereby ordered that the several executive departments, independent establishments, and other governmental agencies in the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia, including the General Accounting Office, the Government Printing Office, and the Navy Yard and Naval Stations, shall be closed one-half day on Thursday, December 24, 1953, the day preceding Christmas Day, and one-half day on Thursday, December 31, 1953, the day preceding New Year's Day.
12/14/1953