Podcast Summary: Letters from an American

Host: Heather Cox Richardson
Episode Date: December 23, 2025 (aired December 24, 2025)
Episode Theme: The History of NORAD's Santa Tracker and Its Cultural Significance

Brief Overview

In this episode, Heather Cox Richardson explores the origins and evolution of NORAD’s annual tradition of tracking Santa Claus’s sleigh. She reveals the historical backdrop of this now-whimsical event—rooted in Cold War defense anxieties—and discusses how it blossomed into a beloved, cooperative tradition symbolizing U.S.-Canadian relations and the enduring power of innocent wonder.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Birth of the Santa Tracker: A Lucky Mistake

• A Child’s Wrong Number:
  • In November 1955, a young child misdialed a hotline number for Santa from a Sears ad, reaching Colonel Harry Shoup at CONAD (Continental Air Defense Command) instead ([00:08]).
• Turning an Accident into Opportunity:
  • Initially brusque, Shoup later seized on the episode to publicize the air defense system—a strategic move to familiarize Americans with the protective capabilities during growing Cold War tensions ([00:29]).

Cold War Context and Expanding Defense

• Post-WWII American Sentiment:
  • Many Americans wished to move away from international entanglements, but leaders in the U.S. and Canada felt vulnerable to Soviet attack, particularly via the polar route ([00:47]).
• Public Relations Transformation:
  • CONAD's public relations team began informing wire services they were “tracking Santa’s sleigh,” garnering positive press and public intrigue ([01:05]).
• Formation of NORAD:
  • In 1957, the U.S. and Canada formalized defense cooperation as the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), and continued the tradition ([01:21]).

The Evolution of the Tradition

• Growing Public Engagement:
  • By 1960, NORAD was providing Christmas Eve updates, inventing episodes like Santa’s emergency landing on Hudson Bay attended by Canadian fighter jets, reinforcing the peaceful intent of military resources ([01:36]).
• Symbolic Escort Missions:
  • Over subsequent years, the tradition of fighter jets ceremonially “intercepting” Santa to salute him contributed to the mythos and fostered public goodwill ([02:04]).

Enduring Legacy and Broader Significance

• NORAD’s Growing Role:
  • The command’s functions have expanded over the decades, but the Santa Tracker remains a signal of cooperation and public engagement ([02:18]).
• Community Effort and International Friendship:
  • Today, over 1,000 volunteers at NORAD’s Colorado Springs headquarters field more than 100,000 calls from children all over the world each Christmas Eve ([02:32]).
• A Night of Magic:
  • For one night, the typically serious realms of international defense and intelligence transform into a collaborative exercise in childhood wonder—reflecting a “long-standing U.S.-Canadian friendship” ([02:55]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Origin Story:

  • “It was not Santa who picked up the phone, but Colonel Harry Schoup... Shoup was brusque when a small voice asked if he was Santa. But he later recognized that interest in Santa could be an opportunity to call public attention to the air defense system...” (Heather Cox Richardson, [00:13]).

• On the First Public Announcement:

  • “A few weeks after the young child's call, Shoup told his public relations officer to inform the news wire services that CONAD was tracking Santa’s sleigh as it traveled from the North Pole.” (Heather Cox Richardson, [01:05])

• On Military Mythmaking:

  • “By Christmas Eve 1960, NORAD was posting updates... It reported that the sleigh had made an emergency landing on the ice of Hudson Bay. When Canadian fighter jets stopped by to check on the incident, they found Santa tending to a reindeer's injured foot.” (Heather Cox Richardson, [01:36])

• On Magic Amidst Seriousness:

  • “For one night a year, the hard-edged world of international alliances, intelligence, radar, satellites, and fighter jets turns into a night for adults to create a magical world for children.” (Heather Cox Richardson, [02:55])

Important Timestamps

• [00:08] — The origin of the NORAD Santa Tracker: a misdialed phone call.
• [01:05] — Shoup directs public relations to announce “tracking Santa’s sleigh.”
• [01:21] — Formation of NORAD and continuance of the Santa tracking story.
• [01:36] — The 1960s: NORAD invents Santa “emergencies,” engages fighter jets in the narrative.
• [02:32] — Volunteers and large-scale community involvement in today’s tradition.
• [02:55] — Reflection on the symbolic meaning and enduring magic of the Santa Tracker.

Overall Tone & Style

Heather Cox Richardson narrates with her signature blend of historical clarity, warmth, and storytelling. She weaves factual history with the gentle, festive spirit of the Santa Tracker, underscoring how even military institutions can become agents of community joy and transnational camaraderie.

For additional information or to read the newsletter, visit: heathercoxrichardson.substack.com