Posted on 07/27/2012 1:20:58 PM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
Lately, there’s been a rumor swirling around about the current location of the bust of Winston Churchill. Some have claimed that President Obama removed the bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office and sent it back to the British Embassy.
Now, normally we wouldn’t address a rumor that’s so patently false, but just this morning the Washington Post’s Charles Krauthammer repeated this ridiculous claim in his column. He said President Obama “started his Presidency by returning to the British Embassy the bust of Winston Churchill that had graced the Oval Office.”
This is 100% false. The bust still in the White House. In the Residence. Outside the Treaty Room.
News outlets have debunked this claim time and again. First, back in 2010 the National Journal reported that “the Churchill bust was relocated to a prominent spot in the residence to make room for Abraham Lincoln, a figure from whom the first African-American occupant of the Oval Office might well draw inspiration in difficult times.” And just in case anyone forgot, just last year the AP reported that President Obama “replaced the Oval Office fixture with a bust of one of his American heroes, President Abraham Lincoln, and moved the Churchill bust to the White House residence.”
In case these news reports are not enough for Mr. Krauthammer and others, here’s a picture of the President showing off the Churchill bust to Prime Minister Cameron when he visited the White House residence in 2010
Good for President Obama. But I was always more upset about gays in the military, abortion and Mr. Holder than Churchill's bust.
“Abraham Lincoln, a figure from whom the first African-American occupant of the Oval Office might well draw inspiration in difficult times.”
ESPECIALLY AS HE DECLARES WAR AGAINST HALF OF AMERICA...
I see two BUTTS and part of one bust.
Don’t discount that fact that the bust in the picture is a cheap replica or that the picture has been Photoshopped.
well at least he is bowing to someone worthy....
It doesn’t matter where he moved it to...what matters is he removed it from the Oval Office.
Why did he do this?
Maybe because his world view is forged from a deep seeded hatred of colonial Great Britain. Its a Kenyan point of view, born out of unrequited daddy worship, directed at an absentee father who was allegedly abused/imprisoned by Churchill’s subordinates.
Barack Obama sends bust of Winston Churchill on its way back to Britain
By Tim Shipman in Washington
5:20PM GMT 14 Feb 2009
A bust of the former prime minister once voted the greatest Briton in history, which was loaned to George W Bush from the Government's art collection after the September 11 attacks, has now been formally handed back.
The bronze by Sir Jacob Epstein, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds if it were ever sold on the open market, enjoyed pride of place in the Oval Office during President Bush's tenure.
But when British officials offered to let Mr Obama to hang onto the bust for a further four years, the White House said: "Thanks, but no thanks."
Diplomats were at first reluctant to discuss the whereabouts of the Churchill bronze, after its ejection from the seat of American power. But the British Embassy in Washington has now confirmed that it sits in the palatial residence of ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald, just down the road from Vice President Joe Biden's official residence. It is not clear whether the ambassador plans to keep it in Washington or send it back to London.
American politicians have made quoting Churchill, whose mother was American, something of an art form, but not Mr Obama, who prefers to cite the words and works of his hero Abraham Lincoln. Indeed a bust of Mr Lincoln now sits in the Oval Office where Epstein's Churchill once ruled the roost.
Fact Check on Aisle One please...
I have a hunch the Obama campaign is panicking because, for the next two weeks of Olympics coverage, America is going to fall in love anew with all things British, and Obama’s Churchill diss isn’t going to look good. Why else would they bring the issue up now?
“A bust of the former prime minister once voted the greatest Briton in history, which was loaned to George W Bush from the Government’s art collection after the September 11 attacks, has now been formally handed back.”
It now appears that the Churchill bust was loaned to President Bush, not Obama and Obama is refusing to return the Churchill bust to England.
The bust is essentially stolen property.
On being told by a curvaceous female fan at the unveiling of a his sculpture
“Mr Churchill, I want you to know that I got up at dawn and drove a hundred miles for the unveiling of your bust”,
Winston replied, no doubt with a twinkle in his eye:
“Madam, I want you to know that I would happily reciprocate the honour”
That was my first thought. Why are they JUST now trying to prove something?
Meanwhile...down the hallway from Joe Biden’s office is one confused and shaken British Ambassador who had the door kicked open and a few masked men burst in, grabbed a bust of Winston Churchill and ran down the hallway to the Treaty Room.
July 27, 2012....CNN;
“But late Friday, British Embassy Spokesman James Barbour said there were actually two busts of Churchill, both by artist Sir Jacob Epstein.
The one that was loaned to the George W. Bush administration in 2001 was returned after Bush left office and now resides at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington.”
I tend to believe your Telegraph story before I believe the known liar living in the White House.
They should check with the British Embassy in Washington to see if they’ve got the capital of Israel there too since they don’t know where that is either.
He lied Jim... all of the evidence proves it... this replica proves nothing. This thread is full of links to proof that obama lied. **** obama!
LLS
LOL!
Oh, I guess I was imagining things. Barack isnt so bad, hes misunderstood. Think Ill vote for him!</sarcasm>
LOL!!!! DORK.
GOOD CALL!!!
"Since my post on the fact that the bust of Winston Churchill has remained on display in the White House, despite assertions to the contrary, I have received a bunch of questions -- so let me provide some additional info. The White House has had a bust of Winston Churchill since the 1960’s. At the start of the Bush administration Prime Minister Blair lent President Bush a bust that matched the one in the White House, which was being worked on at the time and was later returned to the residence. The version lent by Prime Minister Blair was displayed by President Bush until the end of his Presidency. On January 20, 2009 -- Inauguration Day -- all of the art lent specifically for President Bush’s Oval Office was removed by the curator’s office, as is common practice at the end of every presidency. The original Churchill bust remained on display in the residence. The idea put forward by Charles Krauthammer and others that President Obama returned the Churchill bust or refused to display the bust because of antipathy towards the British is completely false and an urban legend that continues to circulate to this day."
Ah... The old "false but true" ploy again.
“Additional info”..
Tap dancing around to avoid pointing out that the “additional info” completely invalidates his earlier claims.
And with a little 'googling' one can turn up dozens of articles from 2009 which say Dan Pfieffer is a damn liar.
The British Ambassador's residence.
Liar.
I’m just surprised it wasn’t replaced by a bust of
himself.
My thoughts exactly. Maybe 2 asses and one bust.
To admit that President Obama is not wrong 100% of the time, especially on issues of secondary importance, is not the same as agreeing with the destructive things he’s done in matters of vital effect.
That was crude and unacceptable.
That bottom photo is truly a BUST on so many levels.
(I guess I could say the bust photo is really the BOTTOM on so many levels too...lol..)
It wouldn’t surprise me to find that a bust of Jomo Kenyatta resides in the Oval Office.
From the White House archives...
Bush receiving the statue.
NO claims of TWO statues back then...
watch View the President’s Remarks
listenListen to the President’s Remarks
1:12 P.M. EDT President Bush accepts a bust of Sir Winston Churchill from ambassador of England, Sir Christopher Meyer July 16, 2001. “He was a man of great courage. He knew what he believed. And he really kind of went after it in a way that seemed like a Texan to me,” said the President explaining why he would like the likeness of an Englishman placed inside the Oval Offfice. “He charged ahead, and the world is better for it.”. White House photo by Paul Morse.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. Thank
I think I casually mentioned to the Ambassador, right after my swearing-in, that I lamented the fact that there was not a proper bust of Winston Churchill for me to put in the Oval Office. He’s a man of great action, because here sits a bust on loan from Her Majesty’s government, that I accept gratefully; and will place right here, where the flowers are, beneath one of my favorite West Texas paintings. I accept gratefully and I look forward to looking at Sir Winston on a daily basis.
People said, why would you be interested in having the bust of an Englishman in your Oval Office. And the answer is because he was one of the great leaders in the 20th century. He was an enormous personality. He stood on principle. He was a man of great courage. He knew what he believed. And he really kind of went after it in a way that seemed like a Texan to me: he wasn’t afraid of public opinion polls; he wasn’t afraid of — he didn’t need focus groups to tell him what was right. He charged ahead, and the world is better for it.
He also had a great sense of humor. There have been a lot of Churchill stories, some of which you can repeat on TV, some of which you can’t, Mr. Ambassador. One that came to mind was after he lost office in the election in 1945, King George VI offered him the Order of the Garter. And here is what he said. “I could hardly accept His Majesty’s offer of the Garter, when his people have given me the order of the boot.” (Laughter.)
Churchill reminds me of two things — one, we need more humor in the public arena. He had a great wit. He had a fantastic way of making people smile and laugh. And secondly, he reminds me of the importance of our relationship, the relationship between Great Britain and America.
As the Ambassador mentions, in a couple of days’ time I will go to confirm and renew that relationship. Not only will I have the honor of meeting with Her Majesty, I will also spend some quality time again with the Prime Minister. We’ve got a strong personal relationship that is most helpful to making sure our countries continue the tie that binds.
I’m looking forward to my trip overseas. And a perfect way to begin is to stop off in London, and then eventually go to Chequers, and then — and have a very constructive and honest and straightforward dialogue about areas where we cooperate to make the world a better place.
In the meantime, Mr. Ambassador, I’m honored that you came by. Thank you very much for bringing Sir Winston. I look forward to visiting with him. Sometimes he’ll talk back; sometimes he won’t, depending upon the stress of the moment. But he is a constant reminder of what a great leader is like.
So, thank you for coming, sir.
Q Mr. President, is the special relationship as healthy today as it was in Churchill’s time?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it is. I do. We cooperate in the Balkans. The Prime Minister and I talk quite frequently on issues that are of concern for world peace. We don’t agree on every single detail of issues, but we do agree that the relationship is special and unique. And I think it is very strong.
Q Are you expecting criticism on your UK trip, of your policies on the Kyoto treaty and missile defense?
THE PRESIDENT: You mean, from whom? Editorial page writers? Oh, perhaps. But on both issues I have made my positions clear. People shouldn’t doubt where the United States stands. And I made those positions on principle. In principle, it’s important for us to develop a new strategic framework to make the world more peaceful. The Prime Minister, in his public statement at Camp David, understood exact — said to the people he understood exactly where I was coming from.
We will continue to consult with Great Britain on the issue. I will keep him posted about my dialogue with Mr. Putin. As a matter of fact, one of the things I look forward to doing is sharing the conversations I had with Mr. Putin and what my intentions are in Genoa, as well as in Shanghai, when I meet Mr. Putin.
And I think the Prime Minister and others are beginning to realize the Cold War is over. I know he knows it’s over. And the fundamental question is, how do we deal with the threats of the 21st century. And on global warming, the Prime Minister knows, as do the leaders of the EU, they heard me say as loudly and as clearly as I can, we agree with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases. But we don’t accept the methodology of the Kyoto Treaty.
So I look forward over time to detailing our strategy with our friends and allies. And, again, I repeat, it’s with the goal in mind of making sure that we all work in the world developing and — developing nations as well as industrial nations of reducing greenhouse gases.
Q Mr. President, on a question that is of interest to Europe, do you plan to extend the waiver of the Title III of Helms-Burton for another six months?
THE PRESIDENT: I do.
Q Mr. President, do you have any initiative to suggest in Northern Ireland that might break the deadlock between the parties there?
THE PRESIDENT: Where? Northern Ireland? No, what I told the leaders of — Prime Minister Blair and Ahern, I said, call me if you need help. They’re the folks closest to the ground. They’re intricately involved in the situation, and the United States stands ready to assist. If there’s anything we can do to help bring peace to the region, my government is more than willing to do so.
Q But you haven’t received a call yet?
THE PRESIDENT: I have not, but I suspect that Tony Blair and I will discuss this issue. I look forward to getting his perspective on the issue. And, again, if he needs our help, we’ll be glad to help.
Q You’ve been to Britain before, Mr. President. What are you looking forward to most on your re-visit?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m looking forward to going to Chequers. The Prime Minister told me when he came to Camp David that he thought I was — would really love to see Chequers. And my dad told me the same thing; the ambassadors confirmed that, as well. I look forward to going. I look forward to seeing Her Majesty, the Queen.
I had the honor of coming to a state dinner here in Washington that my mother and dad gave for her. And it’s — I found her to be a lovely, dignified, smart lady. And I look forward to representing my country in her presence.
My first trip to overseas was a successful trip. I’m confident this will be, as well. It’s such an honor to represent our nation in foreign capitals and to be with foreign leaders. I look forward to — but I really look forward to making progress on key issues, such as missile defense and world trade, working with nations who are less fortunate than Great Britain and the United States — nations in Africa.
We’re going to have a very interesting session in Genoa with the leaders of developing nations. And the United States and Great Britain will take the lead in helping convince all our friends and allies to provide support necessary to help nations develop, starting with free trade.
Q Mr. President, on energy, your Cabinet is out today, pushing your energy plan. Is it a tougher sell now, given that gas prices have come down, we’re not seeing the rolling blackouts in California that we were just a couple of months ago?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think anytime there’s not an immediate problem that’s apparent to people, it’s tough to convince people to think long-term. But it’s clear that there are warning signs. It’s clear — it should be clear to the American people that we’re dependent upon foreign sources of crude oil, when every quarter we worry about whether or not OPEC is going to run the price of crude up. It should be worrisome to people that the state that’s had the best conservation efforts is the state that’s had brownouts. And even though there may not be a brownout today, it’s an indication that we need an energy policy.
And so we’re going to take a very strong effort to convince the American people that we’ve got a plan that couples not only sound conservation, but the need to develop new sources of energy. And one of the primary topics that will be on the agenda when the President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, comes after our August recess, in the beginning of September, will be to continue to talk about the hemispheric strategy to bring natural gas into the United States, and to Mexico, for that matter.
I’m going to meet with Jean Chretien in Genoa, and we’ll be talking about energy, I can assure you. Canada has got a lot of natural gas in the Northwest Territories; we need to figure out how to get that gas into the United States.
And I think the American people will listen to a rational, logical approach about how best to create energy security and diversification, as well as how to promote conservation.
Q Thank you, all.
END 1:24 P.M. EDT
From the White House archives...
Bush receiving the statue.
NO claims of TWO statues back then...
watch View the President’s Remarks
listenListen to the President’s Remarks
1:12 P.M. EDT President Bush accepts a bust of Sir Winston Churchill from ambassador of England, Sir Christopher Meyer July 16, 2001. “He was a man of great courage. He knew what he believed. And he really kind of went after it in a way that seemed like a Texan to me,” said the President explaining why he would like the likeness of an Englishman placed inside the Oval Offfice. “He charged ahead, and the world is better for it.”. White House photo by Paul Morse.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. Thank
I think I casually mentioned to the Ambassador, right after my swearing-in, that I lamented the fact that there was not a proper bust of Winston Churchill for me to put in the Oval Office. He’s a man of great action, because here sits a bust on loan from Her Majesty’s government, that I accept gratefully; and will place right here, where the flowers are, beneath one of my favorite West Texas paintings. I accept gratefully and I look forward to looking at Sir Winston on a daily basis.
People said, why would you be interested in having the bust of an Englishman in your Oval Office. And the answer is because he was one of the great leaders in the 20th century. He was an enormous personality. He stood on principle. He was a man of great courage. He knew what he believed. And he really kind of went after it in a way that seemed like a Texan to me: he wasn’t afraid of public opinion polls; he wasn’t afraid of — he didn’t need focus groups to tell him what was right. He charged ahead, and the world is better for it.
He also had a great sense of humor. There have been a lot of Churchill stories, some of which you can repeat on TV, some of which you can’t, Mr. Ambassador. One that came to mind was after he lost office in the election in 1945, King George VI offered him the Order of the Garter. And here is what he said. “I could hardly accept His Majesty’s offer of the Garter, when his people have given me the order of the boot.” (Laughter.)
Churchill reminds me of two things — one, we need more humor in the public arena. He had a great wit. He had a fantastic way of making people smile and laugh. And secondly, he reminds me of the importance of our relationship, the relationship between Great Britain and America.
As the Ambassador mentions, in a couple of days’ time I will go to confirm and renew that relationship. Not only will I have the honor of meeting with Her Majesty, I will also spend some quality time again with the Prime Minister. We’ve got a strong personal relationship that is most helpful to making sure our countries continue the tie that binds.
I’m looking forward to my trip overseas. And a perfect way to begin is to stop off in London, and then eventually go to Chequers, and then — and have a very constructive and honest and straightforward dialogue about areas where we cooperate to make the world a better place.
In the meantime, Mr. Ambassador, I’m honored that you came by. Thank you very much for bringing Sir Winston. I look forward to visiting with him. Sometimes he’ll talk back; sometimes he won’t, depending upon the stress of the moment. But he is a constant reminder of what a great leader is like.
So, thank you for coming, sir.
Q Mr. President, is the special relationship as healthy today as it was in Churchill’s time?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it is. I do. We cooperate in the Balkans. The Prime Minister and I talk quite frequently on issues that are of concern for world peace. We don’t agree on every single detail of issues, but we do agree that the relationship is special and unique. And I think it is very strong.
Q Are you expecting criticism on your UK trip, of your policies on the Kyoto treaty and missile defense?
THE PRESIDENT: You mean, from whom? Editorial page writers? Oh, perhaps. But on both issues I have made my positions clear. People shouldn’t doubt where the United States stands. And I made those positions on principle. In principle, it’s important for us to develop a new strategic framework to make the world more peaceful. The Prime Minister, in his public statement at Camp David, understood exact — said to the people he understood exactly where I was coming from.
We will continue to consult with Great Britain on the issue. I will keep him posted about my dialogue with Mr. Putin. As a matter of fact, one of the things I look forward to doing is sharing the conversations I had with Mr. Putin and what my intentions are in Genoa, as well as in Shanghai, when I meet Mr. Putin.
And I think the Prime Minister and others are beginning to realize the Cold War is over. I know he knows it’s over. And the fundamental question is, how do we deal with the threats of the 21st century. And on global warming, the Prime Minister knows, as do the leaders of the EU, they heard me say as loudly and as clearly as I can, we agree with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases. But we don’t accept the methodology of the Kyoto Treaty.
So I look forward over time to detailing our strategy with our friends and allies. And, again, I repeat, it’s with the goal in mind of making sure that we all work in the world developing and — developing nations as well as industrial nations of reducing greenhouse gases.
Q Mr. President, on a question that is of interest to Europe, do you plan to extend the waiver of the Title III of Helms-Burton for another six months?
THE PRESIDENT: I do.
Q Mr. President, do you have any initiative to suggest in Northern Ireland that might break the deadlock between the parties there?
THE PRESIDENT: Where? Northern Ireland? No, what I told the leaders of — Prime Minister Blair and Ahern, I said, call me if you need help. They’re the folks closest to the ground. They’re intricately involved in the situation, and the United States stands ready to assist. If there’s anything we can do to help bring peace to the region, my government is more than willing to do so.
Q But you haven’t received a call yet?
THE PRESIDENT: I have not, but I suspect that Tony Blair and I will discuss this issue. I look forward to getting his perspective on the issue. And, again, if he needs our help, we’ll be glad to help.
Q You’ve been to Britain before, Mr. President. What are you looking forward to most on your re-visit?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m looking forward to going to Chequers. The Prime Minister told me when he came to Camp David that he thought I was — would really love to see Chequers. And my dad told me the same thing; the ambassadors confirmed that, as well. I look forward to going. I look forward to seeing Her Majesty, the Queen.
I had the honor of coming to a state dinner here in Washington that my mother and dad gave for her. And it’s — I found her to be a lovely, dignified, smart lady. And I look forward to representing my country in her presence.
My first trip to overseas was a successful trip. I’m confident this will be, as well. It’s such an honor to represent our nation in foreign capitals and to be with foreign leaders. I look forward to — but I really look forward to making progress on key issues, such as missile defense and world trade, working with nations who are less fortunate than Great Britain and the United States — nations in Africa.
We’re going to have a very interesting session in Genoa with the leaders of developing nations. And the United States and Great Britain will take the lead in helping convince all our friends and allies to provide support necessary to help nations develop, starting with free trade.
Q Mr. President, on energy, your Cabinet is out today, pushing your energy plan. Is it a tougher sell now, given that gas prices have come down, we’re not seeing the rolling blackouts in California that we were just a couple of months ago?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think anytime there’s not an immediate problem that’s apparent to people, it’s tough to convince people to think long-term. But it’s clear that there are warning signs. It’s clear — it should be clear to the American people that we’re dependent upon foreign sources of crude oil, when every quarter we worry about whether or not OPEC is going to run the price of crude up. It should be worrisome to people that the state that’s had the best conservation efforts is the state that’s had brownouts. And even though there may not be a brownout today, it’s an indication that we need an energy policy.
And so we’re going to take a very strong effort to convince the American people that we’ve got a plan that couples not only sound conservation, but the need to develop new sources of energy. And one of the primary topics that will be on the agenda when the President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, comes after our August recess, in the beginning of September, will be to continue to talk about the hemispheric strategy to bring natural gas into the United States, and to Mexico, for that matter.
I’m going to meet with Jean Chretien in Genoa, and we’ll be talking about energy, I can assure you. Canada has got a lot of natural gas in the Northwest Territories; we need to figure out how to get that gas into the United States.
And I think the American people will listen to a rational, logical approach about how best to create energy security and diversification, as well as how to promote conservation.
Q Thank you, all.
END 1:24 P.M. EDT
Busted!!!
Haha. Did President Kardashian really think we would fall for that one!
He just keeps digging deeper and deeper.
This is just crazy. There seems to be proof via the British press noting that Obama sent it back, yet they are denying it. Which is it?
Read post #18. There are 2 busts, and the Obama folks are pretending the bust pulled out of storage in 2010 is the same one documented to have been deported in 2009.
Thank you.
Somebody should send this to those claiming the bust in question is still there and shut them up.
So why did Britain loan us one if we already had one?
They offered to let Obama keep it four more years and he sent the loaner back. That is a fact.
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