The London Telegraph - July 3, 1999
A BALD eagle, the emblem of the United States, bit President Clinton at a ceremony on the White House lawn yesterday. Mr. Clinton's staff had arranged for the eagle, Challenger, to be present when he announced that the species was being taken off the endangered list after a 27-year conservation project. The President described the eagle as the "living symbol of our democracy" and then moved over to talk to the bird's handler, Al Cesari. Mr. Clinton looked distinctly uneasy as he stood just out of pecking distance of the bird, whose image appears on the great seal of the United States, on the dollar bill and a host of other national symbols. As the President turned to congratulate volunteers from the eagle-salvation programme who were standing behind Challenger's perch, the 10-year-old bird bent forward and pecked him hard on the left hand. Mr. Clinton withdrew his hand quickly, shook it and inspected the damage, as an embarrassed Mr. Cesari moved in. A spokesman for the White House said later: "The President was bitten, but no blood was drawn. He told aides as he left the ceremony that he was sure that bird was not the only creature in Washington who would like to have a go at him ."
Looks like Clinton should keep the Bald Eagle and Democracy in America on the endangered species list a little longer.
