POTUS on Oval Office phone call with Souter, as he officially anounces retirement (PICS)

[jefferson_dem]

President Barack Obama talks with Supreme Court Justice David Souter during an Oval Office phone call Friday afternoon, May 1, 2009. At left is Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and right is White House Counsel Gregory Craig. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.


President Barack Obama talks with Supreme Court Justice David Souter during an Oval Office phone call Friday afternoon, May 1, 2009. At right is White House Counsel Gregory Craig. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse

[lamp_shade]

1. First I've noticed the Statue of Liberty pic hanging in his office. Nice.

[Clio the Leo]

5. More on that painting....

... if you are not familair with it. It's a Rockwell.



http://www.whitehousehistory.org/whha_tours/whitehouse_art/art_liberty_02.html

On the opposite wall hangs this famous piece....





http://www.whitehousehistory.org/whha_tours/whitehouse_art/art_avenue_02.html

.... which *I* think is dreary but JFK liked it ... and art is subjective. ;)

Although, as I'm writing perhaps there's a symbolism between the two. On one wall, American flags soak in what looks like a cold, miserable downpour. But on the next wall, American workers climb a great height and, together in the sunshine, work to restore the icon of our nation's glory.

Hmmm. Interesting.

Bush had some landscape scenes hung in those spots.....



... something that looked like what someone might hang if they had no appreciation for art but wanted to LOOK like they did.

Although Bush claims to have used some reasoning in selecting the painting as described here (2:00 mark)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpPQdcnC9iU

But when I saw those two painting hanging in Barack's Oval Office, it didn't surprise me one bit that they were there. Not only are the significant pieces or art but they're .... well, him. Esp the Rockwell.

I just wish there were a way that the White House could swap THIS painting by George Fredrick Watts that's in their collection...


.. for THIS painting, also by Watts that is currently on display at an art house in London.

The painting inspired a sermon ..... and that sermon inspired a book. The author of the book inspired a nation and that nation changed the course of world history.

The painting is called, "Hope."

[lamp_shade]

7. Thank you so much. The magnifying glass thingie seems to show that the workers

are black, yellow, brown and white and the fellow in the middle appears to be Norman himself. I love this painting and have saved it to display on my facebook album.

[Cha]

2. There's some of our

Cool Gang that we wanted so badly! I'm savoring all these pics!

[CTyankee]

3. I notice that the President uses a land line. Is this because of security considerations?

I wonder why the White HOuse has land lines any more? So many American households do not (altho I do)...

[NYC Liberal]

4. Security. I imagine they have the ability to block out cell signals if need be

so that's probably why.

[marlakay]

6. I notice he is finally drinking out of a glass

It bothers me how he uses water bottles in all of his meetings. It's not like that can't get filtered water to give to him with a water pitcher and glasses.