The Obamas head to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Wed Sep 7, 2022, 02:27 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: NPR


President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama applaud former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, not seen, during the portrait unveiling ceremony for former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush portraits, May 31, 2012, in the East Room of the White House. Obama's presidential portrait will be unveiled on Wednesday.
Carolyn Kaster/AP


President Joe Biden will be hosting former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama this afternoon for the unveiling of the couple's official White House portraits. This will be the first time in 10 years since a sitting president has invited former leadership back for a revealing of the portraits -- a tradition that stalled when an unveiling did not take place during the Trump years.

The White House Historical Association has organized the presidential portraits since the 1960s, and has since made it a goal to acquire portraits of all presidents and first ladies. These portraits, unlike those commissioned for the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., hang in the White House. According to the association, presidents and first ladies often select their artists before leaving the White House. But the process for completing the paintings can take years.

"We went back and acquired existing portraiture for presidents and first ladies over the course of time, so that today there is a complete collection from George Washington," said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association. "And as of the 7th of September 2022, it will include President and Mrs. Obama."

When was the last White House portrait unveiling?

In 2012, Obama invited George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush to the White House for their unveilings. That event has gone down in history as a comedic affair, with Obama quipping that Bush left him a "really good TV sports package" and Bush dropping jokes about his painting. Bush noted that when the British burned the White House in 1814, Dolley Madison famously saved a portrait "of the first George W." "Now Michelle, if anything happens," Bush said, gesturing to his portrait, "there's your man."

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121281696/obama-portrait-white-house

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[oldsoftie]

1. Remembering when Presidents actually acted "Presidential" instead of an asshole

[iluvtennis]

2. Yep, tfg was/ is a spoiled bratty cretin with no respect for traditions. n/t

[Initech]

6. Yup! The cons realllllllllllllllllllllllly lowered the bar in 2016.

[asiliveandbreathe]

3. Barack is so cool!!! Refreshing, classy, and refreshing, classy..

Can't be said enough..I am moved to remind myself to breathe..a moment of peace..and clarity..

We are fortunate to have President Joe Biden..another class act....that reminder of HOPE..

[question everything]

4. Stunning. Dignified, calming, elegant. Dare I say... Presidential?

[Bayard]

5. Michelle's is lovely

Wonder if she actually has that dress?

Still trying to make up my mind about Barak's. It almost looks like a photo, especially with the stark white background, while Michelle's is definitely a painting. I'm also not sure about half his face being darkened by shadow. But hey--everybody's a critic, right?

I've always been disgusted that TFG was petty enough not to allow this. I also can't believe there will ever be one of him and Mrs. Former Guy hung in the White House, with the impeachments, indictments, treason, and all.

[happy feet]

7. Thx for posting - I missed the ceremony

The last photo made me tear up - the significance of these photos to be hung in the White House in perpetuity and the humanity of Obama kissing Michelle.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. There are a couple archived streams if you want to watch ceremony

here - https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017765223 (multiple choices)

and here - https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017765224 (WH video stream)

[Initech]

9. So glad to have class and dignity back in the White House!

[MissMillie]

10. I am glad this happened in the Biden Whitehouse

TFG would have made the event all about him.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. He refused to have the event at all.

The Smithsonian Portrait Gallery had their own event in 2018 for those portraits but it was obvious the WH ones were probably going to be a non-starter in that administration.

[MissMillie]

13. I am aware of TFG's snub of the Obamas

and of tradition

[BumRushDaShow]

14. And since we are even discussing this means

that he in fact made it about himself.

[Irish_Dem]

11. In her portrait, Mrs. Obama wore an elegant off-shoulder dress in baby blue designed by Jason Wu.

Mr. Wu designed both of Mrs. Obama's inaugural ball gowns.