And the Answer is…
Last week, we asked what present British Prime Minister Gordon Brown might give to the president on his visit to Washington, following the hoo-ha over Obama’s decision to return a British bust of Winston Churchill.
Here’s our answer:
The President also thanked the Prime Minister for the gifts he presented to him: a pen holder carved from the timbers of the HMS Gannet, which was a sister ship of the HMS Resolute, and first edition biography of Winston Churchill. The President noted that the pen set is being displayed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office and the books are in the President’s personal study adjoining the Oval Office.
So it seems that Brits simply can’t let the American president go without some reminder of Churchill. Strange.
Churchill’s mother was an American, so as far as the political symbolism of the “Special Relationship” goes, using the memory of a half-American half-English hero seems rather effective.
At least it wasn’t a biography of George III, right?
The right-wing British press is all abuzz about the American slight to Brown. It also appears that as thoughtful as the Brits’ were in picking out gifts, our President reciprocated with a rather dated collection of American movie DVD’s. Some Special relationship! The Brit’s are “Not Amused.”
I’m not sure why the Presidential entourage doesn’t carry around spare bottles of bourbon for occasions like these. If I were foreign, that’s what I would want most from America. That and respect for my sovereignty.
Bourbon, the perfect gift for all occasions! It’s not just for breakfast anymore. A thousand years from now, Americans will be remembered as the people who gave the world Bourbon,and Jazz. That is, unless the Muslims take over.