Reenacting History: Pictures of Historic Presidential Events Often Posed After-the-Fact

A presidential practice has occurred since Harry Truman but has rarely, if ever, been talked about: presidents pose for pictures with the media after events have already taken place. Those photos are then presented to the public as pictures of the actual event when, in fact, they have been staged. So, when pictures were released of President Obama making his historic announcement to the nation about the killing of Osama bin Laden, those pictures were from the staged event which occurred AFTER President Obama had already addressed the nation.

According to WaPo: "Those pictures of the president standing at the lectern for one of his televised speeches? Yeah, they’re a kind of a crock. For decades, little known to the public, photos of the president making a major address were reenactments. Presidents — stretching at least as far back as Harry Truman, apparently — finished their speeches and then pretended to do it again a few minutes later, so that photographers barred from the actual event could snap photos. The resulting images have often been presented as the real thing when published by countless newspapers and Web sites. Maybe not a critical deception but phony nevertheless."

So, how was this deceptive practice outed? "A well-respected Reuters photographer, Jason Reed, blew the lens cap on this everyday fraud when he blogged about the Sunday-night assignment." Logistics and the need to constantly feed the media beast created the practice in the first place: "The problem is the tension between the news media’s desire for fresh images of a major speech and the logistics of pulling that off. No administration wants an address of major importance disrupted by clicking shutters or jostling photojournalists. What’s more, some parts of the White House, such as the Oval Office, are too small to accommodate even a limited pool of photographers — once teleprompters, lights, TV cameras and production technicians are in place."

The Obama White House has indicated it will stop the practice. What then, however? The public does have a desire to see still images of POTUS during historic moments. Chances are the official White House photographer will fill the void if, in fact, the White House no longer accommodates the media's desire to stage events post-event. Or, the media will have to do a better job labeling the photos indicating that they were taken after the event they are supposed to represent.

Bowling Over the Obama White House

Even in during the primary campaign there was talk, spurred on by the candidate himself, that a President Obama would consider replacing the White House bowling alley with a basketball court. I suspect there is not enough space to put in a hoops court--particularly height-wise. The current one-lane bowling alley is located under the driveway of the North Portico. It was installed by Richard Nixon--he and Pat were avid bowlers. The first bowling alley was built as a present to Harry Truman (who was not a bowling fan) in the space now occupied by the Situation Room.

Which brings us to today. A coalition of bowling organizations are offering to completely renovate the White House bowling alley and bring it into the 21st Century. According to their press release: "The enhanced ultra-modern lane would include a completely new technology surface, cutting-edge bowling balls, a top-of-the-line high definition scoring system and light display, a digital stereo sound system, club seating, Bowlopolis kids digital graphics, and modern electronic bumpers."

The current alley is in dire need of a face lift. Such a renovation would be a win-win for the declining bowling industry as well as the White House and the President-elect himself who clearly needs a little practice at the game (he scored a 37 in a March campaign appearance at a Pennsylvania bowling alley). I'm sure there are other spaces inside the White House or elsewhere on the grounds where an indoor basketball court could be constructed.

Turkey Pardoning Wasilla Style

I had promised myself that I was not going to make any more posts for awhile about Sarah Palin, if only to avoid the whining I would inevitably hear from my brother, the lone Palin cheerleader remaining east of the Mississippi. Well, I tried but I just couldn't--this story was just too juicy--literally.

Governor Palin decided to perform a presidential tradition today and pardon a Thanksgiving turkey today. Well, there is a right way and a wrong way to pardon a turkey, an act presidents have performed in one form or another since Harry Truman first began the practice (though there is some controversy about when exactly when and in what form the pardon tradition began).

Right Way: Gather reporters and photographers outside the White House, say something pithy and/or witty, smile for the camera, and walk back to the Oval.

Wrong Way: Gather reporters and photographers at a turkey farm, say something incoherent, and smile while the photographers capture a different turkey being slaughtered directly behind you.

Um, not exactly the image the Governor was probably going for (or maybe she was given her love of hunting and fishing). Oh, and she was informed by the photographer what was going on behind her and decided to continue with the interview without changing spots.

Classic. If Alaska reinstated capital punishment on Governor Palin's watch I wonder what that would look like...