Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
This being the week of the Reagan Centennial (and really ... is one week enough?), I wanted to touch ever so briefly on an exceedingly minor, but fascinating aspect of the Gipper's legacy ... his taste in interior design. In the best tradition of presidential speechwriting, I'm stealing from my betters, so please excuse the Robinsonesque title and the image below, stolen directly from Bill's recent post.
I've always given Reagan serious kudos for moving the portrait of Calvin Coolidge to an honored place in the Cabinet Room. Especially given that the Coolidge cult is something of a secret handshake on the right, it tells you a lot about the man.
What I've found curious, though, ever since seeing the Oval Office replica at the Reagan Library is the image of Andrew Jackson on the wall (you'll see it on the right, just above Dana Rohrabacher, who is in the gray suit). Personally, Jackson is one of the two presidents who inspires the deepest ambivalence in me (the other, per an earlier Ricochet conversation, is Theodore Roosevelt). On one hand, you have in Jackson the only president to ever eliminate the national debt, as well as a spirited opponent of concentrated power. On the other, you have the man who oversaw a particularly ignominious chapter in the treatment of Native Americans and who at times succumbed to some of the worst impulses of populism.
Peter (or any other informed observers), any insights to Reagan's rationale for Old Hickory's exalted locale? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Jul '10
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
Two comments. One, the error of presentism with regards to the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and some historical embellishments with regards to the "peaceful" Indian tribes who were moved west of the Mississippi. It is one of the worst shibboleths of the left to exalt the Native American population. Second, has there been a president who has not succumbed to populism?
May '10
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
"Either those couches go or I do."
May '10
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
Yes interesting. I wonder why too? I thought Andrew Jackson was the first Democrat and the donkey symbol came from him?
Edited on Feb 10, 2011 at 3:05pmMay '10
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
I like to think that picture behind Reagan is of jackelopes hunting on the plain.
May '10
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
Yes. From the title of this thread, I expected a critique of the furniture.
"Mr. Reagan: tear down this couch!"
Dec '10
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
I believe that during the Jackson administration, Reagan was a Democrat.
Just kidding! Geez! (ducks)
Feb '11
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
Are you channeling Reagan? That's just the sort of quip about himself I'd expect from the man.
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
Jeepers. I worked in the Reagan White House for six years, and I've spent all the decades since reflecting on that experience, but this is the first time--the first!--that I've ever thought, for so much as an instant, about that portait of Andrew Jackson. Searching my memory right now, I find some dim recollection that, whereas the paintings in the Cabinet Room--which, as you rightly note, included Coolidge--reflected the personal preferences of the chief executive of the day, those in the Oval Office just...stayed there.
Am I right about this? Dunno. Did Dubya have the same portraits in his Oval Office? Anyway, I can't recall ever hearing the Gipper utter a word about Old Hickory.
Sorry, Troy. Some mysteries, history seems to insist, will remain mysteries.
May '10
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
I just got my copy of Harry Stein's "I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican". After a few pages, I've been shamed into deleting part of my previous post. Sorry about that. I'll try to keep my comments Ricochet, not HuffPo, worthy.
Anyway...I realize nobody is here anymore...Catholic guilt ;)
Sep '10
Re: Paging Peter Robinson -- On Presidential Interior Decorating
Katie O: I just got my copy of Harry Stein's "I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican". After a few pages, I've been shamed into deleting part of my previous post. Sorry about that. I'll try to keep my comments Ricochet, not HuffPo, worthy.
Anyway...I realize nobody is here anymore...Catholic guilt ;) · Feb 10 at 3:04pm
Ricochet has eyes everywhere. Even in the couches.