Oval Office grandfather clock: Difference between revisions
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File:Walter Mondale, Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Brzezinski meet in the Oval Office with Deng Xiaoping and other Chinese... - NARA - 183220.tif|[[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Deng Xiaoping]] (1979) |
File:Walter Mondale, Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Brzezinski meet in the Oval Office with Deng Xiaoping and other Chinese... - NARA - 183220.tif|[[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Deng Xiaoping]] (1979) |
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File:Reagan’s meeting with Oleg Gordievsky in the Oval Office (11).jpg|[[Ronald Regan]] and [[Oleg Gordievsky]] (1987) |
File:Reagan’s meeting with Oleg Gordievsky in the Oval Office (11).jpg|[[Ronald Regan]] and [[Oleg Gordievsky]] (1987) |
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File:Bush-library-tamu-oval-office-985.jpg|[[George H. W. Bush]] discusses [[Operation Desert Storm]] with officials (1991) |
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File:President Clinton is briefed on Kosovo - Flickr - The Central Intelligence Agency.jpg|[[Bill Clinton]] and [[Madeleine Albright]] (1999) |
File:President Clinton is briefed on Kosovo - Flickr - The Central Intelligence Agency.jpg|[[Bill Clinton]] and [[Madeleine Albright]] (1999) |
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File:Valdas Adamkus and George W. Bush (3).jpg|[[George W Bush]] and [[Valdas Adamkus]] (2007) |
File:Valdas Adamkus and George W. Bush (3).jpg|[[George W Bush]] and [[Valdas Adamkus]] (2007) |
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Revision as of 15:19, 8 June 2017
The Seymour tall case clock, more commonly known as the Oval Office grandfather clock, is an 8 feet 10 inches (269 cm) tall-case clock, made of mahogany between 1795-1805 in Boston by John and Thomas Seymour.[1] It was purchased by the White House Historical Association in 1972 and has been in the Oval Office since 1975. It is presently located in the northeast corner and has remained one of the only permanent fixtures of the room, since the presidency of Gerald Ford, throughout several renovations.[2][3]
The clock features "crotch birch and satinwood veneers", a "double lunette inlay", and a movement likely made by James Doull of Charlestown, Massachusetts.[1] An almost identival work of the same period, material, and creator is on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[4] Immigrants from England, the Seymours (father and son) are considered master cabinetmakers in the federal style. They erfecting their craft in New England during "one of the most pivotal chapters in American history" to create "truly iconic pieces of American furniture".[5]
Gallery
Due to its location, the clock has appeared in the background of many photographs of successive American Presidents receiving world leaders and during meetings in the Oval Office.
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Gerald Ford and Henry Kissinger (1975) -
Jimmy Carter and Deng Xiaoping (1979) -
Ronald Regan and Oleg Gordievsky (1987) -
George H. W. Bush discusses Operation Desert Storm with officials (1991) -
Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright (1999) -
George W Bush and Valdas Adamkus (2007) -
Barack Obama and Julia Gillard (2011) -
Donald Trump and Theresa May (2017)
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Comey testimony
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The clock was mentioned specifically by the former FBI director James Comey, in his written statement to Congress, published the day before his testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence regarding his being dismissed by President Donald Trump.[8][9] This very specific and repeated mention of the clock caused a minor sensation on social media.[10][11][12]
When the door by the grandfather clock closed, and we were alone, the President began by saying, 'I want to talk about Mike Flynn.'...
After he had spoken for a few minutes about leaks, Reince Priebus leaned in through the door by the grandfather clock and I could see a group of people waiting behind him...
The President returned briefly to the problem of leaks. I then got up and left out the door by the grandfather clock, making my way through the large group of people waiting there, including Mr. Priebus and the Vice President...— James Comey[13]
References
- ^ a b "Treasures of the White House: Seymour Tall Case Clock". White House Historical Association. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (2010-08-31). "White House Oval Office Is Redecorated". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- ^ Luu, Christopher. "The Oval Office Got A Very Trump Makeover". Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- ^ "Case attributed to Thomas Seymour | Tall Clock | American | The Met". The Metropolitan Museum of Art, i.e. The Met Museum. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- ^ Mussey, Robert. "The Furniture Masterworks of John & Thomas Seymour". Peabody Essex Museum. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ May, Charlie. "Henry Kissinger visits White House, surprises media with Oval Office photo-op". Salon. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
- ^ Mathis-Lilley, Ben (2017-05-10). "Trump Also Just Met With Henry Kissinger, aka Richard Nixon's National Security Adviser". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
- ^ "'I expect loyalty,' Trump told Comey, according to written testimony". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- ^ "Key quotes from James Comey's testimony to Congress". BBC News. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- ^ Jaffy, Bradd (2017-06-07). "@BraddJaffy". Twitter. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Viser, Matt (2017-06-07). "@mviser". Twitter. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Waldman, Katy (2017-06-07). "James Comey's Senate Testimony Is a Pulpy, Literary Treat". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- ^ Reuters (2017-06-07). "Text: Ex-FBI Director Comey's Prepared Testimony to Senate Panel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help)