A Public Hanging (Of Sorts) For The Bush Family

By: Christine Lagorio
Topics: Capitol Notes

You've seen him assaulted with a shoe, but care to see President Bush "hung?" That's a scenario Mr. Bush decided was worthy of a joke this morning in Washington.

"I suspected there would be a good-size crowd once the word got out about my hanging," the president said at the unveiling of his portrait at the National Portrait Gallery. The portrait by Robert Anderson – a classmate of Mr. Bush at Yale – will be hung in the exhibition "America's Presidents," and is available for viewing starting tomorrow.

(AP Photo)

CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller writes: "Since the gallery now has portraits dating back to George Washington, he noted the symmetry - from George W. to George W."

Mr. Bush also noted that the artist said he had a lot of trouble with the president's mouth. "And I told him that makes two of us," Mr. Bush said.

One more crack: President Bush said the artist had to use alot more gray paint that in a previous portrait of a slightly younger Mr. Bush for the Yale Club.

First Lady Laura Bush's portrait, by Aleksander Titovets, a Russian painter who now lives in El Paso, Texas. The portrait of Mrs. Bush won't hang near her husband's – it will be on display on the first floor in the north hall of the gallery.

Despite being allotted less desirable portrait real-estate, Mrs. Bush was all smiles and joviality, too. According to the official transcript of the unveiling, she said:

Sasha [Titovets, the Russian painter] said that he postponed telling his mother when his work was chosen for this portrait. He thought the news might be "too big" for her. (Laughter.) And history shows us that these assignments can sometime turn out poorly. Years ago, Peter Hurd was commissioned to paint Lyndon B. Johnson's portrait for the official White House collection. President Johnson took one look at the final portrait and declared it the "ugliest thing he'd ever seen." (Laughter.) Across Washington, the joke spread at Hurd's expense that artists should be seen, but not Hurd, at the White House. Peter Hurd's portrait of President Johnson now hangs here in the National Portrait Gallery.

The first family wasn't (quite) all jokes. As Mr. Bush reflected on being custodian of the presidency these last eight years, Knoller reports, tears welled in his eyes.

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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by twilah-2009 December 22, 2008 3:15 PM EST: Of all the comments listed on just the first page alone, I think the most intelligent one was from the 15-year-old, who was taught to respect those in authority. To those others, shame on you! This is the example you are setting for our youth today. Good going!; Reply to this comment


by December 22, 2008 2:02 PM EST: The humor is not wasted, but many commenters here do not have the wit to match the article.

The fact remains that most people voted for George W. in 2004, but of course you can''t find anyone who will admit that. Sigh. In recent months the President and administration have been above reproach in their sensitivity and care in being above the fray while the financial sector shakes and the economy snaps.

Remember when liar Bill Clinton (yes he was disbarred from practicing law in AR for his perjury) left office, the Dems leaving the white house took all the ''Ws'' off the keyboards requiring the government to spend millions repairing computers willfully damaged by partisans. That was wasteful humor.

I''d doubt we''ll see that this time. (Thankfully).; Reply to this comment


by beavers1993 December 21, 2008 12:45 PM EST: do you''ll not have any respect for our leader...even thought he''s not perfect(Which no one is) you should still respect the president of the united states of america( i may only be 15 but i still have enough dignity respect authority; Reply to this comment


by pci7763 December 20, 2008 12:59 PM EST: "I''ll keep my guns, my freedom, and my money. You keep the "change"! Take heed!; Reply to this comment


by pci7763 December 20, 2008 12:55 PM EST: To read the ignorance of those who have voted for Obama, the magic bandaid for everything. Bush is human like the rest of the President''s were. He is entitled to his mistakes, as I am sure Obama will make many of those too. Enough of the "Bush Bashing", where is this "change" that the Magic Man Obama has promised!; Reply to this comment


by limaur December 20, 2008 12:14 PM EST: I see no one mentioned the evil cabal that used him as a front while they looted and stole.Also ,remember, that there is a 50% chance that the next American you meet at random voted for him, twice.; Reply to this comment


by grumpas December 20, 2008 12:07 PM EST: To bad it wasn''t the other way! Here they got my hopes up someone had actually gotten enough gonads in this country and done something about the treasonous b.....!!!!; Reply to this comment


by skeezix06 December 20, 2008 11:17 AM EST: Nice painting of a not very nice subject. Other than that, I''m not sure many Americans, democratic, republican, or independent actually care about what they do with Dubya''s portrait.; Reply to this comment


by zzy-izzy December 20, 2008 11:01 AM EST: I think her double chin looks great; Reply to this comment


by irmcvet971 December 20, 2008 10:32 AM EST: ya right, bush will never go to prison, he isn''''t an idiot like Clinton was. He would never leave a blue stained dress lying around to be discovered

Posted by jedi23231 at 01:24 AM : Dec 20, 2008

NO the stains on him are BRIGHT RED and can NEVER be washed off. You can''t make this Incompetent piece of Human Trash anything but what he is, a pathetic little man who desired glory and was willing to pay for it with AMERICAN LIVES and Well being!; Reply to this comment