White House Releases Awkward Toast Photo

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

The White House this morning released a photo of the rather stiff-looking toast involving President Obama, Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., and the man who arrested him two weeks ago in his home, Cambridge police sergeant James Crowley.

Things you do not see in the photo:

•Vice president Joe Biden, who was also present at the event.

•Any of the traditional signs of camaraderie that usually accompanies toasts.

•A smile on the face of Gates or Crowley.

•Eye contact.

Here it is:

(White House Photo)

Here's Hotsheet's main story on last night's White House happy hour. Also check out these related stories:

Photos: White House Brew Crew
Read more about Sergeant Crowley's Comments
Read more about Gates' Reaction

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

38 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 38 Comments


by reedtravel July 31, 2009 6:02 PM EDT: The more I study the history of America and it's people, the more I realize that American people are full of them self and their media. They lack abilities and the use words with power. Other then the International Space Station, what connective purpose does all this media gossip and display of ignorance to the world prove. The American people bickering over their leader; and their history speaks volumes of stupidity, WOW!!!
Pay attention. Patients can wait; I guess; Reply to this comment

by picklepants7 July 31, 2009 5:43 PM EDT

by veritas_1212 July 31, 2009 2:17 PM EDT
The President is doing a fine job managing the country. The mess we were in can't be turned around overnight

the president doing a fine job? give me a break! unemployment is almost at ten percent and our great great great grandchildren are going to have to payoff our debt. what flavor kool-aid do you like the most?

Reply to this comment


by erasmus111 July 31, 2009 5:50 PM EDT: Not only are your grandchildren going to have to pay off the debt, but your great grandchildren as well. And they would have had to do that even if Obama hadn't become president.

It costs money to change things. Once the changes have been made, hopefully you will then be able to save money and start paying off the debt. Bush is the one that did the damage.


by oneofmanyvets July 31, 2009 5:43 PM EDT: If there is no news, CBS, ABC, and NBC will create news. There is no eye contact because Gates and Crowley are doing their best not to cause a beer spill from full mugs. A split second photo shot of the expression on their faces as they make mug to mug contact-and someone reads into the photo something that isn't there. Just like Jake Tapper last night playing psycho-analyst and trying to bleed as much out of this story by suggesting the meeting was tense. Hey! It was a good meet, not a great big deal and the tabloid type reporters should go hunting for something new.; Reply to this comment


by erasmus111 July 31, 2009 3:41 PM EDT: People really need to get a freakin' life!

The media is out of control.; Reply to this comment

by a1106foothil July 31, 2009 3:34 PM EDT

Impressive photo. Imagine, a United States President participating in a beer garden negotiation for a local issue that was one of his own making. In a world consumed by major problems on every front, we have suds summits going on on the White House lawn. Certainly enhances the dignity of the office.

Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey July 31, 2009 3:54 PM EDT: [Certainly enhances the dignity of the office. ]

not as much as ignoring the constitution and the rule of law does.

and definitely not as much as lying to start a war, outing cia agents, syping on americans, and trying to pass off torture as totally legal and within the bounds of a us presidents authority.


by Edwina46 July 31, 2009 3:21 PM EDT: Such a good day not to be American. Pathetic.; Reply to this comment


by dch4nson July 31, 2009 3:09 PM EDT: It would seem logical that Biden is missing a. because although it was great he was there, he wasn't a member of the central focus of the issue, and b. he's probably the photographer.; Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey July 31, 2009 2:40 PM EDT: [Any of the traditional signs of camaraderie that usually accompanies toasts. A smile on the face of Gates or Crowley. Eye contact. ]

so brian (the author) ... did their faces stay exactly like this during the whole time they were together? you do understand the distinction between the complexities of real life and a still picture, no?; Reply to this comment


by Ceres6 July 31, 2009 2:27 PM EDT: The picture above that shows Mr. Obama drinking beer with Mr. Gates and Mr. Crowley, reminds me of the one shown a few days ago, in which Mr. Obama appeared to be looking the behind of a young Brazilian woman. When the video is carefully watched, anyone can notice that what was tried to imply in the picture, in reality did not take place. This simply means that some pictures taken at the precise time, will appear to show something that is not necessarily true.

There is no need to retouch a digital picture with Photoshop to push an idea. What is really needed is to run a video, frame by frame, and to stop at the right one. If a video is not available to prove it, how can we know if what really happened was that Mr. Obama suddenly proposed a toast, Mr. Gates and Mr. Crowley mechanically extended their arms with a glass of beer in their hands, and it took a few milliseconds for their own brains to encourage them to show a happy face and a smile from ear to ear. And during those precious milliseconds, boom, the magic picture was taken.

Furthermore, even from the angle that the picture was taken, it is also difficult to notice that Mr. Crowley has his arm extended to make the toast. Someone with a malicious mind can imply that Mr. Obama made a toast only with Mr. Gates, and on purpose he humiliated Mr. Crowley in order to get even.

Therefore, a picture only shows what appear to be happening in one moment in time, and if we are not physically present, no one can tell what really happened one millisecond before or one millisecond later.; Reply to this comment


by vivaviva44 July 31, 2009 2:06 PM EDT: 16 I still think I should obtain the officer's name and what the other officers did to me in a jail publicly and should be investigated by right people, but I can not trust people here.
Also I and the guy who called 911 because he hated me, we became reconciled. It means no money between us, he simply apologized and even he helped me to destroy my arrested record but the Oakland police rejected this.
I think they are wrong function of USA, doing wrong crime investigation.
Why I don't file the form a complain for Oakland police, because I can not trust them.
I can not trust the city too.
If I file it, they may be destroy our daily lives with their own thoughts again.
It was really small incident. the guy could not sleep and did not want to stay with me for a while,
If it is Japanese police, they may took me away or they did not and give us advice to not stay together but they don't arrest this case. because nobody's fault.
But the Oakland police make up story instead.
I asked a lawyer and he said " better destroy arrested record by court." So I paid 800 dollars to do this for the lawyer.
First of all, I was released without any fine( for me , of course, ) but arrested record was remained.
I was really uncomfortable to have one.
Because I did not do anything wrong.
Yes, anything. whatever you call me " You are an angel." Yes, I am an angel. really police was wrong.

If the security camera inside of the house, it could prove I really did not scratch him, no kicking, no punch.
some people really dislike the security camera and feel " Rude to be recorded." they may be do wrong.

Anyway, really poor quality of USA police system and investigation was so impressed.

and I can not trust people who bring back to wrong way without any reflections.

I recall the guy called the police because he hated me.
He did not want to stay with me, like a child but it was true.

The officer arrested me without letting me talk ( So scared ) and start to find evidence if I did to him.
And the officer asked ' What is this scratch mark?" and officer made up stories as I scratched.
The photo taken by this officer remain as an evidence what I scratched him in Oakland police.

So I am really outrageous what they did to me. they are so shameless to arrest people who nothing wrong.

USA is sucks, not only technics but also police investigation is really sucks.

Obama take back the word Stupid to police.

And I can not.

Such aggressive stupid ever seen.

before I came to USA I was traveling around the world more than 20 times, Europe, England, Belgium,
Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and USA.
Before I came to USA I travelled to USA spending my own money 6 times.

and I recall Australian white lady was in custom , I honestly said to her "I have some foods." and she opened my luggage and she found my bath cube. Let me say Bath cube is for my bath. But she started to yell at me and hysterically messed up in my luggage. And she did not find anything. She did not apologized but talked me like " Criminal" other white male came to me and apologized to me but she did not.
RUDE.
Only USA and Australia did to me in this manner and USA i the worst.
My first foreign stay was in England as a student for 20 years ago, but British people were nice to me, except strong Irish host mother. She was pretty rude to me and all my house friends who were all white and Europeans were so mad at her and we were so friends.
Sometime strange people do wrong to me , they are incredibly stupid ,

Even if they are police , so what? they are stupid enough.

I don't drink and smoke.
How I made my travels around the world a lot, because I don't smoke and drink and work hard in Japan but not INVADE other country economically.

Ridiculous mistakes always made by USA.; Reply to this comment