An air of informality surrounds the Obama White House that might leave Bush advisers aghast. An official White House photo Wednesday shows U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office with no jacket, something strictly forbidden by his predecessor.
In eight years of official Oval Office photos of former President George W. Bush, not one can be found of him without a suit jacket on, CNN reported.
According to Matt Lewis of AOL News, it was actually Ronald Reagan who first instituted the rule as a sign of respect, though George W. Bush adamantly insisted on continuing the tradition.
While some will applaud this as a matter of Obama quickly throwing off the shackles of formality, rolling up his sleeves, and getting down to business – others will surely view it as a lack of respect.
(Dov Gordon – YWN)
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19 Responses
These are posed pictures. Most Americans take off their jackets in the office unless the air conditioner is on full blast. This isn’t sucha a big deal. Also note that Reagan, like most westerners, rare wore a full suit (matching pants and jacket), but preferred a sports coat with coordinated jacket.
What is more interesting is whether he will wear a tie at all times. If yes, ties will be back in. On the other hand, if he limits ties to special appearances, he could due to the tie industry what President Kennedy did to the hat industry.
P.S. Of course, one might report on side issues such as the middle east, economic policy, gay rights, abortion, etc. – but those get to be depressing – so let’s worry about fashion.
who cares what he wears; what’s important is what he will do!
It is definitely a lack of respect for his position. LHAVDIL 1000x over, in the Belz B”M, one of the ruls are that anyone learning in the B”M must wear his jacket/reckel [a.k.a. “beged elyon]. Although this is not the custom in most yeshivas, one understands the reasoning behind the takanah. One that is zocheh to be within the 4 amos of halacha has to realize what the place is, a mokom kodosh. One must also realize who HE is, an EVED HaSHEM who takes his job (yes JOB) seriously.
Agree with #3,
He is the president of the most powerful country in the world! He has to have respect for his predecesers, as well as for the people he represents.
Taking the time and effort to dress formally helps create self respect. Our rabbaim have told us how JFK’s not wearing a hat influenced society for the worse.
How many people commiting armed robbery are wearing t-shirts and jeans vs. dress pants and formal shirt?
I’m not saying he’s evil, but as President, he must have proper decorum, and it isn’t the right position to try to chill out.
its mamash a bittul in the kovod of the presidency. meshba obama buttleh kevod haneseus, Mir darf nit zugen a bruche!
The point of the story is to show the contrast between President Bush and President Obama. Of course he could still be a good president in shirtsleeves but he is so busy trying to show how unlike President Bushe he is, he will undo everything from the past, even the very good things.
#8, I knew people would refrence Madoff- that’s why I wrote “armed”.
Madoff is a ganav, but when you think of dangerous threats to society, the real degenerates who take people’s lives, those are people qho have no self respect or dignity.
We all know the Madoff is not the average businessman. Would you feel more comfortable walking in a neighborhood where everyone is dressed in suits, or in a neighborhood where the people are wearing “gangter clothing” (low jeans, t-shirts, backwards hats)?
I think I know the answer, by why would you be afraid of people who dress more comfortably?
(I know that Pres. Obama doesn’t look like a hoodlum, but please don’t be naïve about how one level down leads to another).
As long as he’s good for Klal Yisroel, he can wear overalls for all I care. Goyim are not mechuyiv in hilchos levush.
I didn’t know that the Gedolim had an opinion on the “JFK and the missing hat” myth. Maybe that’s why my post linking to snopes was deleted?
yaakovg,
but they are mechuyav in ‘hilchos common sense’
Maybe he wants the hamon am to see him as someone like them who can relate to them. In this context it was very nice that he invited a few people selected by lottery from his website into the White House. He wants to keep in touch with people. He’s also gotten off to a very good start by reaching out to Republicans, explaining his positions to them, and giving them kavod. It’s already making a difference in how they vote and in the tone of the discussions in Congress. These are good signs.
BS”D
Sadly, while if this were the only issue it would mean nothing, this is a clear return to the (lack of) ideals and crass populism of the Carter days.
Al Tistakel B’kankan elah B’mah shyaish bo.
Wearing a suit constantly does not distinguish him from the rest of the world. He is trying to distinguish himself as a leader who dances to his own beat. Just because the former presidents chose to always wear a suit doesn’t mean that he has to. He is trying to dress in a dressy way that aligns him with what most Americans feel is more comfortable. Wearing a suit non stop somehow insulates him from the rest of the nations attire, which he is not interested in.
Actually he is dressing like most litvishe yeshiva bochurim dress; long sleeve white shirts. If that is good enough for klal yisroel’s finest, then it is good enough for him as well.
I think we should appreciate the subtle efforts he is daring to make trying to lead without the phony kovod imagery that constant suit wearing lends to.
The thing about President Kennedy not wearing a hat on inauguration day is patently false. He didn’t wear his hat while speaking as was the common custom but he did in fact wear it all day. You can even see a picture of his hat on the chair behind him while he was speaking! see snopes.com
squeak,
snopes is liberal junk. There article about Kennedy carefully treads around the fact that Kennedy did NOT wear a hat while taking the Oath and giving his speech – the two most important moments.
#18.”Actually he is dressing like most litvishe yeshiva bochurim dress; long sleeve white shirts. If that is good enough for klal yisroel’s finest, then it is good enough for him as well.”
That is not a very good comparison. The proper comparison for the position of President would be, l’havdil, to our roshei yeshiva (who wear jackets, of course!)
From photos of him signing ppers, I thought he was a lefty (handed, that is!) If so, either it is a poorly posed picture, or he is not well organized: phone should be in rt hand, so he can write w/left, etc (Notice NO papers on his desk; where is the Teleprompter?) I am a lefty halachichally, quite right socio-economically.
bacci40 if you were more to the left you would fall off! So tell me what flavor kool aid do you libs drink?
WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ikkur is that he should be an ohev yisroel. PERIOD.