P073009PS-0478

President Barack Obama, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sergeant James Crowley toast at the start of their meeting in the Rose Garden of the White House, July 30, 2009.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

This official White House photograph is being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

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Comments

< Prev 1 2 3 4 Next >

(348 comments)

msrocky3 says:

Great Pic Great Diplomacy
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

kretschpdx says:

Excellent pic, and the beer looks refreshing!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

tamago says:

A reachable moment! ;-}} Lookin' good, one and all... now, Back To Healthcare Please :=D
P.S. You are the cats' meow Mr. Souza...
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

kolored says:

you have crips and bloods killing each other, running massive drug cartel operations, more black men in jails than in college dorm rooms and all you can do for race relations is have a beer with some drama queen ideologue and a cop?! talk about acting stupidly... what a crappy picture too.

hopefully, if someone actually does break into gates' house, the cops will look the other way. what a joke. crowley, keep up the good work..
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

peter231979 says:

White boy looks scared to me.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Oh Nuts says:

Way to go.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

quarterbar says:

that's a smiler
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Márcio Leite says:

Fabuloso!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

DeeJay Photography says:

The Beer summit as its been dubbed! Love this picture!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Kym. says:

Cheers!
:)
Kym.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Blue387 says:

What, no chips?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Lena Webb says:

Weirdest beer ever?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

*Roseméa MacPherson says:

Just saw you on Channel 4!!
XOXOXOXO
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Ѕhims says:

These three men could not look less comfortable
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Shaloot says:

no peanuts?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

BarbPatch says:

Where's Joe?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Roomie W says:

Should have tried Shiner Boch. Better than Samuel Adams :o) ;p
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

strobist says:

Now, THAT'S what I am talking about.

And you gotta think the watch manufacturers are pretty happy with this. Is that a Breitling on the Presidential wrist? What is Gates wearing?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

mr onion head says:

why is the patio furniture all white?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Tennessee_Gator says:

It would probably look more natural if it was less posed. But the constraints of being the White House photographer, I'm sure, are many. But still it would be a great job.

As for what this represents, it is so much more civil than the days of Eugene "Bull" Connor in Alabama, when the belief was rampant that one's skin pigment had something to do with one's humanity.

We are soooo much closer to actually judging each other by the content of our character.

There's a great prayer: We're not what we wanna be. We're not what we're gonna be. We're certainly not where we ought to be. But thank God we're not like we used to be.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

by and by says:

it's so easy to criticize this moment. but, let's face it, beer is good.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

markbajekphoto1 says:

can't we as a country afford some "Roundup" or "Triox" to get rid of the green creeping in between the cracks of the pavers.? I think it's on sale at The Home Depot.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Globetoppers says:

Why not invite Palin and Letterman? :}
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

~J.L.~ says:

Of course it look uncomfortable. But think of what brought these men together.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Globetoppers says:

kegger!~
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Bolo-head Man says:

A great moment in US history.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Jakes_World says:

johnny I knew that wasn't bud light!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

S. Middlebrook says:

Tennessee_Gator-thats a beautiful quote! My daddy used to say you can not move forward if your always looking back.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

junebug6467 says:

Cheers !!!!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

kdob_1 says:

That looks so natural
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

analucia.escudero says:

um...is this still in the news? but it's still pretty amazing
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Bama4 says:

Thanks Tennessee Gator - I say Amen to that.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

natsncats says:

Tennessee Gator -- well said. And hey, Kolored -- it's a good picture no matter what you say!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

dianemariet says:

Yes, Tennessee Gator's words are very fitting .... a great moment captured here.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

kiwinz says:

Never mind how they look, they are THERE together. That's something. The knockers can knock, some of us can see past that.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

mattt! says:

does this remind anybody of the movie "swing vote"?
where the president has a beer with bud. (kevin costner)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Flag in distress 11/04/08 says:

I wonder how many "Sock puppets" there are in the photo streams?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

bayareaviking says:

See, that's what we need. Beer brings people together, just think how this could have turned out if these guys couldn't sit down and find common ground in a set of cold glasses. Now, we just have to find out what kind of brews Kim Jong-Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad each secretly indulge in, and there'll be peace in no time.

Keeping it light, since Tennessee_Gator already said pretty much all the heartfelt sentiments on behalf of all of us. :)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

cerotio says:

Salud Mr. Presidente! Just awesome!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

joško says:

i wish Pres. Obama never hedged on his original press conference comments about the Gates arrest debacle. this never would've happened to Larry Summers or another white professor. SMH
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Sara D'Eugenio says:

I love Obama so much.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

sawyerlaw says:

Thanks, saw you on the CNN video shooting this.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

jiggerjohndelgado says:

nice!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

kolored says:

or.. think about how this could have turned out had gates cooperated with the police instead of acting like a whiny little bitch. either way, this silly photo op has nothing to do with that incident and it definitely has nothing to do with race relations. this is all about obama and his gaffe. everything that obama does is all about obama.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Flag in distress 11/04/08 says:

Not a few Ghana people who are acquainted with Gates, believe he has some serious issues. From www.Ghanawed.com

"However, I agree with you on the point that Prof Gates, oftentimes, assumes a sanctimonious haughtiness. I've seen him get in people's faces in his documentary and ask "so your ancestors sold mine into slavery?" That strikes me as a statement that was made without the robust critical analysis he'd like us to believe automatically shrouds anyone associated with Havard University. But of course, we know the habit doesn't make a monk. Prof Gates asserts that his being consists of a significant percentage of Caucasian genes admixed with some of African ancestry. I have 4 simple questions for him in light of this:"
ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/diaspora/artikel.p hp?ID=165800...
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

cristasphoto says:

Very Nice.
Gawd its nice to actually have a President who heals rather than try and play gangsta.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Flag in distress 11/04/08 says:

Obama runs our country like a gangster...just take a look at the background of Valarie Jarrett and the CZARs...One of the Czars is a jailbird. Some of you don't want to face the reality of what this man is really.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

oybay © says:

Furniture looks like it came from Walmart.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Mark ~ JerseyStyle Photography says:

So..who drank what?

@oybay = So what if it did? Wal*Mart....Target..who cares?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

adamjackson1984 says:

great photo
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

joelhousman says:

The 'Clink' heard 'round the world.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

danajohnhill says:

That's the way you do it!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

allr1 says:

Wonderful wonderful wonderful.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Flag in distress 11/04/08 says:

Yes, Let me tell you how I will control your every move, Obama is thinking.
This President brought to the White House huge deep seated baggage issues from his past, As Gates has also.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

forgetfulmare1 says:

this is a better shot than anything i saw the press take. where is biden?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

wdatcg says:

Looks like they need to take a pressure washer to the patio to clean out the weeds
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

historygradguy says:

Crowley looks distinctly less comfortable than the other two.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

The Ugly American says:

Only an out-of-touch elitist like Obama would have his flunkies serve what looks to be flat beer in glass mugs outside in the hot sun.

Next time, opt for bottles and koozies, big guy.

It's what we racial-profiling peasants use.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

José X says:

great moment ! it reflects how people can be united in peace !
have a good night
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

kanani miranda says:

And why does this make flickr interestingness? Looks posed and sorry but not an interesting picture at all imho
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

GQAlex says:

This is how grown men supposed to settle their differences and misunderstandings.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

kolored says:

by getting trashed? lol.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

t.shirbert says:

Beer is good.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

CAUT says:

Salud!
Cheers!
Prost!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Extra Medium says:

I think it's great that we are not afraid to show our president enjoying a beer with others. We've become way too stuck up and political about things like that. Good for them. Plus, it almost looks like it's a hefewizen... is that a lemon slice in the top of his?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

BlueStates says:

Next time I'm voting for Obama three times.
He is so free from hate and bias that he can
answer a press conference question honestly
and then when the news tries to blow it up he
simply invites the parties together and clears
the air effortlessly.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Planet Pixel says:

What an unbelievable waste of time. The cop was doing his job. Gates was having a hissy fit.

It's a shame that this story has gotten so much attention. I feel bad for the cops. (And I am definitely not a racist. I just can't stand seeing people play the race card when they are treated exactly like anybody else, of any other race would be for the situation.)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

rmcarrier1 says:

Why is it that Conservatives, vocal proponents of smaller government and less government interference, are always so quick to blindly support law enforcement agents, even when they act stupidly and illegally?

The notion that the populace is simply supposed to tow the line and be obedient to every action or request of a law enforcement officer is simply frightening. If an officer tried to arrest me in my own home, I wouldn't be "cooperative" either. Gates was right to act the way he did.

Kudos to the involved parties for trying to act as if nothing happened over beers, but this whole episode is a joke.

And I agree; not a terribly good photo. I'm sure Pete probably didn't even want to be there for this one.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Chris Devers says:

:-)

Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

-waaan says:

make nice
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Maureen F. says:

who woulda thunk that one day I would be posting photos on flickr and looking at the official whitehouse photostream with the good, bad and the ugly posting comments... right out there for everyone to to see
to talk about

we no longer talk about what episode of a TV show we saw anymore
we talk about what happens in the world

:~)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

natsncats says:

Awesome! ;-)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

J&S. says:

Bonne santé à TOUS...
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

eisha_romeo_4(so busy) says:

fantastic!!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

bloodsport ☮ says:

classy man right here.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

CSCT3 says:

Love it.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Bern@t says:

Congratulations!!! your photo reach Explore Front Page
You can download the capture in lab.bernatcasero.com/flickr/frontpagecapture? user=3559137...
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

rufine.loko says:

Ombama a lıbrevıll
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

XΣЯΘ CΘΘL says:

diplomacy at itx best
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Kerry Marion says:

Cheers!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Charlotte Keys says:

Please, back to health care! Don't let the media control your presidency!!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

justice4sas(away!) says:

Cheers!!!!!!!!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

impik2009 says:

Well done, sir. That's how you should resolve conflicts. That is a very lovely picture and an important moment.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

giuseppesavo says:

the Beer's summit!

:D
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

cobalt123 says:

I think it was natural for Professor Gates to react the way he did in the situation. It was also natural for the police officer to react the way he did. And finally, natural for President Obama to comment with feeling the way he did in response to questions at the end of his healthcare news conference. So the situation did bring to light the intensity of the public mindset, emotions positive and negative and certainly very charged. I think it was handled the best way after the situation since it was a top story all over the world in news media. I wonder if the police officer will now modify his training presentation on racial profiling in any way?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

rorox says:

Cin-Cin...
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

motelrodeo says:

The Audacity of Hop.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Flag in distress 11/04/08 says:

Gates is a bitter OLD MAN....
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Fu3r says:

have a nice day!!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Heyes says:

This is a very important moment in American history. Reconcilliation as domestic policy. This is a new kind of justice.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

mikescottnz says:

Smaller hope stuff yet its symbolic the reframe or rescue of a cantakerous friend.Liked the 'Daily Show' send up.Back to the main and current issues Health Reform in the USA etc and less of the Czars there.Tennessee Gator was gracious about this wee drama.Obama the honeymoon is half way through after this one perhaps?

And Food Safety reform?

The Fox Guarding the Chickens

If GMOs are indeed responsible for massive sickness and some deaths, then the individual who oversaw the FDA policy that facilitated their introduction holds a uniquely infamous role in human history. That person is Michael Taylor. He had been Monsanto's attorney before becoming policy chief at the FDA. Soon after, he became Monsanto's vice president and chief lobbyist.

This month Michael Taylor became the senior advisor to the commissioner of the FDA. He is now America's food safety czar. What has been done?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

TheRedDragon says:

I don't buy it... Gates was wrong, the president was wrong and now they are trying to save face with a photo op...

Regardless... great flickr photos Mr. Souza
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Celticfield Two says:

Very nice shot!!!!! :-))
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

bie-blink says:

Excellent model for diplomacy!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Mansurus says:

Jesus Christ, i know this is a stream from the White House - but why do the comments have to sound like they are from a giant idiot debate on freerepublic? Can't we leave the arm-chair internet politics out of it for once?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

damon.hair says:

will he attempt to solve every problem this way??
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

S. Middlebrook says:

Mansurus, I am with you on this. I thought this stream was to enjoy PHOTOGRAPHY! As you will see in previous White House stream post, there are some people who make every picture an opprotunity insert there political agenda. Some people use there flickr accounts just to post their political agenda and bash others for enjoying artistic expression. It gets old, it changes no one's mind, and its gets abusive. But they will continue to hide behind "free speech", just a cover for bad behavior.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Shamrockah says:

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
~ Benjamin Franklin

Cheers! :)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Saint.Seminole says:

It certainly can't hurt for these three men to get together and talk like mature adults instead of having three separate conversations in press conferences.

No, it doesn't solve anything, but it's a step in the right direction.

In the entire situation, the thing that was most hurt on every side of the argument was feelings. And the best way to get over that is to talk about it.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

LAR's [ Larry ] says:

congrats on EXPLORE
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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