Thread: No American President Ever Bowed to Foreign Leader Until Now

No American President Ever Bowed to a Foreign Leader — Until Now

Sunday, November 15, 2009 11:14 PM

By: Daniel Ruddy



This past Saturday when President Obama bowed to the Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko he created a new presidential precedent.

No president of the United States in the more than 230 years since the country was founded in 1776 had ever bowed to a member of royalty. That was until Barack Obama’s presidency.

In April, President Obama bowed to the Saudi king during the G-20 meeting. At the time Obama’s deferential bow was somewhat obscured, and the White House insisted that the president had simply leaned forward to shake the king’s hand.

But the recent demonstration of royal deference by the president to the Japanese emperor and empress suggests his earlier action was no aberration.

What should we make of this? Is it trivial to worry about what on its face could easily be interpreted as nothing more than a polite gesture by our president to respect the culture of a country?

America was founded on republican virtues -- small “râ€

[quote]As the nation’s first constitutional leader, President George Washington set the tone. When it was proposed that he be called “His Highness the President of the United States of America and the Protector of Their Liberties,â€

Nov 16, 2009 ... Not Again on No American President has ever bowed…really? . . .

President Nixon bowed and referred to Emperor Hirohito and his wife repeatedly ...

her press secretary acknowledged that Mrs. Reagan had bowed her head . . .

http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=10671&cpage=1

Remember the outrage over the picture of George Bush holding hands with King of Saudi Arabia . . .

www.beersteak.com/tag/george-bush/

Bush bowed to the Saudi king. Bush bowed to the Pope. Nixon bowed to Mao and to Hirohito. Eisenhower bowed to the young Japanese crown ...

blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/11/16/...bow-sign.../comment-page-1/