British Embassy Archives - Richard M. Langworth

It’s Baaaack! The Winston Churchill Bust Furore, Round 3

26 January 2021 Comments 0 Comments

N.B. The Epstein story is expanded in The American Spectator, 30 January.

It seems that every four or eight years we must have a Great Media Hoedown over a bust of Winston Churchill by Jacob Epstein arriving at, or departing, the White House. The revolving door bust belongs to the British Embassy. It has twice resided on loan in the Oval Office. Ipso facto, it has twice returned to the Embassy. Perhaps it should hang on a Zip line between the two buildings to convenience the spirit of the moment.

Whenever the Epstein makes a trip back or forth, the media explodes in speculation.…

Obama and the Churchill Bust -Out

4 March 2009 Comments 0 Comments

Ever since the BBC and The Daily Telegraph revealed that President Obama had sent George W. Bush’s Jacob Epstein Oval Office bust of Winston Churchill packing (while retaining the bust of Abraham Lincoln), the media has been abuzz with speculations over the implied symbolism.

Personally I think the media just demonstrates its degenerate irresponsibility to keep fanning these non- issues. Fifty years ago a different media would have published some thoughtful pieces on the future of the US-UK relationship. Not any more.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose….When President Bush had a Churchill bust in the Oval Office, zealots would occasionally demand its return, since in their view Bush was undeserving, or was using it to proclaim himself another Churchill.…