Bush George W.

"White House Staff" Deck Chair Used Aboard U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln during George W. Bush's "Mission Accomplished" Visit

A folding chair with custom "White House Staff" embroidery personally used by a member of George W. Bush's White House staff while aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln in late April-early May 2003. Provenance: Ex-Stan Whitlock (see biography below).

The backrest of the black canvas collapsible deck or captain's chair is embroidered in gold "White House / Staff" and topped by a presidential seal. Of the two adjustable armrests, the right one is fitted with a netted beverage container holder. The base is comprised of four X-form collapsible stretchers, the front feet fitted possibly to secure the chair to a rolling aircraft carrier deck. Stored in a black vinyl storage bag with a drawstring close, embroidered in gold "U.S.S. Abraham / Lincoln CVN72." With expected surface wear. A small fabric tear at the right ear, else very good to near fine. Approximately 32" x 19" d. x 32", with a seat height of 16.5".

President Bush visited the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln anchored outside of San Diego after its return from a 10-month-long deployment on May 1, 2003. Bush, garbed in a green flight suit, aviator boots, and white helmet, arrived via a Lockheed S-3 Viking jet plane called "Navy One." A former Texas Air National Guardsman, Bush apparently took over the plane's controls at one point and did some maneuvers under supervision. The president's entrance was dramatic. The plane undertook two flybys before completing an impressive tail-hook landing, whereby the sleek aircraft, then traveling 150 mph, is stopped in less than 400 feet by a system of bands. Once aboard, President Bush greeted dozens of sailors and aviators that clustered excitedly around him, greeting them, shaking hands, and posing for photo ops.

Later during the President Bush's visit, he delivered his notorious "Mission Accomplished" speech, as it became known, in which he effectively announced the end of the military phase in Iraq. In the speech, President Bush also forged a direct link between the September 11th terrorist attacks and Al Qaeda's ally Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The speech's unofficial name referred to a banner decorating the upper decks of the aircraft carrier reading "Mission Accomplished." There is some debate about whether this banner referred to the end of the Abraham Lincoln's latest mission to Afghanistan and Iraq, or the war itself. It would widely be seen as an ironic example of the Bush administration's tone-deafness, as guerilla fighting intensified in Iraq following Bush's triumphant speech.

President Bush's White House Staffers present aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln included his White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer (served 2001-2003); White House Chief-of-Staff Andy Carol (served 2001-2006); and then National Security Adviser and future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (served 2001-2005, 2005-2009). Any one of these distinguished politicians may have used this deck chair.

The U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln is a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1989 and still in active service. A part of the United States Navy Atlantic Fleet, in the early 2000s the Abraham Lincoln participated in Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan, 2001-2014); Southern Watch (Iraq, 1992-2003); and Iraqi Freedom (Iraq, 2003-2011.) It carried aircraft that later delivered airstrikes in the Middle East and Afghanistan. The Abraham Lincoln has a full complement of approximately 3,200 sailors and can carry 90 fixed-wing planes and helicopters on a typical mission.

Vice Admiral Kendall L. Card was a United States Navy career officer and aviator between 1977-2013. He commanded the Abraham Lincoln during this time period, between circa 1992-2014.

PROVENANCE

Accompanied by a 1p photocopy of original provenance from Stan Whitlock, a former Republican White House speechwriter. In email correspondence dated January 14, 2009, Whitlock wrote:

"Staff Chairs

My name is Stan Whitlock and I have been involved in politics my entire career. I am most proud of my speechwriting work for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush.

In late April of 2003, during the Iraq War, I was part of the advance team on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln where George W. Bush famously landed to give his historic May 1, 2003 'Mission Accomplished' speech. The black folding chair, in its matching carrying bag, embroidered with the Presidential Seal and "WHITE HOUSE STAFF" was the personal chair of a White House staff member while aboard the Abraham Lincoln. The three members of staff present for that event were: Chief of Staff Andy Card, Condolezza [sic] Rice, then National Security Adviser to the President, and Ari Fleischer, then White House Press Secretary. The chair was presented to me by Kendall Card, then Captain of the Lincoln, shortly after this important event in American history.

Yours Truly,

Stan Whitlock."

Stan Whitlock is the principal of a consulting business named Media Strategies Group, according to his LinkedIn page. In this capacity, Whitlock provides crisis media consulting, public relations direction, and speech writing. He writes: "As speech writer, I'm proud to have worked 'across the aisle' for some key Republican and Democratic leaders alike on the state and national levels…President Reagan once told me, approvingly, that I would have made a 'good Hollywood script writer'…" Whitlock has considerable journalistic experience. He has edited several newspapers, directed a TV news affiliate, and "designed and deployed successful campaigns for a host of political and business clients, from national Presidential, Gubernatorial and Congressional campaigns to Fortune 500 CEOs as well as the occasional entertainment and sports celebrity."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!