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Obama Will Eat Like Lincoln on Inauguration Day
January 10, 2009 11:41 AM
On Inauguration Day, not only will President-elect Obama be sworn in using the Bible that was used to swear in President Abraham Lincoln, he will dine like Lincoln as well.
The luncheon that will be served in Congress's Statuary Hall to the president-elect and vice president-elect and their families -- as well as congressional leaders, justices of the Supreme Court and pending members of the Obama Cabinet -- will be modeled after foods that Lincoln ate and enjoyed.
The first course will even be served on replicas of the china picked out by then-first lady Mary Todd Lincoln at the beginning of her husband's term in office.
The luncheon is being put together by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which has chosen as its theme "A New Birth of Freedom," celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln on Feb. 12.
Mr. Obama has often invoked Mr. Lincoln on the campaign trail, from his candidacy announcement in Springfield, Ill., where Lincoln once toiled as a state legislator, to the 16th president's "team of rivals" in his Cabinet, which Mr. Obama has replicated by putting three former Democratic presidential primary opponents in his, to his pick of Bible for the swearing-in.
On the Saturday before his inauguration, Mr. Obama will also travel by train to Washington, D.C., starting in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, where that other lanky Illinoisan spoke while traveling from Springfield, Ill., in 1861. On the Sunday before his swearing-in, Mr. Obama will hold a rally at the Lincoln Memorial.
Lincoln-y enough for ya?
The luncheon's appetizer will be seafood stew in puff pastry -- scallops, shrimp, lobster -- served as a nod to the 16th president's love of stewed and scalloped oysters.
The main course -- duck breast with sour-cherry chutney and herb-roasted pheasant served with molasses sweet potatoes and winter vegetables -- is a nod to the root vegetables and wild game that Mr. Lincoln favored growing up on the frontier in Kentucky and Indiana.
The apple cinnamon sponge cake dessert is a nod to Mr. Lincoln's love of apples and apple cake.
The full menu was released by the Inaugural Committee on Friday, which also released the recipes for the meals should one want to try them at home.
Design Cuisine, is the Arlington, Va., caterer hired to create the meals for the Inaugural Luncheon.
-- jpt
January 10, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (189)
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Lincoln might have been a Republican, but back then the parties were reversed...As if that wasn't obvious enough. On top of that, Obama has spoken about breaking lines, and no longer looking at something as Democratic or Republican. (Which I think is great.) You should be able to tell this by his picks for his cabinet...Some are Republicans! Anyway, just thought I'd give you a word or two.
Posted by: Candice | Jan 12, 2009 2:06:29 PM
Hey Larry, we'll treat Obama like you all treated Bush.. TALK ABOUT MEAN SPIRITED.... Do you have BDS too?
Posted by: Heidi | Jan 12, 2009 11:11:22 AM
I wonder if Obama realizes that Lincoln is/was a Republican? I know that in today's text books they don't mention that. Both my kids did projects in school about Lincoln and it wasn't mentioned anywhere that he was a Republican...
Posted by: Heidi | Jan 12, 2009 11:09:56 AM
Obama wants us to think he is like Lincoln.
I don't really care what Obama eats but it's kind of sad and creepy the way he copies other presidents.
It's as though there's no "there" there. Everything is a big show like he is in a school play.
Posted by: Michelle | Jan 12, 2009 10:51:25 AM
They really should have worked the arugula in somewhere.
Posted by: kat | Jan 12, 2009 2:13:12 AM
Get ready for 8 more years of
this hero worship.
Posted by: Larry Johnson | Jan 12, 2009 1:46:21 AM
Obama and Lincoln comparable?
Give me a break.
Posted by: Larry Johnson | Jan 12, 2009 1:39:25 AM
It's a simple menu with no flourishes. That's all you need at a meal - you don't need exotic foods flown in from halfway around the world. Anyone begrudging him a meal is just plain spiteful. What would you rather he had - a glass of water? Or perhaps you'd like the chance to be invited - betcha you wouldn't refuse.
Really, the meanness and ugly spite in this thread is just staggering. I wonder if any of you raised the same objections against all the other presidents in your lifetimes .. of course not.
Posted by: Media Weasel | Jan 12, 2009 12:18:23 AM
Abraham Lincoln managed to eek out a few things in his lifetime: was instrumental in getting the transcontinental railroads built, overcame huge odds to get the nomination against 3 huge names, got his brand new party in office against the most popular orator of the age, finished a war he didnt start, and finally formed the actual Union that the southern traitors had tried to destroy. If there are better role models, not just for presidents, but as human beings, I have never heard of one. I am not saying that Mr. Obama will end up on Mt. Rushmore, but if he is even half the man Lincoln was, we will be a grateful nation.
Posted by: That other guy | Jan 11, 2009 9:35:36 PM
Are we really supposed to care what Oblabla eats? Give me a break. He doesn't have an original idea in that fat head of his.
Posted by: CrossPatch | Jan 11, 2009 6:47:32 PM
Instead of political photo shots, why doesn't Obama start talking more about upholding our constitution and laws instead of why he is thinking about not investigating the criminal crimes of this administration..
Obama is following the path taking by Pelosi , Reid , Feinstein and the blue dogs... NO actions....and being lead down the same path as we have been lead for over 8 years.
Attorney general Mikasey stated it the way it was .... all crimes are not crimes to be prosecuted and the American citizens knows which ones and who are not to be prosecuted..
Posted by: Sporty | Jan 11, 2009 6:06:17 PM
It's it the old line that any president who is going to get us into trouble evokes Lincoln.
Enough with the symbolism and lets get down to work.
Posted by: Mark T | Jan 11, 2009 5:52:30 PM
Is it surprising that Lincoln is his mentor ? If I was black he would be mine too . Isn't he the one that freed the slaves afterall?It is good that 200 years after Linciln's birth the wheel has finally come full circle and there is a black man in the White House .Now the country can finally turn it's back on the awful legacy of the Southern Confederacy.
Now on the menu(the topic of this article) , I like the touch of the Lincoln china too . I have no doubt the Obama family will choose their own White House emblems for their china as previous administrations have done.
Posted by: Los Angeles Kid | Jan 11, 2009 4:53:48 PM
I keep hearing "Highway to Hell" in the background.
Posted by: Stan | Jan 11, 2009 4:30:45 PM
Many seem to think he is getting the big head, they could be right. I don't think it will be a problem, unless they get ZZTop for the 3rd inaugural running and he gets them to play "Jesus Just Left Chicago". Thought for the week: CHILL.
Posted by: fenogard | Jan 11, 2009 4:19:34 PM
And on the day before the luncheon, the gentlemen of Congress will take to the fields and meadows surrounding the capitol to shoot the game that will be served the next day. Michelle and her mother will skin and prepare the birds for the chefs. Actually, Sara Palin COULD do this.
Posted by: glennmcgahee | Jan 11, 2009 3:38:36 PM
I didn't vote for Obama, I voted for Ralph Nader, a real American who lives
simply and has an idea of what it's like to live a normal life. Obama will have to proove himself right out of the gate in order to win over Americans in general. Hope everyone has a good job soon.
Posted by: Pat | Jan 11, 2009 2:49:48 PM
How someone could claim Leon Penetta's selection as head of CIA is "brilliant" is truly laughable.
Posted by: Karla | Jan 11, 2009 1:59:38 PM
I hope that Pres-Elect Obama is another Lincoln and FDR all rolled into one, because that's what we need to survive the two-term Bush/Cheney presidency and rise above a disastrous period in our nation's history.
Still, I would rather tell Obama that he's another Lincoln than have Obama tell me over and over that he is. Most of his Cabinet picks are brilliant, but he still hasn't done anything yet, either as Senator or President-Elect.
Posted by: Maria H. C. | Jan 11, 2009 1:46:11 PM
"During election night, I felt so proud to be an American."
Michelle? Is that you?
Posted by: Stan | Jan 11, 2009 1:41:06 PM
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