Again that truly special relationship! President shows off his desk to Charles

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)


 

A newly elected U.S. President has several choices for his desk in the Oval Office.  President Obama chose to use the Resolute desk, a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880.

This is the inscription on the front of the desk:

"H.M.S. RESOLUTE forming part of the expedition sent in search of SIR JOHN FRANKLIN IN 1852, was abandoned in latitude 74° 41' N longitude 101° 22' W^[ on 15th May 1854. She was discovered and extricated in September 1855 in latitude 67 degrees N^[ by Captain Buddington of the United States Whaler "GEORGE HENRY."
The ship was purchased, fitted out and sent to England as a gift to HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA by the PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES as a token of goodwill & friendship. This table was made from her timbers when she was broken up, and is presented by the QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES as a memorial of the courtesy and loving kindness which dictated the offer of the gift of the "RESOLUTE."