How an old acquaintance, a family trip, a near chance encounter, and a vintage photograph allowed me to ‘make history now’ inside the White House.
My family and I got a wonderful personal tour of the White House this past Friday.
Here’s why it was so great.
First of all, most people have never even been to the White House, let alone set foot inside of it.
Reservations are required, and to get one isn’t easy. You can make individual group requests through your local Member of Congress, be there on official business, or “know someone.”
The Johnsons visit the White House.
We met our host at the Southeast Gate of the White House.
Previously — like many people — I hadn’t had the slightest bit of interest in touring the White House. My wife too — who attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. and once lived within walking distance — never bothered.
But all that is different now.
Our tour started in the East Wing. After going through security, which is like at an airport, we came in through the ground floor visitor’s entrance into the hallway that runs past the Vermeil Room, the Library (where the President delivers his weekly address), and the China Room.
Further down this hallway is a staircase that leads up to the First Family’s residential quarters — where the Obamas live. At this same spot is an access point, guarded by the Secret Service, that leads further down the hall into the West Wing, which is where the Oval Office is located.
The East Wing is sealed off from the West Wing at this point, and only certain people, with proper clearance and credentials, can enter.
As our host gestured for us to go up the stairs that lead in the direction of the East Room, the Green Room, the Blue Room, the Red Room, and the State Dining Room, I began to wonder if we would get to see the West Wing.
The attraction of the West Wing is that it’s where the President’s office is located, along with all the other cool stuff — for me that would be the basketball court on the South Lawn below the Rose Garden near the pool, as well as the tennis court that’s now re-purposed and re-painted for basketball. This is why people had kept asking us which entrance gate we were going to be using.
To rub it in, we were told that the President comes down those same stairs and goes into this same entry point every day en route from his residence over to the West Wing, and that we had just missed him — by 10 minutes.
One of my sons asked the Secret Service agent, “Is President Obama in there?” Yes, the Secret Service agent nodded.
My son, still by the agent, appeared momentarily stunned, and kind of stood there, with a perplexed look on his face that seemed to to ask the rest of us who were by now on the staircase, “Then, why are we going that way?”
But all of us — including him — realized that this was a very, very special opportunity that is not available to everyone. For one thing, it brought the kids full circle from that day last November when we all crowded into the voting booth to cast our vote, and from that cold day in January when we saw the Presidential Inauguration, ticket-less, from the corner of Louisiana and Constitution Avenues.
And we had been having so much fun every step of the way on this particular visit — getting ready for the trip, driving down to D.C., looking forward to re-connecting with our host, feeling nervousness and excitement at imagining what or who we might encounter by chance — that our positive momentum was on auto-pilot. So we just rolled with it.
Besides, I had one more thing up my sleeve.
Since the only personal items allowed through security are wallets, cell phones, and car keys — that is, no cameras, no purses, no pens, and so on — I had stashed a 4×6 photograph in my sport coat pocket. I had printed this and planned to give it to President Obama (or Mrs. Obama, Reggie Love, Robert Gibbs, anyone else, or any of their aides) in case we had the “much anticipated chance encounter”.
As the fascinating tour was coming to a close and we were headed towards the front door on the Pennsylvania Avenue side, I paused so that I could pull out this photo and give it our host.
Before showing what I had, I explained that it was a 1921 photograph of John H. Johnson, who in 1920 became the first African American to play varsity basketball for Columbia University.
President Obama, one must recall, graduated from Columbia College after transferring from Occidental College as an undergraduate.
One last thing about the pic, I told our host, is that it was not ‘doctored’ or altered in any way …
Then I handed over this:
John H. Johnson, Columbia University, 1921.
John H. Johnson was a product of the Black Fives Era. His father was the pastor of St. Cyprian Episcopal Church in Harlem, which sponsored one of the best amateur basketball teams in the city -– the St. Cyprian “Speedboys”.
Starting from an early age, Johnson advanced through the St. Cyprian’s athletic program, learned the game of basketball there, and then became a star at Columbia, joining the team for the 1919-20 season. He was a local hero.
After graduating from Columbia, Johnson went on the become a highly-respected and well-loved clergyman and community leader as the founder and rector of St. Martin’s Church in Harlem.
On the back of the photo I printed this:
John Howard Johnson, in a 1921 photo. In 1920 he became the first
African American to play varsity basketball at Columbia University, where he was a star forward.Courtesy of Black Fives, Inc.
via the Lawrence Hogan Collection.http:www.blackfives.com
203-493-8600 office
203-493-8601 faxclaudejohnson@blackfives.com
My friend Dr. Lawrence Hogan is the sports historian, author, and senior professor at Union County College (New Jersey) who recently re-introduced John H. Johnson’s historically important book Harlem From The Rectory Window
Upon looking at John Johnson spinning a basketball in 1921, our host seemed to share the same surprise that I had felt when I first saw the photograph — and that everyone else has shown.
Is President Obama channeling John Johnson’s basketball talent? Or his clergy-style oratory? Or both?
This was a good time to ask, “Could you please get this photograph onto the desk in the Oval Office?”
“I’ll try,” said our most gracious host.
And with that, my mission — to make history now, right inside the White House — seemed complete.
But you can rest assured that I hope this particular story is far from over.
Agree with you, Claude, this story is the appetizer. The entree is next. Perhaps dessert will be a game of one on one. :-D
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WOW! Claude, this is incredible. Thank you for the knowledge, keep up the good work!
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Incredible. Thank you for sharing, Claude.
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Yo Claude.. I The brother looks just like the President!!!!
Darryl T. Downing Columbia Class of “74″
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Claude, that must have been a great experience for the kids, and better yet Mr. Johnson looks just like President Obama. I called my younger brother and sister in here and I said who does this look like. My 23 year old brother said is that Barack Obama? They both agreed. The top it off he’s made black history in Barack’s alma-mater. They have to show the picture to Barack, for one it looks too much like him.
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Congrats Claude…Great Story…even better picture! Amazing likeness…this will get the buzz going for sure.
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Enjoyed it! I look forward to see what will come from your generosity.
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Very cool read bro……
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Claude, that is an amazing story on so many level. I cannot wait to hear more about the Columbia piece of this story as you can imagine.
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Amazing experience Claude. I thought you were going to mention that John H. Johnson was also a relative of yours.
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Great story, Claude. I hope that your intriguing “tease” with Johnson will get a response.
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I have forwarded this to several folks – among them Reverend John Johnson, youngest son of John H. Johnson.
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That was so amazing. What a great story! I bet you’ll surely get a response from the President.
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Unbelievable photo. I’ll bet you lunch that it lands on the front of the New York Post (or Daily News) within a year.
All best, and keep the good stuff coming.
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Claude, I really enjoyed reading about your experience and John H. Johnson. But you are such a tease! At least I have something to look forward to.
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Amazing story and an amazing experience for your entire family!! That photo is uncanny in it’s resemblance to the President – I bet you’ll get a note or call of thanks!!! Thanks for sharing this with us all!!!
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Brother Claude,
The uncanny resemblance of the speedboy, John H. Johnson, to President Barack Obama is amazzing! As soon as I saw the picture, I was thrown for a memory loop that still has me in shock. Those in the know say history repeats itself and this likeness of two Columbia men who love basketball is truly a significant sports memory.
This brings me to my trip to Chocolate City, also known as Washington, DC, this coming weekend of July 23-25, 2009. The Black Alumni of Columbia University, which I’m a member of, is saluting United States Attorney General, Eric Holder, in a semi-formal event on Friday night, July 23, 2009. It is believed by many, that the First Family is going to be present. I’m looking forward to the scenerio that will allow my wife and I the chance to speak with President Obama and Michelle Obama on that evening.
I’m carrying a few posters of the 1938-39 World Professional Championship Harlem Ren’s Team to give to the Baller-in-Chief. So, I enjoyed reading about your chance to make history and I’m just as overjoyed with the coming opportunity Joan and I are going to have this weekend.
As you know, I’m definitely going to write our FB family about how the events played out. So, I’ll see you on these pages just after our trip to Chocolate City!!
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Great story.
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Claude, your well-told tale & that of Zachary Husser remind that when Obama came to Indianapolis last October I was in the state & after hearing his speech at the FairGrounds (where the Rajah/Mel Pacers played) left a copy of the Dave DeJernett story w/ an aide amongst all the autograph hounds waiting there. Also got a copy in the hands of former Senator Birch Bayh, who had ambled out to entertain the waiting crowd (Bayh’s namesake father tossed up the tipoff between DeJernett and Big Jack Mann in their first Center Jump matchup).
I never got an autograph back but reckoned Barack might appreciate the story of an early black baller-in-chief who settled in the MidWest and from there proceeded to unprecedented undisputed championships at the high-school and college levels before breaking in as the Rens’ first college-star signee, clearing the lane for future NCAA signees in the pros.
Incredible photo! Aside from the amazing likeness, have you ever seen an earlier one of somebody spinning a ball Globie-style? I haven’t.
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The image is uncanning. Sometimes we think that we are individuals, unique to this world and universe but often have someoe that has come before us with our name, likeness, etc. Johnson and Barack, ballers and Columbia men. Wow!
Thanks Claude.
Sam
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Claude, this is incredible and congratulations are in order. You have, in my opinion, opened the biggest door for you ever! Stay the course.
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Amazing photo and experience, Claude! You must tell us when you hear from him and where the one-on-one will be played!!!
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[...] http://blackfivesblog.com/?p=1978 [...]
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Claude, what a great memory for you and your family to cherish always. I’m sure you will be hearing from President Obama very soon.
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GREAT Claude…Excellent Story…Its really a beautiful shot..
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Thank you Leslie! :-)
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