STATUES IN LONDON OF AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
STATUES IN LONDON OF AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
George Washington (1789–97)
George Washington swore he would never set foot in England. So, when in 1924 the state of Virginia gifted this statue to London, they also sent some American soil for it to stand on. It can be seen in front of the National Gallery. Washington is holding thirteen fasces, representing the original thirteen states.
Washington was the first president of the United States after leading the Continental Army to independence from the British. He was a slave owner; although he did renounce slavery near the end of his life. The story about him refusing to lie about damaging his father's cherry tree may be apocryphal. But his birthday on February 22 is still celebrated with cherry dishes.
Presidential ranking (according to 2022 Siena University study): 3/45
"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself." George Washington
"The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury." George Washington
Abraham Lincoln (1861-65)
This statue of Lincoln is situated in Parliament Square. A replica of a statue in Chicago's Lincoln Park, it was unveiled in 1920 to commemorate 100 years of peace between the UK and the United States.
The bust of Lincoln (above, right) can be found tucked away near the rear exit of the Royal Exchange. It was created by Irish-American sculptor Andrew O'Connor in 1928-1930, carved from limestone quarried near Lincoln's birthplace in Kentucky.
Lincoln led the nation through the Civil War defeating the Confederation States and playing a major role in the abolition of slavery. He was assassinated in 1865 by John Wilkes Booth.
Presidential ranking, 2022: 2/45
"Better to stay silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Abraham Lincoln
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
It seems Roosevelt's statue will remain behind scaffolding until Summer 2026 whilst work is carried out on Grosvenor Square, home of the U.S. Embassy until it relocated to Nine Elms in 2018.
Interestingly, he is seen here standing despite being confined to a wheelchair from 1921 after contracting a paralytic illness. The statue was unveiled by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1948, three years after the death of her husband. On a right is 'a picture I took earlier'.
Roosevelt is the longest-serving U.S. President and the only one to serve more than two terms having led his nation out of the Great Depression with the New Deal and then through WWII until his death just before the end of the war.
The Allies bronze in Mayfair features Roosevelt and Winston Churchill seated on a wooden bench. It is located at the intersection of Old Bond Street and New Bond Street. There's room between the two wartime leaders for tourists to do their Joseph Stalin impersonations. It was unveiled by Princess Margaret in 1995 to commemorate 50 years of peace since the end of World War II. The statue was created by Lawrence Holofcener who also made 50 quarter-size replicas, one of which sold for £409,250 in 2012.
Presidential ranking, 2022: 1/45
"It is cruel he will not live to see the day he (Roosevelt) will not see the Victory he did so much to achieve" Winston Churchill
"We must be especially aware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nest." Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerated the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism: ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power." Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61)
This statue of Eisenhower has recently returned to Grosvenor Square. It was put into storage whilst the former U.S. Embassy was transformed into the Chancery Rosewood, a luxury hotel. Its return to its original position was a condition of planning permission being granted for the hotel. As the U.S. Embassy building was listed it's façade has been retained, along with the American eagle on the roof.
Unveiled in 1989, it is the only statue of a US president in uniform, depicting General Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during the Second World War. During the war Grosvenor Square was nicknamed Eisenhower Platz. And Eisenhower is still remembered with a plaque at 20 Grosvenor Square.
Despite spending 35 years in the US Army and serving in two world wars, Eisenhower never saw active combat.
Presidental ranking, 2022: 6/45
"Any man who wants to be president is either an egomaniac or crazy." Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy (1961-63)
This bust of Kennedy can be found just inside the entrance to International Students House in Great Portland Street. It originally sat on a plinth just around the corner near Winfield House and was unveiled by JFK's brother Bobby. As boys, the Kennedy brothers lived in Winfield House which was the American ambassador's official residence, a post held by their father. The statue was paid for by 50,000 readers of the Daily Telegraph, each donating a pound.
JFK was assassinated in 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Presidental ranking, 2022: 9/45
"The Republican Party can lead any party to believe their promises will be fulfilled in the the future. They follow the Hitler line - no matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as the truth". John F. Kennedy
Ronald Reagan (1981-89)
Like the Eisenhower statue, this sculpture has been returned to the spot in Grosvenor Square where it was unveiled in 2011. A fragment of the Berlin Wall displayed alongside recognises Reagan's role in ending the Cold War; but then he only had to deal with Mikhail Gorbachev. In 1981 Reagan survived an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr.
Presidental ranking, 2022: 18/45
"Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Ronald Reagan
Donald Trump (2017-2021, 2025 - ?)
Unless we decide to butter him up for more tariff concessions, this is the closest we'll get to a statue of Trump joining those of Lincoln, Churchill, Gandhi and Mandela in Parliament Square.
His only notable achievement seems to be having more nicknames than any of his predecessors: Donald
Chump, Orange Mussolini, Don the Con, Vladimir Gluten, Fondling Father, Trumple-thin-skin,
Captain Chaos, Teflon Don, Hot Air Baffoon, Klu Klux Clown, Hashtag Dirtbag, Donald
Duck and Cover, Ghengis Can’t, Mango Moron, Man of Steal, Lyin’ King, Adolf Twitler,
Nostra Dumbass, Tangerine Tyrant, Master of Disaster, Primadonald, Saffron
Stalin, The Arse of the Deal, Cheeto Bandito, Despotus, Donnie Demento.
Presidental ranking, 2022: 43/45*
"The worst things in history have happened when people stop thinking for themselves, especially when they allow themselves to be influenced by negative people. That's what gives rise to dictators. Avoid that at all costs." Donald Trump
* Above James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson
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