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The Oval Office has long symbolized the power and grandeur of the U.S. Presidency, and new White House incumbents traditionally change the decor to reflect the tone of their administration.
Joe Biden unveiled the new ceremonial backdrop for his administration, marking a number of significant changes from that of his predecessor.
Curtains
Biden kept the curtains that hung during the administration of Donald Trump and that had already been used during the presidency of Bill Clinton. The carpet, taken out of storage, is a darker blue than the Trump model.
Bust of Cesar Chavez
Immediately behind Biden is a bust of Cesar Chavez, the left-wing civil rights activist and labor leader. Other busts on display include Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Park, Eleanor Roosevelt and Robert F. Kennedy. A prominent head of the Trump era has been removed: that of Winston Churchill.
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin
On the right of the image, a painting by Benjamin Franklin, founding father and accomplished versatile. The portrait represents Biden’s interest in science and hangs near a shelf with a piece of moonstone.
In another element of symbolism, Biden deleted the portrait of Andrew Jackson, the seventh populist president of the United States, whose white nationalist views foreshadowed those of Trump. Right in front of Biden, and out of sight, is a massive portrait of Franklin D Roosevelt.
Roosevelt is joined by the former President Thomas Jefferson and former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, as well as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Office resolved
Stacked on the famous Resolute desk are a bunch of executive orders in green folders, signed by Biden on Wednesday. They mark a tear in Trump’s legacy and include a decision to join the Paris climate treaty and the World Health Organization.
Pens
Presidents have traditionally used multiple pens to sign important legislation. These are then given to key people as keepsakes. Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr – whose busts are now in Biden’s Oval Office – both received pens from Lyndon Johnson when Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Family photos
On an ornate table behind the president are various family photographs, including a framed photo of Biden’s late son, Captain Beau Biden. The president’s mother, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan, as well as the first lady, Dr Jill Biden, and their three children, as well as other family members, are also visible. Oh, and a photo of Biden, a Catholic, meeting Pope Francis.
Harry truman
On the table to the right is a bust of former President Harry Truman, Roosevelt’s successor and another former Vice President who has reached the highest office.
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