Comments on: Obama and Australia http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/01/18/obama-and-australia/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:50:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Grant Leehttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/01/18/obama-and-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-18141 Grant Lee Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:35:20 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=1286#comment-18141 I was shocked to see this sentence: "Barack Obama will be the first President of the United States to have visited Australia prior to assuming office." I am not an expert on US presidents, but I am aware of at least three others who visited Australia, prior to becoming president. Herbert Hoover, who was a mining engineer by profession, lived in WA during 1897-98 and visited Australia several times during the early 1900s. Lyndon Johnson visited as a US Navy staff officer during World War II. He was also a Congressman at the time, so his visit is well-documented. From a brief search of web sources, it appears that John F. Kennedy, who served on USN patrol boats during WW2, was based in Townsville for a period. As I say, I am no expert, so there may be others. For instance, Richard Nixon and George Bush senior also served in the South Pacific during WW2. I was shocked to see this sentence: “Barack Obama will be the first President of the
United States to have visited Australia prior to assuming office.” I am not
an expert on US presidents, but I am aware of at least three others who
visited Australia, prior to becoming president.

Herbert Hoover, who was a mining engineer by profession, lived in WA during
1897-98 and visited Australia several times during the early 1900s.

Lyndon Johnson visited as a US Navy staff officer during World War II. He
was also a Congressman at the time, so his visit is well-documented.

From a brief search of web sources, it appears that John F. Kennedy, who
served on USN patrol boats during WW2, was based in Townsville for a period.

As I say, I am no expert, so there may be others. For instance, Richard
Nixon and George Bush senior also served in the South Pacific during WW2.

]]> By: Phil Scanlanhttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/01/18/obama-and-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-6131 Phil Scanlan Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:20:38 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=1286#comment-6131 It is not true that Republicans always outnumber Democrats at the Leadership Dialogue. This is a false impression gained among security and foreign policy types who fail to observe delegations in total. The Obama administration will have a number AALD members involved. Further, the foundation board in the USA which resources and administers AALD events in the USA has always had a majority of Democrats on it If it is true that Australian governments have traditionally experienced better relations with GOP administrations—which is debatable in the context of 1951 onwards--- it has occurred within the context of the AALD having always been balanced and bipartisan in its modus operandi. Phil Scanlan Founder, Australian American Leadership Dialogue It is not true that Republicans always outnumber Democrats at the Leadership Dialogue.

This is a false impression gained among security and foreign policy types who fail to observe delegations in total. The Obama administration will have a number AALD members involved. Further, the foundation board in the USA which resources and administers AALD events in the USA has always had a majority of Democrats on it

If it is true that Australian governments have traditionally experienced better relations with GOP administrations—which is debatable in the context of 1951 onwards— it has occurred within the context of the AALD having always been balanced and bipartisan in its modus operandi.

Phil Scanlan
Founder, Australian American Leadership Dialogue

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