Thursday, March 10, 2011

US History Trivia: Who was Attorney General when the partially nude "Spirit of Justice" statue was covered with curtains?

The "Spirit of Justice" statue is a magnificent sculpture that stands in the Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C.  It is the female counterpart to the male "Majesty of Law" statue that sits in the same location. Though beautiful, the statue probably would be unknown to 99.9% of the American public if not for its clothing (or lack thereof) - the statue is partially nude.

During one of these Attorney General's tenure, the statue was covered so that its partially nude form was not revealed to visitors or during press conferences.  Off of Pocket Trivia:  US History:  Who was Attorney General when the partially nude "Spirit of Justice" statue was covered with curtains?  Was it Alberto Gonzales, John Ashcroft, Edwin Meese or Robert Bork?

The correct answer is John Ashcroft.  Ashcroft was made famous by his conservative philosophies during his tenure as a Senator from Missouri.  In 2000, he lost his seat to the deceased Governor of Missouri, Mel Carnahan, who died during a plane crash while campaigning against Ashcroft (the Democratic Governor of Missouri subsequently appointed Carnahan's wife to the seat).  However, Ashcroft landed on his feat and was appointed Attorney General by President George W. Bush.  During his tenure, the Spirit of Justice's unmentionable's were covered - though the Justice Department insisted it had nothing to do with her nudity and everything to do with making a good background for television.  Alberto Gonzalez, Ashcroft's successor, had the curtains removed during his tenure.

Wear clothing.  Even if you are a statue.  That's the lesson here...I think.......???????

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