Today it was headline news on the web that Prsident Obama and VP Biden stopped at Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington Virginia for a Burger run, $7 burgers, they paid cash. But this wasn't the first time a US President has stopped for lunch at a hole in the wall hamburger joint for a bite to eat. So I have to wonder: where did this presidential tradition get started and why is it always a hamburger. Will Obama make headlines for the first ever Presidential Veggie Burger Run??? Let's take a look back at the history and future of Presidential burger eats...
Need a Veggie Burger Recipe? My Backyard Burger Vegan Recipe is here.
A Look Back: Presidential Burger Runs
In December 1991, President Bush stopped in at Cafe 121 in Dallas Texas, to munch on burgers with several construction workers. Article Link.
Obama's first meal on Air Force One? A burger. Duh. With veggies and fries on the side. Article Link. Do they have a veggie burger on the menu?
President Bush was also very fond of Otto's BBQ joint in Houston, Texas. He often stopped in for a burger or barbecue plate. There is even a dish named after Bush. Article Link.
Even Al Gore was known to stop in at burger-serving luncheonette's while on the campaign trail. And it was widely reported how in his sophmore year at Harvard, he spent his time, "shooting pool, watching television, eating hamburgers, and occasionally smoking marijuana." Article link.
Mike Huckabee reportedly ate a hamburger cooked by his new mother-in-law in between photos, on the day of his wedding. Link.
Reagan's hamburger history: "When president, Ronald Reagan would head to Camp David for meetings, summits and important measures of state. When asked what he wanted to eat, Reagan would abandon the formal and request would a burger.
With Reagan, burgers also became a political statement. When Reagan ran for his second term as governor Jerry Brown promoted an initiative limiting the amount of money lobbyists could give politicians. Brown suggested $10 a month which he stated would be enough for two hamburgers and a Coke. When Brown later went to meet the newly elected Governor Reagan, Ronald (no relation to the Ronald of McDonald's fame) had a hamburger and a Coke ready for Brown."
And of course we all know President Clinton's love of burgers and french fries. Good thing he went on a health crusade after he started to tip the scales and was advised by doctors to get healthy and halt the junk food habits.
I also found an awesome web article with a long list of presidential burger quips. Read it here.
Now the future....
Burger Future...
I hope President Obama makes headlines for being the first President to stop in for a vegan veggie burger lunch bite. GoBo and Caravan of Dreams in NYC have awesome veggie burgers. I also love Cafeteria's vegan veggie burger. And it even comes with fries and a zesty pickle. Or how about a vegan veggie burger on Air Force One. I hope that those who embrace the environment and our planet with their words will also embrace our earth and the creatures on it with their forks and plates and "hamburger runs".
Anonymous says
I work just a few blocks away from there! Ha, it was big news around the office. I've never eaten there but it seems like a good place to get a manly-type of hamburger, not my thing really...
Anyway, great post! I didn't realize burgers had such a place in presidential history!
Anonymous says
Interesting article, but it makes note that hamburgers are a time honored and quintessentially American dish -- there isn't vitually any American who hasn't tried them. For that reason, I don't find it terrible surprising that any Presdient would make a Burger Run. I would find it surprising if they DIDN'T from time to time. All those planned lunches, State dinners, banquets, catered affairs, gets very old, and every now and then, you just want something simple, hot, comforting, and reliable, and a burger is all of those things (usually), so a Presidential Burger Run is just pretty normal, all things considered.
RoseY says
I love veggie burgers. It is funny that they never eat veggie burgers at those small town pit stops. But do they even have veg burgers in TEXAS?
Kathy says
Heather,
Thanks for your comment. I don't really think that anyone should be forced/manipulated into eating anything they don't want to eat. Like I said, this is America and you can eat whatever you want, but a veggie burger order on Air Force One would make me smile.
And yes, I think even a non-vegan vegetarian veggie burger would be a great headline story for the environmental movement that Obama and many politicians are passionate about.
Kathy
Heather J. Chin says
Would you be happy with a vegetarian veggie burger? Meaning a bun that has had yeast or egg in it?
If Obama - or any other politician for that matter, unless they're a self-proclaimed veg - doesn't publicly make a veggie burger run, I hope people don't make themselves feel disappointed. It's not worth it. People - including presidents - have food preferences, too. So while I may eat a vegetarian diet, ultimately, I hope "healthy" is the message being sent. Not either end of the spectrum.