“Resolution”: the story of the main table of the United States, which was a ship and served 28 presidents

To leave a mark in history, you do not need to be a hero or a pioneer. It is enough to be furniture, which was once a sailboat, and then became a table in the oval office of the White House in Washington. The table “Resolution” is an inanimate object, about which you can write a book. And it will definitely be more interesting than the life story of any of us.

“Resolution” in a hurry to help

The interior of the oval cabinet of the White House is well familiar not only by the Americans. The main workplace of the US President often appears in the photo and video. The desk “Resolution” cannot go unnoticed, because this is a key and largest interior item.

Already one and a half centuries, at this massive oak table, the head of the most powerful country of the planet has been making decisions and signed the documents. Almost three dozen presidents changed after him, and even sometimes the question arises-who is the main one in the oval office?
The story of the table began back in 1850, far from the United States. Then, in English, Newkasl was launched a beautiful three -masted bark, which received the proud name Resolute (“decisive”). In 1852, the ship was equipped for campaigns in polar waters and sent in search of the missing expedition John Franklin.
Franklin and his team of 134 people went to the Arctic in search of the north-western passage connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. Its two ships – Erebus and Terror, disappeared in 1845. Despite the fact that 7 years have already passed, there was a small chance that one of the travelers is alive and needs help.

Heroic polar epic

The search expedition, which, in addition to the “resolution”, included three more ships, was led by an experienced marine officer Edward Belcher. Each ship followed with its route – so the participants in the operation tried to cover as large territories as possible. None of them achieved success. Most, including the “resolution”, froze in the ice and were left by crews.
We must pay tribute to the Belcher and the team of the “resolution” – they made a lot of efforts to save the ship. When the ice completely immobilized him, the team decided on a deadly wintering. The polar explorers thought that by the beginning of the summer, when the ice was melting, they would continue.
But this did not happen, and the captain made a difficult decision. The sails of the brig were removed and put in the hold, all the doors and hatches were lifted, after which the team went to go to civilization on foot. Yes, the expedition of John Franklin, as it turned out, died completely. But scientists revealed this secret only in 1984, discovering several frozen bodies on the island of Beach, in the Arctic part of Canada.

From our table to your …

Edward Belcher with satellites is not without adventure, but were able to return home. And the “resolution” remained to wait for salvation. It came on September 10, 1855, along with the whales of the George Henry vessel. The brig left by the team was found in 1900 km from the place of the original parking lot, off the coast of Buffin Earth. The ship drifted for three years with ice in dangerous northern waters, but survived.

Admiral Edward Belcher

Kitoboev was struck by what they saw inside the ship. There were dishes on the tables, in the captain’s bar, the reserves of exquisite wines were preserved, and a shining copper kettle stood on the stove in the galley. Sailors from George Henry carried out a small repair of the vessel, cleaned it from ice, put sails and drove it to the New Longon port in the northeast of the United States.
The Americans decided to return the “resolution” to the British. But the representative of the royal Admiralty, having examined the ship, abandoned the rights of Great Britain to find. The expert considered that repair would cost too much. Brig remained in the port of New London, but did not wait long for a long time.
A group of wealthy Americans bought the ship for $ 40 thousand and repaired the brig at their own expense. As a gesture of goodwill, they presented the updated “resolution” of the Queen of Great Britain Victoria on December 17, 1856. In the ranks of the Royal Navy, the ship served until 1879. Then he was written off and dismantled. Thus ended the marine story of the “resolution” and began no less glorious, political.

Queen Victoria on the deck Brig “Resolution”

Queen Victoria did not forget the noble act of the Americans and also decided to somehow thank overseas friends. In 1880, from the oak boards of the “Resolution”, the carpenter William Evenden made a massive desk. He was sent to the United States as a gift to President Rutherford Heiza.

What does the historical table look like

On the White House, the oak table was delivered on November 23, 1880. It is worth telling a little about what he is. The height of the “resolution” is 83 cm, and its countertop, covered with red skin, has the size of an almost double bed – 180 × 120 cm. Weighs 590 kg furniture, so that accidentally shifting it will not come out.
In its design, this table belongs to the so -called “partnership”. Such cabinet furniture was popular in the Victorian era. These tables were used for negotiations – two partners were sitting behind them, facing each other. A bronze memorial plate with a brief story Brig “Resolution” was attached to the table. This message ends with these words:

“This table was made of its wood after analyzing the ship. He was presented to the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland to the President of the United States in memory of the courtesy and heartfelt kindness, which caused a proposal to accept the “resolution” as a gift. ”

Over the one and a half century history, the table was redone only twice. The first time President Franklin Roosevelt in 1944 ordered a panel for him, which covered his wheelchair from visitors. Thanks to this detail, the “resolution” ceased to be “partnership”, and it became possible to sit behind it only on one side. The second change was made by Ronald Reagan. He brought his favorite chair to the White House with his ranch. But the president’s knees rested against the countertop, and the table lifted 5 cm.

In the oval office

In his history, the “Resolution” was seen by everything. President of McKinli daily put vases with flowers on him. Franklin D. Roosevelt mixed alcohol cocktails on him, wanting to impress his guests. Dwight Eisenhower went on the air of radio and television, sitting at the table. During the reign of Harry Truman, they made repairs in the White House, and the table was dusting for four years in the storage.
After the reconstruction of the oval cabinet, John F. Kennedy took the table. His presidency became the peak of the glory of the “resolution”. Kennedy loved to be photographed, including at the workplace. The most famous picture was a photograph where the son of the head of state crawls out from under the table through the Roosevelt panel.
With Kennedy, the table also found scandalous fame. After the death of the president, it turned out that under it was a hidden audio recording system. Its owner could quietly include to record conversations with visitors and assistants. In total, 238 hours of records were found that formed the basis of the Watergate scandal in 1973.
Yes, the photo in which Barack Obama sits, throwing her legs on the furniture relic shocked no less than this. Other presidents have such photos, but clung to Obama, accusing him almost of sacrilege. Yes, is it worth saying that the unfortunate “resolution” has seen with the loving President Bill Clinton? Better not to remember.

In the 21st century, the historical table was almost retired. When Joe Biden reigned in the White House, he wanted to get rid of everything that was somehow connected with his predecessor – Donald Trump. The disgraced list was also a “resolution”, but in the end it was spared. Therefore, the most important table of America, and maybe the whole planet, continues to carry its service.

The table “Resolution” is not just a piece of furniture, but a real keeper of history. He survived dangerous adventures, political scandals and personal drama of the presidents. He witnessed key events in world history, but his fate could have developed differently. And what do you think, if the “resolution” was not in the oval office, but went to other goals, would have been preserved its legendary, or would it dissolve in oblivion, like thousands of other historical artifacts? Share your opinion in the comments!

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