NY: A single picture of a young boy touching President Obama’s head in the Oval Office has made its rounds on the internet lately.
It shows a five-year-old boy in a white shirt and red striped tie touching the top of the president’s head, with a curious, calculating look on his face.
But now, the story behind the 'touching' picture has been revealed.
According to the Daily Mail report, the image is from 2009 – five months after Mr Obama began his presidency – and shot by White House staff photographer Pete Souza in a surprise moment.
The charming story was first revealed by the New York Times. Little Jacob was joining the rest of his family as his father Carlton, a former Marine who was departing his White House job after working at the National Security Council.
The Times noted that it is customary for departing staffers to request a family photograph with the president. Once the pictures were taken, the family prepared to leave, but not before Mr Philadelphia’s two sons asked the president one question apiece.
Moments before, the boy, Jacob Philadelphia, had shyly asked the commander-in-chief if his hair was like the president’s.
Jacob spoke ahead of his older brother Isaac, saying in the softest of voices: ‘I want to know if my hair is just like yours.’
The president couldn’t hear, and asked the five-year-old to repeat his question. He then replied: ‘Why don’t you touch it and see for yourself.’
It was at that moment that the president folded himself at the waist and offered the crown of his head for the little boy to feel. He encouraged Jacob by saying, ‘Touch it, dude!’
That’s when photographer Mr Souza took the now-iconic picture, which the Times says has slightly ‘awkward composition.’
After he felt the president’s head, Jacob issued his verdict to the room. ‘Yes, it does feel the same,’ he concluded.
Since the Ford administration, White House staff photographers have picked new pictures to display on a weekly basis.
He told the Times that the picture became an ‘instant favourite’ with the staff, and said: ‘I think people are struck by the fact that the president of the United States was willing to bend down and let a little boy feel his head.’
The photo still hangs in the West Wing today because of its favour with the staff, but a copy is also proudly hung in the Philadelphia family’s living room.
