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Obama chills with Branson: What about other post-presidency wind downs? | Obama chills with Branson: What about other post-presidency wind downs? |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Whether after four years or eight, all US presidents must eventually confront the question: What happens when I leave the Oval Office? | Whether after four years or eight, all US presidents must eventually confront the question: What happens when I leave the Oval Office? |
For Barack Obama, the answer was a five-star Caribbean holiday - and a seemingly endless grin. | For Barack Obama, the answer was a five-star Caribbean holiday - and a seemingly endless grin. |
The former commander in chief has been pictured beaming on a beach in a backwards cap, flanked by an equally cheery Michelle. | The former commander in chief has been pictured beaming on a beach in a backwards cap, flanked by an equally cheery Michelle. |
The venue for this masterclass in chilling? Necker island in the British Virgin Islands, owned by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson. | |
Sir Richard posted pictures on his blog of Mr Obama learning to kite-surf, and engaging in a play-fight with the businessman. | Sir Richard posted pictures on his blog of Mr Obama learning to kite-surf, and engaging in a play-fight with the businessman. |
The airline mogul said he invited the Obamas "for a complete break" on his private island after they left the White House. | The airline mogul said he invited the Obamas "for a complete break" on his private island after they left the White House. |
Not every president wants a sunshine stay after the West Wing doors swing shut, however. | Not every president wants a sunshine stay after the West Wing doors swing shut, however. |
So which leaders picked elephant hunting, marrying a relative, and a sideline in oil painting...? | So which leaders picked elephant hunting, marrying a relative, and a sideline in oil painting...? |
George W Bush - artist | George W Bush - artist |
When the 43rd president left office in January 2009, he ditched Washington for a quiet life between a house in Dallas, Texas, and his 1,500-acre Prairie Chapel Ranch. | When the 43rd president left office in January 2009, he ditched Washington for a quiet life between a house in Dallas, Texas, and his 1,500-acre Prairie Chapel Ranch. |
Keen to enjoy his retirement, the sexagenarian took weekly painting lessons. His subjects included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tony Blair, and the Dalai Lama - as well as his pets. | Keen to enjoy his retirement, the sexagenarian took weekly painting lessons. His subjects included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tony Blair, and the Dalai Lama - as well as his pets. |
His inspiration was his great hero Sir Winston Churchill, who turned to art in his forties as a refuge from the tumult of politics. | His inspiration was his great hero Sir Winston Churchill, who turned to art in his forties as a refuge from the tumult of politics. |
George W Bush paintings go on display | George W Bush paintings go on display |
Obama asks: What shall I do now? | Obama asks: What shall I do now? |
Spotify's job offer for Barack Obama | Spotify's job offer for Barack Obama |
"When I get to heaven I mean to spend a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so get to the bottom of the subject," the wartime leader reportedly said. | "When I get to heaven I mean to spend a considerable portion of my first million years in painting, and so get to the bottom of the subject," the wartime leader reportedly said. |
Mr Bush was less patient, telling his art teacher: "There is a Rembrandt trapped in this body. And your job is to find it." | Mr Bush was less patient, telling his art teacher: "There is a Rembrandt trapped in this body. And your job is to find it." |
Theodore Roosevelt - game hunter | Theodore Roosevelt - game hunter |
Despite being nicknamed 'Teddy' and famously refusing to shoot a bear, the 26th president took a year-long African hunting trip with his son, Kermit, in 1909. | |
The duo were accompanied by more than 200 porters, and scientists from the Smithsonian Institution. | The duo were accompanied by more than 200 porters, and scientists from the Smithsonian Institution. |
They made their way round Africa dispatching over 11,000 animals - including elephants, rhinos, hippos, snakes, zebra, and monkeys among others - before shipping the carcasses home for scientific study. | They made their way round Africa dispatching over 11,000 animals - including elephants, rhinos, hippos, snakes, zebra, and monkeys among others - before shipping the carcasses home for scientific study. |
Another exotic trip followed for Mr Roosevelt (and Kermit) in late 1913, when they joined Brazil's most famous explorer Candido Rondon to chart the course of the River of Doubt. | Another exotic trip followed for Mr Roosevelt (and Kermit) in late 1913, when they joined Brazil's most famous explorer Candido Rondon to chart the course of the River of Doubt. |
The 760km (472 mile) stretch was ultimately renamed Roosevelt River in his honour. | The 760km (472 mile) stretch was ultimately renamed Roosevelt River in his honour. |
Benjamin Harrison - husband to his niece | Benjamin Harrison - husband to his niece |
The aforementioned Teddy Roosevelt had no time for Benjamin Harrison, president from 1889-93, branding him "a cold-blooded, narrow-minded, prejudiced, obstinate, timid old psalm-singing Indianapolis politician". | The aforementioned Teddy Roosevelt had no time for Benjamin Harrison, president from 1889-93, branding him "a cold-blooded, narrow-minded, prejudiced, obstinate, timid old psalm-singing Indianapolis politician". |
But none of that stopped the 23rd president from wedding a woman 25 years his junior, who also happened to be his niece by marriage. | But none of that stopped the 23rd president from wedding a woman 25 years his junior, who also happened to be his niece by marriage. |
Mr Harrison's first wife, Caroline, had died of tuberculosis in 1892. | Mr Harrison's first wife, Caroline, had died of tuberculosis in 1892. |
When he wed Mary Dimmick four years later, his two adult children refused to attend the ceremony. | When he wed Mary Dimmick four years later, his two adult children refused to attend the ceremony. |
George Washington - whiskey maker | George Washington - whiskey maker |
America's first president lived only two years after leaving the job - and spent them making whiskey. | America's first president lived only two years after leaving the job - and spent them making whiskey. |
In 1799, the year of his death, his distillery in Mount Vernon, Virginia, produced nearly 11,000 gallons - making it the largest in the US at the time. | In 1799, the year of his death, his distillery in Mount Vernon, Virginia, produced nearly 11,000 gallons - making it the largest in the US at the time. |
Also a livestock farmer, the founding father used leftovers from the whiskey-making to fatten his pigs. | Also a livestock farmer, the founding father used leftovers from the whiskey-making to fatten his pigs. |
As for the distillery - it's still going, selling its golden product to tourists at the Mount Vernon Estate and museum. | As for the distillery - it's still going, selling its golden product to tourists at the Mount Vernon Estate and museum. |