To my credit, the first time I walked into the Oval Office, I did not black out. In front of me I could see a painting of the Statue of Liberty by Norman Rockwell. Behind me, out of the corner of my eye, I could see the Emancipation Proclamation. Not a photocopy or poster. The. Emancipation. Proclamation. I didn’t turn to look at the document, but I could feel the message it was sending through the room. “I’m here because I freed the slaves,” it seemed to say. “What are you doing here?” Behind the giant, wooden Resolute desk sat President Obama. Judging from his expression, he, too, might be
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