Obama delivers powerful message on democracy at presidential center
Former President Barack Obama delivered a powerful message to Americans at the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
Former President Barack Obama’s famous tan suit is back in the spotlight.
The renewed interest comes after the recent opening of the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side in June.
The iconic ensemble, which was different from the usual gray or blue, caused outrage after Obama conducted a White House press conference about the U.S. military’s response to ISIS in 2014.
The tan suit gate made major headlines, took over what was formerly Twitter, and sparked backlash from right-wing pundits who deemed it too casual for the subject matter.
Now, former Chicago Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet is trying to track it down.
According to Sweet’s Aug. 17 Sun-Times column, the original garment was given away while Obama was clearing out his closet. Museum organizers told visitors the suit was not on display.
“This is more than hunting for a needle in a haystack,” Sweet wrote. “I don’t even know where the haystack is.”
Through her reporting, Sweet learned that the suit was made by a Brooklyn, New York, tailor, Martin Greenfield, who survived the Holocaust.
“I don’t know how this quest for Obama’s tan suit ends. But I do know how it begins,” the journalist continued.
The tan suit has become synonymous with Obama
At the opening ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center, many guests, including television host Stephen Colbert, rocked a tan suit. Obama Foundation Board Chairman Marty Nesbitt also wore one and addressed the crowd.
“This was inspired by a very good friend of mine, who made tan suits famous,” Nesbitt said at the time. “And I don’t know about the rest of y’all but I thought he looked pretty good wearing his, so I decided to wear one myself.”
Throughout the years, Obama himself has poked fun at the tan suit controversy. He joked about wearing it to his final news conference in 2017, stating that Michelle Obama said, “that’s not appropriate in January.”
Most recently, he wore a dupe of the suit on Larry David’s sketch comedy show this month on HBO Max, “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of UnHappiness.”
In her column, Sweet asks anyone with leads related to the tan suit to email tansuit@suntimes.com.
Contributing: Savannah Kuchar, Morgan Evans, USA TODAY
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.