POLITICS

Hillary Clinton Says Photo May Just Have Been Her Allergies

Updated: May 5, 2011 | 2:38 p.m.
May 5, 2011 | 10:07 a.m.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room.

The iconic Situation Room photo of President Obama, Hillary Clinton and top national security advisers has now traveled far and wide on the internet. But the dramatic gasp that the Secretary of State gave in the picture doesn't appear to be what it first seemed. In a press conference in Rome, video below, Hillary Clinton explained that she may have just been reacting to seasonal allergies.

"Those were 38 of the most intense minutes. I have no idea what any of us were looking at that particular millisecond when the picture was taken...I am somewhat sheepishly concerned that it was my preventing one of my early spring allergic coughs. So it may have no great meaning whatsoever," she stated (at 1:15 in the AP video below):

Photo by White House Flickr

Want to stay ahead of the curve? Sign up for National Journal’s AM & PM Must Reads. News and analysis to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

Leave a Comment
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus
Follow National Journal
  • NationalJournal on Twitter
  • NationalJournal on Facebook
  • NationalJournal on Tumblr
  • NationalJournal's RSS Feeds
  • NationalJournal's Email Newsletters
  • NationalJournal on iPhone and iPad
Columns
Reid Wilson: On the Trail

Buy Early and Often

9:30 p.m.
With so many candidates, super PACs, and party committees chasing limited TV ad time, the rules of the road have changed. An insider’s guide.
Josh Kraushaar: Against the Grain

The Emerging Democratic Divide

May 22, 2012
The brouhaha over a moderate New Jersey mayor’s comments has aggravated tensions that have been growing within the party’s coalition.
Charlie Cook: Charlie Cook's Off to the Races

If It Hits the Fan

May 21, 2012
Europe’s economy is in a tailspin and China’s is slowing. Our political system is a mess. Who are voters going to blame if it all goes bad? Not just Obama.
More Columns »
Hotline On Call

What We Learned: Book Smart

December 17, 2011

Previewing the Sunday Shows

December 16, 2011
Expert Opinions
Transportation Experts

Not Waiting for the Feds

5:54 p.m.

Latest Response by James Corless: Local Voters Need a Partner

Energy Experts

Powering Our Military: What's the Role of Clean Energy?

12:59 p.m.

Latest Response by Tom Buis: American Families Need American Fuel

Energy Experts

Powering Our Military: What's the Role of Clean Energy?

10:35 a.m.

Latest Response by Keith Crane: DoD Renewable Fuels Investment Premature

More Expert Opinions »