I've read online (and in news reports) that both George H. W. Bush and
Nixon have each flashed the "victory sign" (two outstretched fingers)
backward (with the palm inward) in Australia.  In many countries, this
equates to "flipping the bird" in the US.  Can anyone find a clear
photo of either event that would be worthy of presentation in an
upcoming class?

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Request for Question Clarification by boquinha-ga on 23 Jan 2004 10:49 PST

I've found a picture of Nixon doing this sign with both hands.
However, I want to make sure that I know what you mean by "palm
inward"--the picture to which I refer shows him doing the traditional
peace sign, but I would describe the palms as facing outward though
"covered" (blocked) by the thumbs and other fingers not making the
outstretched sign.

Also, do you want a picture that was taken *in* Australia or simply
one of him making the sign wherever that may be?

Thank you!

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Clarification of Question by oygovalt-ga on 23 Jan 2004 11:43 PST

Hello....

Yeah, "inward" doesn't help much... sorry about that.  I mean the
"opposite" of the peace sign.

If you were making the gesture I'm talking about, you would see your
own thumb, while the audience would not.  I think the typical Nixon
image (e.g., entering the helicopter) is the two hands out giving
"victory" or "peace" signs.

Thanks.

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Clarification of Question by oygovalt-ga on 23 Jan 2004 11:45 PST

...and I wouldn't be a stickler for where the photo was taken, so long
as it looks like it *could have been* taken in Australia (e.g., the
Washington Monument in the background wouldn't be good).

thanks again.

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Request for Question Clarification by boquinha-ga on 23 Jan 2004 11:59 PST

Thanks for the clarification! Darn, sounds like the image that I've
found wouldn't work. Just in case you get desperate or at least need
something to which you can compare/make comments as necessary to
describe your needs, here's what I've got:

http://www.gmu.edu/library/specialcollections/acsrmn1_9_1f.jpg

I hope that helps! Good luck to you! 

Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga

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Clarification of Question by oygovalt-ga on 26 Jan 2004 08:04 PST

OK... thanks for looking!!!

I've found several pictures of Bush giving the "peace sign" the usual
way, meaning with his palm facing outward and also several additional
pictures of Nixon doing the same.  I'll be happy to post those if it
helps.  Otherwise the search continues.

Bowler-ga

I found a website that makes reference to such a blunder by Nixon. 
Sorry about the text, if you highlight the text you can read it
better.  The source of the blunder is from a book cited at the bottom.
 Perhaps the book may contian a photo?

http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:IQgeJnQh87MJ:www.anecdotage.com/index.php%3Faid%3D2263+nixon+%22peace+sign%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Bowler-ga

This website referes to the incident in which Bush blundered:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=002Wt4

Bowler-ga