Boxgate
Boxgate is the term that was quickly given by reporters to the 2003-01-22 incident where U.S. President George W. Bush spoke on Strengthening America's Economy at JS Logistics in St. Louis, MO, and where it was quickly discovered that someone had literally covered up the Made in China printing on the boxes positioned in front of the president. Subsequently, Whitehouse spokesperson Claire Buchan blamed the label cover-up on an "overzealous volunteer".
Illegal?
It would also Appear that the act of covering up the 'Made in China' printing on the boxes was likely an illegal act.
Except as hereinafter provided, every article of foreign origin (or its container, as provided in subsection (b) hereof) imported into the United States shall be marked in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the article (or container) will permit in such manner as to indicate to an ultimate purchaser in the United States the English name of the country of origin of the article.
Any person who, with intent to conceal the information given thereby or contained therein, defaces, destroys, removes, alters, covers, obscures, or obliterates any mark required under the provisions of this chapter shall— (1) upon conviction for the first violation of this subsection, be fined not more than $100,000, or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both
USC TITLE 19 CHAPTER 4 SUBTITLE II Part I § 1304, et. seq.
Fake 'Made in U.S.A.' Canvas Backdrop
At this event, there was also a canvas backdrop behind the president which displayed boxes on warehouse shelves where each box prominently displayed 'Made in U.S.A.'.
References
- White House workers box clever to avoid red faces The Sydney Morning Herald
- Bush spindoctors box a little too clever Irish Independent (registration required)
- Made in China? A Bush Tableau Demurs New York Times (abstract & correction)
- 'Made in China' labels hidden at Bush event CNN
- Quick, Form the Box Office The Washington Post
- President Discusses Taking Action to Strengthen Small Businesses The Whitehouse
- USC TITLE 19 CHAPTER 4 SUBTITLE II Part I § 1304