In memory of when American politics felt a little more human.

I work as a Writer at BuzzFeed, creating and curating quizzes, listicles, and articles that cover everything from pop culture chaos to food trends I immediately want to try and fashion moments I can’t stop talking about.

Of course, no era of American politics was perfect, and these photos don’t tell the whole story. They simply capture a side of political life that feels a little more personal, theatrical, and human than what we’re used to today.

The Oval Office can feel like this impossibly important, intimidating place, yet here’s the president stopping to let a little boy satisfy a very simple question. To me, it shows the human side of a presidency and what representation can look like when it becomes real to an ordinary person standing in the room.