Boxgate

Boxgate is the term that was quickly givenby reportersto the
2003-01-22incident where
U.S. President
George W. BushspokeonStrengthening America's Economyat [http://www.jslogistics.com/ JS Logistics] in
St. Louis,
MO,and whereit wasquicklydiscoveredthatsomeone had literallycovered up the Made in China printing on the boxespositioned in front of the president.Subsequently,Whitehouse spokesperson
Claire Buchanblamed 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 boxeswas 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

[http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode19/usc_sec_19_00001304----000-.html 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 presidentwhich displayed boxes on warehouse shelves where each boxprominently displayed 'Made in U.S.A.'.

References

# [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/23/1042911494186.html White House workers box clever to avoid red faces] The Sydney Morning Herald
# [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=30&si=906854&issue_id=8660 Bush spindoctors box a little too clever] Irish Independent (registration required)
# [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60C13FD35540C708EDDA80894DB404482 Made in China? A Bush Tableau Demurs] New York Times (abstract & correction)
# [http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/22/bush.boxes/index.html 'Made in China' labels hidden at Bush event] CNN
# [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A57958-2003Jan28 Quick, Form the Box Office] The Washington Post
# [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030122-4.html President Discusses Taking Action to Strengthen Small Businesses] The Whitehouse
# [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode19/usc_sec_19_00001304----000-.html USC TITLE 19 CHAPTER 4 SUBTITLE II Part I § 1304]