Mayor of London Boris Johnson was just another slack-jawed tourist Thursday as he toured the National Air and Space Museum – a VIP tour to be sure - followed by a gaggle of British and American press people.
And it was a tour with a purpose, part of the high level negotiations between the U.S. and Great Britain over locating a branch of the Smithsonian in London by 2021.
“This is one of the greatest museums in the world,” said Johnson, hair flying, as he entered the facility on the National Mall. His enthusiasm for all the aviation artifacts brimmed over as he entered the exhibit, “The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age.”
“This is absolutely sacred, sacred territory,” said Johnson. “Amazing,” he said, as the museum’s chief curator Peter Jakab pointed out various features of the “Wright Flyer” of 1903, which made the first flight of a powered heavier-than-air flying machine.
It turns out that London has a claim on the first airplane. Orville Wright, one of the two brothers from Dayton, Ohio who built the aircraft, loaned it to the London Science Museum in 1928, where it stayed for 20 years. And Johnson knew all about it.
He also knew what he wanted to see, taking the tour off-script by saying he wanted to see President John F. Kennedy’s speech to Congress in 1961 challenging America to space exploration.
As everyone raced to catch up with the energetic mayor, he paused in front of the television playing the speech on a loop, listened and took notes. “Incredible statesman,” said Johnson. There is considerable speculation in British media that the colorful mayor is in line to be the country’s next prime minister.
But for this trip, which included stops in Boston and New York, Johnson was touting London while simultaneously admiring his host country.
“This is an absolute cathedral of endeavor, technological achievement and a testament to America,” said Johnson of the museum.
“I would like kids in London to have a slice of this from time to time,” he said of the prospects for a Smithsonian-in-London. The Smithsonian’s Board of Regents and the city of London are working towards adding the American outpost to the city’s new cultural center, “Olympicopolis,” at the site of Olympic Park where the Summer Olympics were held in London in 2012. Johnson became known internationally as he presided over the Olympics.
As for the new project, he said, “There’s a way to go.” Johnson said supporters have already raised “tens of millions” of dollars, but not from the taxpayers.
“We’re confident we can make it work in our city,” he said. “For America, it will be a window on the world. It would be the physical embodiment of the values that unite England and America.”
The London facility would have items selected from all the Smithsonian’s 19 museums that Johnson said he had been told would reflect the “best and the breadth” of the Smithsonian’s collections. Acting Smithsonian Secretary Al Horvath said that the museums include artifacts of science, history art and culture and “we want to try and present all of that.”