Presidents in Glasgow

As the world reacts to the election of Senator Barack Obama as the new President of the United States of America, here's a quick look at some of his predecessors' links to Glasgow.

George W Bush is reported as having visited Glasgow for a wedding in 1983, and also playing golf in and around the city (prior to his presidency) - these visits the result of a long-standing family friendship.

More recently he flew into the city's Prestwick International Airport when the G8 Summit was held at Gleneagles, Perthshire, in 2005. The photo below shows he and his wife Laura descending Glasgow Prestwick Airport steps from the famous Air Force One.

Bill Clinton never visited Glasgow during his presidency but has made more than one visit to the city since he left office, usually on public speaking duties. He is pictured below at a 2006 event in the Thistle Hotel.

A young John F Kennedy came to Glasgow in 1939. He was aiding his father - then American Ambassador to the UK - following the sinking of the passenger ship Athenia. American survivors of the disaster were housed in Glasgow until passage was arranged for them and JFK travelled to the city to visit them.

Other American Presidents are known to have visited the west of Scotland too, and it is highly likely they will have seen a glimpse of Glasgow or one of its airports. George Bush Senior and Jimmy Carter have both stayed at the Lodge on Loch Lomond, and Dwight Eisenhower had a suite at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire gifted to him.

Hopefully President Obama will join the above leaders in visiting Glasgow - news reports today say that First Minister Alex Salmond has invited him to Scotland next year, so watch this space...

Images copyright Getty (Bush) and STV (Clinton).