Washington, Nov 15 (PTI) Original, quirky pencil sketchesmade by former US President Barack Obama, which include someself portraits and the words Making America Competitive Again,has been auctioned for USD 11,113.
The doodles are on a white 5x8 sheet of White Housestationery. The front side of the sheet features a total of 11drawings, two of which appear to be forward-facing self-portraits.
Other doodles include a face in profile, another morecartoonish looking face, and various shapes and squiggles.
The reverse side features a few more small shape doodles,as well as another self-portrait and two rectangles with thewords "Making America Competitive Again".
"A unique, humorous glimpse into Obamas own doodlinghabits - odd shapes and self-portraits - this sheet alsofeatures a single line of writing that bears an uncannyresemblance to the US President Donald Trump's campaign sloganMake America Great Again," according to RR Auctions in the US.
The online auction house had expected the item to be soldfor USD 8,000.
Although undated, the sentence points to the subject of aspeech Obama delivered on May 4 in 2009, in which he announceda set of proposals to crack down on illegal overseas taxevasion, close loopholes, and make it more profitable forcompanies to create jobs here in the US.
"We will stop letting American companies that create jobsoverseas take deductions on their expenses when they do notpay any American taxes on their profits," Obama said.
"We will use the savings to give tax cuts to companiesthat are investing in research and development here at home sothat we can jump start job creation, foster innovation, andenhance Americas competitiveness," he said.
The sketches are accompanied by a letter from SamuelSutton, the personal valet to Obama, who retained severalsouvenirs from the White House. PTI MHN SARMHN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.