Vladimir Putin has a portrait of Peter the Great prominently displayed in his office. Peter, a 17th century “czar of all the Russias,” is best remembered – at least by Putin – for having made Russia an empire by military conquest.

In the Oval Office, before President Obama sent it back, there was a bust of Winston Churchill. Now, the only counterpoint in the president’s office to Putin’s portrait of his favorite czar is probably the “selfie” the Danish prime minister took of herself and Obama at Nelson Mandela‘s funeral.