United States v. One Solid Gold Object In The Form Of A Rooster
Photo credit: Coeur D’alene Art Auction
In July 1960, the US government issued an arrest warrant for a rooster—not a living one but a 6.4-kilogram (14 lb) rooster made of 18-carat gold. The rooster was exhibited in a glass display case at Nugget Casino, Sparks, Nevada. It had been sculpted in 1958 at the behest of the casino owner, Richard L. Graves, to advertise a fried chicken restaurant inside the casino.
The sculpture happened to have been commissioned at a time when the US needed more gold. Years earlier, the federal government had passed the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, which required Americans to surrender their gold to the Department of the Treasury. Secret Service agents met with Graves to inform him that he had violated the Gold Reserve Act but left him alone after confirming he’d received permission from the San Francisco Mint.
Things took a turn in July 1960, when federal agents arrested the rooster and sent it to a bank vault in California. The rooster appeared before a jury in July 1962, and Graves and the Treasury Department argued over whether it was an art or a tool of commerce.
The Treasury Department argued that the rooster was a tool of commerce since it was used for advertisement. Paul Laxalt, Graves’s attorney and future lieutenant governor, governor, and senator, argued that it was art. Laxalt won, and Graves got his golden rooster back. Had Laxalt lost, the rooster would have been melted down and added to the Federal Reserve.
Now, I have a couple of questions about this whole thing. Why does the government need more gold...and who in their right mind would use 14 lbs. of gold to make a rooster? Crazy all around, if you ask me!
Coffee in the kitchen again this morning!
Everyone knows the fed is corrupt. They sold nearly all the gold in Fort Knox.
ReplyDeleteI never would have used real gold in the first place:))
ReplyDeleteYou ask some very legitimate questions about that statue. That is just crazy to take 14 lbs of gold and turn it into a statue. And everyone knows that the supposed gold in Ft. Knox is just a myth. As Gorges said TPTB sold most of it. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe government is.....well, the government. And the owner of the gold should be able to do whatever he wants with it.
ReplyDeleteHey Gorges...
ReplyDeleteI had heard that there wasn't any gold there. I'd like to see it, though.
Thanks for stopping by this morning
Hey Mamahen...
I don't have any to use anyway.
Thanks for coming over this morning!
Hey Linda...
I don't think that I would use gold for that statue, but I might if I had any.
Thanks for the visit this morning!
Hey Momlady...
I certainly agree. Guess the PTB didn't see it that way!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Wouldn't gold plating do? It is beautiful, you can give it to me next time you have your hands on it (grin).
ReplyDeleteHey Dizzy...
ReplyDeleteYeah, like I would ever get my hands on it! It is pretty, though.
Thanks for coming over today!
The government sure loves to steel from us and how much money was spent on this nonsense anyway. But I have to agree 14 lbs of gold and 18 carrot at that!
ReplyDeleteSee you in the kitchen, rained last night again
Hey Jo...
ReplyDeleteIt does seem as though they could have found a better way to waste our money than this type of lawsuit.
Thanks for dropping by today!
outright theft by the feds. none of their business if you stock gold or manure.
ReplyDeletenot theirs!!!
they need to be backed up a few paces--or miles.