From White House Retreat to Grey's Anatomy, Bowdoin Colors Fit to a T

Story posted September 24, 2009

Eagle eyes spotted a Bowdoin T-shirt in an official White House photo of President Barack Obama playing basketball at Camp David on July 18, 2009.

The image, included in the ABC News photo gallery, "Barack Obama Behind the Scenes," can be seen on the network's Web site.

As Seen on TV
McDreamyT200.jpg
The gray T-shirt worn by "McDreamy" was a popular item after its television debut last fall, but has since been discontinued.


The shirt is worn by an unidentified man, on the far left in the photo, while playing with the president, senior staff and their families.

Last fall, another Bowdoin tee made the rounds on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

Twice last season Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd, played by Maine native Patrick Dempsey, was shown wearing the shirt.

The show's costume supervisor did request more Bowdoin apparel, but would say only, "Our season starts September 24, so keep your eyes open."

The Bowdoin-Grey's Anatomy connection was the culmination of a two-year campaign to adopt Dr. Shepherd as a Bowdoin grad, a plan conceived and spearheaded by Cole Harris '78.

Read more about the shirt's recurring role.

Bowdoin in the House

They may not sport Bowdoin T-shirts on screen, but several alumni — and the College's First Lady — are filling key roles in the Obama administration. They are among the more than 140 alumni working in some capacity for the U.S. government.


  • Karen Gordon Mills, wife of President Barry Mills, is administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

  • George Mitchell '54, former senate majority leader, negotiator of the Northern Ireland Peace Accord and chair of the investigation into illegal steroid use in Major League Baseball, serves as the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East.

  • Christopher Hill '74 is the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

  • Kendall C. Burman '00 serves as associate counsel to the president.

Chris Hill Bowdoin Hat.jpg
While working as U.S. assistant secretary of state under the George W. Bush administration, Christopher Hill '74 briefed reporters before leaving for meetings with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing Dec. 6, 2007. The Associated Press photo ran in the Washington Post.


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