Obama: ‘I Loved Spock’

President Obama today issued a heartfelt statement on the passing of Leonard Nimoy.

In an official statement released this afternoon via the White House Office of the Press Secretary, President Barack Obama mourned the passing of Leonard Nimoy. The Star Trek icon passed away today at the age of 83.

Here is the President’s complete statement:

Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy.  Leonard was a lifelong lover of the arts and humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his talent and his time.  And of course, Leonard was Spock.  Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the center of Star Trek’s optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity’s future.

I loved Spock. 

In 2007, I had the chance to meet Leonard in person.  It was only logical to greet him with the Vulcan salute, the universal sign for “Live long and prosper.”  And after 83 years on this planet – and on his visits to many others – it’s clear Leonard Nimoy did just that.  Michelle and I join his family, friends, and countless fans who miss him so dearly today. 

In the photo above, the President is standing in the Oval Office with Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura on TV and in films. The pair are giving the official Vulcan salute. The image was posted to Twitter in April of 2012 by Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura. She has since deleted her account.